Texas Basketball 2022-23 Player Profile: G Marcus Carr

As Texas basketball inches closer to their season opener in the Moody Center against UTEP on Nov. 7, we at Hook’Em Headlines will be offering player profiles for everyone on the roster.

Hopes are high entering year two under the Chris Beard regime as this Texas basketball roster is undoubtedly one of the most talented in the country. A mixture of impact freshmen, transfers, and key returners have the Longhorns poised to make some noise on the national stage.

Timmy Allen was the first player profile we dove into. Today, we take a look at fellow super senior, Marcus Carr.

Marcus Carr

Heading into the 2021 offseason, Carr was one of the most coveted players in the transfer portal. He was coming off of an All-Big Ten season where he averaged 19.4 points, 4.9 assists, and 4.0 rebounds for Minnesota.

The 6-foot-2 combo guard had proven himself to be one of the most dynamic playmakers in the country.

Coach Chris Beard was able to convince Carr to finish out his collegiate career in Austin with professional development and the opportunity to win a National Championship at the forefront of his selling points.

Carr was the crown jewel in the top-ranked transfer class in the cycle.

After an up-and-down 2021-22 season for Carr, he decided to return to the Forty Acres for one last collegiate go-around.

Let’s take a look at what Carr meant to last year’s Texas team and how he can be even better this season.

Looking back at 2021-22 for Texas basketball G Marcus Carr

In his first season in the burnt orange, Carr split the main ball-handling duties with the now-departed Courtney Ramey.

Carr’s usage dropped from his 2020-21 season in Minnesota and so to did his raw numbers. The Toronto native averaged 11.4 points, 3.4 assists, and 1.9 rebounds.

His numbers were bound to drop purely based on the number of opportunities given. What was concerning was Carr’s effectiveness (or lack thereof) in the field.

Carr slashed .394/.338/.769 with a true shooting percentage of 51.8 percent. Not all of that is Carr’s fault.

We saw time and time again the Chris Beard Texas offense go stagnant, forcing a player like Carr into a contested shot late in the shot clock. He was the best iso-creator on last year’s roster and was too often given the ball and told to make something out of nothing.

With that said, sometimes he did make something out of nothing.

There were multiple times last season when Carr’s contested shot and playmaking ability were able to drag the Longhorns’ offense out of anemic stretches, including during a 25-point outburst against Kansas State.

On top of that, Carr was also the main reason Texas was able to get back in and almost knock off #3 seed Purdue in their Round of 32 NCAA Tournament game. He scored 23 points and dropped seven assists in the loss.

Carr was named to the All-Big 12 Third Team for his efforts last season.

Looking ahead to 2022-23

2022-23 marks Marcus Carr’s sixth season playing collegiate basketball. He is now entering his second season in Chris Beard’s Texas program. This was his first full off-season working under the tutelage of Texas Strength and Conditioning Coach John Reilly.

Before we get into how Carr can be effective this season, I can tell you one thing. He did not return to Texas to have anything but the best season of his career. Carr was a preseason All-Big 12 selection and has the capability of playing like an All-American.

He will pair with Iowa State transfer Tyrese Hunter in the starting backcourt. It will be interesting to see how Coach Beard balances Carr and Hunter on the offensive end. Neither player is a true point guard. They are both very naturally gifted scorers who are effective at using their speed and strength to get downhill.

Whoever turns out to be the primary ballhandler really does not matter as both Carr and Hunter will initiate a good portion of this offense.

Personally, I would like to see the offense get Carr freed up on the wing with the option to catch and shoot or attack. Running him through the lane off of staggered off-ball screens would be an effective way to get the ball in his hands in advantageous positions.

For Coach Beard, the 2022-23 season is all about putting this uber-talented roster in positions to succeed. The Texas offense should look to attack the basket early in the shot clock. We should see very few possessions ending in iso-ball as the shot clock ticks down.

Of course, this is all very wishful thinking. Coach Beard has never been an offensive-minded coach nor has he been a coach that likes to push the agenda on the offensive end.

Carr is one of the most talented offensive players in the country, and if used correctly, could experience a super senior season where he averages 15+ points on efficient shooting numbers.