Texas Basketball: Projecting Horns starting 5 a month from tip-off
Shooting guard: Tyrese Hunter
Hunter’s switchability will greatly benefit the Longhorns’ backcourt unit this season. Given Texas’ lack of guard bench depth, Terry and the staff need Hunter and Johnson to step up and play both guard spots this season.
In the starting five, though, Hunter is best fit in more of a combo guard role. He can effectively distribute the ball, and setup plays for the Texas offense. But Abmas is the best option to initiate the Texas offense, especially in pick-and-roll and high-ball screen plays.
Max Abmas excels as a pick and roll ball handler and loves to shoot from logo range behind the screen. pic.twitter.com/jqxDmorFqm
— Coach P (@Pnewt0n) April 4, 2023
Texas’ one-two punch in the starting backcourt with Hunter and Abmas will be lethal in the Big 12. This is an experienced guard duo where each can facilitate the offense, score from multiple levels, and run in transition.
Where Hunter needs to step up this season is on the defensive end of the floor. He showed flashes of that defensive energy and effort he brought to the Iowa State Cyclones’ backcourt during his true freshman campaign two seasons ago down the stretch for the Longhorns last year.
Hunter had five games last season in the final five weeks with multiple steals/blocks.
Texas also needs Hunter to play more consistent basketball throughout the conference slate. During a hot start to the first month of last season, Hunter averaged 25 points per 40 minutes. But Hunter cooled down drastically over the next two months, including the start of Big 12 play, averaging just over 10 points per 40 in December and January.
If the version of Hunter that started and ended last season hot shows up for most of the 2023-24 campaign, Texas will be in a good spot in the backcourt.
Backing up Hunter at the two will primarily be the former UT-Arlington freshman guard Chendall Weaver. The efficient 6-foot-3 scoring guard Weaver is also a legitimate option for the Longhorns to fill the sixth-man role off the bench this season.