AUSTIN, Texas — The 2023-24 College Basketball Season kicks off in only a matter of weeks, and the Texas Longhorns are entering the new campaign with understandably high expectations.
The Longhorns were ranked third in the Big 12 Preseason Poll, finishing behind perennial powerhouse Kansas and new Big 12 addition Houston. The Longhorns racked up 143 total points in the voting process, behind Kansas' 168 and Houston's 153.
Expectations for the Longhorns are once again sky high, as not only will the team see the return of most of its players from last season's Elite 8 roster, but it will also add perhaps the nation's top transfer to the already loaded squad in former Oral Roberts guard Max Abmas.
Abmas is the NCAA's career scoring leader, scoring a jaw dropping 2,562 points in his career with the Golden Eagles. He is also the NCAA career scoring average leader, with an average of 20.8 points per game for his career. He is a career 38.8% three-point shooter and converts on 88.1% free throws, both of which are statistically excellent numbers.
Abmas' addition to the Longhorns has propelled a roster already populated by highly-rated NBA prospect Dillon Mitchell and key players in Dylan Disu and Tyrese Hunter.
In light of the expectations surrounding him, Abmas was named to this season's Preseason All-Big 12 team, while Mitchell, Hunter and Disu were given honorable mentions.
Texas will play its Orange-White scrimmage game on Oct. 17 and host St. Edward's in an exhibition game on Oct. 30, before kicking off its season against Incarnate Word on Nov. 6. Each of those games take place at the Moody Center.