By Wendell Barnhouse
Big12Sports.com Correspondent
Story line
A year ago, Texas was struggling and the idea of making the NCAA Tournament seemed farfetched. Now, the Longhorns return five starters and their key reserves to a team that surprised with 24 victories and an NCAA win. Plus, UT landed one of the nation's top recruits in Myles Turner, a 6-11 forward who can play inside or on the perimeter. Texas hopes to challenge Kansas for the regular-season title but for that to happen, guards Isaiah Taylor and Jevon Felix need to increase their shooting accuracy; both made less than 40 percent last season.
Coach: Rick Barnes (17th season at Texas).
Last season: 24-11 overall, 11-7in Big 12, tie 3rd.
NCAA Tournament: Lost in third round.
Top players
Sr. F Jonathan Holmes, Soph. G Isaiah Taylor, Jr. C Cameroan Ridley, Jr. G Demarcus Holland, Jr. G Jevan Felix, Jr. F Connor Lammert, Fr. F Myles Turner, Fr. F Jordan Barnett.
Coach Barnes says
"First of all, our league is very, very tough. It's tough to win at home, but it's really tough to win on the road. What I would like to see us do is play with the same mentality that I we play with at home. I want to see us be able to handle situations like, when we get down on the road, when we're down at home. We seem to handle those situations of adversity a little bit better at home than we did on the road."
Notable
Texas has recorded 10 or more conference victories 11 times in 16 seasons under Barnes, including the first 13 years with a 16-game schedule. UT has finished .500 or better in the Big 12 in all but two seasons since 1996-97. … Sophomore guard Isaiah Taylor led UT with 26 double-figure scoring efforts in 2013-14. He ranked 3rd among all Big 12 freshman in scoring (12.7 ppg) and steals (37) while placing second in assists (141). … Five different players scored at least 20 points in a game last season. … Myles Turner was selected as Big 12 preseason co-freshman of the year. … Texas plays road games at the two teams that faced off in last season's national championship game – Nov. 30 at Connecticut and Dec. 5 at Kentucky.
Season opener
Nov. 14 vs. North Dakota State
Top nonconference games
Nov. 20 vs. Iowa (2K Classic)
Nov. 30 at Connecticut
Dec. 5 at Kentucky (Big 12-SEC Challenge)
Dec. 23 Stanford
Conference opener
Jan. 3 at Texas Tech