Eight days ago, March Madness kicked off with 68 teams vying for the coveted NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship. Fast forward to today, and only 16 teams are still in the hunt, with Texas proudly represented by Houston and Texas.
The Houston Cougars have been a force to reckon with, storming into the tournament as a No. 2 seed in the South Region. Their journey so far has been nothing short of dominant.
They dispatched Idaho with a convincing 78-47 victory and followed up by overwhelming Texas A&M, 88-57. With a record of 30-6, Houston is showing the kind of form that makes them a serious contender.
On the flip side, the Texas Longhorns, under the new leadership of head coach Sean Miller, have taken a more dramatic route. Squeaking into the tournament as one of the last bubble teams, they had to earn their spot in the Round of 64.
A nail-biting win over NC State in the First Four set the stage for their journey. Texas then took down No. 6 seed BYU and delivered a stunning upset against No. 3 seed Gonzaga, proving they're not just here to make up the numbers.
Meanwhile, other Texas teams had mixed fortunes. Texas Tech, a No. 5 seed in the Midwest Region, started strong with a win over Akron but fell to Alabama in the Round of 32.
TCU, seeded ninth in the East Region, edged past Ohio State only to be outmatched by top-seeded Duke. Texas A&M managed a victory against Saint Mary’s but couldn’t get past Houston.
Prairie View A&M's journey ended after a win in the First Four, as they were overwhelmed by Florida. SMU also joined the ranks of teams looking ahead to next year.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes are on Houston and Texas. The Cougars are playing with the confidence of a team that knows how to win, while the Longhorns are riding a wave of momentum that could carry them even further. Both teams have shown grit and determination, and their continued success would be a testament to the strength of Texas basketball this year.