Texas coach Rodney Terry discusses his team’s NCAA Tournament resume
After beating Texas A&M in the second round of the SEC Tournament, Texas coach Rodney Terry discusses his team’s resume for the NCAA Tournament.
Sports Pulse
The state of Texas won’t be as busy as it was a year ago, as five teams from the Lone Star State had their names called on Selection Sunday, one fewer than last year.
That starts with Houston, which earned the expected No. 1 seed, and somewhat surprisingly ends with Texas, who defied many predictions and snagged a play-in spot in the First Four in Dayton, Ohio. As it turns out, the NCAA did need 14 SEC teams to fill out its 68-team field.
Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Baylor join Houston and Texas in the Big Dance, which right there is five-eighths of the old Southwest Conference.
This also ensures Rodney Terry will keep his job at Texas coach for at least a few more days, with a chance to work his way off the ledge that he looked destined to fall off before Sunday afternoon.
What Texas teams are in the NCAA tournament?
Houston Cougars, No. 1 seed
The Cougars finished the year No. 2 in the final Associated Press poll and were rewarded for that, and their Big 12 regular-season and tournament titles, with a No. 1 seed in the Midwest (Indianapolis) region. Their first-round game against No. 16 Southern Illinois-Edwardsville is set for Thursday in Wichita, Kansas.
Texas Tech Red Raiders, No. 2 seed
The Red Raiders grabbed a No. 3 seed and open Thursday in Wichita against No. 15 UNCW. That stands for North Carolina-Wilmington, by the way.
The Aggies are headed to Denver as a No. 4 seed. A&M drew No. 13 Yale, the Ivy League champion, for a Thursday game. That’s part of the South Region where the Sweet 16 destination is Atlanta.
Baylor avoided the First Four play-in games rather comfortably, as it turns out. Baylor has a No. 9 seed, where it will play No. 8 Michigan State in an East Region game. That is set for Friday in Raleigh, N.C.
Texas Longhorns, No. 11 play-in game
The Longhorns just did slip in, taking one of the final four spots which means a first-four play-in game in Dayton. They will play for a No. 11 seed against Xavier of the Big East. That game is set for Wednesday.
What other Texas teams are in?
None. Lamar lost to McNeese State in the Southland Conference Tournament, which ended their hopes.
Where are the New Mexico Lobos?
The UNM Lobos landed as a No. 10 seed so they were safely in despite the loss to Boise State in the Mountain West semifinals. New Mexico gets No. 7 Marquette in a Friday first-round game in Cleveland, which feeds into the South Region in Atlanta.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
