Did the Longhorns punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament by beating Texas A&M?
Let's get this out of the way. If the Longhorns beat Tennessee on Friday in the SEC Tournament, Texas will be in the NCAA Tournament. But what if the Horns lose to the Vols? Is the 94-89 in a double-overtime upset win over rival Texas A&M enough? Maybe.
Right now, ESPN's Bracketology expert Joe Lunardi moved Texas into the NCAA tournament as the last team into the field. But that could change based on a number of factors. Smaller conferences could have a tournament upset that sends two teams to March Madness rather than just the expected one. Or Texas could get blown out by Tennessee and leave a bad final impression on the selection committee.
But Texas has done what they can so far. And it may just save head coach Rodney Terry's job. Terry has a knack for making tournament runs. He lead Texas to its second Big 12 tournament win and a final eight run in the NCAA tourney in 2023 that helped Terry secure the permanent Texas head coaching job. He might be pulling off a similar feat to keep it.
Conference tournament wins over Vanderbilt in Nashville and a ranked Aggies team have definitely helped repair the damage done by losing to Oklahoma in the regular season finale last weekend. Terry said after the game that Texas is finally fully healthy after battling injuries during the SEC conference season. "We have star power," Terry said. "We're playing well. We have our team that we anticipated that having to play for us right now, and we're playing good basketball. So I think all that matters down the stretch."
Texas' star freshman Tre Johnson, who led the Longhorns with 20 points against A&M, including the go-ahead 3-pointer in double-overtime, is confident. "I think we should be in by now for sure," Johnson said. "But if not, we can still put our hard hats on and come back and get another one tomorrow."
If the Longhorns do secure a bid it would likely put 14 SEC teams into the Big Dance. The most any conference has put in the NCAA tournament prior was the Big East's 11 bids in 2011.
No. 13 seeded Longhorns will play No. 4 seed Tennessee Friday at 2:30 p.m. CT in Nashville's Bridgestone Arena.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Did Texas punch its ticket to the NCAA Tournament by beating A&M?
Topics
-
Aggies fans and media react to Texas A&M's 94-89 2 OT loss to Texas in the SEC Tournament
Texas A&M likely helped rival Texas punch it's ticket to the NCAA Tournament, leading to massive dissapointment from the Aggie fan base.Yahoo Sports - 12h -
Texas basketball vs Texas A&M: What Longhorns' OT win at SEC tournament means
The Longhorns showed grit in their second-round win over Texas A&M at the SEC Tournament. Will it be enough to get them into the NCAA tournament?Yahoo Sports - 12h -
Texas stuns Texas A&M in 2OT thriller, make case for NCAA Tournament
The Texas Longhorns held off their in-state rival Texas A&M in a double overtime thriller from the SEC Tournament.Yahoo Sports - 13h -
Texas upsets Texas A&M at SEC tournament in 2OT to keep March Madness hopes alive
The Longhorns, who are on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament, advance to the quarterfinals with the 94-89 double overtime win over the Aggies.Yahoo Sports - 13h -
Tre Johnson's 3 in double OT puts Texas ahead to stay in win over No. 14 Texas A&M at SEC Tourney
Tre Johnson made the go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:08 left in the second overtime and the Texas Longhorns extended their first visit to the Southeastern Conference Tournament by beating old foe No. 14 ...Yahoo Sports - 13h -
Texas' potential bid adds to 'historic' SEC season
Texas, the No. 13 seed in the SEC tournament which is on the bubble for the NCAA tournament, beat old foe Texas A&M in double overtime to reach the quarterfinals.ESPN - 1h -
March Madness: Texas fans full of emotion after 2OT win over Texas A&M in SEC tournament
In the third matchup of the season, Texas came up victorious over Texas A&M in the SEC tournament. Here is how Longhorns fans reacted.Yahoo Sports - 14h -
Tre Johnson’s 3 in 2OT puts Texas ahead in win over No. 14 Texas A&M at SEC Tourney
Texas (19-14) came in as the SEC’s No. 13 seed with the Longhorns needing victories to play their way into the NCAA Tournament. They will face No. 4 seed and eighth-ranked Tennessee on Friday.Yahoo Sports - 9h -
Texas in 'do or die' mode, could be SEC's 14th NCAA Tournament team after wild win over rival Texas A&M
The Longhorns picked up another Quad 1 win Thursday with their backs against the wallCBS Sports - 6h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
UFC veterans in MMA action March 14-15
This week, the UFC stays in Las Vegas following its March pay-per-view. UFC FYahoo Sports - 16m -
Slot: “Trent to miss final, but should return before end of season”
Alexander-Arnold Ruled Out of Carabao Cup FinalLiverpool have been dealt a significant injury setback with confirmation that Trent Alexander-Arnold will miss the upcoming Carabao Cup final against ...Yahoo Sports - 16m -
Josh Sweat: I want to be seen as a difference maker
Josh Sweat experienced a lot of team success over seven years with the Eagles, but the spotlight was rarely on him over the course of that run.Yahoo Sports - 16m -
Can Bengals salvage brutally slow start to free agency?
What will it take for this free agency to be considered a win for the Bengals?Yahoo Sports - 26m -
How to watch LSU baseball vs. Missouri today: Time, TV channel for Friday's game
LSU baseball begins conference play. Here's how to watch the LSU Tigers take on Missouri on Friday in LSU's SEC opener.Yahoo Sports - 26m
More in Sports
-
Slot: “Trent to miss final, but should return before end of season”
Alexander-Arnold Ruled Out of Carabao Cup FinalLiverpool have been dealt a significant injury setback with confirmation that Trent Alexander-Arnold will miss the upcoming Carabao Cup final against ...Yahoo Sports - 16m -
UFC veterans in MMA action March 14-15
This week, the UFC stays in Las Vegas following its March pay-per-view. UFC FYahoo Sports - 16m -
Josh Sweat: I want to be seen as a difference maker
Josh Sweat experienced a lot of team success over seven years with the Eagles, but the spotlight was rarely on him over the course of that run.Yahoo Sports - 16m -
Prince William: PL 3 p.m blackout is 'irritating'
Prince William has said he finds the 3 p.m blackout rule "irritating" and is a hindrance to his Aston Villa fandom.ESPN - 18m -
Rashford, MLS in Tuchel's first England squad
Thomas Tuchel has handed Marcus Rashford a shock recall in his first England squad, which also includes call-ups for Myles Lewis-Skelly, Dominic Solanke and Dan Burn.ESPN - 18m