The Texas Longhorns have had their ups and downs this season, but on Saturday, they secured a much-needed win over Kentucky, snapping a three-game losing streak and claiming an 82-78 victory at Moody Center. This victory may have just been the spark they needed to keep their NCAA tournament hopes alive. With this win, the Longhorns are now projected to be a No. 11 seed in the upcoming March Madness tournament, according to ESPN's Joe Lunardi. This puts them in the group of "last four byes," meaning they’re among the last teams expected to be selected without having to worry about a Tuesday or Wednesday play-in game.
While their SEC record of 5-8 may not look impressive on paper, especially with such a competitive conference this season, the Longhorns have three wins against top-25 teams. This includes a stunning February victory over what may be the best Texas A&M team in decades. The Kentucky win could be just the boost Texas needs to secure their spot in the tournament for the fifth consecutive year, and they're hopeful they'll continue their March run deep into the tournament.
As the Longhorns keep their eyes set on March Madness, let's take a look at some other Division I programs from Texas and how they're shaping up in the lead-up to Selection Sunday.
Houston and Texas A&M: A State of Strength
There’s no doubt that both Houston and Texas A&M are making waves in the college basketball scene this season. Both programs are projected to secure No. 2 seeds as of Saturday’s bracket preview on CBS, which only boosts their tournament aspirations. For Houston, this isn’t a surprise—Kelvin Sampson's team has been a powerhouse for several seasons, and it looks like the Bayou City might play host to a Final Four team for the second time this decade. Houston’s recent consistency and excellence make them a favorite among college basketball fans.
On the other hand, Texas A&M's rise to prominence this year has been something of a surprise. Under the leadership of Buzz Williams, the Aggies are having their best season in College Station in six years. Texas A&M has been on a roll lately, with seven wins in their last eight SEC matchups. Their upcoming games against tough competition, including No. 65 Tennessee and No. 3 Florida, will be crucial to determine whether they can maintain their standing. As of mid-February, Texas A&M is an under-the-radar Final Four contender, but only time will tell if they can sustain this momentum through the rest of the season.
Texas Tech and Baylor: Secure, But With Upside
Looking at other Texas schools, Texas Tech and Baylor are considered more safely secured to make the tournament. Texas Tech, who defeated Houston earlier this month, is currently projected as a No. 4 seed. Scott Drew’s Baylor Bears are slotted in the No. 8 or No. 9 range, a dangerous spot for any team to face in the second round of the tournament. Baylor has some incredible talent, including freshman guard V.J. Edgecombe, a likely top-10 NBA draft pick in June, and Norchad Omier, a physical force in the paint and the Big 12’s leading rebounder. The Bears' combination of talent and athleticism makes them a team to watch, even though they’ve been somewhat inconsistent this season. A second-round upset by Baylor could be a game-changer come March.
The Bubble Trouble: SMU’s Slim Chances
As for SMU, their hopes of making the tournament this year are hanging by a thread. Sitting at 19-6 with a 10-4 conference record, they’re currently ranked fifth in a tough ACC. However, their weak strength of schedule (No. 90 nationally according to KenPom) and losses to top-25 teams like Duke and Louisville raise significant concerns. In fact, Lunardi has SMU listed as one of the "first four out," meaning they’re on the bubble with only a slim chance of making the cut. However, a win against No. 23 Clemson on February 22 could provide them with a much-needed marquee victory and improve their chances.
Conference Tournament Hopes: The Long Shot Teams
While the focus on Texas' top basketball programs remains intense, it's important to remember that there are 19 other Division I teams in the state. For these schools, winning their conference tournament is their only path to the Big Dance. Most of these teams play in one-bid leagues, meaning they’ll need to go all the way through their conference tournament to have a shot at qualifying. Among these schools, TCU is the lone Power 5 program left, but with a middling 14-11 record, they’re unlikely to earn an at-large bid from the selection committee.
Schools like Abilene Christian, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, and UT-Arlington will need to turn things around quickly if they hope to make a splash in their respective tournaments. Unless these teams can string together a series of upsets, they’re likely on the outside looking in. Still, anything can happen in March, and it wouldn’t be a complete surprise to see one of these programs sneak into the tournament with an unexpected conference championship.
Texas College Hoops: A Thrilling Race to the Finish
With Selection Sunday just around the corner, the Texas college basketball scene is shaping up to be incredibly exciting. From the powerhouse programs like Houston and Texas A&M to the potential bracket-busters in Baylor and Texas Tech, the Lone Star State is poised to make a big impact on March Madness. For the Longhorns, their recent win over Kentucky is a crucial step toward securing their tournament spot, and they’ll be looking to build on that momentum in the coming weeks.
As for SMU, their fate rests on a handful of key games, and they'll need a couple of big wins to secure a spot. Meanwhile, the other 19 Texas schools will be battling it out in their respective conferences, hoping for a Cinderella story that could bring them into the tournament field. Whether it’s a top seed or a team scraping by with a conference championship, the road to March Madness promises to be thrilling for Texas basketball fans.
The next few weeks will be critical, with plenty of games left to play and much still up in the air. Texas’ basketball programs are giving fans plenty of reasons to get excited as March Madness approaches, and who knows? We might just see some Texas-sized surprises in the tournament this year. Keep an eye on these teams—there’s no telling what the Lone Star State has in store as the madness unfolds!
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