Texas head coach Vic Schaefer: 'I love my team'

For the second year in a row, Texas head coach Vic Schaefer enters the season with something most programs envy: a returning core of All-American Madison Booker and All-America Honorable Mention Rori Harmon. Alongside that pair, 6-6 center Kyla Oldacre is back, joined by sophomores Jordan Lee and Bryanna Preston. 

“I love my team,” Schaefer told On3. “I think they’ve got a chance to be really good again.”

The Longhorns also got a head start on building chemistry with their newcomers this summer, competing in the Globl Jam tournament in Toronto and playing four games in five days. 

“It was a good experience for us,” Schaefer said. “You learn some things about your team – some of it you like, some you might wish you didn’t learn so quick, but I’d rather know it now than in November or December.”

One of the tougher moments came just eight minutes into the first game, when Oldacre injured her ankle after scoring 17 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in the opening stretch.

“That was a little disheartening to lose her,” Schaefer said. “She didn’t get to play the rest of the time and she was playing so well. That kid’s really hungry to be the best she can be and contribute… She’s just now getting cleared to participate in some things.”

Fortunately, Schaefer noted that he doesn’t anticipate any lingering injury and she’ll likely be good to go sooner than later.

With Oldacre sidelined in Canada and just 10 players available, others had to step up. Arizona transfer Breya Cunningham logged heavy minutes, while freshman Aaliyah Crump and transfers Teya Sidberry and Ashton Judd got their first taste of Longhorn action.

“We added two incredible four players…,” Schaefer said. “Teya and Ashton can both stretch the floor and shoot from the perimeter, and that’s something we’ve kind of lacked here…What we have had at that position that I’m hoping we can continue with is that physical play and toughness.”

Schaefer is also looking for growth from his young returners. 

“Both Bry and Jordan want that opportunity,” he said. “They want to be a bigger piece to the puzzle. If they can do that, I think it makes us way better and harder to guard and defend…I’m excited about what they bring to the table and there’s a potential there where they can handle that.”

The Longhorns’ perimeter play got a boost with Crump, a highly-recruited freshman Schaefer expects to expand the team’s offensive options.

“I think we’ve got people that can shoot it,” Schaefer said. “I love to shoot the ball from the perimeter, but I really love making them.”

While the newcomers add a new look to this team, the talent level and versatility of this group as a whole makes them a national contender. After a Final Four appearance last season with much of the same core, the ceiling remains high for the Texas Longhorns.