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Longhorns' depth makes Texas a title contender

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Jeff Goodman

Jeff Goodman is a senior college basketball writer for FOXSports.com. Check out his Yardbarker blog. MORE>>
 
Updated Nov 4, 2009 12:27 PM ET
     
 
We're not going with a typical, run-of-the-mill top 25 rundown each day. Instead, we'll cut to the chase and tell you who will be left standing at the end of the year in the Elite Eight. We'll hit on one each of the next eight days — in no particular order. Then we'll unveil my complete bracket just prior to the start of the season on Nov. 9. I had the championship game right last year, but incorrectly picked Michigan State to beat North Carolina.

2009-10 preview

Roy Halladay Can't wait for the college hoops season to start? We get you ready for 2009-10 with our preseason guide.
I have a good feeling about my bracket this time around.

TEXAS

The Longhorns are the deepest team in the nation. In fact, they are so loaded up and down the roster that former Florida starting point guard Jai Lucas isn't even on scholarship this season. Texas has an abundance of big men, from starting center Dexter Pittman to Gary Johnson, Clint Chapman, Matt Hill and even Alexis Wangmene. There's no shortage of guards — from holdovers Justin Mason, Dogus Balbay and Varez Ward to the newcomers such as Avery Bradley. J'Covan Brown, Shawn Williams and Lucas, who become eligible in the second semester. Damion James, a preseason All-American candidate, is a difficult mismatch at the power forward spot due to his athleticism, and the Longhorns also brought in one of the most talented freshman in the nation with offensive-minded wing Jordan Hamilton. The bottom line is that no one has more overall talent up and down the roster than the boys in Austin.

Why

1. J'Covan Brown: He'll be the difference-maker in this year's team. While everyone talks about the addition of freshmen Avery Bradley and Jordan Hamilton, it'll be Bradley, a frosh do-it-all point guard who didn't qualify to play last season, making the biggest impact in Austin — or at least fill the most glaring need. 2. Depth: As we mentioned, Rick Barnes' team has no peer when it comes to depth. The Longhorns have youth, experience, guards, size and defensive specialists. Barnes will be able to sustain an injury easier than anyone else around the country. 3. Defense: With the addition of Bradley, the best perimeter defender I've seen in the last few years in the high school ranks, the Longhorns have three guys who can really lock down on the defensive end: Bradley, Justin Mason and Dogus Balbay. Look for Barnes' team to be stingy when it comes to allowing points.

Why not

1. Chemistry: Barnes has to keep a lot of guys happy. Mason will likely go from a starter to a role player. Balbay may turn over the starting point guard duties to Brown or even Jai Lucas. The freshmen, Bradley and Hamilton, won't be 30-minute a game guys. Not on this team. 2. Perimeter shooting: The Longhorns lost one of the nation's elite long-range shooters in A.J. Abrams. They still have capable shooters in Hamilton and Brown, but they are freshmen. 3. Brown doesn't emerge as quickly as anticipated: Balbay can run a team, but opponents don't bother guarding him on the perimeter due to his unwillingness to shoot the ball. Lucas can make shots, but he's a solid role guy for a team that is going to battle for a national title. That means it's Brown who holds the key, and he should get the nod as the starting floor leader early in the season. He'll need to mature quickly, especially in the mental aspect of the game.

Key player

J'Covan Brown: To me, the Texas native is the key to the Longhorns being able to win the national title. He is a versatile floor leader who can set his teammates up or also score when necessary.

Don't sleep on...

Jordan Hamilton: All the talk has been about Bradley, but Barnes will find a way to get Hamilton on the court because, frankly, he may be the team's best scorer.
Tagged: UCF, Michigan State, Florida, Lehigh, Bradley, Brown, Texas

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