Texas is 2 wins from Vic Schaefer’s first title and him saying it’s his best team
FORT WORTH, Texas — Ten years ago and a few miles down the road (in Texas terms at least), Vic Schaefer made it to his first Sweet 16. In his fourth year as head coach at Mississippi State, with just one NCAA Tournament appearance to his head-coaching resume, he led the Bulldogs deep into March and a matchup with UConn. The Huskies were amid an eventual 111-game winning streak with three starters who would — just a few weeks after that game — go Nos.
1, 2 and 3 in the WNBA Draft. Mississippi State didn’t have that kind of talent or experience. The Bulldogs got their butts kicked by 60.
When Schaefer looked out at that Huskies team, he understood their collection of experienced talent among the best that had ever been on any floor together. He also knew that one game didn’t define a season, that the Bulldogs could get smoked by UConn … and still be one of the best teams in the country that was building something meaningful. That’s just how it works sometimes.
So on Monday night in the Elite Eight, when Schaefer shook Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico’s hands after his Longhorns decimated the Wolverines 77-41 and said, “Good game,” he meant it. He has been there. Not that long ago.
To its credit, Michigan, with its young core, could be in the midst of building a Final Four-worthy team. Not this season. Not when Texas was in its way.
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