The Texas Longhorns opened their second season under Sean Miller with a lopsided 109-59 win over Chicago State on Monday at the Moody Center, and the box score told the story quickly. Texas center Matas Vokietaitis led the way with 22 points and six rebounds while going a perfect 9 of 9 from the field. Isaiah Johnson added 18 points and five assists, and five Longhorns finished in double figures.
Texas is 1-0, but the bigger picture is still ahead. The non-conference schedule will bring far stiffer tests, and Monday’s game offered a first look at what this new group can do.
One of the clearest takeaways was Marcus Spears Jr., who is supposed to be a senior in high school but instead stepped into his collegiate debut and put up 11 points, five rebounds and four blocks. His size and strength already show up around the rim, especially when he gets there off his left hand.
The offensive game still has room to grow, but the defensive value is obvious. Spears Jr. can check ball-handlers on the perimeter, stay with them laterally, and still recover to the paint in time to challenge shots at the glass or at least get a piece of them.
If he keeps producing like this, Spears Jr. could put himself in the SEC Defensive Player of the Year conversation, though that’s obviously a long road.
Johnson also looked every bit like one of the top guards available in the transfer portal this offseason. The buzz around him wasn’t exaggerated.
With his godfather Dwyane Wade watching courtside, Johnson attacked with a strong left hand and hit three 3-pointers. Whether Sean Miller needs him to run the offense as a point guard or work off the ball as a two-guard, Johnson looks capable of handling just about anything.
That versatility matters because Johnson and Austin Goosby give Texas a starting backcourt that can affect games at both ends.
The depth pieces made their case too. Joe Sterling and Bo Ogden both look ready for meaningful bench roles, and Sterling in particular flashed real shooting value.
He scored 14 points, grabbed three rebounds and handed out three assists while knocking down 4 of 6 shots from beyond the arc. Ogden brings length and shooting as well, and he should have his moments, but Sterling may be the best pure shooter on the roster right now.
There’s also the defensive side of the ball, and while Chicago State is not the kind of opponent that reveals everything, Texas still showed signs of progress. The Longhorns were always going to look better defensively than they did against St. John’s last week, but the activity level, the addition of a defensive-minded power forward in David Punch and better hands from the backcourt all stood out as improvements over last season.
Even so, there were still issues with on-ball defense and paint protection against St. John’s, so the real read on this team will have to wait until Baylor next weekend. Texas may not end up as the SEC’s best defensive team, but even modest improvement on that end would mark a clear step forward from where the Longhorns were a year ago.
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Steve Sarkisian Just Sent A Clear Message About Arch Manning
Steve Sarkisian is not sounding like a coach looking to press the panic button on Arch Manning. Even with the turnovers piling up and the sack count climbing, Sarkisian has made it clear he still believes in his quarterback, while also pointing to the bigger issues around him. The Texas coach said the offense needs better play up front and a quicker release from Manning, but he also praised the way the young quarterback competes and absorbs contact.
Manning, for his part, has owned some of the blame for the sacks and said he is focused on getting better and helping Texas win. That matters as the Longhorns head into a critical game, where the pressure is only going to rise and every snap will be watched closely. For now, the message from the sideline is less about doubt than about trust, even if the next step has to come fast. [Read more 🡒]
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Mosley is now part of a wider group being asked to grow up quickly, with freshmen Jermaine Bishop Jr., Kohen Brown and Chris Stewart all in line for more snaps as the Longhorns manage the shortage. For a passing attack built around timing and trust, the challenge is less about finding bodies than finding reliable ones, and Texas is now testing how much production it can get from receivers who have not had to carry this kind of responsibility before. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Is About To Get A Brutal Playoff Reality Check
Texas is sitting at 6-2 with four regular-season games left, and the latest AP Poll has the Longhorns at No. 10, which keeps them in the playoff conversation but hardly in a comfortable spot. The first College Football Playoff rankings are coming soon, and for a team still trying to stack wins in the SEC, that initial reveal should offer an early look at how the committee views Texas against the rest of the crowded field.
Steve Sarkisian has already pointed to the reality facing SEC teams with multiple losses, a reminder that record alone may not tell the whole story once the selection process begins. For Texas, the bigger question is how the committee weighs the Longhorns' wins and losses from here, especially as the season enters its final stretch and every result starts carrying more meaning. [Read more 🡒]