Texas Basketball: Time is now for Longhorns to dominate ACU

It is head coach Shaka Smart and the three-seed Texas basketball that is rolling into the NCAA Tournament fresh off a Big 12 Tournament crown and with a five-game winning streak. Last we saw Smart and his Texas squad, they downed head coach Mike Boynton and the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the final round of the Big 12 Tournament last weekend by a five-point margin.

To get the Big 12 Tournament crown, Smart and the Longhorns had to knock off the Pokes and the Texas Tech Red Raiders. They got through the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament via disqualification since the Kansas Jayhawks came up with a positive COVID-19 case.

Texas gets to face the 14-seed and in-state foe Abilene Christian Wildcats in the Round of 64 on March 20 to try and see if they can advance in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in Smart’s tenure as head coach. This is the third time that the Longhorns made it to the “Big Dance” under Smart, but the two prior appearances resulted in first round exits.

Tip off between the Wildcats and Longhorns in the Round of 64 is set for 8:50 p.m. CT at the home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN, on March 20. The 14-seed Abilene Christian comes into this Round of 64 meeting with the Longhorns after taking the Southland Conference Tournament crown.

What Texas basketball needs to do to dominate ACU

Texas enters this meeting with the Wildcats as just shy of a nine-point favorite ahead of tip off. This isn’t a huge betting line in favor of the Longhorns as they are the vastly more talented team than Abilene Christian.

However, Texas can’t get complacent or look ahead to the Round of 32. Plenty of teams have made that mistake in March Madness in the past. Hence the name of college hoops’ postseason coined as March Madness.

Smart needs to prepare for this game just like he and his staff would any other in the midst of the toughest stretches of Big 12 play, or as they did the conference tournament. We’ve seen bad losses to inferior out-of-conference foes before under Smart’s direction. But this season does feel different for Texas on the hardwood.

Two players that need to come through in an elevated stage in front of a national audience for the Longhorns will be a key pair of seniors. Senior versatile standout guard Matt Coleman and big man Jericho Sims will be the key cogs that can power Texas against the Wildcats on this night.

Coleman was essentially the Longhorns MVP throughout the Big 12 Tournament, especially as he registered a career-high 30 points in their final round win over Oklahoma State. Coleman has also averaged 13.3 points per game this season, along with 3.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.1 blocks. And he’s shot 48.8 percent from the field, 38.9 percent from beyond the arc, and 82.4 percent from the free-throw line.

As far as Sims’ play goes of late, he saved his best for last this season. Sims received All-Big 12 Tournament Team honors for his efforts, especially in Texas’ win over the Pokes. For the season as a whole, he’s averaged 9.2 points per game, 7.1 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.7 steals, and 1.0 blocks. Sims turned into more of the double-double machine fans have come to know and love in recent years down the stretch this season.

Sims has posted three double doubles in his last four games. In total, he’s registered 60 points, nine blocks, five steals, 40 rebounds, and three assists, in the last four games combined. He’s reached an amazing level of production and efficiency down the stretch.

Texas carries a record of 19-7 (11-6 Big 12) into this Round of 64 meeting with Abilene Christian on March 20. Meanwhile, ACU carries a record of 23-4 (13-2 Southland) into their second NCAA Tournament appearance in school history.