Texas Basketball: 5 arguments for Longhorns to make NCAA Tournament

2. Strength of schedule and record

Advanced stat categories can always be a deciding factor when it comes down to choosing teams on Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament. But the Texas basketball program could benefit from two specific categories that could help them out.

According to ESPN’s College Basketball Power Index, the Longhorns rank inside the top 30 Division 1 programs in the nation in strength of schedule and No. 46 in strength of record. A strong schedule and an abundance of national media attention is surely going to give Texas an added boost if they continue this hot stretch.

Playing in the Big 12 can get a team pretty far in the eyes of the selection committee. And since Texas ranks among the top four teams in the Big 12 standings at the moment, they should get some addition respect on Selection Sunday. Texas has the chance to close out the regular season with a winning record in Big 12 play too if they knock off the Oklahoma State Cowboys and Oklahoma Sooners along with Tech.

In general Texas isn’t all that bad in the Kenpom rankings or the ESPN Basketball Power Index. Texas is just inside the top 70 programs in the BPI and ranks at No. 63 in Kenpom. Finish out the season with one or two wins over the Oklahoma schools, and Texas should only rise in those rankings.