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Texas Basketball: How long can Longhorns last in 2021 NCAA Tournament?

By Trevor Sinodhinos

Feb 2, 2021; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns take the court in the second half against the Baylor Bears during an NCAA college basketball game at the Frank Erwin Center onTuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in Austin,TX. The Baylor Bears beat the Texas Longhorns 83-69. Mandatory Credit: Ricardo B. Brazziell-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 2, 2021; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns take the court in the second half against the Baylor Bears during an NCAA college basketball game at the Frank Erwin Center onTuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in Austin,TX. The Baylor Bears beat the Texas Longhorns 83-69. Mandatory Credit: Ricardo B. Brazziell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Texas Basketball Shaka Smart Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman via USA TODAY NETWORK /

Claim: Texas makes the Elite Eight

Coach Smart has developed a profile with his Longhorns that when the NET calculates its numbers, they come out looking pretty good and what they have remaining on their schedule will potentially impress the NET number cruncher even more. After defeating Kansas on Tuesday night, the Longhorns jumped from No. 23 to No. 21.

If you are going to lose games, losing close games to ranked teams is the way to lose safely. If those close losses to ranked teams were on the road, they most likely never fall out of the top-20. Due to this, the Longhorns will have a seed that does not reflect their play.

The percentages say that Texas will be seeded as low as No.4 and as high as No.3, with all four remaining games on the road, two against ranked opponents, the Longhorns have a paved path to a number three seed. Defeating Iowa State and Texas Christian for the second time will not alter their NET, but if they manage to beat Texas Tech and Oklahoma in order to split the season series with both teams, they can rest assured they get a No. 3 seed on Selection Sunday.

This scenario is entirely possible, for the Longhorns losses to Texas Tech and Oklahoma were by a combined three points. The No. 3 seed, as opposed to the No. 4 seed, makes all the difference as it means avoiding a No. 1 seed in the Sweet Sixteen.

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