The 2005-2006 Texas team was a special one, led by future NBA stars PJ Tucker and LaMarcus Aldridge. Winning the Big 12 regular-season title with a 13-3 record and a 30-7 overall record, the Longhorns earned a two seed in the 2006 NCAA Tournament.
After beat Penn and North Carolina State in the first weekend, Texas came up against then Big East team West Virginia in the Sweet 16. Tied with five seconds left in the game, the Longhorns pushed the ball down the court in search of a game-winner.
Freshman guard A.J. Abrams made it to the top of the three-point line, passed it off to his left where Kenton Paulino knocked down the buzzer-beating three-pointer to send Texas into the Elite Eight.
You can watch the shot here:
On this day in 2006, @kenton_paulino’s clutch three lifted the Longhorns to the Elite Eight. 🤘@marchmadness | #HookEm pic.twitter.com/tczfByZGUu
— Texas Men's Basketball (@TexasMBB) March 23, 2020
Before the game-winner, Paulino was 1-6 from behind the three-point line. Luckily he made the one that counted, sending Texas to the regional final for the first time since 1946.
The Longhorns would end up losing in the next round to LSU, but Paulino’s shot against West Virginia made history for Texas.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3]