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

2) Texas basketball players that will be x-factors

Matt Coleman, Guard

When it comes to the most crucial Longhorns players standing out in order for this team to find more success in the win column in a sustainable fashion, there’s not much more important single piece to this team than senior standout guard Matt Coleman. I’ve mentioned it over and over again that Coleman and junior guard Courtney Ramey have to really come up big for Texas down the stretch.

But Coleman might actually be the more important of those two experienced standout guards for the Longhorns the rest of the way this year.

Coleman is still getting it done on both ends of the floor for the Longhorns throughout the Big 12 slate. He’s played in all 17 games for the Longhorns so far during this regular season slate (starting in all of them), averaging around 34 minutes on the floor per game. That’s not a whole lot of rest for Coleman in this difficult season.

Moreover, he’s averaged 12.6 points per game, 3.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.1 blocks. Coleman shot 45.1 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 87.5 percent from the free-throw line.

That all has amounted to a solid career-best 7.0 box plus/minus rating, .167 win shares per 40 minutes, 2.4 total win shares, 118 offensive rating/100 defensive rating, 57.3 true shooting percentage, and a 17.7 player efficiency rating.

Most of the per game stats and advanced metrics Coleman has posted so far this season are on pace to be career highs for him. That’s the type of production and efficiency that Texas will need from him the rest of the way this season.