Texas seemed to be on track for a spot in the NCAA Tournament after victories over Vanderbilt and Texas A&M. However, a heavy defeat to Tennessee in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals once again left the Longhorns’ fate uncertain.
Tennessee, after upsetting No. 1 seed Auburn in the semifinals, advanced to the conference championship game, denying Auburn a chance for a second consecutive tournament title.
So, does Tennessee’s win over Auburn strengthen Texas’ case for the NCAA Tournament? Or does it leave the Longhorns in the same state of uncertainty they’ve faced for weeks?
Argument for Texas in the NCAA Tournament
With wins over Texas A&M and Vanderbilt, the Longhorns raised their Quad 1 win total to seven, a solid number compared to most teams. Auburn leads the nation with 16 Q1 wins but has lost only five of those matchups. Texas, with a 7-10 record in Q1 games, has had its share of challenges but played in the toughest conference this season in their first year in the SEC.
Head coach Rodney Terry and the Longhorns have a strong postseason pedigree, including an Elite Eight appearance two years ago and a Round of 32 finish last season.
Argument against Texas in the NCAA Tournament
Texas has an overall record of 19-15, with a poor 6-12 showing in the SEC. The team has struggled with consistency throughout the season, often seeming disjointed and uncertain in their play.
However, there have been moments when Texas has looked like one of the country’s best teams, such as their win over Texas A&M in the tournament and their regular-season victory over Kentucky.
While it may be a stretch to include the Longhorns in the NCAA Tournament, their strong performance against Tennessee before the Vols advanced to the conference championship game slightly strengthens their case.
Longhorns to Face Former Texas Coach Rick Barnes in SEC Tournament Quarterfinals
The Texas men’s basketball team secured a win over the Texas A&M Aggies and now prepares to face the Tennessee Volunteers in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals.
By Sam Fariss | March 14, 2025
After a dramatic double-overtime victory over Texas A&M in the second round of the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament, the Longhorns now meet a familiar opponent: the Tennessee Volunteers, coached by former Texas head coach Rick Barnes.
Last season, Texas’ postseason run ended with a loss to Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament. Now, the two teams will square off again in the quarterfinals of this year’s conference tournament.
How to Watch Texas vs. Tennessee
- Date & Time: Friday, March 14, at 2:30 p.m. CT
- Location: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN
- TV/Streaming: ESPN, fuboTV
- Radio: Longhorn Radio Network
- Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Texas and Tennessee met once in the regular season, when the Volunteers were ranked No. 1 in the nation. Tennessee narrowly defeated the Longhorns by four points in that matchup.
Odds for Texas vs. Tennessee
- Spread: -9.5 Tennessee
- Moneyline: +400 Texas, -550 Tennessee
- Over/Under: 135.5 points
The oddsmakers expect a low-scoring game, with the total set at 135.5 points. They also predict a nearly 10-point victory for Tennessee, with a spread of 9.5 points in their favor.
Last year, Tennessee ended Texas’ NCAA Tournament run with a 62-58 win in the second round. The SEC Tournament quarterfinal between the Longhorns and Volunteers will tip off at 2:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN.
Refs Influence Texas-Texas A&M Game in SEC Tournament; Horns Win in OT
The Lone Star Showdown took on a postseason twist, delivering a memorable clash as Texas and Texas A&M faced off in the SEC Tournament.
By Sam Fariss | March 13, 2025
Texas kicked off its SEC Tournament run with a win over the Vanderbilt Commodores in the first round, setting up a second-round matchup with in-state rivals Texas A&M. In a highly physical and intense rivalry game, the Longhorns stunned everyone with a 33-27 halftime lead over the Aggies.
However, the second half saw Texas A&M dominate on the boards. But the real story was the officiating, as nearly 50 personal fouls were called between the two teams, disrupting the flow of the game.
With the score tied at 73 at the end of regulation, the Lone Star Showdown headed into overtime. After two thrilling overtime periods, one Texas team would be heading home while the other advanced to the SEC Tournament quarterfinals.
Texas A&M quickly took a 5-point lead in the first overtime, but Texas’ defense stepped up when needed most. With just 19.7 seconds left, the Longhorns trailed by one point when Aggie Pharrel Payne went to the free-throw line. Payne made one of two shots, leaving Texas down by two.
On the ensuing possession, Kadin Shedrick caught a perfect lob pass from Tramon Mark for a dunk, tying the game at 79 and sending it into a second overtime. The game remained tied at 81 until Texas freshman Tre Johnson fouled A&M’s Wade Taylor IV, who sank two free throws to give the Aggies a two-point lead.
But Texas quickly responded as Johnson drilled a three-pointer from near half-court, followed by a jumper from Jordan Pope, giving the Longhorns an 89-85 lead with less than a minute left.
After a tense second overtime, the No. 13-seed Texas Longhorns secured a 94-89 victory over the No. 5-seed Texas A&M Aggies, advancing to the SEC Tournament quarterfinals where they will face the No. 4-seed Tennessee Volunteers, coached by former Longhorn head coach Rick Barnes.
Is Chendall Weaver Playing in the SEC Tournament? Latest Injury Update
Junior guard Chendall Weaver missed a significant portion of Texas’ regular season due to a hip injury. Will he be available for the Longhorns’ postseason run?
By Sam Fariss | March 12, 2025
Chendall Weaver, a key player in Texas men’s basketball, has been with the team for several years but missed nearly 20 games during the regular season due to an aggravated hip injury. As the Longhorns prepare for their first-ever SEC Tournament, the question remains: will Weaver be ready to contribute during the postseason?
Chendall Weaver Injury Update
Weaver injured his hip in early January during Texas’ game against Auburn. As a result, he missed 15 games, all against conference opponents, before making his return in the team’s final regular-season game against the Oklahoma Sooners.
Weaver came off the bench in that game, playing only five minutes. He recorded two rebounds but was scoreless, going 0-for-3 from the field.
“He’s not going to be back to where he’s out there for 40 minutes, but he’s going to be a guy that comes in and gradually works his way back in a little bit,” Texas head coach Rodney Terry stated before the Oklahoma game.
Texas Availability Report: SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament
For the SEC Tournament, Texas listed all of its players on the mandatory conference injury report. While Weaver may not return to a starting role immediately, his experience will be crucial as the Longhorns aim to advance beyond the conference tournament.
Texas is set to face the Vanderbilt Commodores at 2:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, March 12, for their debut in the SEC Tournament.
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