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Big 12 team-by-team preview: Texas, Baylor battle for the top

By Jada Butts

COLLEGE PARK, MD - MARCH 17: West Virginia Mountaineers center Lanay Montgomery (15) with teammates at the start of the Div. 1 NCAA Women's basketball 1st. round game between Elon and West Virginia on March 17, 2017, at Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland. West Virginia defeated Elon 75-62. (Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - MARCH 17: West Virginia Mountaineers center Lanay Montgomery (15) with teammates at the start of the Div. 1 NCAA Women's basketball 1st. round game between Elon and West Virginia on March 17, 2017, at Xfinity Center in College Park, Maryland. West Virginia defeated Elon 75-62. (Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT- DECEMBER 4: Brooke McCarty
UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT- DECEMBER 4: Brooke McCarty /

Texas

Projected finish: 1st

Key returners:

Brooke McCarty 14.1 ppg, 46%, 3.6 rpg, 3.6 apg, 34 mpg

Ariel Atkins 12.8 ppg, 46%, 4.2 rpg, 1.6 apg, 27 mpg

(Joyner Holmes) 12.1 ppg, 44%, 8.2 rpg, 27 mpg

Biggest losses:

(Joyner Holmes) 12.1 ppg, 44%, 8.2 rpg, 27 mpg

Kelsey Lang 9.1 ppg, 53%, 7.6 rpg, 27 mpg

Brianna Taylor 4.8 ppg, 47%, 4.2 rpg, 1.8 apg, 21 mpg

Newcomers:

Destiny Littleton G, 5-9, La Jolla, CA, Freshman, #9 guard (Hoopgurlz)

Chasity Patterson G, 5-5, Houston, TX, Freshman, #1 PG (Hoopgurlz)

Rellah Boothe F, 6-3, Ocala, FL, Freshman, #1 forward (Hoopgurlz)

Jatarie White F/C, 6-4, Charlotte, NC, Junior

Head Coach: Karen Aston will begin her 14th season overall at Texas. She was an assistant and associate head coach for eight years under Jody Conradt. She returned in 2012 to be the head coach of the Longhorns. The recruiting ability of Aston is second to none. This year’s team features ten McDonald’s All-American’s, three of those being freshman. ESPN.com ranks this recruiting class at number 3. Anything less than a Big 12 title, is this team selling itself short.

Key non-conference games:

Tennessee 12/10

Florida State 12/17

UConn 1/15

Outlook: There is so much talent on this team. The main concern is going to be chemistry. With having so many players that were the go-to in the past, they are going to have to adjust to perfecting their role. Brooke McCarty and Ariel Atkins are the senior leaders on this team and will set the expectation. A big factor that the Longhorns will have to deal with is the return of 2016-2017 freshman of the year, Joyner Holmes. Holmes is suspended from UT for the fall semester but will return in December. The adjustment of the newcomers to Holmes will definitely be an interesting dynamic.

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