Texas women's basketball has gone up against some fierce competition so far during their SEC schedule. and the Mizzou Tigers caught the Longhorns off guard in their first SEC game of the year. Then the Longhorns returned to Austin and almost gave up a massive lead to the Ole Miss Rebels.
However, that's just the tip of the iceberg after they take on the Auburn Tigers later tonight. They are going up against a dreadful stretch of games against some of the best teams in the SEC in February.
The Longhorns will first take on their opponent from across the border, the Oklahoma Sooners. Longhorns fans will get their first look at Aaliyah Chavez, whom the Longhorns missed out on recruiting out of Lubbock. They're also going up against Raegan Beers, who is one of the best forwards in the country. This rivalry game could be a nail-biter, as both teams are evenly matched in talent. I would definitely circle February 1st on your schedule.
On February 5th, the Longhorns will host the #12 LSU Tigers. Kim Mulkey always has a powerhouse program ready to challenge Texas. This year might be a tad different because their weakness is their rim defense. The Longhorns will probably attack the rim on Sunday, which is one of its strengths. However, don't count out the Tigers, who are looking to prove they are the team to beat in the SEC after losing to Kentucky and Vanderbilt.
After taking on the Tigers, the Longhorns will host the #6 Kentucky Wildcats on February 9th. Junior center Clara Strack will be a tough player to go up against, as she leads the team in points per game, steals, blocks, and rebounds. That would be a player that I would try to get into foul trouble, so she doesn't take over the game. It will be the first and only time that the Longhorns will go up against them. Hopefully, Texas will have plenty of rest to take on this formidable rival.
The second-to-last team the Longhorns will have a tough time going up against is the #7 Vanderbilt Commodores. They have been one of the surprising teams in the conference this season. Sophomore guard Mikayla Blakes has been a consistent source of offense for them this season. The Longhorns will have to make sure she's covered when they face them on February 12th. However, that's not the grand finale that will test the Longhorns next month.
On February 15th, the Longhorns will face the #20 Tennessee Volunteers. It will be their first and only matchup against them unless they meet again in the SEC Tournament or the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. It will be a rematch from the Sweet 16 last year, when the Longhorns narrowly advanced to the Elite 8 to take on TCU. It will be the final team to test the Longhorns and prepare them for the March Madness tournament.
Even though the rankings might change by the time the Longhorns play each of these teams, all of them will be challenging. However, it will really prepare the Longhorns for March and some of the non-conference teams they might face on the way back to the Final Four. Hopefully, the Longhorns are all healthy and ready to go for next month.
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