Just a couple of hours before Texas took the court in the Sweet 16, it was shared that starting point guard Jordan Pope was a game-time decision as he battled through an ankle injury that had prevented him from practicing just a day earlier.
Then, the starting lineup was updated, and Pope was front and center, ready to step onto the court and push past whatever discomfort he was experiencing. That drive and relentlessness nearly earned the Longhorns a spot in the Elite Eight.
During the postgame press conference, after the Purdue Boilermakers had secured the 79-77 win over the Horns, Texas head coach Sean Miller couldn't speak highly enough about his players.
"Jordan has a lower leg injury; it was his choice to play. I don't know how many guys that I've coached, under these conditions, on this stage, would have chosen to play," Miller said. "He gave us everything and gave us the opportunity to win."
Pope finished the game with an impressive 12 points, two rebounds, and one assist, committing zero turnovers in a nearly perfect performance, despite suffering the loss.
Jordan Pope shared his foot was broken in Sweet 16
The veteran point guard was also in the press conference and said that he couldn't pass up the opportunity to play in the Sweet 16, in front of friends and family, and possibly give his team a chance to advance to the next round.
"Five minutes left against Gonzaga, I broke my foot," Pope shared in the postgame press conference. "A complete break, so it was definitely tough... credit to my training staff... they did a lot."
What had initially been viewed as an ankle injury had apparently been a broken foot that Pope had suffered near the end of Texas's second-round game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs.
"After conversations with the doctor, I couldn't break it anymore," Pope said. "It was the Sweet 16, I'm back home in front of my family, I'm playing for my teammates, my coaches. I'll never have this opportunity again. I couldn't let that pass."
Tramon Mark, Jordan Pope play through injury to give Texas a chance
Miller echoed his sentiments about Pope for Tramon Mark, who was also in the press conference with his head coach and teammate. Mark landed on a defender's foot after shooting a ball from deep and played through the clearly hurt ankle.
"In both of their cases, they played for the University of Texas, and that's really what makes me the most proud," Miller said. "When you can get these guys to play for the team, for the program, something bigger than themselves, that's obviously something that they take with them forever."
Mark led the Longhorns in scoring with 29 points, alongside three rebounds and one assist. His poise in the game was also a massive reason the game ended with just a two-point difference. He said that he was "just grateful to be able to go out there and produce."
"I've used the word 'resilience' to describe our guys, our group, our team," Miller said. "I think it's very appropriate, and tonight's game against Purdue embodies it. It was on full display."