Watching what new coach Shaka Smart does at Texas is one of the more fascinating story-lines heading into next year. No stranger to success at VCU, Smart has to turn around the negative momentum that has been building in Austin under the former regime.
As with any transition, having experienced guards return to school is vital. When Texas’ point guard announced on Sunday that he would indeed delay his entry to the professional ranks, Smart and company got just what they needed.
Isaiah Taylor: “(Coach Smart) has shown he’s in our corner.” #HookEm pic.twitter.com/t5jG8mFvH9
— Texas Basketball (@TexasMBB) abril 26, 2015
Key Losses: Myles Turner (NBA Draft), Jonathan Holmes (graduation)
Possible Losses: No announcements made
Key Returners: Isaiah Taylor, Javan Felix, Cameron Ridley, Demarcus Holland, Kendal Yancy
Key Newcomers: Eric Davis (four-star, shooting guard), Kerwin Roach (four-star, shooting guard)
Breakdown: Coach Smart will have plenty to work with in year one on the 40 Acres, as everyone that he needed to return–besides big man Myles Turner–decided to stay another year in Austin. The question, of course, will be whether or not this current roster is able to play Smart’s style of pressure defense and fast-paced offense. He’s got some pieces on the outside, especially with Taylor at the point guard spot. Taylor is explosive offensively, but needs to be pushed on the other end to become more consistent. Felix should give UT a steady hand and the strength to cause some problems in the full court press, but the biggest concern will be whether or not Texas’ big men can keep pace. Ridley is a load underneath, but isn’t going to be the type of big who can switch perimeter screens, jump double-teams, or any of the other defensive principles that Smart employs. Big man Connor Lammert is a bit more adept to those principles, but still, Texas will need to decide whether they can afford to go small as much as they might need to.
