The Texas Longhorns are less than two hours away from tipping off against the Purdue Boilermakers in the Sweet 16, and devastation has possibly struck the Horns' depth chart.
It was announced that Jordan Pope, who was coming off a masterclass performance against Gonzaga in the Round of 32, was a game-time decision due to an ankle issue.
Without Pope in the lineup, the Longhorns would be without their starting point guard, who brings not only on-court talent but in-game experience and poise as well.
Jordan Pope listed as game-time deicision vs. Purdue
While the rest of the team was expected to be up and at 'em, available to head coach Sean Miller's disposal, Pope's status was suddenly, entirely up in the air.
Now, Pope's absence might not be the make-or-break in the matchup, if he isn't able to suit up for the Horns, but his 13.1 points per game are a whole heck of a lot higher than those of backup guard Chendall Weaver, who has averaged 5.9 points per game.
Source: Texas' Jordan Pope (ankle) is a game-time decision for tonight's Sweet 16 game against Purdue.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 26, 2026
Averages 13.1 PPG.
Against Gonzaga, Pope put up 17 points, alongside three assists and one rebound, to will the Longhorns to victory. One game earlier, he earned 11 points, two assists, and two rebounds against the BYU Cougars.
While none of Pope's performances this season have been record-breaking, his constantly reliable presence on the court has been crucial to Texas's success. As one of the few seniors on the roster, and more specifically in the starting lineup, his experience has been invaluable.
The best news is that fellow guard Dailyn Swain, who is a junior, has also been a constant presence in the starting five for Texas, averaging a team-leading 17.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per game.
Similarly, starting center Matas Vokietaitis has been playing his best ball all season as the Horns have upset their way through the NCAA Tournament, and he will need to continue that trend as the Longhorns take on the Boilermakers.
No. 11-seed Texas and No. 2-seed Purdue are scheduled to play at 6:10 p.m. CT on Thursday, March 26, in the first Sweet 16 game of the tournament. The game will be broadcast on CBS.