To return to the NCAA tournament, a team needs contributions from both returning players and incoming recruits. Here's a look at Texas and its chances of dancing again in 2016.
Quick references:
Possible 2015-16 starting five
G: Kendal Yancy
Who is lost: When Myles Turner chose to sign with Texas in April, most people expected the elite prospect to stay in college for just one season. While Turner wasn't consistent for the entire season, he showed flashes of his high ceiling and is still a likely lottery pick. Turner took some time to get acclimated to college ball, but he stepped up a bit during Big 12 play. Senior forward Jonathan Holmes will definitely be moving on. He never got the national hype of some of his more touted teammates, but Holmes played various roles during his time in Austin and excelled during his final two seasons.
Who is added: Despite the losses up front, Rick Barnes put an emphasis on the backcourt in the 2015 class. He came away with two ESPN 100 guards in Kerwin Roach Jr. (No. 34) and Eric Davis (No. 45), forming arguably the Big 12’s best recruiting class. Roach rose in the rankings last summer as well as his senior season, showing the ability to play both backcourt positions and possessing great quickness. Meanwhile, Davis is a big-time scorer and can put up points in a hurry. Big man Shaquille Cleare is also eligible after transferring from Maryland. The Texas native sat out this past season.
What it means for next season: Taylor again will be the key player for the Longhorns. The quick point guard missed most of nonconference play with a wrist injury, but when healthy, Taylor is one of the best playmakers in the country. He can score on his own and create for others. Holland isn’t a big scorer, but he’s a very good perimeter defender. Yancy saw a boost in minutes in the second half of the season and could start. Experienced junior Javan Felix will also be back, and Roach and Davis provide even more depth. The frontcourt needs players to step up. The sophomore Ridley is a former top-10 recruit, but he has yet to truly live up to his potential on a consistent basis. Lammert is a nice stretch-four option and Prince Ibeh is an excellent shot-blocker. Cleare also is expected to make an immediate impact.
Trending: Level. Texas heads into the offseason with questions. Rick Barnes was on the hot seat late in the season, and that will be a major story during the next few weeks. However, the Longhorns will have plenty of talent no matter who is coaching them -- and despite a disappointing Big 12 campaign, Texas has the pieces to get back to the NCAA tournament.