Texas Basketball: 3 bold predictions for Empire Classic final vs. UConn

Max Abmas rebounds with a 50 percent shooting night from beyond the arc

Abmas delivered the game-winning mid-range bucket for the Longhorns to get the exciting one-point victory over Louisville in the Empire Classic semifinal game on Nov. 19.

That game-winning field goal was the perfect way for Abmas to come through when Texas needed it most in the clutch after a bad shooting night from the field and from range. Abmas shot just 5-of-18 from the field and 2-of-10 from beyond the arc before nailing the game-winner with just a few seconds remaining against the Cardinals.

Texas needs someone to step up and take these tough shots in clutch time in these big games. Last season, the Longhorns had seniors such as shooting guard/wing Sir’Jabari Rice, point guard Marcus Carr, and forward Timmy Allen to take these clutch-time shots.

Moreover, Texas needs Abmas to rise to the occasion in a different sense in this matchup against UConn in the Empire Classic final. Abmas must show he can be a big-game scorer who can command this offense at a high level in ranked matchups such as this against the Huskies.

Abmas’ play is all the more important since Texas could be without junior guard Tyrese Hunter due to an injury he suffered in the win over Louisville on Nov. 19. Hunter was limited minutes-wise due to injury and foul issues against Louisville. And there is a possibility he could be limited again vs. UConn on Nov. 20.

Hunter averaged 14 points per game in the season’s first three games before he suffered an injury against Louisville. He was Texas’ second-leading scorer, behind Abmas, after the first three games.

Texas also doesn’t have much proven guard depth on the bench to replace what Hunter gives them in the starting backcourt. This all means Texas needs more out of Abmas than it got in the first four games of the season, where he averaged less than 15 points per game.

Abmas is a career 20+ points per game scorer, and he needs to show that if Texas wants a chance to hang with UConn in this game.