Texas Basketball Midseason Report: Grading the Longhorns' SEC Campaign Under Sean Miller
We’re halfway through the SEC grind, and it’s safe to say Texas basketball under first-year head coach Sean Miller has been a mixed bag. The Longhorns sit at 13-9 overall and 4-5 in the conference, with flashes of promise offset by some head-scratching performances.
There have been high points - wins over ranked teams like Vanderbilt, Alabama, and Georgia show this group can hang with the best. But there have also been letdowns, including a sluggish home loss to Mississippi State to open SEC play and a flat showing in a 14-point loss at Tennessee. And don’t forget a nonconference slate that saw Texas drop four of five games against Power Four opponents.
Let’s dig into the individual performances and see who's rising, who's struggling, and how the team is shaping up under Miller’s leadership.
Dailyn Swain, Forward - A
Swain has been the guy for Texas this season. The 6-foot-8 wing followed Miller from Xavier and has quickly become the engine that drives this team.
He leads the Longhorns in just about every major category - minutes (30.5), points (17.5), rebounds (7.2), assists (3.4), and steals (1.8). He’s shooting a scorching 57.9% from the field and has emerged as the go-to option on both ends of the floor.
Yes, the 58 turnovers are a concern, but that’s the price of being the focal point of the offense. Swain’s versatility, size, and two-way impact make him one of the most dynamic players in the SEC, and he’s only getting better.
Matas Vokietaitis, Post - B+
The 7-foot sophomore transfer from Florida Atlantic has had some growing pains, but the upside is undeniable. Vokietaitis is averaging 14.9 points and 6.6 rebounds in just 24.5 minutes per game, shooting a hyper-efficient 64.2% from the floor. He’s also one of the most foul-drawn players in the SEC, ranking second in the conference with 179 free-throw attempts.
His 69.3% free-throw shooting is serviceable, but the bigger issues are his foul trouble (3.2 per game) and turnovers (2.2). Clean those up, and he’s got All-SEC potential written all over him.
Chendall Weaver, Guard - B+
Weaver’s box score doesn’t jump out - 6.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists in 21.9 minutes - but his value goes way beyond the stat sheet. The senior guard, now in his third season with Texas, brings energy and leadership off the bench that often shifts the momentum.
He’s not a consistent threat from deep (21.6% from three), but he’s shown signs of life lately, knocking down two of his last three from beyond the arc. Weaver is the kind of glue guy every team needs, and his presence has been a steadying force in an otherwise inconsistent rotation.
Tramon Mark, Guard - B-
Mark, a 6-foot-5 sixth-year senior, has had a bit of a Jekyll-and-Hyde season. He’s averaging 12.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 27.4 minutes per game, but his production has been all over the map. In SEC play, he’s hit the 20-point mark four times - but also combined for just eight points in his last two outings.
With his experience, you’d expect more consistency. Still, when he’s locked in, Mark is a reliable two-way contributor who can carry the offense for stretches.
Jordan Pope, Guard - C+
Pope is the definition of a streaky scorer. The 6-foot-1 guard went scoreless in a loss at Tennessee, then erupted for 28 points in a win at Alabama. He’s shooting 40.8% from the field and leads the team in both three-point attempts (144) and makes (51), making him the Longhorns’ most dangerous perimeter shooter.
He’s not a true point guard - just 2.3 assists per game - but he’s incredibly careful with the ball, logging only 15 turnovers all season. If he can find some rhythm and consistency, especially on the road, he could be a major X-factor down the stretch.
Camden Heide, Forward - C
Heide has the shooting touch - 57.6% from the floor and a team-best 52.9% from three - but he’s not pulling the trigger nearly enough. Despite starting most of the season, the 6-foot-7 Purdue transfer averages just 4.1 shot attempts per game and 7.0 points in 21.6 minutes.
Heide’s efficiency is impressive, but Texas needs more aggression from him offensively. If he starts hunting his shot a bit more, he could really open things up for the rest of the offense.
Lassina Traore, Forward - D+
Traore’s contributions are more about presence than production. At 6-foot-9, the senior transfer from Xavier gives Texas a physical interior defender and adds some toughness off the bench. But the numbers aren’t pretty - 3.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and a 46.8% shooting mark in 15.6 minutes per game.
Even more concerning: he has as many turnovers (22) as made field goals this season. His defensive value is real, but the offensive struggles are hard to ignore.
Simeon Wilcher, Guard - D
Wilcher has had a tough go of it in SEC play. Before his 10-point outing in a win over Oklahoma, the St.
John’s transfer had scored just nine total points over his previous six games. He’s shooting just 7-of-40 in conference play and has struggled to find any offensive rhythm.
Still, he’s logging nearly 20 minutes a game because of his steady defense. If he can build on his performance against Oklahoma, there’s still time to carve out a meaningful role, but right now, he’s more of a defensive stopgap than a scoring threat.
Midseason Coaching Grade: Sean Miller - B-
Miller’s first season in Austin has been a roller coaster. The Longhorns are playing a high-octane brand of basketball, averaging 85.5 points per game - the program’s best mark since 1994-95. Offensively, things are clicking.
But defensively? That’s another story.
Texas leads the SEC in free throws allowed, giving up a staggering 527 through nine conference games. That’s not sustainable, and it’s a direct reflection of the team’s inability to defend without fouling.
Still, the Longhorns have been competitive. Outside of the Tennessee loss, every SEC defeat has been within six points, and they’ve faced a tough slate, including six teams currently .500 or better in league play.
Miller’s “tough love” approach seems to be resonating, and while the growing pains are obvious, there’s also a clear identity taking shape. If Texas can tighten things up defensively and continue getting big nights from Swain and Vokietaitis, they’ve got the tools to make some noise in the back half of SEC play.
Bottom Line:
Texas is still figuring itself out under Sean Miller.
The talent is there, the offense is humming, and the building blocks for something bigger are in place. But for this team to take the next step, it’ll need more consistency - both from its stars and its supporting cast - and a serious commitment to defending without fouling.