NCAA Basketball: Arizona, Duke, and San Diego State rises in latest top 25 power rankings
By Joey Loose
19. Texas (10-2)
Things have somewhat steadied at Texas, as the Longhorns settle into the first year under permanent head coach Rodney Terry, who did really well as the interim last season. The nonconference slate wasn’t full of opportunities and the Longhorns certainly didn’t take advantage, falling to both Connecticut and Marquette in their two big opportunities. They did enough winning to show they still belong among the ranked and that continued this past week.
In their first game following Christmas, Texas welcomed UNC Greensboro to town and made extremely quick work of the Spartans in a 72-37 victory. Tyrese Hunter starred with 23 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds while Kadin Shedrick added 11 points for a Longhorns team that played its best defensive game to date.
Sure, allowing less than 40 to a solid mid-major like UNC Greensboro is admirable, but you can’t count on the same level of success once Big 12 play begins. The Longhorns will certainly be challenged and will appreciate that challenge, hoping to build up a resume whose best win right now might be LSU. One last pre-conference tussle brings UT Arlington to town but then the real games begin.