Texas Basketball: Greatest Longhorns in history of NCAA Tournament
2. Kevin Durant, F
It’s really difficult to find the appropriate spot on this list for each of the top three players in the history of the Longhorns program in the NCAA Tournament. The margins between Mays and the former superstar Texas forward Kevin Durant in the top three on this list are very small.
Yet, it’s difficult to keep KD out of the top two on this list, despite only playing in two NCAA Tournament games in his one season with the Longhorns in 2007. Durant was just so dominant statistically as he really imposed his will on the likes of the New Mexico State Aggies and USC Trojans in two NCAA Tournament games to round out the 2006-07 season.
In his two postseason games with Texas, Durant averaged around 29 points per game, nine rebounds, one assist, two steals, and two blocks. His insane versatility and gifted physical tools were really put on display to a national audience in March Madness 2007. Durant just didn’t get enough help when he posted a game-high 30 points in Texas’ loss to USC in the Round of 32.
1. T.J. Ford, G
There’s no doubt that the most versatile and impactful guard in postseason history for the Longhorns program is the 2003 Wooden and Naismith award winner T.J. Ford. While Ford didn’t have the scoring numbers that some of the other players on this list, such as Durant, Mays, and Blanks brought to the table, he surely had a bigger two-way impact than the rest of them.
Ford holds the Longhorns’ postseason record for assists (13) and steals (7) in a single NCAA Tournament game. He was also the guiding force that helped Texas get to the Final Four in 2003 before falling short to Carmelo Anthony and the Syracuse Orange in heartbreaking fashion.
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In eight postseason outings with Texas, Ford averaged around 14 points per game, five rebounds, nine assists, three steals, and 0.5 blocks. That is a pretty insane stat line for a floor general who tended to play at his best when the spotlight shined brightest in his two seasons with Texas.