Texas basketball is heating up at just the right time.
After rolling past Missouri on Saturday for their fourth straight win, the Longhorns are no longer just hanging around the NCAA Tournament bubble - they’re making a strong case for a spot in March Madness. That 85-68 road win over the Tigers wasn’t just a statement; it was Texas’ fifth Quad 1 victory of the season, a key metric the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee leans on when building the bracket.
Now sitting at 16-9 overall and 7-5 in SEC play, Texas has climbed to No. 37 in the NCAA’s NET rankings. While that’s technically a one-spot drop from the previous update, the bigger picture shows progress - especially considering how crowded the bubble has been this season.
Within the SEC, Texas ranks eighth in the NET, part of a deep conference that currently boasts nine teams in the top 40. Florida leads the way at No. 9, but Texas is firmly in the mix.
The Longhorns return to the Moody Center on Tuesday night for a primetime matchup against LSU, a chance to keep the momentum rolling in front of the home crowd.
So where does this recent surge put Texas in the eyes of bracketologists?
**ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has taken notice. ** In his latest projections, the Longhorns have jumped off the bubble and into a No. 9 seed in the East Region.
That would land them in Greenville, South Carolina, for a first-round clash with No. 8 seed Iowa. If Texas advances, a potential second-round showdown with top-seeded Duke looms - a heavyweight matchup that would instantly become one of the tournament’s most intriguing early-round storylines.
Lunardi’s current bracket includes 10 SEC teams, a testament to the conference’s strength this season and a nod to just how competitive Texas’ schedule has been.
**CBS Sports is echoing that sentiment. ** Their latest bracket also has Texas as a No. 9 seed, a bump up from last week’s No. 10 projection.
In this scenario, the Longhorns would face No. 8 Clemson in the Midwest Region.
A win there sets up a possible second-round date with No. 1 seed Michigan.
It’s all projection for now, but the direction is clear: Texas is trending up. With the SEC Tournament set for March 11-15 and Selection Sunday right after on March 15, every game from here on out carries extra weight. The Longhorns have put themselves in position - now it’s about staying there.
Tuesday’s game against LSU offers another chance to solidify their spot and maybe even climb further up the seeding ladder. The bubble? Texas is looking to leave it behind entirely.