For the first time in 17 years the Texas Longhorns men’s basketball program is entering a new era in the team’s history – the tenure of Shaka Smart.

The former VCU coach took over in April, and Smart brings a different style and energy to the Longhorns than previous coach Rick Barnes. This Texas team, with designs to compete in the Big 12 immediately, is built on tempo, aggressiveness, and yes, fun.

“It’s a player’s dream,” said senior guard Demarcus Holland. I’m having the best time of my life as a college player. It’s great right now, and we haven’t even played a game yet.”

Players like to play fast, and Smart is more than happy to oblige the urge.

Smart preaches that his teams push the tempo on both ends of the floor. On offense, this means an emphasis on moving the ball quickly, especially in transition, and Smart encourages his teams to take an open look if it becomes available early in the shot clock.

“You can’t coach every shot,” Smart said. “If you do they’re hesitant. But what you have to do is train your guys to take high-quality shots and share the basketball.”

In Smart’s final three seasons at VCU, the Rams finished with an average possession length of 16.6 seconds, ranking in the Top 70 nationally each season. In the same stretch, the Longhorns averaged 18 seconds a possession.

That might seem like a small difference, but over a season those extra seconds create many extra possessions and as a result – points.

The buzz word for Smart at VCU was “Havoc” on defense and expect similar stylings at Texas, just with a bit more restraint due to the new emphasis on hand checks defensively and a different roster makeup. Either way, the Longhorns will press under Smart in both a 2-2-1 and a 1-2-2 zone look that forces opponents to work for space the entire length of the court.

Three times Smart’s teams with the Rams finished first nationally in defensive turnover percentage. Smart wants his players to make their opponents uncomfortable with the ball, and that philosophy won’t change at Texas.

Smart’s attitude, system and scheme are a significant shift from what the Longhorns have done in the past. Barnes stressed a defense-first mentality, mixing in zone looks with man-to-man pressure in the half court. Often, especially late in his tenure, Barnes' offensive system had the effect of shorting games and making them defensive struggles.

But the 2015-16 Longhorns, despite being an upperclassmen-laden roster, have embraced the change because Texas’ new coaches have made it easy.

“It’s been a simple transition for us,” Holland said. “(Smart) coaches us on things we can control.”

“This staff is very confident in us and it makes us more confident,” added senior center Cameron Ridley. “Coach Smart just lets us play, lets us play free. He doesn’t put any restrictions on our game, and that helps with our confidence.”

With eight players back from last year’s roster, nine if you include junior Shaquille Cleare, the Longhorns are experienced. That group will also be augmented with three freshmen who will each factor into Texas’ rotation.

It’s an interesting mix of pieces, most of whom Smart didn’t recruit, but with 12 scholarship players the Longhorns will have plenty of depth.

“I do think it’s one of the strengths of our team,” Smart said. “When guys come in off the bench they should have great energy. When guys have a break and come in they should have energy. You should be able to come in and wear teams down with their energy.”

Texas will play fast. Texas will play aggressive. Texas will play a lot of players. Texas will have fun.

It’s too early to tell if those principles and ideals will lead the Longhorns to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2008. But it’s certainly a different era of Texas basketball, and the players have embraced the change entering the team's season opener Friday against Washington.

“Coach Smart really believes in us,” said freshman guard Kerwin Roach. “He just tells us to go out there and play like we know how and ball out.”