Texas did not just beat Kentucky yesterday in Fort Worth. The Longhorns ran the Wildcats out of Dickies Arena, rolling to a 76-54 Sweet 16 win that looked like a rout from the opening tip and moved Texas one victory away from the Final Four.
The Longhorns blitzed Kentucky 29-11 in the first quarter, built a 48-26 cushion by halftime, and never eased off. Texas finished 34-for-63 from the field (54 percent) and turned 24 Kentucky turnovers into 26 points. Inside, it was a mismatch: a 44-22 Texas edge in paint scoring, plus a 20-0 advantage in fastbreak points and a 17-4 margin from the bench. Jordan Lee led the way with 18 points on 8-for-13 shooting, Madison Booker added 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists, Rori Harmon posted 11 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, and Teonni Key came close to a double-double with 10 points and nine boards, per KXAN. The victory sends Texas into a Monday matchup with Michigan at 6 p.m. CT, with a Final Four berth on the line.
Defense Turned Into Transition
Head coach Vic Schaefer said his team came out locked in and let its defense feed everything else, noting that the Longhorns opened the game ready, and their transition came off defense. Rori Harmon echoed that urgency, explaining she felt urgency because any game could be her last in burnt orange, a mindset that showed up on the boards and in the rotation, per KXAN.
Standouts And Season Context
Jordan Lee’s punch off the bench and Madison Booker’s steady, all-around game have been recurring storylines all year, and this latest blowout pushed Texas to 34-3 on the season. The team’s totals and cumulative numbers highlight the depth Schaefer has leaned on throughout the year, according to the Texas Athletics stats page at Texas Athletics.
Next up is Michigan on Monday in the Fort Worth regional, with the winner advancing to the Final Four. Tournament dates, tip times and regional details are listed at NCAA.com.
