Texas Basketball: 3 keys to victory vs. Miami

Avoid isolation offense

Since the calendar flipped to March, the Texas offense has been free-flowing and fun to watch. During their seven-game win streak, the Horns are averaging 14.1 assists per game and have an assist percentage of 51%.

Guys like Marcus Carr and Timmy Allen have the chops to score in isolation, and that skillset will be needed to win this game. That said, the Texas offense excels when it avoids isolation basketball and plays within itself.

During this tournament, we have seen Texas run a good amount of “horns set,” with two bigs on the free throw elbows and two guards in the corner. Off this action, Texas can create a lot of misdirection with dribble handoffs that allow guys like Allen, Carr, Tyrese Hunter, and Sir’Jabari Rice to get downhill toward the basket. Off this action, role man Christian Bishop is usually wide open for an alley-oop slam.

Against Miami, the Horns should be able to get downhill and force help to come from the weak side. This is where guys like Hunter, Rice, and Brock Cunningham will get open looks from deep. If the Texas offense commits to its motion while cutting hard and with a purpose, they will get easy looks as this game progresses.

We know many players on this Texas team can take and make tough shots. However, you do not want to rely on 15 Marcus Carr step-back jumpers to win an Elite Eight game. If the Longhorns can get easy looks and avoid isolation offense, their offense becomes nearly impossible to stop.