Texas Should Slam Elite Eight in Grind for Sweet Sixteen Victory!
The Horns have been good at making the NCAA Tournament over the last 27 years, but haven’t won much in it recently.
AUSTIN, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 17: Head Coach Sean Miller of the Texas Longhorns reacts during the first half against the LSU Tigers at Moody Center on February 17, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Scott Wachter/Getty Images) | Getty Images What is the value of making the NCAA Tournament? For first-year Texas Longhorns head coach Sean Miller, not participating in March Madness would have defined the 2025-26 season as a failure.
Yet, Miller also said after the SEC Tournament-opening loss to the Rebels that he was at peace if the Longhorns weren’t selected, ultimately sliding into the field as one of the last four teams in to land in the First Four for a second consecutive season. “I have zero anxiety entering the weekend, simply because of this — I came to Texas to build a championship program. There’s steps and foundations that have to be laid.
Processes, failure, really learning what the SEC is really about. This has been very rewarding and enlightening and when you get to the finality of it, whatever happens, I’m at peace,” Miller said. So if Miller was on the brink of failure with his first Texas team, then why would he be at peace?
Is anything short of a unexpected run in the tournament acceptable? What are the standards for the Longhorns? The press release for Tuesday’s matchup against NC State in Dayton noted that Texas has made 24 appearances in the last 27 NCAA Tournaments, behind only five other programs — Gonzaga, Kansas, Duke, Michigan State, and Wisconsin.
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