Three weeks ago, Texas basketball faced a tough road loss at Auburn, falling 88-82, which dropped them to 3-5 in SEC play. Head coach Sean Miller wasn't in the best of moods, and the Longhorns' NCAA Tournament hopes seemed dim. However, Texas (17-9, 8-5 SEC) has since turned the tide, winning six straight conference games for the first time since their Big 12 run in 2020, which was cut short by the pandemic.
Coach Miller emphasizes that this resurgence isn't due to any single player or dramatic strategy shift. “We’re just better overall,” he noted after a narrow 88-85 victory over LSU at the Moody Center. Despite a shaky second-half defense, Miller sees improvement, especially on the defensive end, which had been a concern.
Looking at the numbers, Texas has tightened up significantly. Initially allowing 81.8 points per game in their first seven SEC matchups, they've trimmed that down to 73 points per game during this winning streak. Opponents' shooting percentages have also dropped, with only two teams managing to shoot over 43% in this period.
Guard Tramon Mark shares his coach's optimism, highlighting the team's offensive efficiency, ranked sixth nationally and second in the SEC with a 49.5% field-goal percentage. “We’ve been attacking well and scoring in the paint,” Mark said. “Now, we just need to keep improving defensively.”
Texas's recent success has been aided by a softer schedule, featuring home games and matchups against lower-ranked SEC teams. However, the road ahead is tougher, with games against Georgia, Florida, Texas A&M, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Only two of these are at home, and Florida and Arkansas are higher in the standings.
These upcoming games present opportunities for Texas. They're currently tied for fifth in the SEC and are just one game behind several teams tied for second place. A strong finish could secure a first-round bye in the SEC Tournament and improve their projected No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Against Georgia, Texas aims for their longest conference winning streak since 2013-14. But Coach Miller is cautious, especially with Georgia looking to avenge an earlier loss to Texas.
“We respect everybody,” Miller stated. “Georgia is a solid team with big wins, and we need to be ready.”
Texas (17-9, 8-5 SEC) will face Georgia (18-8, 6-7) at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Georgia. The game is set for 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and will be broadcast on the SEC Network and local radio stations.