Texas Basketball: 3 takeaways from critical win over Virginia Tech

In a really important game for first-year head coach Chris Beard and the Texas basketball program in the Round of 64 against the 11-seed Virginia Tech Hokies, this team came to play when it mattered. Texas looked like a different team in the postseason this year than they did in seasons past.

And you have to give Beard and the rest of the Longhorns staff for getting this team ready to play against a tough opponent at the outset of the NCAA Tournament.

Beard and the six-seed Longhorns were able to overcome a back and forth start to this game to really take control throughout much of the second half. Texas did look like they were trying to give away this game at points in the final 90 seconds or so.

Andrew Jones leads Texas basketball to a comfortable eight-point win over Virginia Tech

But Texas was able to ride their solid second-half effort and a good run at the end of the first half to come out on top of Virginia Tech by the comfortable final score of 81-73.

This was one of the most well-rounded efforts from the Longhorns’ starting five that we saw so far this season. Every single one of the players in Texas’ starting five scored in double figures. That came despite some foul trouble for the Longhorns’ starting frontcourt.

The win over Virginia Tech in the Round of 64 on March 18 sees Texas snap their four-game losing streak in the NCAA Tournament. It also helped to snap a three-game losing skid for the Longhorns coming into the NCAA Tournament.

With that in mind, here’s a look into the three takeaways from the Longhorns’ crucial win over the Hokies in the Round of 64 on March 18.