Texas Basketball: Marcus Carr getting first NCAA Tournament experience

A little more than one day from the start of the NCAA Tournament run for first-year head coach Chris Beard and the Texas basketball program, the anticipation is building as to what this team could do in the postseason this year. Texas is looking to end their losing streak in the NCAA Tournament, which dates back to 2014.

The Longhorns are riding a four-game losing streak in the NCAA Tournament dating back to the 2013-14 season. Texas also comes into the Big Dance this season sporting a three-game losing streak dating back to the loss to the Baylor Bears on Feb. 28 in the home finale.

If the six-seed Texas wants to advance past the Round of 64, they’ll need some of their top leaders to play their best against the 11-seed Virginia Tech Hokies. Considering the fact that Texas didn’t get an easy draw in the Round of 64 in the slightest, some of Beard’s best players really need to be at their best.

Texas basketball will see Marcus Carr play in his first career NCAA Tournament game vs. Virginia Tech

And one of those key senior leaders for the Longhorns that really needs to step up against Virginia Tech is the former Pitt Panthers and Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Marcus Carr. The All-Big 12 and All-Big Ten guard had a tough end to the season and in the Longhorns’ first-round loss in the Big 12 Tournament to the TCU Horned Frogs last week.

But this will be a big opportunity for Carr to bounce back for the Longhorns in one of the brightest spotlights of his career.

Carr is actually about to play in the first NCAA Tournament game of his career against Virginia Tech on March 18. Despite playing for a couple of notable programs in his collegiate career, Carr didn’t ever make it to the Big Dance between his time with Minnesota and Pitt.

Moreover, Carr has played in a lot of games in his collegiate career without even having one shot to make a postseason run in the NCAA Tournament. Carr has played in the most career games (124) and most total minutes (4,000) by far without ever making an appearance in an NCAA Tournament game of any player on this Longhorns roster.

If that isn’t enough motivation for Carr to come through in a bright spotlight against Virginia Tech this week, I don’t know what will be.

Texas comes into this Round of 64 matchup against Virginia Tech sporting a record of 21-11 (10-8 Big 12) following their loss to TCU in the Big 12 Tournament back on March 10. Tip-off time between Texas and Virginia Tech on March 18 is set for 3:30 p.m. CT.