Texas Coach Sean Miller Previews Longhorns Season Opener

To begin one of the most anticipated seasons in recent program history, the preseason No. 7-ranked Texas Longhorns host Chicago State on Monday, Nov. 2, at 8 p.m. CT inside the Moody Center in Austin.

Texas coach Sean Miller begins his second season at the helm after leading the Longhorns to a Sweet 16 berth in last year's NCAA tournament.

Season-openers have been kind to Texas, especially when they've come at home. Miller is looking to extend a streak of 24 straight home-opener wins for the Longhorns, who have also won 21 of their last 24 season-openers overall.

Texas holds a 53-17 record inside the Moody Center as the arena enters its fifth season housing the men's and women's hoops programs.

READ MORE: Miller: Texas Basketball Program is 'Underrated'

Miller said in media availability this week that he hopes to get every available player on the court Monday to begin his process of determining roles for the rest of the season.

That strategy takes a notice considering transfer guard Mikey Lewis' absence. The Saint Mary's newcomer will be out after undergoing offseason foot surgery, but Miller did update that he expects Lewis to make a return in mid-to-late December.

That timetable is in line to get Texas one of its best perimeter shooters back available before SEC play starts on Jan. 2.

Freshmen Austin Goosby, Bo Ogden and Joe Sterling are said to receive increased responsibilities on the wing during Lewis' absence.

"We believe in all three of the freshmen," Miller said.

Lewis' addition to the new-look Longhorns comes from an elite transfer portal class. Miller added to that momentum with another win ahead of the 2026-27 season in signing Marcus Spears Jr.

The 5-star prospect and No. 1-ranked recruit in the 2027 class reclassified up to join the Longhorns for this upcoming season.

The progress has landed Miller's squad in the conversation of "Final Four contenders" ahead of the start of the new college basketball season.

Joining Texas as top contenders to reach the national semifinals is Arizona, UConn, Michigan State, Tennessee, Arkansas and Virginia. The Longhorns are ranked No. 7 in the Associated Press' preseason Top 25.

Alongside Spears' recruitment, it's worth noting that Texas adds top transfers David Punch from TCU and Isaiah Johnson from Colorado. Texas also returns big man Matas Vokietaitis, whose breakout NCAA tournament performance projects him to be one of the best post players in the country.

"The 6-10 forward, who is the son of ESPN's Marcus Spears Sr., is a versatile forward with a skill set Sean Miller said he has rarely seen at this level. Miller has compared Spears to NBA standout Aaron Gordon," said ESPN's Myron Medcalf, who ranked Spears as the No. 68 best player in college basketball entering the year.

Vokietaitis (No. 31), Punch (No. 46), Johnson (No. 61) were also ranked, making for a quartet of Longhorns listed in among the top 100 players in the sport.

The Lithuanian big man will be the only player in Monday's opener who has previously played a game for Texas, which Miller admitted will be an interesting emotional factor to figure out.