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Texas Basketball 2024-25


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On 8/2/2024 at 1:20 PM, HookEm said:

Ok fine, but that wasn't really my point in bringing it up.  My main point is that there is no chance Terry would be doing as good of a job with South Sudan as Ivey.  Does anyone on this site disagree?

Can I have what he's having?

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Team notes from Gerry

Spoiler

The Texas Longhorns are wrapping up summer workouts with the full team now on campus and taking part. Arkansas trasnfer Tramon Mark is now working out with the team, and has been extremely impressive thus far. 

OTF will continue to update the Texas basketball team as they prepare for the season, with the college season just 85 days away.

OTF boxes to check 

NCAA Tournament level team: Yes

Sweet 16 or better: TBD

Size: Yes. Tallest guards Texas has had on a roster in a long time. Enough college size as a roster - yes. 

Length/wingspan: Yes. Most all-around length/wingspan on a Texas roster in a while.

NBA draft pick: Yes, plus a few others that will play pro ball on some level when all is said and done. Tre Johnson - first round, and possily lottery pick.

Experience: Yes. The roster has appeared in 828 college games, including 517 starts. The roster has 19 NCAA Tournament games appeared in, including two players who have played in an Elite 8 game. 

Ability to average 75+ points per game: Tramon Mark, Tre Johnson, Jordan Pope, Arthur Kaluma, Julian Larry, Jayson Kent and Kadin Shedrick are also capable of putting up 15+ points on a given night. Plenty of offensive scoring ability, with versatility. 

High-end role players: Yes. Julian Larry, Jayson Kent, Chendall Weaver and Kadin Shedrick. 

Basketball intelligence: Yes. This is a big step up with this years roster. Julian Larry, Jayson Kent and Jordan Pope additions are significant upgrades. 

Texas Longhorns 2024-25 Roster - Final
CG Jordan Pope, 6-1, junior (Oregon St transfer - 17.6 PPG, 2.6 rebs, 3.4 assists, 45.1% FG, 37.1% from 3 (66-178) & 87.9% FT)
What OTF is hearing (Aug.11): Shot creator off the bounce, shot maker, mixing in very well with the guards assembled. Expected be top 2-3 shooter/scorer on the team. Could star or come off the bench.

PG Julian Larry, 6-2, senior (Indiana St transfer - 11.0 PPG, 2.8 rebs, 3.8 assists, 1.5 steals, 52.5% FG, 46.2% from 3 (42-91) & 78.0% FT)
What OTF is hearing (Aug. 11): Very much an under control, steady point guard. Natural leadership at the position. Sees the floor well. Has easily transitioned to the longer and better athletes on the floor. Makes open shots on the perimeter. 

SG Chendall Weaver, 6-3, junior (2023-24 - 6.2 PPG, 3.0 rebs, 0.6 assists, 49.0% FG, 23.7% from three (9-38), 74.0% FT)
What OTF is hearing (Aug. 11): Will not be denied. Showing great deal of improvement in all-around game, with the understanding he still has a pretty high ceiling to reach in that regard. Game has slowed down for him. Best athlete in the program. Ultimate competitor. 

SG Tre Johnson, 6-6, freshman 
What OTF is hearing (Aug. 11): As advertised. He's earned the respect of his teammates by how competitive he is, and how hard he works. High level scorer, tremendous footwork that has led to shooting a high percentage on the perimeter in workouts against experienced college guards. The experience on the team will provide time to truly get comfortable playing at the big time college level. A first round NBA draft pick, and potential lottery selection in the 2025 NBA Draft. 

SG Tramon Mark, 6-6, senior (Arkansas transfer - 16.2 PPG, 4.3 rebs, 1.8 assists, 48.0% FG, 36.4% from three (36-99) & 80.4% FT)
What OTF is hearing (Aug. 11): Has show scoring and shot creating ability, but also better than thought court vision and feel. Excels playing off the elbows, but is going to be pressed to play more from different wing angles in the half court offense in which the bigs play off the elbows quite a bit. 

G/Wing Malik Presley, 6-6, sophomore (Vanderbilt transfer - 2.2 PPG, 1.6 rebs, 0.5 assists, 42.9% FG, 2-16 from 3, 46.7% FT)
What OTF is hearing (Aug. 11): Solid role player. Sneaky athletic. Can be a presence defensively on the perimeter due to length. Comfortable finishing in the paint with long arms all round his vision. Has to become a more consistent perimeter threat to create hard close outs. 

SF Devon Pryor, 6-7, sophomore (2023-24 - 0.7 PPG, 1.0 rebs in seven games played)
What OTF is hearing (Aug. 11): Second to Weaver in overall athletic testing. Has the bounce, quickness, wingspan, skill and can make shots on the perimeter. Long term basketball ability. His role will likely be defined by how much he matches the physicality required. Has stepped up his game since Arthur Kaluma has arrived.

F Jayson Kent, 6-7.5, senior (Indiana St transfer - 13.5 PPG, 8.1 rebs, 0.6 assists, 63.9% FG, 36.6% from three (30-82) & 83.7% FT)
What OTF is hearing (Aug. 11): Very, very good all-around player at the college four. Making contested perimeter shots. Plays as well without the ball as anyone on the team. Makes a lot of winning plays. Most effective player on the team without the ball. 

PF Arthur Kaluma, 6-7, senior (Kansas St transfer - 14.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 42.7% FG, 34.5% from three (51-148) and 74.7% FT)
What OTF is hearing (Aug. 11): Learning the players around him. Biggest adjustment will be less individual plays, and more play within the team and offense. 

C Kadin Shedrick, 6-11, senior (2023-24 - 7.7 PPG, 3.0 rebs, 0.5 assists, 1.1 blks, 59.2% FG, 3-8 from three & 72.4% FT) 
What OTF is hearing (Aug. 11): Much healthier, and in very good game shape right now. Expected to play with more freedom this season. Showing solid mid-range game, and playing well off the guards.

PF/C  Ze'rik Onyema, 6-8, senior (2023-24 - 3.3 PPG, 2.2 rebs, 0.7 blks, 54.5% FG & 71.4% FT)
What OTF is hearing (Aug. 11): Will be the backup five man. His willingness to work to improve is noted - especially to the point of being counted on defensively in switching situations. 

PF Nic Codie, 6-9, freshman 
What OTF is hearing (Aug. 11): Still rehabbing knee. Not cleared for full workouts until September. IS taking part in some workouts. 

C Jamie Vinson, 6-10, freshman 
What OTF is hearing (Aug. 11): Texas likes the early returns here in terms of what he can develop into as a rebounder and rim protector. May provide some stretch ability in 2025-26. 

 

 

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1 hour ago, Machinator said:

Team notes from Gerry

  Hide contents

The Texas Longhorns are wrapping up summer workouts with the full team now on campus and taking part. Arkansas trasnfer Tramon Mark is now working out with the team, and has been extremely impressive thus far. 

OTF will continue to update the Texas basketball team as they prepare for the season, with the college season just 85 days away.

OTF boxes to check 

NCAA Tournament level team: Yes

Sweet 16 or better: TBD

Size: Yes. Tallest guards Texas has had on a roster in a long time. Enough college size as a roster - yes. 

Length/wingspan: Yes. Most all-around length/wingspan on a Texas roster in a while.

NBA draft pick: Yes, plus a few others that will play pro ball on some level when all is said and done. Tre Johnson - first round, and possily lottery pick.

Experience: Yes. The roster has appeared in 828 college games, including 517 starts. The roster has 19 NCAA Tournament games appeared in, including two players who have played in an Elite 8 game. 

Ability to average 75+ points per game: Tramon Mark, Tre Johnson, Jordan Pope, Arthur Kaluma, Julian Larry, Jayson Kent and Kadin Shedrick are also capable of putting up 15+ points on a given night. Plenty of offensive scoring ability, with versatility. 

High-end role players: Yes. Julian Larry, Jayson Kent, Chendall Weaver and Kadin Shedrick. 

Basketball intelligence: Yes. This is a big step up with this years roster. Julian Larry, Jayson Kent and Jordan Pope additions are significant upgrades. 

Texas Longhorns 2024-25 Roster - Final
CG Jordan Pope, 6-1, junior (Oregon St transfer - 17.6 PPG, 2.6 rebs, 3.4 assists, 45.1% FG, 37.1% from 3 (66-178) & 87.9% FT)
What OTF is hearing (Aug.11): Shot creator off the bounce, shot maker, mixing in very well with the guards assembled. Expected be top 2-3 shooter/scorer on the team. Could star or come off the bench.

PG Julian Larry, 6-2, senior (Indiana St transfer - 11.0 PPG, 2.8 rebs, 3.8 assists, 1.5 steals, 52.5% FG, 46.2% from 3 (42-91) & 78.0% FT)
What OTF is hearing (Aug. 11): Very much an under control, steady point guard. Natural leadership at the position. Sees the floor well. Has easily transitioned to the longer and better athletes on the floor. Makes open shots on the perimeter. 

SG Chendall Weaver, 6-3, junior (2023-24 - 6.2 PPG, 3.0 rebs, 0.6 assists, 49.0% FG, 23.7% from three (9-38), 74.0% FT)
What OTF is hearing (Aug. 11): Will not be denied. Showing great deal of improvement in all-around game, with the understanding he still has a pretty high ceiling to reach in that regard. Game has slowed down for him. Best athlete in the program. Ultimate competitor. 

SG Tre Johnson, 6-6, freshman 
What OTF is hearing (Aug. 11): As advertised. He's earned the respect of his teammates by how competitive he is, and how hard he works. High level scorer, tremendous footwork that has led to shooting a high percentage on the perimeter in workouts against experienced college guards. The experience on the team will provide time to truly get comfortable playing at the big time college level. A first round NBA draft pick, and potential lottery selection in the 2025 NBA Draft. 

SG Tramon Mark, 6-6, senior (Arkansas transfer - 16.2 PPG, 4.3 rebs, 1.8 assists, 48.0% FG, 36.4% from three (36-99) & 80.4% FT)
What OTF is hearing (Aug. 11): Has show scoring and shot creating ability, but also better than thought court vision and feel. Excels playing off the elbows, but is going to be pressed to play more from different wing angles in the half court offense in which the bigs play off the elbows quite a bit. 

G/Wing Malik Presley, 6-6, sophomore (Vanderbilt transfer - 2.2 PPG, 1.6 rebs, 0.5 assists, 42.9% FG, 2-16 from 3, 46.7% FT)
What OTF is hearing (Aug. 11): Solid role player. Sneaky athletic. Can be a presence defensively on the perimeter due to length. Comfortable finishing in the paint with long arms all round his vision. Has to become a more consistent perimeter threat to create hard close outs. 

SF Devon Pryor, 6-7, sophomore (2023-24 - 0.7 PPG, 1.0 rebs in seven games played)
What OTF is hearing (Aug. 11): Second to Weaver in overall athletic testing. Has the bounce, quickness, wingspan, skill and can make shots on the perimeter. Long term basketball ability. His role will likely be defined by how much he matches the physicality required. Has stepped up his game since Arthur Kaluma has arrived.

F Jayson Kent, 6-7.5, senior (Indiana St transfer - 13.5 PPG, 8.1 rebs, 0.6 assists, 63.9% FG, 36.6% from three (30-82) & 83.7% FT)
What OTF is hearing (Aug. 11): Very, very good all-around player at the college four. Making contested perimeter shots. Plays as well without the ball as anyone on the team. Makes a lot of winning plays. Most effective player on the team without the ball. 

PF Arthur Kaluma, 6-7, senior (Kansas St transfer - 14.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 42.7% FG, 34.5% from three (51-148) and 74.7% FT)
What OTF is hearing (Aug. 11): Learning the players around him. Biggest adjustment will be less individual plays, and more play within the team and offense. 

C Kadin Shedrick, 6-11, senior (2023-24 - 7.7 PPG, 3.0 rebs, 0.5 assists, 1.1 blks, 59.2% FG, 3-8 from three & 72.4% FT) 
What OTF is hearing (Aug. 11): Much healthier, and in very good game shape right now. Expected to play with more freedom this season. Showing solid mid-range game, and playing well off the guards.

PF/C  Ze'rik Onyema, 6-8, senior (2023-24 - 3.3 PPG, 2.2 rebs, 0.7 blks, 54.5% FG & 71.4% FT)
What OTF is hearing (Aug. 11): Will be the backup five man. His willingness to work to improve is noted - especially to the point of being counted on defensively in switching situations. 

PF Nic Codie, 6-9, freshman 
What OTF is hearing (Aug. 11): Still rehabbing knee. Not cleared for full workouts until September. IS taking part in some workouts. 

C Jamie Vinson, 6-10, freshman 
What OTF is hearing (Aug. 11): Texas likes the early returns here in terms of what he can develop into as a rebounder and rim protector. May provide some stretch ability in 2025-26. 

 

 

Outside of being thin at the 5, this roster has insane depth. Seems like Johnson and Mark will both be starters , which means only one of Pope, Weaver, Kent and Kaluma are likely to start. We are going to be at least 8 deep with power conference starting-level talent. 

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You don't HAVE to have a 5.  I'm not saying our guys have the right makeup, but there have been several teams that have run out a bunch of hyperathletic 1-4 guys which have succeeded mightily.

Edited by jimmyjazz
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We were too perimeter-oriented last year at the 5 with Disu. Obviously, a good player but sometimes he drifted too much on the perimeter. Also, that was problematic with our guards because they weren't great at getting to the rim. 

Hopefully, we have more offense where we just put Shedrick on the low block and let him go to work . He was actually very efficient to start the year but then the injuries became a problem again. 

 

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3 hours ago, jimmyjazz said:

You don't HAVE to have a 5.  I'm not saying our guys have the right makeup, but there have been several teams that have run out a bunch of hyperathletic 1-4 guys which have succeeded mightily.

Ehhhh. This isn’t really true as it relates to our roster.  The addition of Kaluma makes that more possible, but if we don’t play a 5 then we won’t have a single person on the floor 6’8 or above. That’s not really a viable main strategy, but it can work to mix it up now and then. Point is, we really need Shedrick to play well and stay healthy, or we’ll be extremely vulnerable to certain teams.

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There are countless examples of teams being very successful in CBB without a dominant big.  Last year, Houston went 32-5 as a 1-seed and didn't have a single player over 6'8 who got more than 5 mpg:

  • J'Wan Roberts - 6'7 - 27 mpg
  • Ja'Vier Francis - 6'8 - 21 mpg
  • Joseph Tugler - 6'7 - 16 mpg
  • Cedric Lath - 6'9 - 5 mpg

In 2023, Miami beat us in the tourney on route to a Final Four. Here were their bigs:

  • Norchad Omier - 6'7 - 29 mpg
  • Anthony Walker - 6'9 - 10 mpg
  • AJ Casey - 6'9 - 6 mpg

We are a lot bigger than either of the above teams and also have really good size at the guard and wing positions.  And for bigs we have:

  • Kadin Shedrick - 6'11 
  • Jayson Kent - 6'8 
  • Arthur Kaluma - 6'7 
  • Ze'Rik Onyema - 6'8
  • Nicholas Codie - 6'9
  • Devon Pryor - 6'7

We could easily trot out a lineup like this that will out-size just about anybody we go up against:

  • Julian Larry - 6'3
  • Tre Johnson - 6'6
  • Jayson Kent - 6'8
  • Arthur Kaluma - 6'7
  • Kadin Shedrick - 6'11
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3 hours ago, HookEm said:

There are countless examples of teams being very successful in CBB without a dominant big.  Last year, Houston went 32-5 as a 1-seed and didn't have a single player over 6'8 who got more than 5 mpg:

  • J'Wan Roberts - 6'7 - 27 mpg
  • Ja'Vier Francis - 6'8 - 21 mpg
  • Joseph Tugler - 6'7 - 16 mpg
  • Cedric Lath - 6'9 - 5 mpg

In 2023, Miami beat us in the tourney on route to a Final Four. Here were their bigs:

  • Norchad Omier - 6'7 - 29 mpg
  • Anthony Walker - 6'9 - 10 mpg
  • AJ Casey - 6'9 - 6 mpg

We are a lot bigger than either of the above teams and also have really good size at the guard and wing positions.  And for bigs we have:

  • Kadin Shedrick - 6'11 
  • Jayson Kent - 6'8 
  • Arthur Kaluma - 6'7 
  • Ze'Rik Onyema - 6'8
  • Nicholas Codie - 6'9
  • Devon Pryor - 6'7

We could easily trot out a lineup like this that will out-size just about anybody we go up against:

  • Julian Larry - 6'3
  • Tre Johnson - 6'6
  • Jayson Kent - 6'8
  • Arthur Kaluma - 6'7
  • Kadin Shedrick - 6'11

Reading is hard. The concern over size was noting it’s our only spot where we don’t have great depth and it’s only a concern if we lose Shedrick and then have no one 6’8 or above. The teams you listed had guys with size/strength who could hold up inside. We don’t have that after Shedrick so he needs to stay healthy. If he does, we’ll be more than fine. 

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Certainly not going to act like we have some amazing home schedule, but holy fuck Tech, your non-conf home schedule - woof

Bethune-Cookman
NW State
Wyoming
Arkansas PB
Northern Colorado
DePaul* (Big 12-BE battle)
Oral Bob
Lamar

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The top end of the Big 12 will be outstanding, but the depth of the SEC might actually be better this year. 

Here are ESPN's early preseason rankings:

SEC - 1 top-10, 9 top-25

  • #2 Alabama
  • #11 Auburn
  • #12 Texas A&M
  • #13 Tennessee
  • #14 Arkansas
  • #20 Ole Miss
  • #21 Florida
  • #22 Texas
  • #23 Kentucky

Big 12 - 5 top-10, 6 top-25

  • #1 Kansas
  • #4 Houston
  • #6 Baylor
  • #7 Iowa State
  • #9 Arizona
  • #19 Cincinnati

Here are CBS's early preseason rankings:

SEC - 2 top-10, 7 top-25

  • #2 Alabama
  • #10 Auburn
  • #11 Texas A&M
  • #13 Arkansas
  • #14 Tennessee
  • #20 Texas
  • #22 Florida

Big 12 - 4 top-10, 6 top-25

  • #1 Kansas
  • #3 Houston
  • #6 Iowa State
  • #7 Baylor
  • #16 Arizona
  • #25 Cincinnati
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freshman guards since 2016:

2024: chris johnson

2023: arteria morris

2022: jaylon tyson

2021: none

2020: donovan williams

2019: courtney ramey

2018: jase febres, matt coleman

2017: jacob young, andrew jones

2016: eric davis, kerwin roach

 

going back to shaka’s first year we’ve had a total of two impact freshman guards: matt coleman and andrew jones. jones was an all-around stud, but tre johnson is a much better scorer and more polished on that end. it’s going to be really nice to have an elite freshman guard like tre. coach barnes always said “they aren’t freshmen anymore come february.” let’s hope that’s true of tre, as you need guys who can fill it up to win in march, and he can really fill it up. 

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