Texas Longhorns Rise in AP Top 25 Poll Ahead of Tilt vs. UConn Huskies

The Texas Longhorns have risen up four spots from No. 19 to No. 15 in the latest edition of the AP Top 25 rankings, which were released Monday.

Texas (4-0) beat the Louisville Cardinals, 81-80, in the semifinals of the Empire Classic on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden, as Max Abmas hit a game-winning jumper with 0.4 seconds left. Texas forward Kadin Shedrick led all scorers with 27 points to go along with seven rebounds and three steals.

While many might've expected a tight win over a rebuilding Louisville team would knock the Longhorns down the rankings, losses by teams ahead of them from FAU, Arkansas, USC and Michigan State allowed Texas to move up amid a 4-0 start to the season.

Now as the No. 15 team in the country, the Longhorns will have their work cut out for them on Monday night against No. 5 UConn in the final of the Empire Classic.

Texas coach Rodney Terry admitted that his team is still learning, but was pleased with how they found a way to win against Louisville.

"We found a way down the stretch to finish the game, and give our guys a lot of credit, too," Terry said Sunday. "We're learning right now throughout the early part of the season to work to game for 40 minutes. Good or bad, you just keep working the game and we're fortunate to have the ball at the very end and Max made a big-time play and big-time shot to close the game out."

Max Abmas Hits Game Winner as Texas Survives vs. Louisville

Texas and UConn tip-off from MSG on Monday at 6 p.m. CT.