Tag: texas longhorns basketball recruiting

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.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz52bnpekkafqb player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Texas HC Rodney Terry named Sporting News National Coach of the Year

National recognition of Rodney Terry makes for a big decision for Chris Del Conte this offseason.

Rodney Terry is once again receiving national accolades after leading an impressive 2022-23 campaign. Following a 23-8 regular season, Sporting News named Terry its National Coach of the Year.

The honor is well deserved as Terry captained a sinking ship all the way to a likely No. 2 seed. Since 1985, Texas has only twice earned a No. 2 seed (2006, 2008) and just once been slated as a No. 1 seed in 2003.

There’s more than enough to like about Terry, but should he enjoy a strong NCAA Tournament, the Longhorns would be wise to make him the permanent head basketball coach in Austin.

The former Rick Barnes assistant is having a season scarcely paralleled on the Forty Acres. Texas has spent 16 consecutive weeks in the Top 10, many of which occurred with Terry at the helm.

Let’s be clear. In less than a season, Terry’s team has far surpassed the quality of basketball that Shaka Smart produced at any time in Smart’s six seasons at Texas. In addition, Terry has represented The University of Texas with nothing but class following the Chris Beard debacle.

The college basketball world is recognizing what Texas has accomplished under its current head coach. Now it’s up to the athletic department to do the same.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz52bnpekkafqb player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Texas guard Sir’Jabari Rice wins National Sixth Man of the Year

Sir’Jabari Rice was named College Hoops Today’s Sixth Man of the Year.

Texas guard Sir’Jabari Rice willed the Longhorns to a blowout victory against Kansas on Saturday. It was simply another day on the job for Rice.

It appears national media has taken notice of the transfer’s role on the Texas basketball team. On Sunday, we learned the shot making guard was recognized as the nation’s top sixth man for the 2023 season according to College Hoops Today.

Rice earning the nomination was a no-brainer for college basketball media. Arguably, the New Mexico State transfer has become the best scorer and most valuable player on the team alongside Marcus Carr.

On the year, Rice is shooting 38% from three while averaging just under 13 points per game. His role has increased over the Big 12 stretch run. Rice has eclipsed 21 points in 5 of the last 11 games the Longhorns have played.

The backup guard has been dependable for much of the season on the offensive end. Texas will hope he brings the same level of play he brought last season in New Mexico State’s upset of UConn in the NCAA Tournament.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz52bnpekkafqb player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

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.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz52bnpekkafqb player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

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 HC Rodney Terry makes Naismith Coach of the Year watchlist

Rodney Terry is in the running for Naismith Coach of the Year.

Texas’ Rodney Terry received a significant honor on Friday. News broke that Terry was nominated to the Naismith Coach of the Year late season watchlist.

The national recognition Terry is receiving adds perspective to what he has accomplished this season. The former UTEP head coach began the season as an assistant under Chris Beard. On the day of the Rice game, the now acting head coach of the Texas Longhorns had chaos dropped in his lap.

When the Beard news broke it seemed like the beginning of a lost season for Texas. Somehow Terry managed to keep his team engaged as they gradually went from average to good again.

The first game after Beard saw Texas defeat Rice in overtime. From there, the Longhorns kept winning. Over the last couple months Texas defeated TCU, Baylor and Kansas State to top the Big 12 standings.

Doubt still remains about the team, but the Longhorns are presumably in contention for most or all of their preseason goals. Give Rodney Terry the credit for steadying the team’s focus this season.

Texas HC Rodney Terry makes a strong case for long-term success

Another day, another game won by Rodney Terry’s adjustments.

The Texas Longhorns are distancing themselves from the pack following wins over No. 7 Kansas State and No. 11 Baylor this week. They are in position to win a Big 12 regular season title in basketball.

Finishing first in the regular season standings was once a pipe dream for the program. Now Texas is on the verge of not only winning the conference, but running away with it.

Rodney Terry deserves the credit for the run. Basketball is a players game, but what he has accomplished as acting head coach is nothing short of incredible.

Terry was placed in a nightmare scenario when handed the reins to lead the team. His ability to steady the ship in chaotic circumstances alone is praiseworthy. Albeit, it’s not the most impressive part of his resume.

The Longhorns head coach is making game-winning adjustments to erase double-digits deficits. He is coaching.

As far as I’m concerned Terry can coach circles around Shaka Smart. In addition, he embodies all the traits that Texas fired Chris Beard for lacking. Quite frankly, he’s winning the right to be the head coach for the foreseeable future.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz52bnpekkafqb player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Looking ahead to pivotal game between No. 10 Texas and No. 7 Kansas State

Saturday’s game at No. 7 K-State is a must-win for Texas’ bid for a regular season conference title.

The Texas Longhorns secured an impressive home victory over the No. 11 Baylor Bears on Monday. It was the bounce back we needed to see following a 82-71 loss to the now No. 2 Tennessee Volunteers.

The Longhorns got needed production from Timmy Allen and Tyrese Hunter, both of which scored double digit points after quiet performances of late.

Sir’Jabari Rice led all scorers with 21 points off the bench. Rice has been a virtual certainty for the Longhorns’ offense regardless of the venue in which the team plays. What Texas gets from players other than Rice away from the Moody Center is another issue altogether.

The Longhorns will face the No. 7 Kansas State Wildcats on Saturday, who are coming off a road loss to their rival, No. 8 Kansas. Manhattan has been a difficult place to play for Texas in seasons where the Wildcats were competitive.

The game presents another opportunity for Rodney Terry’s team to show its mettle. With a road trip to No. 8 Kansas looming on Monday, Saturday’s road battle will be of great importance for Texas’ bid for a Big 12 regular season title.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz52bnpekkafqb player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

No. 7 Texas falls on the road to No. 12 Iowa State, 78-67

The Longhorns just couldn’t generate second half offense.

The Texas Longhorns’ three-game conference winning streak came to an end on Tuesday. The Longhorns lost a frustrating road bout with the stingy Iowa State Cyclones.

It was an ugly game in more than one sense for Texas. The game saw Longhorns tripped, shoved or undercut multiple times, with seemingly malicious intent. While it was reason for Rodney Terry’s team to be angry, it wasn’t why Texas lost.

The Longhorns simply missed shots offensively. When they weren’t missing good shots, they settled for bad shots. While the Iowa State defense deserves credit for forcing the Horns into bad attempts, too often the Texas offense painted itself into a corner. The second half saw the team waste possessions and force itself into desperation heaves to beat the shot clock.

Iowa State was more efficient offensively, making the shots it needed to make. Led by Gabe Tauscher and Jaren Holmes the Cyclones consistently added to their point total as the game progressed.

The Longhorns fall to 15-3 overall and 4-2 in conference play.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz52bnpekkafqb player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Texas fans react as Iowa State player undercuts SF Dillon Mitchell

That was hardly a good, hard foul.

Whenever Texas travels to Ames to face Iowa State, the games can get chippy. Tuesday’s basketball game was no different for the Longhorns.

The Iowa State crowd did a great job of bringing a loud, raucous environment to set the tone for the game. Cyclone fans showed up ready to fire up their team and they did just that.

Some Iowa State players appeared to cross the line from chippy to personal. While it’s good to avoid judging motives and reading into a player’s intentions, it’s hard to see how this Cyclone did not intend to cause harm with an unprovoked cheap shot.

Later in the first half, officials stepped in to crack down on another Iowa State player attempting to get under the Texas players’ skin.

Here’s how Texas fans reacted to the foul.