NCAA Basketball top 25 power rankings: Texas Tech rises, Baylor and Providence fall
By Joey Loose
19. Texas (19-8)
Expectations were certainly raised for Texas upon Chris Beard’s arrival, and this Longhorns team certainly looks like a team that could do some damage once March arrives. For now, they’re in weekly battles in a very strong Big 12, and this was another one of those weeks where they couldn’t quite take care of business twice.
They got the week off to a solid start, holding on for an 80-78 overtime win on the road against Oklahoma. The Longhorns’ offense played a solid game, with 20 points apiece from Andrew Jones and Timmy Allen in the win. The struggle happened over the weekend, as the Longhorns fell again to Texas Tech, this time losing 61-55 at home. Another 20-point effort from Jones went to waste as Beard lost another game to his former team.
Even at 8-6 Texas is in solid shape in the Big 12. The Longhorns have recent wins over Tennessee and Kansas and have played great defense at times this season. This roster can win some games in the NCAA Tournament, but it’s all going to depend on how this team is playing a few weeks from now. Ahead, the Longhorns get winnable games over TCU and West Virginia before a murderer’s stretch to end the regular season in early March.