The Texas Longhorns and head coach Sean Miller just defied everyone's expectations, making a run to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament.
Then, the Horns absolutely dominated the transfer portal, bringing in the No. 2 class in the nation, headlined by four-star power forward David Punch from TCU and four-star point guard Isaiah Johnson from Colorado.
Now, with the portal settling down after closing nearly a week ago and the Longhorns clearly reaching a satisfactory level for their roster, the expectations for Texas's 2026-27 season have skyrocketed.
In the most recent way-too-early top 25 from ESPN, the Horns landed at No. 7 in the national ranking, bursting into the top-10 after being listed at No. 13 in the previous projection.
Texas men's basketball No. 7 in way-too-early ranking
Beyond the impressive postseason run that Miller led the Horns on and the incredible transfer portal class that joined the program this spring, Texas is also about to gain a top-15 recruiting class of blue-chip high school prospects.
Four-star small forward Austin Goosby, four-star shooting guard Bo Ogden, four-star combo guard Joe Sterling, and 6-foot-10 center Coleman Elkins have signed with the Longhorns, adding elite talent and size to the roster.
To put it lightly, the Horns won't have many excuses, barring any tragic injury bugs, to not have an extraordinary season.
Only two SEC teams are ahead of Texas in ESPN's ranking: the Florida Gators at No. 1 and the Arkansas Razorbacks at No. 6, so the Longhorns are even expected to have a complete turnaround in their results during conference play.
Also read: Sean Miller and the Horns poach former 4-star SG from fellow SEC program
This year, including the underdog run to the Sweet 16, the Horns went 21-15 overall, but only went 9-9 against SEC opponents. Based on the rankings, improvements to both records are possible and, more accurately, expected.
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