Texas Basketball: 3 NBA prospects to watch in the NCAA Tournament

The NCAA Tournament is very much upon us now, and it won’t be long at all before head coach Shaka Smart and the three-seed Texas basketball gets set to take on the 14-seed and in-state foe Abilene Christian Wildcats. Texas will be taking on the Southland Conference Tournament Champions in Abilene Christian in Indianapolis, IN, on March 20.

Smart and the Longhorns will be one of the later games to tip off in the Round of 64 in the “Big Dance”. Texas and Abilene Christian are set to tip off at 8:50 p.m. CT at the home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts Lucas Oil Stadium on March 20. This is a big opportunity for Texas to shine on the national stage following their Big 12 Tournament crown from last weekend.

It was wins over the Oklahoma State Cowboys and Texas Tech Red Raiders (both of which made it through the Round of 64 in the Big Dance) that propelled Texas to get the Big 12 Tournament title. This was the first Big 12 Tournament win for the Longhorns in program history (although not their first overall hoops conference title).

Texas basketball’s chances to shine in the NCAA Tournament

But the chance for Texas to shine on the national stage should not be one that Smart and his squad put by the wayside. Texas hoops fans have a big qualm with the lack of postseason success under Smart’s direction, but he started to turn that narrative around in the Big 12 Tournament.

Texas is a sizable 8.5-point favorite over the Wildcats in this Round of 64 meeting in Indy on March 20. Which Longhorns players could we see really take their game to the next level on this stage in the NCAA Tournament?

Here’s a look into three Longhorns players to watch in the NCAA Tournament that could have NBA futures this year.