Texas Basketball: 3 reasons why the Horns can win the Big 12 in 2023-24

Proven depth and talent in the frontcourt

While the Texas starting backcourt will be very exciting to watch this season, thanks to the duo of Hunter and Abmas, the best part of the rotation will probably be the frontcourt. Texas’ frontcourt looks like it got a nice upgrade during the offseason, including two important additions via the transfer portal.

Texas goes at least five deep regarding the players who can give Terry and the staff quality minutes either in the core part of the rotation or in the starting five.

Super senior big man Dylan Disu, former Virginia Cavaliers redshirt junior transfer center Kadin Shedrick, and sophomore forward Dillon Mitchell highlight a deep and talented frontcourt unit for the Longhorns heading into the 2023-24 season. Former UTEP Miners junior transfer power forward Ze’Rik Onyema and Cunningham will also be quality contributors in the frontcourt rotation this season.

Texas has one of the best big men in the Big 12 returning to the starting frontcourt this season in the reigning Big 12 Tournament MVP Disu. Disu was spectacular for the Longhorns last year, putting together the best stretch of performances of his career down the stretch and in the postseason.

The biggest question for Disu is his health. Inside Texas reported on Oct. 10 (paid content) that Disu isn’t expected to be ready for the start of the 2023-24 season due to health issues. The good news is that Disu is expected to be back before the start of Big 12 play. So, for the sake of this article, the impact Disu has on this frontcourt is easily worth mentioning.

Shedrick is a rim-running big man with good hands, excellent length (at 6-foot-11 and 215 pounds), and rim protection that will give the frontcourt added punch on both ends of the floor that it didn’t have last season.

Onyema and Mitchell also give the Longhorns added punch in the frontcourt. Onyema is strong around the rim, giving the Longhorns tough one-on-one defense in the paint and a boost on the glass.

From a physical perspective, Texas fans know what the team is getting back in Mitchell. He’s a gifted 6-foot-8 athlete who can live above the rim, rebound effectively, and block shots from anywhere within eight feet of the basket (and further at times).

Cunningham provides Texas’ frontcourt with a unique skill set. He can space the floor, shooting better than 40 percent from deep in the last two seasons. Cunningham also provides some of the grittiest defense and two-way effort you’ll get from any player in the Big 12 in recent memory. He’ll grind every minute he’s on the floor, regardless if it’s on offense or defense.

This is a deep and versatile group in the frontcourt rotation that can give the Longhorns a big boost in the Big 12 regular season title race this season.