Former Texas basketball F Gerald Liddell breaking out at Alabama State

It wasn’t a complete performance that No. 17 ranked Texas basketball and new head coach Chris Beard delivered against the Alabama State Hornets at home at the Frank Erwin Center on the afternoon of Dec. 22. Texas did get a 20-point win in the end over Alabama State, but they didn’t come close to covering the more than 30-point spread set for this game ahead of tip-off.

Heading into the locker room at halftime, Beard and the Longhorns held just a four-point lead over Alabama State. And one of the reasons for the Hornets staying in this game for so long was the play of the former Longhorns’ blue-chip recruit and redshirt junior forward Gerald Liddell.

Liddell was the most productive player for Alabama State in this game. He’s clearly found his groove in his first year with the Hornets after leaving Texas and putting his name in the NCAA Transfer Portal heading into last offseason.

While he never found consistent traction during his three years playing for Texas, a lot of the problems for Liddell on the Forty Acres stemmed from injury issues. He only played in more than a dozen games in a single season with Texas one time, which came back during the 2019-20 campaign.

In Texas’ win over Alabama State on Dec. 22 at the Erwin Center, Liddell registered a game-high 16 points, two rebounds, no assists, one steal, one block, and two turnovers. And he shot 5-of-12 from the field, 1-of-2 from beyond the arc, and 5-of-7 from the free-throw line.

Liddell was solid on both ends of the floor for the Hornets, often being a disruptor on defense and a spark plug to their offense.

Former Texas basketball F Gerald Liddell playing well for Alabama State this season

This game between Texas and Alabama State presented evidence of the growth in Liddell’s game this season. He’s quite evidently become a better facilitator and primary initiator of the offense, a good shot creator, and a very disruptive on-ball defender.

Liddell is also a vocal leader on a defense that is rapidly developing his ability in help defense. The off-ball defense was never a consistent presence in Liddell’s game in his three years at Texas.

Through a dozen games played with Alabama State this season, Liddell is averaging 11 points per game, five rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block. And he’s shot 43 percent from the field 44 percent from beyond the arc, and 69 percent from the free-throw line.

Liddell has developed as an outside shooter and he’s getting to the free-throw line more so than ever before. While he’s not taking as many three-point attempts as he did last season with Texas, he’s more effective when pulling up from deep. He’s got a three-point attempt rate of less than 25 percent. But his free-throw attempt rate is sitting at a career-best mark of 43 percent.

It’s good to see Liddell finding a spot where he can be more effective while having his skill set utilized in higher volume on a more consistent basis. Alabama State is definitely not the best team in Division 1 this season (sporting a poor record of 2-10 through the first dozen games), but Liddell could be a steward to help improve that program in the years ahead.

Following their 68-48 win over Liddell and the Hornets on Dec. 22, the Longhorns are now sporting a record of 9-2 (0-0 Big 12). Next up for Beard and the Longhorns is the final game before the Big 12 slate begins, which is set for Dec. 28 against Incarnate Word at home at the Erwin Center.