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Some nonconference games make teams feel good -- but give them an inflated sense of where they are on the food chain. Then there are those that deflate them -- but provide a needed reality check.Its OK to have a mixture of both, but best not to scrimp on the latter, tempting as that might be at times.Texas lost three senior starters from last seasons 31-5 Elite Eight team: center Imani Boyette, who had a solid rookie year with the WNBAs Chicago Sky, and experienced guards Celina Rodrigo and Empress Davenport.Especially without the 6-foot-7 Boyette anchoring things inside, Texas has a different look this year and will need some youthful contributions right away. But coach Karen Aston didnt want to sugarcoat reality for the Longhorns. So along with two blowout victories, theyve already had two this is what its really about games -- and are about to have three more of those in succession.That starts with a visit from third-ranked South Carolina on Thursday (ESPN2, 7 p.m. ET). Then Sunday, the Longhorns face No. 2 UConn in the Jimmy V Classic in Uncasville, Connecticut, (ESPN, 4 p.m. ET). On Dec. 11, Texas will host No. 22 Tennessee (4:30 p.m. ET).No. 14 Texas (2-2) opened the season with a 71-59 loss at Stanford on Nov. 14. The Longhorns made another tough road trip on Nov. 20, losing 79-68 at Mississippi State. The Cardinal are currently ranked No. 11, and the Bulldogs are No. 6.We could not be playing these guys, and [then] my young kids probably would have a bit of a grand illusion of what Division I basketball is all about, Aston said. And what playing in the Big 12 and going to the postseason are all about.We have a lot of young players who need to grow up fast for our team to be successful. And I think its the best way for them to grow up, even though it is painful and not fun. For them to realize: This is what competition on every possession looks like.The Longhorns finished last season on an 86-65 loss to UConn in the regional final. Nine players are back, including starters Brooke McCarty and Ariel Atkins, both junior guards. Theyre joined by four newcomers who are eligible this season; a fifth new player, transfer Jatarie White from South Carolina, will be sitting out.Realistically, one of the returners -- forward Khaleann Caron-Goudreau -- is more on the newcomer side; she sat out last season at Texas as a transfer. She is joined in Austin this year by twin Audrey-Ann Caron-Goudreau, who led Gulf Coast State (Florida) to the Division I junior college national championship last season.The sisters are both 6-4 and eventually should be able to help fill in the gap left by Boyette, joining 6-5 senior Kelsey Lang. Khaleann recently returned to play after being sidelined by injury, while Audrey-Ann has made two starts. And dynamic freshman Joyner Holmes, a 6-3 guard/forward, is averaging 11.5 points and a team-high 6.0 rebounds.But theres no question that the Longhorns will rely a lot on their greater experience at guard while their post game grows. And thats where McCarty is ready to step forward.She was the Longhorns leading scorer at 11.8 points per game last year -- shooting 41.4 percent from 3-point range -- and has upped her average to 16.3 PPG so far this season.Brooke is a gym rat, Aston said of how obsessively diligent McCarty is about getting her work in. What is difficult for her is to try to get somebody else to do their work. But I think for them to hear her voice is important. The challenge for her is, When do I get on them, and when do I give them a pat on the back?Its an extension of the coach, and sometimes those things are a challenge for a coach, too. How hard do I push them, and when do I ease up? Thats the same way a point guard feels, and now shes getting that feeling that I have to manage our team.McCarty has played point guard before, but Rodrigo really carried the emotional weight as team leader last year. McCarty uses her height as a bit of fuel. At 5-4, she heard the too small comments at times before she got to college, but didnt let them discourage her. Just the opposite, in fact.You find out your strengths, and use them against people, said McCarty, who is from League City, Texas, in the greater Houston area. I know that maybe I can out-quick them, and I can shoot the ball from deep. I can extend the floor, not just to get opportunities for me, but for my teammates.The 5-11 Atkins is the Longhorns second-leading scorer at 13.5 PPG, and 5-9 guards Brianna Taylor (7.5 PPG) and Lashann Higgs (6.0 PPG) are also important parts of Texas perimeter game.I feel like were kind of a confidence-booster for our posts, McCarty said of the guard corps. They can learn off of us, and we can help build them up.Texas lost just once at home last season: to Big 12 champ and all-around nemesis Baylor. Then the Longhorns fell to the Lady Bears again at Baylor, and a third time in the Big 12 tournament title game in Oklahoma City.Aston doesnt avoid what she calls the elephant in the room: Baylors dominance in the Big 12 the past several years. Texas last win against the Lady Bears was in 2010. Texas has lost 14 in a row to Baylor; Aston is 0-10 against the Lady Bears since taking over in the 2012-13 season.But the rest of the Big 12 has faced that same reality against Baylor. Texas knows the only thing to do is keep improving, and that means taking on big challenges. Which is exactly what Texas is doing now.You look at, What can this do for us and be a positive? Aston said. Were young, and you have to try to get them to understand the process of all of this. Stitched Nike MLB Jerseys . Hey!" 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