NCAA Bracketology: Texas Awaits Postseason Fate
The Texas Longhorns had a chance to defend their Big 12 Conference Title but lost to a hungry Kansas State Wildcats team in the second round, 78-74.
Kansas State guard Tylor Perry scored a team-high 21 points and hit clutch free throws down the stretch as the Wildcats overcame a 10-point deficit in the second half to knock the Longhorns out of the conference tournament.
Texas guard Max Abmas scored a game-high 26 points and had four assists while Ithiel Horton had one of his performances in nearly two months, scoring 14 points on 6 of 9 shooting to go along with five rebounds.
As for NCAA Tournament implications, of the 68 teams who will punch their ticket to play in the tournament, Texas is still projected to get in. The loss didn't knock Texas into the March Madness bubble, but it did prevent the Longhorns from moving up and out of their projected 8/9 seed line.
The No. 8 or No. 9 seed is a challenge because if you win your first matchup, the next game will likely be against a No. 1 seed.
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© Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY
Now the Longhorns will wait to hear their fate. Selection Sunday is March 17th with the First Four on March 19-20 and the First Round on March 21-22.
The Big Dance concludes in the NCAA Championship Game on April 8. The UConn Huskies currently are the favorites to win the crown. UConn defeated San Diego State 76-59 in the final last year to take the 2023 NCAA title. Florida (2006 and 2007) is the last team to win back-to-back titles.