Dillon Mitchell, Texas Basketball
In the near future with head coach Chris Beard texas basketball The program concludes with summer workouts in preparation for training camp and the start of the 2022-23 regular season. Texas will complete his slate in the 2022-23 regular season at his home on November 7 at the shiny new Moody Center against his UTEP Minors at Conference-USA.
Beard and the Longhorns are looking to build on the success they found in the stretch last season and build on an even better postseason in 2023. If Texas can capitalize on his first NCAA Tournament win since 2014 next season, Beard’s team has a serious spot on the national scene.
But it wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine for the Longhorns at Hardwoods last season. Texas underperformed preseason expectations and entered last season as the #5 ranked team in the AP voting. As a result, the Longhorns last season he finished 25th in the AP voting.
Preseason expectations for Texas this year probably won’t be the same as last year. But that doesn’t mean expectations aren’t still high for Beard and the Longhorns this season.
Breakout candidates to watch in Texas basketball for the 2022-23 season
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the Longhorns’ three breakout contenders during the 2022-23 season.
Jabari Rice, Texas Basketball
Jabari Rice, SG
Former Aggies, New Mexico senior shooting guard and three-time All-WAC selection Jabari Rice is among the new players the Longhorns will be eyeing for next season. Texas is gaining valuable experience and two-way versatility in the backcourt/wing rotation by landing Rice out of the NCAA Transfer Portal for next season.
What Rice has brought to the Longhorns is a player who will make an immediate impact on both ends of the floor and can start right off for Beard next season. It was a target.
He has averaged at least about 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 0.5 steals per game in each of the last three seasons.
Rice has clearly been very productive for the Aggies in recent years, but he will get the chance to make it on a bigger stage next season with the Longhorns. Rice’s tough on-ball defense, effective off-ball. Recognition, an underrated playmaking ability should soon come to the forefront for the Longhorns.
Rice can be an effective on-ball defender for the Longhorns on the perimeter or wing and provide a useful tertiary ball handler/facilitator. He’s not a go-to option for the Texas offense, but it does give this unit another option when the primary scoring source cools down.
We don’t know how much Rice will be able to load counting stats this season. But playing with his cast of the best supports of his college life so far would give him the chance to skyrocket his efficiency and gain national recognition.
