The Texas Longhorns entered the 2024-25 season with high expectations. Incoming freshman phenom Tre Johnson was joining a solid roster that included multiple talented veterans, including double-double machine Arthur Kaluma and transfer guards Tramon Mark and Jordan Pope. However, in a loaded SEC, the Longhorns began conference play with a 1-4 record. Texas is a team still trying to find some camaraderie, and on Tuesday night, took a massive step in the right direction with an important upset of the #23 Missouri Tigers.
The Texas Longhorns Had a Rough Start to SEC Play
Entering conference play, Texas had an 11-2 record, with losses to Ohio State and Connecticut being the only blemishes on an otherwise-strong resume. However, in the gauntlet that is the SEC, head coach Rodney Terry’s squad had a rough start. After a blowout loss to Texas A&M where they were outscored by 32 in the paint, Texas had the pleasure of facing #2 Auburn and #1 Tennessee in the same week.
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The Longhorns acquitted themselves fairly well in both games but were unable to get a result in either contest. Against Auburn, senior Arthur Kaluma had a vintage 34 points and 8 rebounds, doing everything he could to will the team to victory. However, it was not enough, as the Tigers won the game 87-82.
Against Tennessee, it was the freshman Tre Johnson who went off. The young man from Garland, TX has been hyped as the best Longhorn freshman since Kevin Durant, and while it’s unrealistic to expect anyone to live up to such lofty standards, Johnson had an incredible game against the Volunteers. He had 26 points on 11-17 from the floor against a Tennessee team that is notoriously stout defensively. Texas lost the rebounding battle big once again, but heroics from Johnson kept the game close in what was ultimately a 74-70 loss.
After earning their first conference win on the road against rivals Oklahoma, Texas was once again humbled by a top team. The #5 Florida Gators demolished the Longhorns by 24. Coach Terry pointed to his team’s toughness as the difference on the night.
We played some physical teams to this point right now, and you know you have to be able to withstand when the other team scores and you have to withstand not scoring. We have to continue to have good defensive possessions and stay in games to where you have you have a chance down the stretch.
Texas Responded in a Big Way Tuesday Night Against #23 Missouri
Returning home from Gainesville, the Longhorns had yet another ranked opponent on tap on Tuesday night. The #23 Missouri Tigers had won 4 straight entering the night, including an upset win over Florida. By night’s end, Texas had demonstrated the toughness and grit that had been lacking and earned a terrific 61-53 win, their second Quad 1 win of the season.
Kaluma was playing with a sore calf but still had a double-double, scoring 14 and collecting 12 rebounds. Johnson was a rotten 3-15 from the floor but had a big-time driving layup to stretch the lead to 7 with just under a minute to go. Meanwhile, senior Kadin Shedrick was arguably the MVP. He had 9 points, 9 rebounds, and countless hustle plays; diving on the floor for 50-50 balls, altering shots at the rim, and feasting on the offensive glass.
Texas won the rebounding battle 39-31 and had 14 offensive rebounds, 9 of which were by Kaluma and Shedrick. In a scrappy, low-scoring affair, the Longhorns embodied a boxer who was content to absorb body blows in order to throw punches of their own. Missouri has been a team that has thrived in transition on the year, and the Longhorns noticeably slowed down the pace in order to attempt to out-physical the Tigers down low. This strategy proved very effective. The teams only made a combined 8 three-pointers, but Texas dominated in second-chance points and on the offensive glass.
another day, another double-double for @___kingart 💪🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/I9KJxaGhYu
— Texas Men’s Basketball (@TexasMBB) January 22, 2025
Controlling the glass has been the recipe for success in the SEC this year, and Texas will need to continue doing that to keep getting results. Projected to just miss out on the NCAA Tournament by ESPN before the game, Texas will likely enter the projected at-large field but still have work to do in order to stay there.
Saturday will be another big test of character, as a rematch with the Texas A&M Aggies looms. This time, the Longhorns will be at home, and while they still sit near the bottom of the SEC standings with a 2-4 conference record, they have a massive opportunity to turn their season around starting on Saturday.
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