Texas Basketball: Tyrese Hunter advanced analytical deep dive

Conclusion

The advanced metrics prove that Hunter had a tough time adjusting to multiple new schemes in his first year at Texas last season, which makes total sense. He came to Texas after being a high-usage primary ball-handler on a young Iowa State team. There was a lot for him to adjust to at Texas, where he came onto a veteran-laden team that faced coaching turmoil last season.

The saving grace is that Hunter was so good at the beginning and end of last season. He played his best when he was comfortable in the system on both ends, whether under Beard or Terry.

Given that Hunter finished last season on the right foot in Terry’s system and that he’s got a full offseason with this staff under his belt, I’d expect him to be more efficient and productive consistently during the 2023-24 campaign.

Something else that caught my eye when looking at Hunter’s advanced and play-by-play tracking metrics was his ability to run the pick-and-roll compared to playing off-ball. Hunter was much more effective on offense when playing as an off-ball scoring threat or running in transition as the ball-handler.

Despite running the pick-and-roll on 23.4 percent (ranking in the 64th percentile among Big 12 guards) of his offensive possessions on the floor last season, he only averaged .54 points per possession (15th percentile among Big 12 guards).

Hunter was very effective when he was a spot-up shooter, running as the ball-handler in transition or operating as a catch-and-shoot threat. He ranked in the 70th percentile or higher in points per possession in those three play types last season.

Terry and the Longhorns brought in a capable primary scoring guard from the transfer portal this offseason in senior Oral Roberts guard Max Abmas. The two-time Summit League Player of the Year Abmas can effectively command the pick-and-roll game while facilitating the offense. That means Hunter will be in more spots to have space as a spot-up and catch-and-shoot threat.

A full offseason in Terry’s system means Hunter and this staff will get better equipped to know each other’s strengths. I trust that Terry and this staff know the right situations for Hunter to succeed.

On the other hand, I do expect Hunter to have another up-and-down campaign on the defensive end. The downside to Texas adding Abmas via the transfer portal is that he was a net-neutral presence, at best, on the defensive end in his four seasons at Oral Roberts. I don’t expect that to change playing against the type of competition he will at Texas in the Big 12 this season.

Hunter, meanwhile, played next to an above-average defensive guard on the perimeter last season in Carr.