In Missouri’s away locker room on Saturday evening, Texas men’s basketball head coach Sean Miller passed the game ball to sophomore forward Nic Codie.
After only scoring three points combined against Tennessee and Ole Miss, the sophomore forward appeared in only his third Southeastern Conference game of the season against the Tigers.
However, in 15 minutes of play against Missouri, Codie scored nine points on an efficient 80% from the field and grabbed six rebounds in the Longhorns’ 85-68 victory over the Tigers.
“We needed Nic (Codie) to be able to come in the game, help us win and play,” Miller said in a video posted by the team’s social media. “You know what, Nic? To your credit, man, you were ready.”
Codie’s performance off the bench displayed how the Longhorns have evolved as a whole throughout the season — more team-wide impact and less of a one-man show from junior forward Dailyn Swain.
Swain’s impact on the team has been undeniable. In 12 SEC games, he’s averaging 17.6 points on 57.3% field goal percentage while contributing 3.4 assists and 7.3 rebounds to top off his impressive stat line.
However, in four straight conference wins, Texas’ most since January 2021, the Longhorns’ supporting cast are finding ways to contribute and take the pressure off Swain’s shoulders.
One of the first players to jump off their seat and celebrate Codie was junior guard Simeon Wilcher, who averaged 7.75 points during the win streak, while shooting 58.8% from the field. The guard also hit the game-sealing three-pointer against Ole Miss a week prior to Missouri.
Wilcher found minutes off the bench when conference play started but struggled to find his rhythm, going scoreless on three occasions. Before the win streak began against Oklahoma, Wilcher had missed eight straight three-pointers across five games.
“It’s been amazing sticking with it through trials and tribulations that goes through the season,” Wilcher said after Ole Miss.
On the bench, Wilcher is also accompanied by senior guard Chendall Weaver, also known as the team’s “glue guy.”
Not as well known for his scoring capabilities, Weaver has gained a reputation for what he’ll do off the ball to impact games. The senior is one of the most athletic players on the team and uses his high vertical to grab rebounds that other guards in the league usually don’t go for, crashing both the offensive and defensive glass.
Weaver is also a capable defender, in terms of not giving his opponent space to make a shot. His quick lateral movements allow him to stay close with his man, giving him the best chance to contest shots.
“(Weaver) just does a lot of things to help us win,” Miller said after South Carolina. “It’s a hustle play. He’s one of the best rebounding guards in the SEC … He’s a team guy … He has a great energy about him, whether he’s in the game or on the bench, so I think that’s a great way of describing him.”
Wilcher, Codie and Weaver’s impact in recent games comes in at the right time. After their Tuesday game against LSU, they will have to face a gauntlet of opponents to end the season, including No. 12 Florida and No. 20 Arkansas.
If Texas is to survive their tough stretch of conference games and the SEC Tournament in hopes of a bid to March Madness, it will need its supporting cast to perform the way they have in recent games.
