Texas Longhorns Seek Upset Against No. 2 Alabama in SEC Showdown

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Longhorns are gearing up for a pivotal Southeastern Conference matchup against the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide on Tuesday night at the Moody Center. Coach Rodney Terry‘s squad, currently on a two-game losing streak, seeks to reignite their season against a formidable Alabama team that has won six consecutive games.

Texas (15-9, 4-7 SEC) comes into this game reeling from back-to-back losses, most recently falling 86-78 to Vanderbilt. The Longhorns started the season strong with an 11-2 record, but their performance has dipped as SEC play progressed, resulting in struggles against top-tier opponents. Coach Terry acknowledged the challenges faced, stating, “Every night is a good opponent so you have to have a short memory.”

On the other side, Alabama (20-3, 9-1 SEC) is riding high after an 85-81 win over Arkansas, and is eager to continue its streak. Alabama’s head coach, Nate Oats, is focused on maintaining momentum despite ranking second in the AP Top 25. “We just gotta take care of business. We’ve got full control of our own destiny to win the SEC right now,” Oats said.

One key for Texas will be to establish consistency. After winning three of four games previously, the Longhorns have found themselves struggling against stiff competition. “We have an opportunity to find some measure of consistency entering the most crucial point in the season,” Terry noted.

Additionally, Texas boasts a roster rich in Division I experience, averaging 2.87 years of collegiate basketball played. This experience will need to shine through against an equally seasoned Alabama squad averaging 2.96 years. Terry commented, “Experience needs to show, especially against an Alabama team that has excelled and is coming off a Final Four run last year.”

Physicality remains a crucial point for Texas, as Oats’ squad is among the nation’s best in rebounding, with Alabama ranking first in the SEC since league play began. Texas was recently outrebounded by Vanderbilt, and Terry emphasized the need to match the physicality of Alabama’s roster, which features standout players like Grant Nelson, fourth in SEC rebounding at 8.2 per game.

Mark Sears, Alabama’s leading scorer at 17.8 points per game, will also be a focus for Texas. Last seen being benched in a previous game for poor performance, Texas will aim to contain him and prevent another standout performance. “We need to force Sears into another off night,” Terry indicated.

Shooting efficiency will also be key for Texas if they want to upset the Crimson Tide. The Longhorns shot only 4-of-14 from beyond the arc against Vanderbilt, and need to convert on open looks to stay competitive against a high-scoring Alabama team averaging 91.3 points per game during their winning streak.

Set to tip-off at 8 p.m. CT and broadcast on ESPN, this game holds significant weight for Texas as they seek to bolster their NCAA Tournament chances and end the current losing streak against one of the nation’s best teams.