Tag: kansas jayhawks basketball

Perspective on No. 2 Texas’ huge win over No. 10 Penn State

We look at what a trip to the Sweet 16 means for the program and Rodney Terry.

The Texas Longhorns advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2008. On the surface, Texas defeated a bad basketball program historically and a mere No. 10 seed. In reality, the win gives the program a monumental boost in perception and internal confidence.

The Penn State Nittany Lions entered the game as one of the better three-point shooting teams in the country. The team shot especially well against the Texas A&M Aggies two days earlier. Thanks to some luck and what was at times an excellent defensive performance by the Longhorns, Penn State went cold from the three-point line.

On average, Penn State connected on just over 10 three-point baskets per game. Against Texas, the Nittany Lions made just 8 of 28 from long range. Albeit, the Longhorns shot a much worse 1-for-13 from behind the arc.

Let’s look at what Texas accomplished by pulling out an improbable win.

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Can Texas win the men’s basketball national championship?

We power rank Texas among teams most likely to make a Tournament run.

The highlight of spring has finally arrived. March Madness begins on Tuesday with play-in games ahead of Thursday’s chaos.

Many wonder how long the Longhorns can stay in the tournament. The team’s inability to reach the Sweet 16 in recent seasons has left a lasting impression about the program. This team appears to be different.

Texas head coach Rodney Terry may have inherited a Lamborghini of a roster, but it certainly looks like he knows how to drive. Even in games where his team got thoroughly outplayed, Terry has found ways to make the final score look closer than the game itself. If Texas isn’t winning a game, it is often in the game until the end.

Let’s look at where Texas ranks among top seeds capable of making a Final Four run.

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Big 12 CHAMPIONS: Texas tramples Kansas, 76-56

Drop the Tournament champs moniker. Texas is unequivocally your Big 12 Champion.

The Texas Longhorns splattered the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday night. The win left no doubt who was the better team this season. Texas is your Big 12 Champion.

Undoubtedly, some will quibble over semantics and make the claim that Kansas, who got bludgeoned in a virtual home game, is the true champion of the league. Nevertheless, one team will earn the Big 12’s automatic bid. That team won’t be Kansas.

Texas head coach Rodney Terry coached a masterpiece on Saturday night. Terry, or whoever orchestrated the offensive game plan, schemed up wide open dunks and layups with back door cuts and screens. One of those screens set by Marcus Carr sprung Dylan Disu for a wide open dunk.

In addition to earning the league’s automatic bid, Texas improved to 26-8 and earned yet another Quad 1 victory. The Longhorns (14) have more Quad 1 wins than everyone but Kansas (17).

It’s unclear whether the win will be enough to earn a No. 1 seed. What is clear is that Texas is among the hottest teams in the country heading into the NCAA Tournament.

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Reliving past Big 12 Championship Finals between Kansas and Texas

Texas entered Saturday 0-4 against Kansas in past Big 12 Championship final games.

Everything is as it should be in Big 12 basketball. The Kansas Jayhawks (27-6) and Texas Longhorns (25-8) face off in the Big 12 Championship final.

Not long ago, the two teams faced each other in three consecutive conference finals from 2006 to 2008. The conference rivals met for a fourth time in 2011. In each of the championship games, the Jayhawks emerged victorious.

Texas’ struggles in the championship largely revolve around the inability to get past Kansas. Former Texas head coach Shaka Smart and company broke a six-game losing streak in the championship final to improve to a 1-6 record in the final game.

Saturday marks the fourth time that the two teams have met as the No. 1 and No. 2 conference seed (2006, 2008, 2011) in the deciding game of the tournament.

The stakes are higher for the Longhorns than the Jayhawks on Saturday night. One could argue Kansas has already locked up the No. 1 overall seed with 17 Quad 1 victories. Texas is on the outside of the No. 1 line with eight losses, despite a strong resume.

Texas head coach Rodney Terry will look to secure the first conference championship victory over Kansas in program history.

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Examining the remaining Big 12 tournament field for Texas

Here’s a look at what teams are left in the Big 12 Tournament after Thursday.

The Texas Longhorns (24-8) are moving on to the Big 12 semifinals. On Thursday night, the Longhorns defeated the Oklahoma State Cowboys (18-15) in a dominant 60-47 win.

For Oklahoma State, it means they might need help to make it into the NCAA Tournament field. Texas had no conscience in regard to helping out the bubble team as it has championship aspirations that tournament seeding could aid.

Earlier in the day, Iowa State shocked Baylor 78-72. The Cyclones were able to hold on after bullying the Bears for much of the second half. It’s unclear whether or not the loss hurts Baylor all that much in its bid for a No. 2 seed. Even so, Baylor head coach Scott Drew’s team is not playing well heading into the NCAA Tournament.

Here’s a look at what teams are left in the Big 12 Tournament field.

Texas upperclassmen earn senior day victory over No. 3 Kansas, 75-59

The victory over Kansas means Texas has a solid chance to earn a No. 2 seed.

Texas flipped a switch on Saturday. The Longhorns (23-8) rebounded from a frustrating road defeat against TCU with a win over the Big 12 regular season champion Kansas Jayhawks (25-6).

Neither team played the entire 40 minute game with urgency, but Texas clearly wanted the game more. Rodney Terry and company willed the Longhorns to victory in the team’s signature resume win of the season.

Sir’Jabari Rice led the charge as he completed perhaps the best sixth man season in school history. Rice put up a remarkable 23-point performance hitting impressive shot after shot.

The win all but locks the Longhorns into a No. 2 NCAA Tournament seed despite two road losses to ranked Baylor and TCU teams. Should the team look respectable in the Big 12 Tournament, look for Texas to make it on the No. 2 line of the bracket.

Texas finishes the regular season on a high note despite a handful of distractions. Give Rodney Terry credit for keeping the team in contention heading into the Big 12 Tournament.

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Texas basketball falls out of Big 12 title race in 75-73 loss to TCU

The first half hole Texas dug for itself was insurmountable against TCU.

The bid for a Big 12 regular season title is over for Texas after Wednesday night. The Longhorns fell to the TCU Horned Frogs, 75-73. Continue reading “Texas basketball falls out of Big 12 title race in 75-73 loss to TCU”

Texas basketball makes list of teams with no “bad losses”

Texas is one of seven teams without a bad loss this season.

The Texas Longhorns have had a tremendous season. That stems in part from beating most of the teams they should beat.

Fox College Hoops shared a graphic that featured seven teams without a Quad 2, Quad 3 or Quad 4 loss.

Essentially, a Quad 1 game is one that involves facing a Top 30 team at home, Top 50 team at a neutral site or a Top 75 team on the road. Only within those parameters has Texas suffered its six losses.

The Houston Cougars and Alabama Crimson Tide were not present on that list, despite ranking at No. 1 and No. 2 in the latest bracket reveal. In fairness, the two teams have had more Quad 2, Quad 3, and Quad 4 matchups than some Big 12 teams.

Here’s a look at every team that hasn’t suffered a bad loss all season.

Bracketology: What to monitor as we approach Texas vs Baylor

Texas looks to lock down a Top 2 seed in Waco against Baylor.

The Road to the Final Four ramps up in the coming weeks as seeding solidifies in college basketball. The Texas Longhorns were ranked as the No. 5 overall team and top No. 2 seed in the bracket reveal ahead of last Saturday’s games.

Given the resume it already has and how the tournament committee views Texas, a win over Baylor could go a long way toward tournament seeding. The Longhorns face one of their top three road tests of the season in facing the Baylor Bears.

Scott Drew’s team has owned Texas in recent history. Earlier this season, Texas narrowly defeated Baylor at home to snap the Bears’ run of dominance. They will likely bring their best basketball to defeat the most well-known team in Texas.

Here are a few things to keep an eye on for Texas as the regular season closes.

No. 5 Texas unable to overcome sloppy offense in loss to No. 9 Kansas

Texas has to get ahold of its turnover issue following Monday’s loss to Kansas.

Texas has its best basketball team in a long time. Albeit, the team has a turnover problem.

Turnovers proved costly on Monday as Kansas made Texas pay for being loose with the basketball. When the Longhorns weren’t dribbling the basketball out of control or as high as eye-level, Rodney Terry’s team struggled to make good passes.

Despite Kansas’ double-digit first half lead, Texas got off to a quick second half start and cut the lead to one point. After getting within one point at 47-46, the Longhorns went cold.

The 88-80 loss doesn’t erase the strong week the team had last week, but it does dampen the team’s hopes for a No. 1 seed. The Longhorns are still alone in first place in the Big 12 conference with a record of 8-3.

Despite solid positioning in conference standings, the turnover issue is one they’ll need to figure out if they want to accomplish their goals. The Longhorns will face the West Virginia Mountaineers next on Saturday.

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