**March Madness Bracketology: Texas Men’s Basketball NCAA Tournament Chances Look Grim**
As March Madness approaches, the excitement around college basketball intensifies, with teams across the nation jockeying for positions in the coveted NCAA Tournament. For the Texas Longhorns men’s basketball team, however, the outlook is less than promising, as their chances of making the tournament appear increasingly grim. After a roller-coaster season full of highs and lows, Texas finds itself on the bubble, facing an uphill battle to secure a spot in the Big Dance.
The Longhorns, once considered a formidable force in college basketball, now face a series of obstacles as they attempt to salvage their tournament hopes. With just weeks left before Selection Sunday, the team’s chances of making the NCAA Tournament look more precarious by the day, and experts in the bracketology community are beginning to seriously question whether Texas will be able to pull off a late-season miracle to punch its ticket to the tournament.
### Texas’ Season So Far: A Tale of Inconsistencies
The Longhorns entered the 2024-2025 season with high expectations. Head coach Chris Beard, who took over the program in 2021, had quickly turned Texas into a competitive team in the Big 12, one of the most challenging conferences in college basketball. Despite the talent on the roster, this season has been anything but smooth sailing for the Longhorns.
From the outset, Texas has been plagued by inconsistency. While they have had flashes of brilliance, such as impressive victories over ranked teams and notable individual performances, they have also faltered against lesser opponents and suffered a number of unexpected defeats. These inconsistencies have left Texas struggling to find their rhythm and lacking the momentum needed to make a strong push for a high seeding in the NCAA Tournament.
One of the major contributing factors to Texas’ struggles has been its inability to string together consecutive wins in the Big 12. While the team has shown they can compete at a high level, their lack of consistency in conference play has led to costly losses. The Longhorns’ inability to win crucial games, especially in the latter part of the season, has put them in a difficult position when it comes to their tournament hopes.
### Bracketology Breakdown: What the Experts are Saying
As of now, most bracketologists have Texas on the outside looking in when it comes to the NCAA Tournament. According to the latest projections, the Longhorns are currently considered a “First Four Out” or “Next Four Out,” meaning that they are on the fringes of making the tournament but are not currently among the top 64 teams in the nation.
A big part of Texas’ dilemma is their record. While the Longhorns have had some solid wins, they have also accumulated a number of bad losses, which can be a death knell for a team on the bubble. Historically, the NCAA Tournament selection committee places significant emphasis on a team’s overall record, as well as their performance in conference play. Texas’ inconsistent Big 12 performance, particularly in key games, has caused their resume to be more of a question mark than a lock for the tournament.
The Longhorns’ strength of schedule has been both a blessing and a curse. The Big 12 is widely considered one of the toughest conferences in college basketball, but Texas has not capitalized on its opportunities to secure significant wins. For example, while the Longhorns have managed to take down teams like Kansas and Baylor, they have also dropped games to lower-tier teams, which is harming their seeding prospects. In bracketology, teams that falter in key conference matchups are often penalized when it comes to their tournament chances.
### What Texas Needs to Do to Make the Tournament
With Selection Sunday looming, Texas has a narrow window to prove its worthiness for the NCAA Tournament. To have any chance of making the field, the Longhorns will need to finish the regular season strong and perform well in the Big 12 Tournament. Here are some key areas where Texas must focus their efforts if they are to salvage their NCAA Tournament dreams:
**1. Win Key Games in the Big 12 Tournament**
Texas’ best hope for earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament is to perform well in the Big 12 Tournament. With the league being as competitive as it is, any victory over a ranked opponent will carry significant weight. A deep run in the tournament, ideally including a win over one of the conference’s elite teams, could be enough to push Texas into the field of 64. However, any early exit from the Big 12 Tournament will likely spell the end of their tournament hopes.
**2. Consistency is Key**
One of the major issues Texas has faced this season is inconsistency. The Longhorns need to find a way to play at a high level on a more regular basis. Their struggles have come in the form of sluggish starts, defensive lapses, and a lack of offensive cohesion at times. The team must tighten up its play, focus on executing well on both ends of the floor, and avoid the sort of erratic performances that have hurt them throughout the year. With the margin for error so small, the Longhorns can ill afford another slip-up.
**3. Strengthen Their Resume**
With a mediocre overall record, Texas needs to add some more quality wins to its resume. While the victories over Kansas and Baylor are impressive, the Longhorns need to demonstrate they can win consistently against strong competition. Wins over ranked opponents in both the regular season and Big 12 Tournament will help bolster their case. Additionally, Texas cannot afford to suffer any more bad losses—especially to teams with poor records or those outside the top-tier of the Big 12.
**4. Player Performances Must Rise**
As always, Texas’ chances of making the tournament are largely dependent on the performance of its star players. Senior guard Marcus Carr has been a standout for the Longhorns, and his ability to take control of games will be crucial in the team’s stretch run. Similarly, big man Christian Bishop and emerging talent Tyrese Hunter need to step up and contribute consistently. If the team’s key players can elevate their performances in the final stretch of the season, Texas could become a dangerous team come tournament time.
### Can Texas Pull Off a Miracle?
With their backs against the wall, the Longhorns’ fate rests largely in their own hands. While their NCAA Tournament hopes look slim at the moment, they are not entirely out of the picture. A strong finish to the season, including an impressive showing in the Big 12 Tournament, could propel Texas into the tournament field, but the margin for error is razor-thin.
If Texas can find the consistency and form that has eluded them for much of the season, they could still make a run to March Madness. However, if they continue to stumble in crucial moments, their chances of making the NCAA Tournament may fade with each passing game. For now, the Longhorns will need to dig deep and hope that their late-season push can overcome the obstacles that stand in their way.