Can Vic Schaefer ever lead the Longhorns past the Elite Eight?
Over the past four seasons, the Longhorn women’s basketball team has made three appearances in the Elite Eight. However, head coach Vic Schaefer and the Horns have repeatedly fallen short of the Final Four.
By Sam Fariss
Vic Schaefer grabbed the reigns of the Texas women’s basketball program in 2020 and hasn’t looked back since. As the Horns’ head coach, he has taken the team to three Elite Eight appearances over the past four seasons but has fallen short of the Final Four every year.
This year was arguably Texas’ best shot at the next round with a No. 1 seed in their region and a dominant streak throughout the NCAA Tournament.
However, the Longhorns were defeated in the Elite Eight yet again, this time by the No. 3 seed NC State Wolfpack.
So what is standing in the way of Texas’ Final Four birth? Is it head coach Schaefer?
To start, let’s take a look at the three Elite Eight games that Texas has played under its current head coach.
2021 Elite Eight – Texas Longhorns vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
Schaefer’s first season with the Horns was truly remarkable. He led the Horns to the NCAA Tournament and incredible upset wins over third-seeded UCLA and second-seeded Maryland.
The No. 6 seed Texas Longhorns were on a hot streak that was devastated by the No. 1 seed South Carolina Gamecocks. South Carolina then fell to the future national champion Stanford Cardinal.
Schaefer’s first postseason with the Horns had all signs pointing in the right direction with an Elite Eight appearance. However, the 62-34 blowout loss to the Gamecocks may have foreshadowed what was to come in the future Elite Eights.
2022 Elite Eight – Texas Longhorns vs. Stanford Cardinal
The following season, Schaefer and the Longhorns were back in the Elite Eight, this time as the No. 2 seed in their region.
The Horns knocked out Fairfield, Utah, and Ohio State to punch their ticket to the Elite Eight for a consecutive appearance.
This go around, Texas faced the defending national champions Stanford Cardinal, and was bested by Tara VanDerveer’s squad 50-59.
Schaefer had once again led the Horns on an impressive postseason run but had fallen short of the Final Four a second year in a row.
2024 Elite Eight – Texas Longhorns vs. NC State Wolfpack
This wound is still fresh, really fresh.
Despite losing rockstar, all-star guard Rori Harmon early this season, the Horns earned a No. 1 regional seed and were storming through the NCAA Tournament.
Texas took down Drexel, Alabama, and Gonzaga on its road back to the Elite Eight.
For the first time under Schaefer’s leadership, Texas had the upper hand in the quarterfinal matchup. The Longhorns were facing the No. 3 seed NC State Wolfpack and were absolutely trounced in the Elite Eight.
Schaefer and the Horns were defeated by 10 points and once again headed home after the Elite Eight.
Before taking over Texas’ squad, Schaefer took the Mississippi State Bulldogs to back-to-back national championship appearances.
As the Horns’ head coach, Schaefer has taken the team on impressive postseason runs, there is no doubt about it.
However, is the Elite Eight enough?
Texas has just one national title, from the 1986 NCAA Tournament championship game. Since then, it has been deep runs with no rewards.
With Harmon, hopefully, back to the starting lineup and Madison Booker back for her second year, the Longhorns are set to be dominant during the 2024-25 season.
Texas fans better just hope Schaefer isn’t carrying an Elite Eight curse overhead.
Read more:
feed