5 Things Texas Longhorns Must Do To Make the 2015 NCAA Tournament

By Kelly Anderson

5 Things Texas Longhorns Must Do To Make the 2015 NCAA Tournament

Rick Barnes Texas Longhorns — It’s amazing that with the amount of talent that’s on this Texas squad we are talking about what they need to do to simply make the NCAA tournament instead of what they need to do be a top two seed in it. This team is slowly backing itself into a corner, and they may not be able to get out of it facing such a tough schedule down the stretch. But with that said, here are the five things the Texas Longhorns must do to make the 2015 tournament.

5. Win Consistently

Anthony Hickey Jr Oklahoma St Cowboys

5. Win Consistently

Anthony Hickey Jr Oklahoma St Cowboys — The Longhorns cannot afford to fall out of the top seven in the Big 12 or even lose their first game in the Big 12 tournament. This team is known for winning four in a row but then following that up with a gut wrenching loss to a team like the Oklahoma Sooners or the Iowa State Cyclones to start off a mini tailspin. They need to get on a roll and stay on one.

4. Get Players To Know Their Roles

Isaiah Taylor Texas Rangers

4. Get Players To Know Their Roles

Isaiah Taylor Texas Rangers — The key to consistently winning is to have every player not only know their specific role but to also be comfortable in it. This team needs to keep the 6-foot-9 Conner Lammert on the block and away from the three-point line and get Isaiah Taylor to realize he’s supposed to be a playmaker. His main focus should be on feeding the post when it's open and spotting open three-point shooters.

3. Get a Signature Win or Two

Taurean Prince Baylor Bears

3. Get a Signature Win or Two

Taurean Prince Baylor Bears — They beat West Virginia at home by 27 but were lambasted by Baylor on the road and have been swept by Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. They have a ton of quality losses but no real resume builders when it comes to quality wins. So the Longhorns could really use a win over Iowa State or Kansas as well as have a strong showing in the Big 12 tourney to rest easy on Selection Sunday.

2. Run the Offense Through Their Big Men

Jonathan Holmes Texas Longhorns

2. Run the Offense Through Their Big Men

Jonathan Holmes Texas Longhorns — With five legitimate post players who are all 6-foot-8 or taller, the Longhorns should be able to wear teams down and get them into foul trouble early on in the game. Both Cameron Ridley and Jonathan Holmes have the ability to get you 15 a night and can force teams into a zone defense to try and slow them down. This could open up the floor for their spot three-point shooters and help raise their shooting percentage.

1. Allow Myles Turner To Be A Star

Myles Turner Texas Longhorns

1. Allow Myles Turner To Be A Star

Myles Turner Texas Longhorns — Okay Rick Barnes, that’s enough of trying to make a freshman earn a starting role on the squad. Turner was a top recruit for a reason and it’s because he has a tremendous amount of range and skill for a man his size. If they make the 6-foot-11, 240-pound freshman the focal point of their offense and allow him to play his game, there are very few players at the collegiate level capable of stopping him.

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Texas Longhorns

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