Texas has a new look up front, and the most intriguing part of it is how naturally the pieces seem to fit.
David Punch, a 6-foot-7 junior forward who has spent much of his career seeing himself as a center, now gets to play next to a true interior anchor in 7-foot junior Matas Vokietaitis. Punch arrived from TCU in the offseason, and he’s already talking like a player who knows the pairing can unlock more for both men.
“Last two years, I really didn’t get to play with somebody like Matas,” Punch said. “So playing with him this year, it opens the floor a lot for both of us.”
That matters for a Texas team that looks almost nothing like the one that reached the Sweet 16 a season ago. Vokietaitis is one of the few holdovers from that group, and he started every game of that run. Punch, meanwhile, comes in after a breakout sophomore year at TCU that earned him honorable mention All-Big 12 recognition.
At TCU, Punch started 34 games and put up 14.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game, leading the Horned Frogs in all three categories. Even with that production, he expects a different job description in Austin.
“I’ve always kind of been the center,” Punch said. “But, you know, having Matas has made my game a lot easier.”
The biggest shift may be on defense. Punch’s length and activity showed up in a team-high 66 blocks and 45 steals, the second-most on the team, and he believes Vokietaitis’ presence inside will let him roam more freely.
“It allows me to step out, kind of worry about the perimeter, and not have to worry about being a force on the inside as much,” Punch said. “I’m still going to do my stuff around the basket, but Matas just takes a lot of pressure off on defense.”
Vokietaitis brings his own production to the partnership. He averaged 15.6 points and 7.1 rebounds last season and kept getting better as the year went on, then became one of Texas’ most productive players during its Sweet 16 run.
“(Vokietaitis) was one of our hardest workers, and I think you really saw that (during) March Madness,” head coach Sean Miller said. “Matas in March wasn’t the same player as he was in November.”
There’s still a clear area for growth. Vokietaitis led the Southeastern Conference in personal fouls with 123 and averaged 0.9 blocks per game last season. Texas, though, no longer needs him to carry the rim protection load by himself.
Punch blocked 66 shots to Vokietaitis’ 33, despite being five inches shorter, and the two big men believe that balance can make the frontcourt stronger.
“I think there is no better four man to play with right now in college basketball,” Vokietaitis said. “He’s (an) amazing player.
He’s tough. He’s talented.
He’s smart … I think it’s even easier to play when you have another guy like him next to me.”
Miller sees the same thing, calling Punch’s addition a major fit for the roster.
“We’re thrilled to add (Punch’s) experience, his physicality, and mostly, when you get guys from the portal, you want them to fit,” Miller said. “And I think Matas and David Punch form a very physical one-two punch.”
Vokietaitis went even further in describing what the tandem could become.
“It’s like a gift … playing with him alongside on the frontcourt,” Vokietaitis said. “I’m very grateful and ready to be the best frontcourt.”
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