Texas Basketball: 3 transfers shining through the first 10 games
Christian Bishop, F
It’s really hard to argue that one of the best Longhorns players that has mostly come off the bench so far this season isn’t the former Creighton Blue Jays senior transfer forward Christian Bishop. Although Beard has moved him into a more limited role since the first two or three games of the season, Bishop is still producing consistently off the bench for Texas.
Bishop was definitely one of the many forwards set to challenge for a spot in the starting unit this season. But there are only two or three spots that he could realistically be vying for in the starting unit, and he doesn’t space the floor enough to play on the wing in Beard’s system on a consistent basis.
While Bishop is making 50 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc this season, it’s coming only four total attempts in 10 games played. That’s not any sort of sample size that is worth taking seriously as of yet.
On the other hand, though, Bishop is definitely standing out with some of the other areas where he’s more polished in his game this season. Bishop is definitely one of the better rebounders for the Longhorns, a stout on-ball defender, and a gifted inside scorer.
Bishop is also getting to the free-throw line at a pretty insane rate so far this season. He’s posted an impressive career-best .714 free-throw attempt rate through 10 games.
Bishop is also one of the team leaders so far this season in total rebounding percentage (16.6), block percentage (3.8), and true shooting percentage (68.4).
Among the usual reserves for the Longhorns so far this season, Bishop is also one of the leaders in box plus/minus (6.2), player efficiency rating (27.5), and win shares per 40 minutes (.300).
The advanced metrics do bloat the true impact that Bishop had made so far this season in terms of his efficiency since he is the beneficiary of some very solid team defense and rebounding efforts. But Bishop is doing what he was brought in to do for the Longhorns, and that is great if he is going to provide depth coming off the bench.