The dream of every college basketball team is to make it to the NCAA Final Four. For the Texas Longhorns, this dream has been elusive in recent years, despite a rich history of basketball excellence that includes several close calls. And while they have made it to the marquee playout tournament in their history – four times to be exact – an elusive maiden Division I championship still remains exactly that, elusive.
This year, that trend didn’t change. The Lone Star State outfit entered the NCAA end-of-season tournament as an outsider after finishing eighth in the Big 12 conference. At the start of the campaign, the fan poll predicted that they would be the third-best team in the conference behind the heavy-hitting Houston Cougars and Texas Tech Red Raiders. But while those two lived up to the billing, the Longhorns faltered, finishing down in eighth with nine wins and just as many losses.
Game Longhorns Bow Out
Their lowly regular season standing left them at the mercy of some of the top seeds once the postseason got underway, and that’s how it panned out. Texas found themselves against the SEC table-topping Tennessee Volunteers in the second round and the Knoxville-based side duly lived up to the billing knocking off a game Longhorns 78-74. They too were ultimately downed by the beaten finalist Purdue Boilermakers, who were also defeated by the new undisputed kings of the collegiate basketball world, the Uconn Huskies.
Connecticut also won the Final Four last season, and they have gone on to retain their crown once again this term. Two of their stars – namely Donovan Clingan and Stephon Castle – are now heavily expected to be featured in the top ten of the upcoming NBA draft. Who features at the top of the board remains to be seen, with popular NBA odds making both the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs the +525 favorites to win the first pick in the draft lottery.
But what of the Longhorns? Their two-decade-plus wait to reach the final four unfortunately must go on. But what’s the closest they have come to qualifying for the tournament in recent years? And what happened the last time they made it that far?
The Last Time
The last time the Longhorns made it all the way was 21 years ago, during what many consider the peak of the Rick Barnes Era. Four years into his eventual 15-year tenure, the legendary head coach led his side to an impressive 26-7 regular season record, going 13-3 in conference play and securing them top seed status in the process.
Their run to the championship finals was marked by exceptional performances against some of the country’s top teams with T.J. Ford in particular standing out as the team’s leader. The talented point guard won the Naismith College Player of the Year that season and was instrumental in guiding the Longhorns through the tournament, picking up victories against this year’s two finalists, Uconn and Purdue.
However, the Longhorns’ dream run ended in the semifinals, where they were stunningly upset by the Syracuse Orangemen. Led by freshman sensation Carmelo Anthony, the East Regional third seeds weren’t expected to pull up any stress, however, they managed to upset the applecart with a shocking 95-84 victory in New Orleans. And they weren’t stopped there, going on to knockoff Kansas in the finals to win the National Championships for the first time in history.
Near Misses – 2006 Regional Final
Fast forward three years to 2006, and the Longhorns found themselves on the brink of the Final Four once again. Led by LaMarcus Aldridge and P.J. Tucker, they had a blend of size and skill that few teams could match. They breezed through the early rounds of the tournament, setting up a showdown with LSU in the Elite Eight. In a closely contested game, the Longhorns fell just short, heartbreakingly losing in overtime after regulation finished level.
2008 Regional Final
The 2008 season saw another strong Texas team form, this time led by D.J. Augustin and Damion James. They powered their way through the regular season, fueled by a high-octane offense and stout defense that secured them second-seed status. The former of their two superstars was selected ninth overall in the NBA draft that followed by the Charlotte Bobcats, and his performances were crucial in the postseason victories against West Virginia and North Carolina.
Once again, they reached the Elite Eight, this time facing off against Memphis. In a game that showcased future NBA talent on both sides, it was the Tennessee side, led by Derrick Rose, who managed to silence the 36,000 fans in attendance at NRG Stadium – home of the NFL’s Houston Texans – by a score of 85-67. Augustin managed 16 points but ti wasn’t enough, and it was D-Rose, the Region’s Most Outstanding Player, whose side ran out convincing victors.
2023 Regional Final
More recently last year, the Longhorns showed flashes of brilliance that reminded fans of their glory days some two decades prior. The year was a stellar one for those who call the Lone Star State their home thanks to the Texas Rangers winning the MLB’s World Series for the first time in history. And with the NCAA Final Four taking place at the aforementioned NRG Stadium, the Longhorns had the perfect chance to right the wrongs of 15 years prior and run out victorious on home turf.
They headed into the tournament as the second seed and made it to the elite eights. There, they were heavily favored to progress past the fifth-seed Miami Hurricanes, but it was the Floridians who continued their Cinderella story, winning 88-81 thanks to a mighty 27 points from Jordan Miller.
