The Texas Longhorns have already clinched a tournament championship this season. Under the guidance of Vic Schaefer, the team is setting its sights on another victory as they head into March Madness. For the first time since 2004, they’ve secured the No. 1 seed in Regional 4 in Portland.
Their journey in the NCAA Tournament begins at the Moody Center, where they’ll face off against the No. 16 seed Drexel. A victory there would set them up against the winner of the match between No. 8 seed Alabama and No. 9 seed Florida State.
With a stellar record of 30-4, including 14-4 in the Big 12, Texas earned the Big 12’s automatic bid to the tournament. They showcased their dominance by defeating Iowa State with a decisive 70-53 victory in the Big 12 Tournament title game. Madison Booker led the charge with 26 points, earning the title of the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
Booker’s achievement is historic, as she became the first woman to be named both Big 12 Player of the Year and Big 12 Freshman of the Year in the same season. Despite facing challenges, including the loss of All-American candidate Rori Harmon to a knee injury, the team showed resilience. Booker, alongside a formidable group including Aaliyah Moore, Deyona Gaston, Taylor Jones, Shaylee Gonzales, and Shay Holle, helped the Longhorns secure second place in the Big 12 regular-season standings.
Vic Schaefer is renowned for his defensive coaching strategies, yet his 2023-24 team boasts one of the most dynamic offenses in the NCAA Tournament. They rank impressively in several national statistics, including points per game, field goal percentage, and rebounding margin, among others.
Even without Harmon, Texas possesses the talent and depth to aim for the Final Four, a feat they haven’t achieved since 2003. Under Schaefer’s leadership, the team has consistently performed well in the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Elite Eight in recent years.
Schaefer, along with former head coach Karen Aston, has led Texas to significant achievements over the past eight years, including multiple Sweet 16 and Elite Eight appearances. Despite facing tough competition in previous years, the team has shown they are contenders on the national stage.
This year marks Texas’s 36th appearance in March Madness, a testament to the program’s enduring success. They’ve reached the Sweet 16 seventeen times, the Elite Eight eleven times, and the Final Four three times, capturing the national championship in 1986. With a rich history and a strong current lineup, the Longhorns are poised for a deep run in the tournament.