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  • Lack Of Interest From NBA Teams Means Texas Gets Dillon Mitchell For Another Season

Lack Of Interest From NBA Teams Means Texas Gets Dillon Mitchell For Another Season

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Basketball

Dillon Mitchell has elected to return to The University of Texas Men's Basketball team for the upcoming 2023-24 season.

During his freshman season in 2022-23, Mitchell played and started all 38 games and led the team in field goal percentage (.636, 75-118). He ranked third on the team in rebounding (3.9 rpg), second in offensive rebounds (52) and fifth in blocked shots (12) while averaging 4.3 points in 17.5 minutes per contest. Mitchell tied UT single-season records for most games played and games started.

Mitchell reached double figures in scoring six times and double digits in rebounds twice. He recorded a double-double with 10 points (5-5 FG) and a career-high 12 rebounds (eight offensive) in 17 minutes against Houston Christian (Nov. 10). Mitchell tallied 12 points (3-6 FG, 6-6 FT), nine boards and three steals in a career-best 32 minutes against Rice (Dec. 12). He had a career-high 16 points (career-best 8-9 FG) and five boards in 27 minutes versus Texas A&M-Commerce (Dec. 27).

Mitchell tied his career highs in rebounds (12) and steals (three) in 30 minutes at Oklahoma State (Jan. 7). He registered a game-high seven boards to go along with five points, one block and one steal in 18 minutes against No. 11/11 Baylor (Jan. 30). Mitchell added a game-high nine rebounds, four points, two steals and one block in 22 minutes at No. 9/8 Kansas (Feb. 6).

Texas completed the 2022-23 season with an overall record of 29-9 (12-6 Big 12, second) and ranked No. 5 in the final Associated Press poll and No. 7 in the final USA TODAY Sports Coaches poll. The No. 5 spot marked a tie for the highest ranking in the final AP poll by the Longhorns, as UT also was No. 5 in the final AP poll during the 2002-03 Final Four season. The No. 7 spot marked the third-highest ranking in the final Coaches poll in program history and highest since a No. 5 ranking following the 2007-08 season.

The Longhorns advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time since 2008 and eighth time in program history. UT captured its second Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship title in program history, defeating No. 3 Kansas, 76-56, in the championship game in Kansas City, Mo. The Longhorns earned a No. 2 seed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, marking the highest seed for Texas in the NCAA tourney since 2008 (also a No. 2 seed).

The 29 wins were the third-most in a single season in program history, as UT went 31-7 in 2007-08 and 30-7 in 2005-06. The Longhorns compiled a 10-7 record against AP Top 25 opponents in 2022-23, and the 10 wins were the most in the nation against AP-ranked foes. The 10 wins against AP-ranked opponents also set a school single-season record, as UT previously went 8-5 in 2003-04. Texas posted a 6-3 mark against AP Top 11 foes during the 2022-23 season and tied a program single-season record for most games played (38). UT began the year at No. 12 in the preseason AP poll and spent all 19 weeks of the poll in the top 12, including 17 consecutive weeks in the top 10. That marked the longest such stretch since Texas was in the top 10 for all 19 polls during the 2002-03 Final Four season.

The Longhorns were one of three teams to rank in the top 15 in KenPom in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency. Texas (15 offense, 13 defense) was joined by UConn (3 offense, 7 defense) and Houston (11 offense, 5 defense). Since the Big 12 moved to an 18-game round-robin schedule starting in the 2011-12 season, Texas reached the 12-win mark for the first time in league play (12-6 record). Seventeen of UT's 29 victories during the 2022-23 season were by at least 10 points.