Gerry Hamilton

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2-3 defensive starters were in fall camp, and out for season. The TE was ACL in Georgia Tech game.

For sure. Texas has the best quality depth potential I have seen on a roster. Miller and staff can go 10-11 deep with role players (some major and some spot roles) against high-major opponents… with the understanding the bench will get shorter at times, to likely 9, as the season gets closer to February and March. What that depth means … it’s good on paper with chance to be very good in season to deal with inevitable missed practice time and games here and there from a frontline player misses due to injury. The biggest challenge Sean Miller and staff (and other programs in the same position) face is it’s all easy right now before roles are defined. Three or four players inevitably won’t have as many minutes on court consistently as they thought once rotations are defined, and when they signed/transferred to Texas. Does the entire team remain focused and locked in the same way once that happens, as they have been all summer and early in practice? When the Marcus Spears Jr. possibility presented itself … that changed the rotation and minute distribution for others. Great for the Texas team and program. Good problem to have for Texas. But the human nature of having this type of depth that will be built in the non-con will challenge when adversity hits. Really like having a no BS coach like Sean Miller to handle/navigate through the scenarios that could arise throughout a season. And I will say, it’s cool to have this convo about Texas basketball. These are blue blood basketball problems one always reads and talks to other fan bases about.

Yep. I continue to believe that health is going to factor in very big in the SEC race … with first year of 9 games, and losing one bye week this year War of attrition by early November

Florida most healthy team in SEC thus far

He’s in such an interesting spot. Not sure he will ever be an NBA level defender He could stay in college two more years and make 8-10 mill …

History of Spurrier and Texas He wanted the Texas job while at Duke (prior to UF) I think is the timeline … Texas told him he didn’t have enough skins on the wall Then when Mackovic was fired Bob Stoops wanted a shot at Texas… Spurrier pushed for him … Texas told Stoops he didn’t have enough skins on the wall So essentially Spurrier was correct twice. And he’s been needling Texas ever since - wrong or right

Yes, the 4

I think Matas has a very interesting decision to make if he doesn’t elevate to 1st round (which is less than 50-50 IMO) He would definitely make more in college by staying for senior year Thats why Texas isn’t being aggressive with HS recruiting in 2027. Texas could lose 3-4 to the NBA after the season (which would mean Texas had one of those E8 or dream FF seasons) … or lose 1-2.

Only if Johnson goes down to injury for a period of time… but that’s the same for 98% of teams in CBK. Texas likes Goosby as a CG quite a bit. Mikey Lewis can initiate too. Texas has multiple initiators.

Couple of practices in … Austin Goosby has returned to the court playing well. All comes down to be consistently in the court for the 6-5.5 freshman. Even in his time with “jumpers knee” keeping him off the court, the staff has been working with his guide hand. The returns have been very good thus far. Big key for Goosby is hitting 34-35% from three this year. If he does that, he goes to another level as an NBA prospect.

I want to add this … Marcus Spears Jr. mental capacity to learn and take it to the court has blown the staff away There have been times in the last two weeks he’s been the best player on the court. He’s picked up the systems really quickly. Playing in the ball screen game defensively, deflections, changing shots, accepting older players physicality, ability to rotate and recover, etc … On offense, playing the ball screen game with timing in the short roll, learning timing of passing out of the high post, shot selection, subtle floor spacing movement as a 4-man, etc… He’s way ahead of schedule

On hoops recruiting … Texas continues to be in pretty good spot for No. 1 in 2027 Beckham Black with OV’s to Ark, Duke and Miami to come I would put the three OV’s so far in this order: Texas, Florida and UNC

ICYMI, Jeff Howe and I sat down for interviews with Isaiah Johnson and David Punch recently

Have received a few DM’s on a tweet from National CBK analyst Jon Rothstein yesterday Not taking a shot at Rothstein, as he does a very good job covering college basketball. I do want to say Spears Jr., Punch and Vokietaitis aren’t expected to be in a starting lineup together. That doesn’t mean there couldn’t be a select matchup at some point to start them, but it’s not in the plans currently. I do believe there will be a matchup or couple of them in which you can play all three for some short stretches (maybe Florida a little come January). The issues with that lineup become floor spacing and rotation of the bigs. Spears Jr. is playing 4-man, and battling against David Punch daily is accelerating his development to get ready to play 4-man in major college hoops. I’m still of the belief that Texas will start: LG/PG Isaiah Johnson CG Mikey Lewis -or- Austin Goosby SF Elyjah Freeman … Amari Evans making a run headed into practices PF David Punch C Matas Vokietaitis Bench: PF Marcus Spears … major role CG Lewis or Goosby … Major role SF/G Amari Evans … Major role G/W Bo Ogden … key role PF John Clark or C Lewis Obiorah … based on matchups. Minor role SG Joe Sterling … minor role vs mid-majors, and see where he goes defensively