Texas Basketball: 3 players that will be crucial x-factors down the stretch

3) Texas basketball players that will be x-factors

Jericho Sims, Center

An incredibly important player for the Longhorns to find success in the frontcourt rotation down the stretch this season will continue to be the underrated 6-foot-10 and 245 pound big man Jericho Sims. The former highly touted four-star recruit and Minneapolis, MN, native senior center is having a quietly efficient season for Smart and the Longhorns thus far.

The major problem that Sims is facing this season has to do with some poor statistical outings when Texas is in the national spotlight in certain games. Sims shot just 2-of-8 from the charity stripe in their loss earlier this month to the undefeated and No. 2 ranked Baylor Bears. But what was missed in that game was how good he was on the glass and specifically in holding his own on the defensive end of the floor.

Moreover, Sims has played in 16 games for the Longhorns so far this season (all of which he’s started in), averaging around 23 minutes on the floor per game. And he’s averaged 7.6 points per game, 6.8 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.9 blocks. Sims shot 61.4 percent from the field, doesn’t have any attempts from beyond the arc, and is 52.2 percent from the free-throw line.

That all has amounted to a solid 4.6 box plus/minus rating, .152 win shares per 40 minutes, 1.4 total win shares, 110 offensive rating/94 defensive rating, 59.4 true shooting percentage, and a 18.1 player efficiency rating. He’s playing well since the start of the Big 12 schedule, but that has to continue to improve down the stretch this season.