No. 13 Texas looks for continued growth from Mwenentanda, Muhammad as season tips off

On Tuesday, Texas sent Shaylee Gonzales and Taylor Jones out to talk to the media ahead of Wednesday's season opener against Southern. They were asked what they like the most about that first game of a college basketball season.

Jones shared that she savors the opportunity to show off all the hard week from the offseason, a thought echoed by Gonzales. Jones also said she enjoys playing against someone who's not a teammate.

By now, both Gonzales and Jones are used to getting ready for the season. This will be the sixth season opener for Gonzales, who sat out BYU's 2019-20 season with a knee injury. Jones has already played in four openers at Oregon State and Texas, so Wednesday will be her fifth.

But not all of the Longhorns are that experienced. Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda and Amina Muhammad, for example, are both entering their second seasons. And how they fare as sophomores could have a significant impact on how No. 13 Texas does this season.

Looking for a Year 2 jump

As head coach Vic Schaefer recently pointed out, “the most improvement you make is between your freshman and sophomore year, typically." As a freshman, Mwenentanda averaged 4.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 12 minutes per game. She started three times. In the season-ending loss to Louisville in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, she scored 10 points and was among the three players that Texas brought to its postgame press conference.

Mwenentanda shot just 33.6% from the floor last year, but Schaefer said she improved her shooting during the offseason and assessed that her length and frame will make her a difficult player to defend. Ask Midwestern State, which saw Mwenentanda score 19 points against them on 8-of-10 shooting in an exhibition game last week. Schaefer's biggest concern for the 6-foot-2 guard is her on-court decision making.

For her part, Mwenentanda has focused on discovering and accepting her place within the team since the end of last season season. "I just wanted to fit my role," she said.

"I felt like last year I was not too over my head, but as a freshman, you get into everything, you just think it's just like high school, but it's really not," Mwenentanda said. "This year, really just fitting my role and doing the little things really is my goal. So, if that's I have a wide-open shot, do I shoot it? OK. If somebody's wide-open and I draw two defenders, pass it. That's obvious."

Mwenentanda also wants to become a better defender. After all, that length shouldn't just cause concerns for opponents when Texas is on offense.

Muhammad wants to be a threat at both ends

Defense, though, was not a problem for Muhammad last season. Schaefer believes that she and point guard Rori Harmon, the Big 12's reigning defensive player of the year, are his two best on-ball defenders. Muhammad can also defend all five positions. The 6-foot-4 forward from DeSoto was baptized last season with defensive assignments against standouts like Iowa State's Ashley Joens, Oklahoma's Madi Williams and UConn's Aaliyah Edwards.

"It was kind of hard, I'm not going to lie. Some of them were stronger, quicker. I mean, they were very skilled," Muhammad said. "I definitely learned a lot. What not to do, what to do, how to guard. I've become a better defender coming to UT."

Muhammad came off the bench in all 36 games, and she logged 18.7 minutes of work during a typical night. The 177 rebounds that she grabbed were the team's third-highest total.

Muhammad, however, wasn't much of an offensive threat. After averaging 3.9 points per game, she went into the offseason wanting to work on her jump shot. Muhammad said she's always felt comfortable with slashing to the hoop, but opponents began to sag off her defensively and that made it harder to drive.

Schaefer said that Muhammad has gotten faster, and added that "she's up there running with Rori and Shay (Holle) in any kind of running or conditioning drill." The coach also echoed the player when talking about her offensive shortcomings.

"I just need her to make a 15-footer," Schaefer said. "I've told her if people don't have to guard you, it's hard for me to play you. She understands that."

For Mwenentanda and Muhammad, Year 2 gets underway Wednesday night against a Southern team that went 18-15 last season and reached the NCAA Tournament. Southern opened its season with an 85-53 loss at No. 19 Baylor on Monday.

After sharing the Big 12 championship with Oklahoma last season, Texas returned the bulk of its offensive and defensive production has been picked to win the Big 12 title. The Longhorns have added freshmen Madison Booker to the mix, and Aaliyah Moore, Jordana Codio and Gisella Maul are all set to return after rehabbing knee injuries last season.

The goals for this season?

"Win it all," Jones stated.

Interjected Gonzales: "Big 12 Tournament (title), regular season (title) and then go to the Final Four and win a national championship."

"That's cool," Jones added with a smile.

Wednesday's game

Southern (0-1) at No. 13 Texas (0-0), 7 p.m. at Moody Center, LHN

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Mwenentanda, Muhammad set for sophomore basketball seasons at Texas