The last few weeks has seen the Texas Basketball program emerge as one of the bigger turnarounds in all of college basketball. First year head coach Sean Miller has the Longhorns playing better basketball than anyone could have expected – especially after a rather dismal start to the season. Following the disappointing home loss to Mississippi State to begin conference play, it looked like it would be a long season for Miller and his team, and an NCAA Tournament berth looked like a pipe dream. While things have not been perfect for Texas since that loss, they have grinded out an 8-4 record in one of the toughest conferences in basketball. This includes a current five-game win streak, which is the longest the Longhorns have had since joining the Southeastern Conference.
Texas has remarkably gone from hoping to be on the tournament bubble to now looking like a lock to make the Big Dance. They likely need one more win their last five games. Outside of Oklahoma at home to end the season, Saturday at Georgia may be the best chance for Texas to get an elusive ninth conference win. Texas and Georgia have already played once this season with Texas winning 87-67 on January 24th. Georgia entered the game ranked 21st in country but the loss to Texas started a downward spiral for the Bulldogs. Including the loss to Texas, Georgia lost five of six games prior to beating Kentucky at Rupp Arena earlier this week. That win will certainly give Georgia some confidence as they look to finish strong down the stretch and maintain hopes of playing in the NCAA Tournament.
Texas Will Go As Far As Dailyn Swain Takes Them
Dailyn Swain was the most sought-after transfer Sean Miller brought with him to Texas. Swain was a solid player at Xavier under Miller, and stepped up his game in the NCAA Tournament last season. He was largely viewed as a two-year player and not a one-and-done to the NBA type. With how well Swain has played and particularly in how he has shot from three, it’s likely he will be a first round pick in this year’s NBA draft. Swain is doing as much or more for his team than any other single player in the SEC. Not only is he the leading scorer for the Longhorns, he’s the leading rebounder and also leads the team in assists along with being the team’s best defender.
In the first meeting against Georgia, Swain had one of his best games of the year, finishing with 26 points on 12-16 shooting from the field. That was to go along with six rebounds and five steals. As a team, Texas is averaging over 85 points per game. That is a dramatic improvement from recent years and it’s just year one under Sean Miller. Swain is the head of the snake and if you can’t slow him down it will be a long day for opposing defenses.
The Texas Defense Can Allow Points in Bunches
If there is a weakness under Sean Miller in year one, it’s the defense. Opponents can and have taken advantage of it. It starts with communication, or lack thereof, which has been a consistent issue on defense all year for the Longhorns. Lack of communication caused Miller to remove senior guard Jordan Pope against this week against LSU. Texas has also shown a bad habit of fouling three-point shots. This inevitably feels like it happens 2-4 times a game. Fouling three-point shooters is an excellent way to beat yourselves.
Georgia is a team that will make you pay if you don’t defend, as they are currently averaging over 90 points a game. They shoot just 32 percent from three, but make no mistake they can score in bunches. Texas was able to hold them to just 67 points and only 30 points in the second half in their previous meeting. It will take that kind of effort defensively to leave Athens with a win, but this poses another great test for Sean Miller and Texas in what should be a tough atmosphere against a team fighting for their postseason lives.
The game tips off at 2:30 and will be shown on SEC Network.
