By JIM VERTUNO
AP Sports Writer

AUSTIN, Texas(AP) -- The coach talks about his defense. Teammates
talk about his dunks. Texas freshman guard Avery Bradley has
found a way to impress just about everyone in practice.

"I've never seen a guy have that many put-back dunks at
6-foot-3," senior forward Damion James said. Adds coach Rick
Barnes: "He guards the basketball as well as anybody you'll ever
see."

Bradley helped give the Longhorns one of the top freshman
classes in the country. Blend the youngsters with a group of
talented seniors and No. 3 Texas is among the early favorites to
contend for a national championship after last season's 23-12
finish.

"The challenge will be how do we bring it all together," said
Barnes, who hasn't been to the Final Four since 2003. "We've got
guys who can play and we've got to get them out there."

Bradley is just a part of what is expected to be an exceptional
talent pool in the backcourt. He and freshmen Jordan Hamilton,
J'Covan Brown and Shawn Hamilton will be competing with senior
Justin Mason and sophomore Varez Ward for playing time.

And in mid-December, the Longhorns will add Florida transfer Jai
Lucas to the mix.

"We're going to have good guard play," Barnes said. "The young
players don't understand yet that if you get 10-12 minutes a
game, that's going to be hard to get on a team this talented."

Barnes has had plenty of talented freshman come through his
program for short stays before jumping to the NBA. T.J. Ford and
D.J. Augustin played just two seasons at Texas. Kevin Durant
burned through one season in Austin, winning national player of
the year honors in 2006-2007.

What makes this season different is that the freshmen also have
upperclassmen with experience to lean on.

"We haven't had a senior class in I don't know how long," Barnes
said. "Those seniors know what it takes to be on the court, and
they lead by example. As talented as some of these younger guys
are, they are learning that it takes more than talent."

James, who can be a prolific scorer and rebounder from the wing
and in the post, worked out for NBA teams last spring but
decided to return for his senior season. He averaged 15.4 points
last season, ranks third in Texas history in career rebounds
(968) and has 37 career double-doubles.

"It's not like I wasn't going to play in the NBA, but it showed
me what it will take to be in the NBA 15 years instead of just
two," James said.

Also returning is Dexter Pittman, a 6-foot-10 center who has
spent four years losing weight to help boost his production.
Once listed at 366 pounds, he's now down to about 285.

"I need smaller clothes," he said.

Pittman became a regular member of Barnes' rotation last season
and his points average jumped from 2.8 as a sophomore to 10.1 as
a junior. James said he expects bigger things from his
slimmed-down teammate this season.

"He walks with a swagger: 'I'm Dex, and can't nobody stop me,"'
James said.

It won't take long for the schedule to put the new talent and
Texas' high ranking to the test.

In December, Texas plays Southern Cal at home before clashing
with North Carolina in Arlington at the Dallas Cowboys' new
stadium. Promoters are hoping to draw 75,000, which would make
it the largest crowd to ever watch a Texas college basketball
game.

After that, it's back home to play No. 2 Michigan State three
days before Christmas. The Longhorns open Big 12 play Jan. 9
against Colorado.