LUBBOCK, Texas — The Texas Longhorns have been on a tear giving a spark in recent weeks as the end of the regular season play nears. Shaka Smart’s young team is seeking a push for redemption and a NCAA Tournament bid. Tech has been a very stingy 13-2 at home coming into Saturday’s game against Texas. However, the Horns stayed the course out rebounding and out shooting the Red Raiders late in the 2nd half of Saturdays contest pulling away with a huge 68-58 win against No. 22 Texas Tech.
The Horns will have a chance at a third straight victory Tuesday night against Oklahoma. The Longhorns upset No. 20 West Virginia last Monday in Austin and have been playing injured and with sick players as of late, but have shown a lot of heart.
Texas is on the outside looking in as the season comes to a close in hopes for a bid in the NCAA Tournament in 2020. Missing out last year still bore the fruit of a NIT Title for the Shaka Smart lead team that has been largely viewed by most critics as mediocre at best.
Currently they are (18-11, 8-8 in Big 12). Texas will travel to Norman tomorrow night to face the Sooners and then will play their final game of the season at home against OSU. Game Airs on TV/ ESPN2 & Radio: Longhorn Radio Network, Sirius XM 385.
With the exception of Macho Man Randy Savage, nothing says “madness” quite like the month of March.
The
best tournament in all of sports is once again approaching, and the
state of Texas will no doubt be well represented. Beginning with the Big
12, here’s a look at the locks, bubble teams and schools that will need
to win their respective conference tourneys in order to earn an invite
to the big dance.
BIG 12
LOCKS: Texas Tech, Baylor
The
Red Raiders have spent much of the season in or near the top 10 and
will be competing in the NCAA Tournament this March. Texas Tech is fresh
off of an eye-opening 91-62 win over Kansas at home and is led by
sophomore guard Jarrett Culver (18.0 points per game), who is a hometown
product from Lubbock Coronado High School.
The
Bears are Texas’ second best bet from the Big 12 to qualify for the
NCAA Tournament, as Baylor holds quality conference wins against Iowa
State (twice), Texas Tech and Oklahoma (twice). The Bears can add to
that résumé down the stretch against Texas, Kansas State and Kansas, but
they already appear to be in the field of 68.
ON THE BUBBLE: Texas, TCU
The
Longhorns have endured a roller-coaster ride this season. Head coach
Shaka Smart’s team holds impressive victories against North Carolina,
K-State, Oklahoma, Kansas and Baylor. Then again, Texas has also dropped
games to Radford, Providence and Oklahoma State. A large portion of the
Longhorns’ case could rest upon the status of suspended guard Kerwin
Roach and whether or not he is reinstated by the school.
The
Horned Frogs don’t have much in the way of non-conference wins, but
they’ve been more than competitive in a deep Big 12. TCU managed to
sweep Iowa State in a pair of meetings and has also knocked off Baylor
and Texas. Jamie Dixon, now in his third year at the helm of the
program, could be a dark horse candidate for conference coach of the
year.
Texas Tech guard Jarrett Culver (23) goes to the basket defended by Oklahoma forward Kristian Doolittle (21) and forward Brady Manek (35) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
IN NEED OF A MIRACLE: None
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
LOCK: Houston
The
Cougars aren’t just a mortal lock to make the tournament, they’ll also
likely be the top seed from the entire state. Houston has dominated its
conference opponents and owned a 26-1 overall record and a lofty No. 8
ranking in the nation as of Feb. 25. The Cougars are led by the tandem
of Corey Davis Jr. (15.7 points per game) and Armori Brooks (14.1 points
per game). Houston is coached by Kelvin Sampson, who is a former
assistant with the NBA’s Houston Rockets and a former head coach at
Oklahoma.
IN NEED OF A MIRACLE: SMU
SEC
IN
NEED OF A MIRACLE: Texas A&M’s only shot is to win the Southeastern
Conference Tournament. Otherwise, it’s on to baseball season in
Aggieland.
BEST OF THE REST
SUN
BELT CONFERENCE: There are a few conferences with just one available
bid, and their league tournaments will determine who will advance. In
the Sun Belt, Texas State is the current leader and will be the favorite
to earn a spot in the big dance. However, a strong challenge from
George State and/or Georgia Southern is likely, and UT-Arlington is
hoping to play the role of spoiler from its fourth-place position.
IN NEED OF A MIRACLE: None
CONFERENCE
USA: UTSA has a shot to advance from Conference USA, as does North
Texas, but Old Dominion is the odds-on favorite to run the table in the
conference tournament. The Roadrunners are among a four-team pack
fighting for second place behind Old Dominion, and the Mean Green are
one of only two 20-win teams in Conference USA.
IN NEED OF A MIRACLE: Rice, UTEP
SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE: Sam Houston State has built a comfortable lead in the race for the Southland’s regular season crown and looks ready to make more noise in the league’s postseason tournament. Abilene Christian and Lamar aren’t out of the conversation by a long shot, though. Abilene Christian is already over the 20-win mark, while Lamar headed into the home stretch of its season schedule riding a five-game conference winning streak.
IN NEED OF A MIRACLE: Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Houston Baptist, Incarnate Word
SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE: Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern appear to be the biggest roadblocks for one another in each program’s quest for the SWAC’s lone NCAA Tournament bid. Prairie View A&M looks as though it will win the regular season conference crown, while Texas Southern is hoping to turn the tables in conference tourney.
IN NEED OF A MIRACLE: None
WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE: Lastly, UT Rio Grande Valley will need a miracle in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament to unseat heavy favorite New Mexico. UT Rio Grande Valley has had a respectable season and is in the middle of the pack in the league standings, but there isn’t any room for error.
