(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
The 2008 season was a bit of a roller coaster ride as far as the Texas Longhorns were concerned.
Rick Barnes' squad entered the season as a top 10 team, but faltered in January and February, limping in to the NCAA Tournament. The Longhorns finished a modest 23-12.
For a team with the kind of talent Texas had, the inconsistency throughout the season was a bit unsettling.
The Longhorns were looking good in December, knocking off ninth ranked UCLA and 12th ranked Villanova in back-to-back games.
Heading in to a match-up with fifth ranked Oklahoma in January, Texas was 12-3 on the season. However, a poor showing against the rival Sooners sent the Longhorns into steady decline down the stretch.
Texas went 14-7 in the last 21 games, including three straight losses to Kansas State, Missouri, and Nebraska in Big 12 play.
The limping Longhorns managed to slide in to the NCAA tournament after suffering a rather surprising loss to Baylor in the semifinals of the Big 12 tournament.
Texas was able to drive past New Mexico in the first round, but couldn't overcome Duke in the second round. For only the second time in five years, the Longhorns bowed out of the tournament before the Sweet 16.
The 2009 version of the Texas Longhorns is looking to right the ship and get the program back among the elite.
With 16 players on the roster, Rick Barnes has one of the deepest squads in the country, and Texas fans know that depth has been hard to come by the last few years.
The Players:
G/F Damion James
Longhorn nation breathed a sigh of relief when the dynamic James backed out of the NBA Draft and opted to return to Texas for his senior season.
James is the heart and soul of this Texas squad. Last season, he averaged 15 points and nine rebounds a game, shooting 46 percent from the field. At 6'7", 225 lbs, James is the kind of player that can dominate inside the paint and keep defenses honest on the perimeter.
However, James struggled at times being the go-to guy a year ago. His numbers were solid, but his shooting percentage from behind the arc fell from 41 percent in 2007 to 32 percent in 2008.
James' return to Texas will be key for both the Longhorns' success as well as his individual development as a pro prospect. It will be interesting to see how he handles the role of team leader this season.
C/F Dexter Pittman
"Sexy Dexy" may have made the most significant improvement out of anyone on the team.
After averaging just three points and three rebounds a game in 2007, Pittman saw increased playing time, and as a result, he averaged just over 10 points and five boards a game in 2008.
Pittman came on strong towards the end of last season, averaging a double-double in the Big 12 tournament. His best game came against Kansas State when he scored 19 points, grabbed 20 rebounds, and had seven blocked shots.
Get used to seeing that kind of stat line in 2009 as Pittman will continue to develop into one of the most dominating inside forces in the nation.
G Justin Mason
Every coach wants a player like Justin Mason on his team. He is a tireless defender, he can rebound with the best of them, and he's got a decent shot.
Mason has been the utility player for the Longhorns the last few seasons, getting time at the point, on the wing, and at forward.
A year ago Mason averaged six points, three rebounds, and four assists per game.
Mason was as good as ever on defense, but he struggled on the offensive side. While his overall shooting percentage was up from 2007, his three point percentage dropped from 34 percent to 20 percent and his free throw percentage plummeted to 56 percent.
If his offensive game has improved in the off-season, he'll be one of the better all around players in the Big 12.
F Gary Johnson
Johnson really improved his shooting last season, averaging 10 points a game. He shot around 48 percent from the field.
Gary's greatest attribute is his defense down low. He moves well laterally and is a terrific rebounder.
Johnson can get off the ground and block shots with the best of them and will be a force to be reckoned with on the Longhorn front line.
G Varez Ward
Talk about coming out of the wood work.
Not many people knew about Ward, but he made fans take notice during the Big 12 tournament. While his numbers weren't staggering (total of 16 points during the tournament) he made some huge plays driving in to the lane and picking up tough points.
Ward's aggressive play has earned the respect of his teammates as well as some significant playing time in the upcoming season.
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