Head coach Rodney Terry and the Texas Longhorns pulled off the miracle of a lifetime this week after their run in the SEC Tournament and subsequent berth into the NCAA Tournament. Now, the Horns have one goal in mind: Beat the Xavier Musketeers.
“Xavier may be the fastest team we’ve played all season long," Terry said of his team's first opponent in the Big Dance.
The Musketeers have performed incredibly well all season long, finishing with a 21-11 record after their run to the quarterfinals of the Big East Men's Basketball Tournament. When it comes to winning in the postseason, Terry is no stranger to success.
Over the last two years as the Horns' head coach, Terry led Texas to appearances in the Elite Eight and Round of 32. Not to mention, he was a part of former Texas head coach Rick Barnes' staff during some of the Longhorns' more historic runs in the tournament.
“Incredible energy, activity," Terry said about winning in the tournament. "You don’t have to play perfect but you have to play hard.”
Play fast, have energy, and be active. It's that simple... hopefully. The Horns need this win over the Musketeers. More importantly, Terry needs this win over Xavier. If Texas loses before it ever sees a spot in the official bracket, Terry's seat will grow even hotter after a disappointing season for the Longhorns.
Throughout his three seasons as the Longhorns' head coach, the results from the Texas team have grown less and less impressive:
Rodney Terry head coaching record
- 2022-23 season: 22-8 overall, second place in Big 12, NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearance
- 2023-24 season: 21-13 overall, tied for seventh place in Big 12, NCAA Tournament Round of 32 appearance
- 2024-25 season (still in progress): 19-15 overall, tied for 13th place in SEC, NCAA Tournament First Four berth
Texas and Xavier are scheduled to tip off at 8:10 p.m. CT on Wednesday, March 19. The game will be broadcast on truTV.