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Texas Basketball vs. Radford: 5 takeaways from upset loss to Highlanders

By Andrew Miller

DAYTON, OH - MARCH 13: Devonnte Holland #15 and Travis Fields Jr #11 of the Radford Highlanders celebrate their teams victory over the Long Island Blackbirds in the First Four game in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 13, 2018 in Dayton, Ohio. The Radford Highlanders defeated the Long Island Blackbirds 71-61. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
DAYTON, OH - MARCH 13: Devonnte Holland #15 and Travis Fields Jr #11 of the Radford Highlanders celebrate their teams victory over the Long Island Blackbirds in the First Four game in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 13, 2018 in Dayton, Ohio. The Radford Highlanders defeated the Long Island Blackbirds 71-61. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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DAYTON, OH – MARCH 13: Carlik Jones #1 of the Radford Highlanders handles the ball on offense against the Long Island Blackbirds during the second half of the First Four game in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 13, 2018 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
DAYTON, OH – MARCH 13: Carlik Jones #1 of the Radford Highlanders handles the ball on offense against the Long Island Blackbirds during the second half of the First Four game in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 13, 2018 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

2. Radford is going to give Maryland and Clemson a tough time

Radford was a solid NCAA Tournament team last season that wound up finishing its season against a top tier program in the Villanova Wildcats. It looks as if this Radford team could be making a return to the NCAA Tournament this season with some of the wins it already racked up during the non-conference slate.

Moreover, Radford should be one of the favorites to win the Big South regular season crown and tournament. This team has multiple avenues of which it can work its way into the NCAA Tournament field. One of those avenues includes bolstering the resume with some solid wins outside Big South play.

Radford has two huge non-conference games left that come against a top 25 ranked Maryland Terrapins team and a borderline top 25 team in the Clemson Tigers. Even if Radford pulls out one of those two games in the win column, it would have quite the resume for the NCAA Tournament heading into Big South play.

Radford already knocked off the Horns and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. It has the depth in the rotation to make some noise against some good teams. Some of the best players for Radford also highlight this underrated team, including sophomore point guard Carlik Jones and senior forward Ed Polite Jr.

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