Tag: Texas Longhorns Basketball

SEC play begins with pair of juicy matchups for Texas A&M men’s basketball team

Before football starts, it’s time to look ahead to hoops season as the Texas A&M men’s basketball team released its SEC schedule on Tuesday.

Although we may all be hyperfixated on the college football campaign starting next week, and for good reason, it’s time to look ahead to hoops season as the Texas A&M men’s basketball team released its full SEC schedule on Tuesday afternoon.

The conference slate begins on the fourth day of 2025. The first two SEC games on the Aggies’ schedule are against two programs that weren’t even in the conference last year: Texas and Oklahoma.

Texas A&M hosts the Longhorns before playing in Norman against the Sooners on either Jan. 7 or 8, which is to be determined. The Aggies close out January against the same two squads, Jan. 25 at Texas and Jan. 28 or 29 versus Oklahoma.

Following eight games in January and seven in February, Texas A&M begins the madness with three more conference contests in March. The Aggies play at Florida on March 1, against Auburn on March 4 or 5 in the regular season home finale and March 8 in the bayou at LSU.

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Former Texas Longhorn Kevin Durant returns to Austin for special on-campus NBA game at Moody Center

Former Texas Longhorns hoops star Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns will face San Antonio in Spurs’ annual I-35 series at Moody Center. 

Kevin Durant is going back to Austin. The former Texas Longhorns basketball star and his current team, the Phoenix Suns, will face San Antonio in the Spurs’ annual I-35 series.

According to the Austin American-Statesman, KD and the Suns take on the Spurs on Feb. 20 at 8:30 p.m. at the Moody Center on the UT campus. San Antonio will take on the Detroit Pistons the next night, Feb. 21, at 7:30 p.m.

Durant played one season for the Texas men’s team before being drafted second overall in the 2007 NBA draft. He recently became the first men’s basketball player to win his fourth Olympic gold medal after Team USA beat France in the Paris Games.

“We’re thrilled by the response we’ve enjoyed in Austin the last two seasons. We had high hopes when we decided to play regular season games in Austin and the results have far surpassed our expectations … We’re excited to continue to connect with our fans in Austin and across our region in meaningful ways during the 2024-25 season and into the future.” — Brandon James, Spurs senior vice president of strategic growth.

Tickets for the games will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday with Spurs season ticket holders receiving presale access at 2 p.m. Thursday while Official Spurs Fan Club members will receive presale access at 3 p.m.

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Texas’ initial SEC basketball schedule revealed for 2024-25

The Longhorns know their opponents in first SEC basketball season.

The SEC basketball schedule is out. The Texas Longhorns know who they will face in their first season in the new conference.

Texas faithful will get to see the Longhorns host the Arkansas Razorbacks, Oklahoma Sooners and Texas A&M Aggies at home and on the road in the upcoming season. The rivalry selections are a credit to the SEC in giving home-and-home matchups for rivals within the league.

Interestingly enough, the Longhorns will get to host the both the Kentucky Wildcats and Alabama Crimson Tide. Kentucky, arguably a Top 3 college basketball program, has never played against Texas in Austin. Alabama reached the Final Four last season.

Former Texas head coach Rick Barnes and the Tennessee Volunteers battle Texas in Austin after the Volunteers eliminated the Longhorns in the NCAA Tournament.

Another former head coach Chris Beard will not return to Moody with the Ole Miss Rebels. The Longhorns will play Ole Miss in Oxford. Even so, with Texas seeing most of its most anticipated opponents at home, there’s plenty to be excited about in a first season in the SEC.

Oklahoma men’s basketball announces SEC opponents for 2024-2025

The Oklahoma Sooners men’s basketball program released their conference opponents for the 2024-2025 season and a blue blood is coming to Norman.

The 2024-2025 college basketball season is a pivotal one for the Oklahoma Sooners. Despite an improved season in 2023-2024, the Sooners failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the third season in a row.

They have to work to get back into March Madness against a whole new batch of opponents. On Monday, the OU men’s basketball program released its conference opponents for their maiden voyage in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

The Sooners will play home and home against former Big 12 counterparts Texas, Texas A&M and Missouri. The Sooners will go on the road to face Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Ole Miss. Making their way to the Lloyd Noble Center are Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

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Oregon State transfer Jordan Pope commits to Texas Longhorns basketball

Sophomore guard Jordan Pope is transferring to Texas to play for the Longhorns in 2024-25.

On3Sports reported Wednesday that sophomore guard Jordan Pope, who averaged 17.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game for Oregon State in 2023-24, is transferring to Texas to play for the Longhorns in 2024-25. Continue reading “Oregon State transfer Jordan Pope commits to Texas Longhorns basketball”

Former Oregon State guard Jordan Pope chooses Texas over Texas A&M

Texas has landed a commitment from former Oregon State guard Jordan Pope. Great.

Texas A&M was a finalist for one of the top remaining guards in the college basketball transfer portal, as former Oregon State guard Jordan Pope is headed to the Aggies’ bitter rival as the Texas Longhorns have found their replacement for outgoing guard Max Abmas.

Aggies head coach Buzz Williams has already landed two players through the portal in the last three days. Former Nebraska guard CJ Wilcher and former Minnesota forward Pherrel Payne will move to College Station as soon as this summer. However, more depth at guard is still sorely needed.

However, some good news may be on the horizon as Williams currently hosts former Oklahoma guard Otega Oweh, who averaged 11.4 points per game during the 2023 season. However, losing the Pope to the Longhorns stings a little more.

With the recent portal success, Aggie fans should trust Williams to gain a solid replacement for what the program will lose due to Tyrece Radford’s departure in the backcourt.

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Former Oregon State guard Jordan Pope will announce his transfer decision on Wednesday

It’s down to Texas or Texas A&M for former Oregon State guard Jordan Pope, who will make his announcement on Wednesday

Texas A&M Basketball has already landed two key players from the transfer portal in the last two days. Former Nebraska guard CJ Wilcher and former Minnesota forward Pharrel Payne will move to College Station for the 2024-2025 season.

Combined with the official return of star guard Wade Taylor IV, Texas A&M’s roster is in good hands once again, but to finally take the next step after falling to the No. 1-seed Houston Cougars in the NCAA Tournament last month, more help is needed through the portal.

Already hosting a bevy of talent this month, one of the top available guards is set to make his decision after visiting the program last week, as former Oregon State leading scorer Jordan Pope will announce his decision between Texas and Texas A&M on Wednesday evening, according to On3’s Joe Tipton.

In what could be an elite backcourt for the Aggies next season if Pope were to commit, he definitely proved his ability in 2023, leading the Beavers with 17.6 points, shooting 45% from the field, 37% from 3-point range, and 87% from the stripe.

While Texas certainly needs a replacement for the departing Max Abmas, Tyrece Radford’s Aggie career has also ended, providing Pope with a clear path to a starting spot opposite Taylor and incoming senior Manny Obaseki.

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Texas Longhorns men’s basketball given 40-1 odds to win 2025 National Championship

The Longhorns are coming off a 21-13 (9-9 Big 12) season as they embark on their first season of competition in the SEC in 2024-25.

BetOnline gave the Texas Longhorns men’s basketball team 40-1 odds to win the 2025 NCAA National Championship. Continue reading “Texas Longhorns men’s basketball given 40-1 odds to win 2025 National Championship”

Texas women’s basketball ranked No. 2 in ESPN’s way-too-early Top 25

The Texas Longhorns women’s basketball team has great expectations heading into its first season of SEC competition in 2024-25.

The Texas Longhorns women’s basketball team has great expectations heading into its first season of SEC competition in 2024-25. Continue reading “Texas women’s basketball ranked No. 2 in ESPN’s way-too-early Top 25”

Texas commit Tre Johnson shines in McDonalds All-American game

Tre Johnson showcases three-point range in McDonald’s All-American game.

Texas guard commit Tre Johnson is a threat from the three-point line. That much is evident from his performance at the McDonald’s All-American game.

In the game, Johnson stepped into a fast break three-pointer off the dribble to sink the long range basket for his team. The shot prompted the broadcast crew to comment on his long range shooting ability. The broadcaster gave the following analysis.

“He has an NBA scoring package. He knows how to get to his spots, he’s got great footwork, he’s got range, he’s got the pull-up.”

The above description of the Houston prospect bodes well for a Texas team that needs all of the above qualities from its wing players next season. The Longhorns lacked those qualities on the court in 2024. Johnson will likely need help from veteran portal additions to improve Texas from its last campaign, but has the skill set to make an impact for the team right away.

Texas will determine the right role for the Houston native as he works with the team this offseason.