Texas Basketball: 3 reasons the Longhorns can upset No. 2 Baylor

3) Why Texas basketball will upset Baylor

Matt Coleman rising to the occasion

One of the most versatile and talented point guards in the Big 12 this season is the Longhorns senior standout guard Matt Coleman. The dynamic Texas guard pairing of Coleman and junior Courtney Ramey is largely what powered the Longhorns to find as much success as they have so far this season in the win column.

Through 14 games played so far this season (all of which he’s started in), Coleman averaged around 34 minutes on the floor per game. He’s averaged 13.1 points per game, 3.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.1 blocks, and 1.9 turnovers. And Coleman shot 46.7 percent from the field, 35.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 90.0 percent from the free-throw line.

Coleman was solid for the Longhorns so far this season, and was a model of consistency for this backcourt rotation.

Texas will need the supporting cast around Coleman to come through. The likes of Ramey and redshirt junior shooting guard/wing Andrew Jones are vital to the Longhorns attempt to upset Baylor in this game. Jones is also having a solid run of late with the Longhorns. In 13 games played so far this season, Jones averaged 14.3 points per game, 4.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.2 blocks.

Jones has also defended a lot better this season than in year’s past. As a whole, he’s elevated his game to a new level. And it’s come at the right time for a Longhorns rotation that really thinned out in the wake of COVID-19 related issues in the past month or so.