Texas had just lost again Saturday when a fan leaving the Frank Erwin Center turned at the top of the stairs and shouted, "We need you Kabongo!"
He was talking about Myck Kabongo, the Longhorns' talented point guard who been missing the last 23 games while serving out an NCAA suspension for accepting impermissible benefits and providing false statements during an investigation into the infractions.
Saturday's 72-59 loss to No. 22 Oklahoma State was the last game of that suspension and Longhorns coach Rick Barnes immediately promised that Kabongo will start when Texas plays Iowa State on Wednesday night.
Texas certainly needs something to turn around its worst season in 15 years under Barnes. The Longhorns are 10-13 overall and 2-8 in the Big 12. Maybe Kabongo, a player some have projected as a possible first-round NBA Draft pick, can be the spark to ignite it.
Barnes said Kabongo and freshman Demarcus Holland will start Wednesday.
?They will definitely start,? Barnes said following the loss Saturday. ?We don?t have rhythm. We don't have anything going. I realize some of it is because Myck plays point differently than (point guard) Javan (Felix). When we are in practice, one team is playing one way and the other is playing another. All year long, we have tried to get consistency and we haven't (achieved it). We need to run. It is pretty obvious.
Last year as a freshman, Kabongo started all 34 games and averaged 9.6 points, a team-best 5.2 assists, 3.0 rebounds and led the Longhorns with 44 steals.
Felix has stepped in with Kabongo out and started all 23 games this season for Texas. The freshman is averaging 8.2 points, 5.5 assists and a team-high 30 assists.
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