Texas Basketball: 3 players dazzling in first half of Big 12 play

At a time when it looks like new head coach Chris Beard and the Texas basketball program has a real opportunity to find their identity in the midst of the Big 12 slate, there’s a big game on tap. This is also a time where Texas has the opportunity to find its identity outside of Big 12 play this weekend.

Beard and the Longhorns are now riding a two-game winning streak following some solid wins over the TCU Horned Frogs and Oklahoma State Cowboys dating back to last weekend. Texas really impressed in a win over the Horned Frogs on the road earlier this week, which came by a margin of more than 20 points.

That was likely the most convincing win for the Longhorns in Big 12 play thus far.

Which Texas basketball players are standing out through the first half of the Big 12 slate?

Now, Texas will get to face their former head coach, Rick Barnes, and the Tennessee Volunteers on Jan. 29 in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. This is the lone remaining non-conference game of the regular season slate for the Longhorns. With that comes the chance to prove a point to the entire country.

Texas is really looking to finally find its identity. And what better way to do that than by handily defeating the No. 18 ranked team in the country?

For the Longhorns to really reach that next level, some of their best players will need to come to life down the stretch this season. There are a few upperclassmen on this team that got off to a pretty slow start to the Big 12 slate. But that can’t be said for every Longhorns player.

Here’s a look at three Longhorns players that are shining through the first half of the Big 12 slate.