Texas Longhorns
Record: 20-13, 8-10 Big 12
Head coach: Rick Barnes (17th season)
Season summary: The Longhorns boast one of the biggest frontcourts in all of college basketball, headlined by 6-foot-11 forward Myles Turner, who is averaging 10.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in his rookie campaign. Boasting 7.9 blocks per game as a team, Texas is the most formidable shot-blocking defense in the country, with veterans Jonathan Holmes and Cameron Ridley also playing big minutes up front. The Longhorns' size and strength in the paint makes them a difficult matchup for almost any team in the country.
Sophomore guard Isaiah Taylor leads the team in scoring and assists, averaging 13.0 points and 4.6 dimes per game to back up Texas’ big men inside. Despite their outstanding individual talent, the Longhorns have struggled to put the pieces together throughout the season, going 2-9 against top-25 opponents in conference play. Texas did show signs of promise at the end of the season, though, by earning wins against then-No. 14 Baylor and Kansas State.
How they make a run: Turner plays to his potential and Taylor finds a way to get everyone involved as the Longhorns overwhelm opponents with their size.
How they falter: Texas runs into a hot-shooting team and struggles to guard agile shooters off the pick-and-roll, forcing an early exit.
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