The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team has punched their ticket to March Madness, landing the No. 7 seed in the Midwest Region, where they will face the victor of a First Four showdown between Virginia and Colorado State. The decisive game is slated for Thursday at 5:50 p.m. CT in Charlotte, with coverage on TNT.
In a statement obtained by KXAN, head coach Rodney Terry shared his team's eagerness for the postseason, stating, "Our guys are excited about this time of year and we don’t take it for granted. This group has come a long way from the start of the season, and I think they’re still hungry for more. They don’t want this journey to stop." The Longhorns are hoping to advance beyond their first-round bout, with a potential second-round encounter with No. 2 seed Tennessee in the offing.
Texas's journey has not been without its challenges; they were knocked out of the Big 12 Conference tournament by Kansas State with a close 78-74 loss on March 13. Nevertheless, team members Dylan Disu and Max Abmas received conference honors, a testament to their prowess and the team’s overall capabilities. As they brace for their NCAA tournament run, the Longhorns look to capitalize on this season's efforts to transcend previous outings.
Meanwhile, Virginia and Colorado State are gearing up for their First Four matchup to determine who will advance to take on the Texas squad. According to a video posted by KVUE, the showdown between Virginia and Colorado State is scheduled for Tuesday night in Dayton, Ohio. The stakes run high for Texas center Kadin Shedrick, who will potentially face his former team, Virginia if they emerge victorious in their play-in game.
If the Longhorns indeed succeed in their initial contest, they could find themselves up against a volleyball coach turned basketball dialed-in strategist, Rick Barnes, who now helms the Tennessee Volunteers – a narrative thread rippling with intrigue. The Final Four is set to be held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on April 6 and 8, with eyes from across the nation watching to see if the Longhorns can leave their hoofprints on the road to glory, as per KXAN.
