Texas men's basketball season preview
KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 09: Head coach Shaka Smart of Texas reacts on the bench during the quarterfinal game of the Big 12 Basketball Tournament against West Virginia at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Texas
Last season: 11-22
Nickname: Longhorns
Coach: Shaka Smart
Conference: Big 12
Who's gone: F Jarret Allen, G Kendal Yancy, F Shaq Cleare
Who's back: G Andrew Jones is the leading returning scorer at 11.4 points per game and came back after briefly considering the NBA. G Kerwin Roach Jr. averaged 9.1 points and may be the most athletic player on the roster.
Who's new: F Mohamed Bamba was a top recruit who is expected to be a one-and-done at Texas on his way to the NBA. He has been selected the Big 12's preseason freshman of the year. G Matt Coleman may be less heralded but might be more important to the entire offense if he delivers the point guard play Texas sorely lacked last season.
The Skinny: Texas and Smart had an embarrassing season in 2016-2017 despite having NBA lottery pick Allen on the roster. That didn't stop Texas from landing the likes of Bamba, and if he and Coleman and deliver as expected, the Longhorns should be vastly improved.
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