Yep, it's preseason poll time. We're unveiling our top 20 one-by-one. Today, we'll look at #7, the Texas Longhorns (yee-haw!), as we count down to our choice for #1, the Presbyterian College Blue Hose.
What, you think I'm kidding?
You'll find out who we've chosen number one in a couple weeks.
#7 Texas Longhorn
Location: Austin, Texas
Conference: Big 12
2008-09 Record: 23-12 (9-7)
NCAA Postseason: Defeated Minnesota 76-62 in the first round. Lost to Duke 74-69 in the second round.
Head Coach: Rick Barnes (12th season)
Losses: Graduation - 5'11" G A.J. Abrams (16.6 ppg), 6'10" F Connor Atchley (4.6 ppg). Transfer - 6'2" G Harrison Smith (1.9 ppg).
Key Returnees: 6'7" Senior G/F Damion James (15.4 ppg), 6'10" Senior F Dexter Pittman (10.1 ppg), 6'6" Junior F Gary Johnson (10.0 ppg), 6'2" Senior G Justin Mason (6.1 ppg), 6'2" Sophomore G Varez Ward (4.2 ppg).
Additions: 6'2" G Bradley Avery (Tacoma, WA), 6'1" G J'Covan Brown (Port Arthur, TX), 6'2" G Andrew Dick (Sherman, TX), 6'7" G/F Jordan Hamilton (Los Angeles, CA), 6'4" G Dean Melchionni (Lancaster, PA), 6'6" G/F Shawn Williams (Duncanville, TX). Transfer - 5'10" G Jai Lucas (University of Florida).
The Skinny: Rick Barnes knows it's never easy replacing the top scorer on your team. He's only a couple years removed from having to deal with that realization, after Kevin Durant bolted for the NBA after one year of school.
This year, Barnes has to find a way to fill the void left by guard A.J. Abrams. The shooting guard connected on 105 three-pointers last season (26th best in the country) and averaged a team-best 16.6 ppg.
Replacing Abrams would be a challenge any other year...except this one. The Longhorns' one weakness over the past couple of seasons has been their paper-thin squad. One player from the starting five goes down and the whole team goes up in flames.
That was part of the reason why the Longhorns failed to win 10 conference games last season for only the second time in the last eight years. A beefy roster that includes 16 players (up from 12 last year) should have the 'Horns in great shape for conference play.
But does a couple extra players equal a National Championship quality squad? Possibly. I know the polls are giving the 'Horns love in the rankings (they currently sit a number three in the preseason poll), but there are still a few questions that need to be answered regarding this team.Damion James, Justin Mason and Dexter Pittman make up 3/5 of the starting five; but outside of those three, I think things are still pretty much a mystery. James is a swingman that can play the three of the four in Barnes' current system. He's the top returning scorer (15.4 ppg) on a team that's going to need his production on each time they step on the court.
James' wingman, Justin Mason, is a quite possibly the most underrated defender in the country. Who cares if he shoots only 20 percent from beyond the arc! His defense all but negates the fact that he's an offensive liability most of the time. And did we mention he can jump out of the building? Congrat, Mr. Harangody, you're now on a poster in some kids room.
Deter Pittman could be the biggest surprise this season -- and I mean that in the literal sense. The 290 pound has shed almost 100 pounds since he joined Barnes' team out of high school. He's since upped his game and recently averaged a double-double in the Big 12 tournament. I'd expect to see more of the same this season.
Things start to get really interesting after the starting three. Varez Ward could be getting the starting job at the point, but then again, that could change come December 15th, when Florida transfer Jai Lucas (yes, that Jai Lucas) will be cleared to play for the Longhorns. I'd imagine he'd start sharing time with Ward and Dogus Balbay.
Aside from the point guard conundrum, Rick Barnes has a number of big decisions to make regarding a couple of highly touted freshman. Avery Bradley is the best of the bunch and should start at the two this year. The 6'2" guard was ranked as the top player by a number of publications last year, so I see now reason why he should waste away on the bench.
Freshman Jordan Hamilton, Shawn Williams and J'Covan Brown should also find their way into the rotation. All three were ranked in the top 60 coming out of high school, so again, why waste the talent?
Throw in Gary Johnson, Clint Chapman and a host of other names into the mix and you get one thing: a team loaded to the hilt with talent.
Yes, the Longhorns are a talented bunch. But for Rick Barnes, it's going to be all about finding the best way to utilize that group of highly talented players on a nightly basis. Do that and there's no reason why Texas can't live up to the preseason hype.
Bloggers Say:
"Should all the pieces of this Texas squad come together early in the season, they should be able to navigate through a brutal non-conference schedule with no more than two losses.Texas matches up well with Kansas yet again and I look for the Longhorns to finally get over the hump and win the Big 12 tournament.
The talent is there for not only a run to yet another Sweet 16, but a run to the Final Four.
Rick Barnes has done an incredible job at Texas and this year he may have the deepest team he's ever had.
Look for the Longhorns to make an appearance in the Final Four this season behind the elite play of Damion James and company."
Best Games:
12/3 vs. University of Southern California
12/19 vs. UNC (Texas Stadium - Arlington, TX)
12/22 vs. Michigan State
Big games. Big games. Big games. If there's one thing I love about Rick Barnes, it's that he's not afraid to play some of the best teams in the country. There's no better way to see how good your team matches up to the competition than to throw them into the deep end and see if they sink or swim.The North Carolina and Michigan State stretch is absolutely brutal, but hey, it just goes to show you that Rick Barnes is a big league masochist. Is there a more brutal three day stretch in college basketball this season? I'm gonna gonna say no.
A home game against USC and a trip to play in the O O O O'Reilly (can't get that damn commercial out my head) CBE (chief body excavator?) Classic in Kansas City should have the 'Horns ready for conference play. Either that, or they'll be thoroughly demoralized after playing one of the toughest non-conference schedules.
Famous Basketball Alums: Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge, D.J. Augustin, T.J. Ford
Other Famous Alums: Former First Lady Laura Bush, broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite, Michael Dell (founder of Dell Computers), and Gatorade inventor, Dr. Robert Cade, all 
went to school in Austin. Those are the few that actually did something with their lives.
Then you've got those lazy asses in the film industry: Matthew McConaughey (douche), Renee Zellweger (eh) and Farrah Fawcett (no comment) who also claim UT as their Alma mater.
Did I mention that Janis Joplin and Mr. Weed himself, Ricky Williams, also wore the burnt orange? Now those are two alums to be proud of!
Lucas Lottery: Forget Michigan State, North Carolina and USC; the December 15th game against UT-Pan American could be the biggest non-conference game of the year.
The usually insignificant game against the Broncs is now one that should have the entire city of Austin showing up to watch point guard-in-waiting, Jai Lucas, in his first official game.
Lucas bolted for Texas after Florida coach Billy Donovan decided to go with Nick Calathes at the point guard position during his sophomore year. That left Lucas at the two, a position he had no interest in playing.After spending a year in practice gym, Rick Barnes is now praying his new transfer turns into an impact player. While Varez Ward and Dogus Balbay give Texas a great one-two at the point, most know Lucas gives them a chance to make a deep run into the tournament if he plays to his ability. We'll just have to wait and see if that actually happens.
"Previously, On STF Preseason Rankings"
Thank you for creating such a informative site. Your blog happens to be not only informative but also bvery imaginative too. There normally are a limited number of professionals who can think to write not so easy stuff that creatively. All of us look for content about something like this. I Myself have looked through several blogs to find knowhow with respect to this.Keep writing in !!
Hi there, thanks for this wonderful article, a truly great beginning to the 2010, keep up the great work, Louise.
Very accurate write up with a couple of exceptions.
The USC game lost its luster when Tim Floyd left. USC is will finish in the bottom three of the Pac 10 and playing USC will be a hell of lot less interesting then playing UCONN.
Ward has gotten a lot better than you realize.
Most people are not looking for Lucas to be a key to a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, rather they are looking to J'Covan Brown being the key.