Texas Basketball Coach Sean Miller Prepares New Roster for Season Opener
The Longhorns start their campaign against Chicago State Monday, relying on a mix of transfers and freshmen under a coach known for his intensity.
By Andrew Kovalenko ·
Sean Miller begins his 22nd season as a college head coach on Monday when No. 7 Texas opens its 2026-27 season against Chicago State. The Longhorns enter the contest as a group with high preseason expectations but limited collective experience. Miller, 57, has coached for 19 months at Texas and has built a reputation for a direct approach that challenges players to perform at a high level.
Texas currently sits at No. 7 in the preseason AP Poll, a ranking that suggests Final Four potential. However, the roster construction differs from previous years. Matas Vokietaitis is the only player on the current team who logged significant minutes for the Longhorns last season. The rest of the starting lineup is expected to consist of three transfer players and freshman Austin Goosby. This shift in personnel means the team must find its chemistry quickly on the court.
Miller has managed similar transitions in his career. He spent 12 years at Arizona from 2009 to 2021 and eight seasons at Xavier across two stints from 2004 to 2009 and 2022 to 2025. In each location, he implemented a coaching style that emphasizes effort and toughness. Players in Austin have adapted to this method, which often involves public criticism followed by strong endorsements of a player's potential.
A recent example involves center Matas Vokietaitis. After a 87-74 loss to St. John's at Madison Square Garden last month, Miller addressed the team's rebounding issues. He noted that Vokietaitis had zero rebounds at halftime, a stat that matched his own total. Miller later stated that he believes in Vokietaitis more than any other player on the roster. He cited the 7-foot center's work ethic and leadership qualities as key factors in his development.
The coaching staff is working with a roster that includes several new faces. Transfer forward David Punch joined the team from TCU. He said he was not surprised by Miller's intensity during practice or postgame press conferences. Punch noted that Miller's passion for the game is evident in every session. Point guard Isaiah Johnson, who transferred from Colorado, added that Miller brings energy to every practice.
Freshman Marcus Spears Jr. is expected to earn substantial playing time. Senior point guard Mikey Lewis, a transfer from Saint Mary's, will make his Texas debut in December. Lewis underwent foot surgery on October 1 and is currently recovering. The team's schedule includes nonconference games around Christmas that Miller uses to evaluate effort and toughness.
Miller attributes his direct coaching style to his father, John Miller, who coached him during his high school years at Blackhawk High School near Pittsburgh, Penn. The coaching philosophy remains consistent regardless of the location. Texas fans and players have become accustomed to the coach's public comments on performance, whether the team wins or loses. The season opener against Chicago State will be the first test of this new grouping.
Miller has benched leading scorers in the past when he felt players lacked the desire to compete. In January, he sat Daylin Swain for the final 13 minutes of a loss to Tennessee. In March, he pulled senior guard Jordan Pope after five minutes in a loss to Arkansas. These decisions reflect a standard that applies to all players. The Longhorns will face Chicago State on Monday to begin their 2026-27 campaign.
