AUSTIN, Texas -- Shaka Smarts first season at Texas pumped new life into the Longhorns program. It also ended with another quick departure from the NCAA Tournament.For year two, the mission is to keep the Longhorns on the upward trend, and keep them playing much deeper in the postseason, even with no returning starters and seven newcomers to the lineup .Thats asking a lot in a league like the Big 12.It was a fun transition, and continues to be a transition because were certainly far from having our program all the way established to where we wanted it to be, Smart said. We lost a lot of guys. Had five seniors graduate, had a junior leave.Also gone are the exhausting early-season trips to China and the Bahamas that made it tough for Smart to build early consistency in his first season. But newly arrived on campus is 6-foot-11 forward Jarrett Allen, an Austin product who spurned an offer from national powerhouse Kansas to stay close to home.Texas has been a regular in the NCAA Tournament, making it 16 of the last 17 years. Smart was hired in large part because the problem was getting past the first weekend, which the Longhorns havent done since 2008.Smart has had his own postseason woes. Since leading Virginia Commonwealth to the Final Four in 2011, his teams havent made it past the tournaments opening weekend, including three straight first-round losses. Last season, Texas lost to Northern Iowa on a half-court shot at the buzzer.Some things to look for in Smarts second season at Texas:BIG THINGS FROM THE BIG MANMuch will be expected from Allen from the start. As one of the highest-rated recruits in the country, hell be asked not just to score but help patch up an interior defense that lost Prince Ibeh, last seasons Big 12 defensive player of the year. Hes going to make a big impact right away. Were going to play him at multiple positions, Smart said.FREQUENT FLIER MILESTexas wont rack up as many of those. Unlike last seasons globe-trotting schedule that had the Longhorns jet-lagged for a month, the longest out-of-conference trips this team will make include New York for a Thanksgiving week tournament and a December trip to Michigan. They should be well rested for the start of Big 12 play.GO-TO GUARDTexas needs a go-to ball handler and passer after Isaiah Taylor turned pro after last season. That looks like it could be sophomore Kerwin Roach, whose athleticism produced some rim-rattling dunks last season. But Smart plans to get the ball in a lot of hands. Defenses knew everything ran through Taylor last season.I think its definitely a more versatile group, Smart said. Were going to have to play point guard by committee, and that will be interesting to follow.BIG SHOT DAVISWhoever becomes the distributor, guard Eric Davis will get a lot of looks. He started just two games last season but made 42 3-pointers, shooting 38 percent and returns as the Longhorns top outside threat.YOUTH MOVEMENTSmarts first team was dominated by seniors. It will be freshmen and sophomores leading the way this time. Of all the players who attended preseason Big 12 media days, Roach and Davis were the only sophomores. Other freshmen who will be expected to contribute immediately will be guards Andrew Jones and Jacob Young and forward James Banks. Cheap Real Jordan 11 . Ibaka equaled a career high with 20 rebounds, adding four blocked shots and 15 points as the Thunder smothered the Milwaukee Bucks offence in a 92-79 victory Saturday night. Jordan 11 Wholesale . The recently retired Stern was elected Friday to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and will be enshrined with the class of 2014 on Aug. http://www.cheapairjordan11freeshipping.com/ .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Jordan 11 Outlet . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. Cheap Air Jordan 11 Free Shipping .C. -- Al Jefferson joked that he feels he can score from anywhere on the court. Texas Tech sophomore?Breiden Fehoko has been recognized as a top college football player of Polynesian descent. Fehoko was tapped by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame when it released the 2016 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award watch list.?There are eight players who play their college football east of the Rocky Mountains on the watch list, and Fehoko is one of only two players from the Big 12 on the list.He started at defensive tackle in 13 games last season and tallied an interception, the first defensive lineman to intercept a pass for the Red Raiders since 2010.dddddddddddd He also had a sack and four tackles for loss on his way to being an honorable mention to the All-Big 12 coaches team.The 2016 award winner will be announced on Dec. 7, with past winners of the award including Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Ronnie Stanley and Tennessee Titans QB Marcus Mariota. ' ' '