When playing a team like Gardner-Webb, the question for Texas is rarely whether the Longhorns are going to win.
Rather, it’s who can make the argument that they deserve their piece of the rotation pie in games that aren’t decided by halftime. On Thursday, there were plenty of candidates.
No. 7 Texas men’s basketball defeated Gardner-Webb 98-50. Head coach Sean Miller had no hesitation in letting his players make their case, spreading minutes throughout a roster still figuring out its rotation.
Junior center Matas Vokietaitis led the Longhorns with 16 points, while sophomore guard Isaiah Johnson followed closely behind with 15. But the scoring production extended well beyond the two, as Texas showcased the depth of its offensive arsenal with seven different players scoring double-digit points.
But the Longhorns weren’t just making their case on the offensive end. Entering this season, one of the biggest questions surrounding Miller’s squad was whether the defensive woes of old would follow them.
The Longhorns got an early glimpse of the answer as they held Gardner-Webb without a field goal for nearly 12 minutes spanning the first and second halves. The Runnin’ Bulldogs finished the game with 23 total turnovers as eight different Longhorns recorded a block or steal.
“We talked about being more aggressive, pressuring the ball more and embracing that side of the ball,” Miller said postgame. “I like where we’re at. I think we’re off to a good start, and most importantly, I think the path that we’re on defensively is the right path to where we want to be.”
While most eyes naturally fall to the big men in search of defensive production, Miller believes the best defensive teams have disruptors at guard and on the wings. On Thursday, that disruptor came in the form of freshman guard Austin Goosby, who recorded a team-high five steals.
With junior guard Mikey Lewis sidelined to start the season, Goosby has been one of the biggest beneficiaries. The freshman led the team in minutes for the second consecutive game this season with 23.
“I mean, it really wasn’t intentional,” Miller said about Goosby’s playing time. “The way I would describe coaching Austin is it’s not easy to take him out. … He does so many different things that, you know, he impacts the game in different ways that you want to keep him on the floor.”
Goosby is hardly the only Longhorn making a case for his slice. Ten different players saw double-digit minutes Thursday, and while part of that can be chalked up to the nature of the blowout, Miller believes making the most of that depth requires something beyond individual talent: a willingness to sacrifice for the team.
“If you can cultivate that versatility and that depth and that unselfishness, I think that’s what takes you the furthest,” Miller said. “It isn’t always fun. Players have to sacrifice, embrace their role. … We’re going to be at our best when guys who don’t start the game really come into the game and impact almost as if they are a starter.”
Against Gardner-Webb, there were more than enough minutes to go around. But as the competition stiffens and the rotation tightens, Miller will have some decisions to make.
For now, the Longhorns are making those decisions awfully difficult for him.
