Texas Longhorns News: Portal rumors rampant, baseball unranked

There is plenty to talk about in terms of Texas Longhorns news on Jan. 18. Texas had a men’s hoops game on Jan. 17, which resulted in a loss to the Iowa State Cyclones. The return to Ames did not go as planned for sophomore guard and reigning Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Tyrese Hunter.

Hunter and the Longhorns fell to the Cyclones by the final score of 78-67. A hot start for the Longhorns out of the gates turned into some struggles late in the first and throughout the second half. Hunter also didn’t do much after a hot start, scoring just one point in the final 30 minutes of the game.

Texas women’s hoops also returns to action, looking for its third consecutive win in Big 12 play. The Longhorns will face the Texas Tech Red Raiders in Lubbock on Jan. 18, with the tip-off time set for 7 p.m. CT.

Other Texas Longhorns news

• Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns football program have remained pretty quiet in terms of NCAA Transfer Portal offers so far this offseason. But there is a rumor running rampant lately that Texas could be in the market to add the Georgia Bulldogs’ 6-foot-4 sophomore wide receiver AD Mitchell if he enters the portal in the near future.

• Sark is also in the midst of a wide receivers coaching search, trying to replace departed WR coach/pass game coordinator Brennan Marion. Jacksonville Jaguars WR coach Chris Jackson appears to still be the frontrunner there, despite his denying those rumors and reports recently.
• Last but not least on the football front, it looks as if Sark and the Longhorns are soon to find a new director of high school relations to replace Chris Gilbert. A report from Inside Texas on Jan. 18 (paid content) notes that LBJ head coach Jahmal Fenner Sr. could be the name to watch at the moment.

• Texas baseball is unranked in the D1Baseball top 25 preseason poll, despite making it to the College World Series last season. Head coach David Pierce and the Longhorns suffered some serious roster turnover during the offseason.

News around the Big 12

• Jan. 17 was a big night for Big 12 hoops. The Kansas State Wildcats topped the Kansas Jayhawks in a thrilling overtime game in Manhattan. It also seemed like most fans in the Big 12 weren’t too happy with the refs for last night’s slate of games.

https://twitter.com/Big12Conference/status/1615740811102003201

The Oklahoma schools are favored to win the Big 12 in softball for the 2023 season. Texas ranked third behind Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, respectively, in the Big 12 softball preseason poll.

What we’re interested in around FanSided

• Zain Bando talks about Aaron Rodgers stirring up some rumors regarding his status with the Green Bay Packers this offseason.

• Some of the biggest games in women’s college hoops this week.

• This one came out a few days ago, but a good look at what former TCU Horned Frogs Broyles Award winner and OC Garrett Riley can do at Clemson.