Longhorns Country

Texas Men's Basketball Slides Into ESPN's Way-Too-Early Top 25 Rankings

The Texas Longhorns are entering the second full season under head coach Rodney Terry.

Matt Galatzan

Mar 21, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Rodney Terry calls to his team in the first half of the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Rodney Terry calls to his team in the first half of the first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports / Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
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Texas Longhorns men’s basketball has finalized its roster this offseason with a flurry of talented transfers and a strong freshman class. 

Still, as the Longhorns enter the SEC, there’s still some uncertainty about how it all will come together, but ESPN is leaning on the side of optimism. 

The site released its latest installment of Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings and had Texas included for the first time this offseason following the signing of Kansas State transfer forward Arthur Kaluma. 

The Longhorns slide in at No. 22 in a rankings list that features a whopping nine SEC teams, including Alabama (No. 2), Auburn (No. 11), Texas A&M (No. 12), Tennessee (No. 13), Arkansas (No. 14), Ole Miss (No. 20), Florida (No. 21) and Kentucky (No. 23). 

Here’s what ESPN had to say about Texas: 

"Texas has been bouncing in and out of the Way-Too-Early Top 25 for much of the spring, but Kansas State transfer Arthur Kaluma committing in late June secured the Longhorns their latest spot in the rankings. Rodney Terry has loaded his roster with talented scorers, led by Jordan Pope (Oregon State), Tramon Mark (Arkansas), Kaluma and top-five recruit Tre Johnson. Jayson Kent (Indiana State) and Kadin Shedrick will anchor the defense.”

Many fans expect the Longhorns to have an easier time in the SEC after dealing with the rough-and-tough Big 12 over the years, but if these rankings hold up, Texas will be in for a challenge week in and week out despite reloading the roster. 

Texas begins the regular season against the Ohio State Buckeyes in Las Vegas for the Hall of Fame Series on Monday, Nov. 4

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Matt Galatzan

MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan is the Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com, AllAggies.com, and the Managing Editor of BuckeyesNow.com and TheGroveReport.com He is also the Editor-In-Chief of RamDigest.com and TexansDaily.com. Galatzan graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration.  Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry under Mike Fisher at DallasBasketball.com in 2014, which at the time was part of the 247Sports network. He also spent two years covering the SMU Mustangs for PonyStampede.com on the 247Sports network.  When DallasBasketball.com and CowboysCountry.com moved over to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, Galatzan followed suit, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com and AllAggies.com a year later.  Through the years, Galatzan has conducted a handful of high-profile one-on-one interviews to add to his resume — in both writing and podcasting. Some of his biggest interviews have been with Mavs owner Mark Cuban, former Longhorns players Dan Neil and Phil Dawson, and many other recruits, and current/former players for each of the teams he has covered.  Galatzan is also a full-time employee in the digital media department for Audacy and KRLD FM's 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, which is the official radio home of the Dallas Cowboys.  You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels, including Twitter on @MattGalatzan For any inquiries, please email matt.galatzan@gmail.com

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