Texas has long been known as guard central with a host of perimeter players who can really play.  This year will be no different but the Longhorns also had enough big men coming in to actually at least maintain some strength inside against the Houston’s of the world.  Could these young studs match up with Hayes and Olajuwon’s?.  Probably not but they were definitely good enough to beat the Texas Tech’s and Baylor’s of the SWC.  That is their goal for this year.  Next year take over the world.   

Leading the way in his final year is point guard supreme Slater Martin.  Martin is flat out a winner.  He is not a great shooter or passer but he one heck of a defender and is just a great leader who finds a way to win.  His ability to control the tempo of the game and to shut down other point guards made him a legend in his four years in Texas.  He might have the most talent but you do not want to go into battle without him on the court.  He has ample support behind him with junior Johnny Moore and freshman phenom T. J. Ford coming in.  One could argue that the Longhorns were as well stocked at the point as any team in the country.  Moore is a gifted passer who can run a team as if he were a foreman on a high rise.  Ford is a rare talent who brings great quicks, a good touch and most impressively the ability to make his teammates better.  He could be something special.  Coach Barnes knows this is the strength of the team is here with these studs and will try to get them on the court together but since none of them are really scorers that might be difficult. The only position deeper on the Texas campus is running back and we are not taking sides on the who wears 34 controversy.  

Barnes has also brought in what many consider to be the next coming at small forward.  Matthew McConaughey may be the man in Austin but freshman Kevin Durant is bringing his magic from Maryland. Durant can flat play basketball.  He is a tremendous shooter who spears long drives from anywhere.  At six foot ten he cannot be guarded on the perimeter.  He can flat shoot over anyone.  And boy does he love to shoot.

The key to this year will be the post play.  Would they be able to hold their own in the trenches.  Sophomore LaSalle “Tank” Thompson is no question the best of the returnees.  He is big (6’10 245) and mean and ornery and will bang with anyone.  He is the vital cog in the middle and goes to work every night with a lunch pail. He gets the job done every night.  If you are matched against Thompson on a given night you know you were in a battle.  A good back to the basket scorer who is terrific on the boards, Thompson is as key to the Longhorn’s success as anyone including the new wunderkids.  The one thing he is not is a great rim protector.  I mean the big guy will block a shot and is as intimidating as anyone when you are coming to the hole but he is not exactly the Dream in the middle.  The matchups with the Nigerian Nightmare were epic last year and promise to be even better as everyone in H-town knows the Longhorns have abandoned their brothers to the east.  The difference in the two second year studs is that Hakeem has got the Big E next to him and Tank has got well a 6’7 195 pounder.  Don’t get me wrong Larry Robinson is a player and in his first year almost singlehandedly carried this team to the Big Dance.  But he is not Elvin Hayes on the blocks.  Robinson will start but there is another couple of potential superstars ready to take over. 

Barnes is bringing in two kids who will battle for minutes with the two vets.  Seven footer Chris Mihm and potential superstar LaMarcus Aldridge platooned at the other spot and though they had their ups and downs got the job done.  Mihm can really run for a big guy and has a real nice touch from up to `15 feet.  He would move Thompson down to power forward when he is in as he is a natural center who can match up with seven footers like Jon Koncak and Olojowon.  Aldridge is a natural.  He is almost too gifted for a 6’11 250 pounder as he has more skill than your average joe lunch pail in the paint.  He has a nice touch out to 18 feet and has some nice handles going to the hoop.   The kid can play but don’t count out Robinson who has fought over way worse then some kid trying to take his job. There is an entire crew of returning players who might be put out to pasture prematurely.  Seniors Albert Almanza, Gib Ford and Larry Franks might have seen their last baskets in Austin but have been stalwarts here. Junior BG Brosterhus and Lynn Howden are in the same boat but sophomore Mike Wacker might have a chance if he is healthy.  He has some real size at 6’9 225 and a mean streak to match.   

Barnes rotated in several options at the wings.  Senior Jay Arnette started a majority of games at the two and is a capable scorer who can light it up.  Barnes felt he was better suited for coning off the bench and he tried several other options.  Junior Jim Krivacs and senior John Hargis got their minutes and did ok.  Krivacs can really shoot but is small and Hargis is a plodder.  The best of the group was sophomore Travis Mays who came on strong the second half.  He can score inside and out and is the odds on favorite to start right now.  But that could change with the new kids in town.  Senior Raymond Downs and Junior Ron Baxter both got shots early on up front but were not big enough for the post and got moved to the wings.  The split time at the three but with Durant around they might not be getting many minutes.  Barnes will do whatever it takes to get great players on the court and he is a recruiting master on par with the Dean Smiths and Dale Brown with which he has already has many battles over recruits. 

The Texas Longhorns are making their play to have their basketball team get as much recognition as their football heroes.  That may never happen in football crazy Texas but Rick Barnes and his boys are trying.  They took a big step last year bringing in a new coach who can flat recruit. This is their last season in their beloved Southwest Conference and the Longhorns look to go out with a bang and win a league title. Those Cougars from up the road will have something to say about that as they want to kick them out the door with a nice square L on their hats. And that L does not stand for loyal as least in Houston.  And Dallas.  And Lubbock.  But the powers to be in Austin don’t really care as they are the center of the South by Southwest world and want to beat the other 49 states, not just the teams from the Lone Star One.