As mentioned several times, the official end of the Texas Longhorns in the Big 12 is the end of June. The Longhorns depart the Big 12 and enter the SEC, and some of their long-standing, in-state rivalries from the Big 12 will end. It’s been quite the ride for the Longhorns basketball program. Let’s take a look back at the Longhorns’ history.
So Long(horns), Texas Depart Big 12; Look Back At Their Basketball History
Background
The Big 12 was founded in 1994, and the Longhorns were one of the original members. The conference started play in 1996. Texas was with Texas A&M, Baylor, and Texas Tech, half of the Southwest Conference. They joined up with Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.
During their 29 seasons as members of the Big 12 – they won the regular season title three times. They won the Big 12 conference tournament twice; both recently, in 2021 and 2023. The Longhorns never won the regular season and conference tournament in the same season.
Since 1996 – the Longhorns have made the NCAA Tournament 24 times. The seasons in Texas that did not make the big dance were 1998, 2013, 2017, and 2019. Of course, there was no tournament in 2020 due to COVID. Only the 2023 team reached the Final Four during the Big 12 era of Texas Longhorns basketball. Three other times, the Longhorns reached the Elite 8, and Texas made seven total visits to the Sweet 16 during that time.
Penders Started The Big 12 Run
Tom Penders let the Longhorns into the Big 12 after his time in the Southwest Conference. Penders was done at Texas following the 1998 season. Penders had his team ranked in the final poll of the 1997 season, and they reached the Sweet 16 that season.
Barnes Elite Big 12 Coaching
Rick Barnes took over and won 402 total games with the Longhorns. He was there from 1998-2015. During his time, he went to the Elite 8 three times, made five trips to the Sweet 16, and garnered the 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament in 2023. During the 2007-2008 two-year run, the Longhorns won 56 games, which was the most over a two-year period in school history. The 2008 team won 31 games, which stands as the most in Texas Basketball.
Smart Decision For Longhorns?
Next came the Shaka Smart era of Texas Longhorns basketball. Many felt this would be an incredible time for Longhorns basketball. It did not go as planned. Smart won just 56% of his games, as they went 109-86 in six seasons. The Longhorns were under .500 in Big 12 play. Three of the six seasons the Longhorns went to the NCAA Tournament. The 2021 team won the Big 12 tournament, getting hot at the right time of the season. Texas did win an NIT championship under Coach Smart in 2019.
Short Tenure For Beard
Next, was Chris Beard. The Longhorns made the tournament under Beard in 2022. Texas saw Beard complete just one season as the head coach. In January of 2023, Beard was fired after a felony domestic violence charge. Beard had Longhorns blood in him, as he was a student manager under Coach Penders and a 1995 alum. In the full season, the Longhorns won 22 games and lost in the second round of the tournament to Purdue. Before he was fired, the Longhorns were 7-1 during the 2022-2023 season.
Terry Time For The Longhorns
Finally, that brings us to Rodney Terry’s time in Texas. Terry got the party started with a bang. He was the top assistant for Beard and took over, and eventually won the Big 12 Tournament. The Longhorns finished the regular season strong before that, smoking Kansas by 16 in the finale. The Longhorns would also beat the Jayhawks in the Big 12 tournament for the first time in school history. After wins over Colgate, Penn State, and Xavier the Longhorns season fell short to Miami, completing a 22-8 season. Terry was named the Sporting News National Coach of the Year. In March of 2023, the Texas Longhorns signed him to a five-year $15.3M deal. Last season, the Longhorns went 21-13, eventually losing in the second round to Tennessee. So far in his career, he is 21-15 in Big 12 games.
Postseason History In The Big 12
Since becoming members of the Big 12, the Longhorns are 27-24 in the NCAA Tournament. Texas went from winning in the second round of the 2014 season to not winning another tournament game since 2022. That streak was snapped as a 6 seed, as they topped Virginia Tech by 8 points. The Longhorns’ lone time as the top seed was the 2003 season. They were the 2 seed during the 2008 tournament and also in 2023. The 2012 and 2015 tournaments saw the Longhorns sneak into the big dance as the 11 seed, losing to Cincinnati and Butler respectively.
Since 2010-2011, the Longhorns have only finished in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll three times. The coaches poll has them in twice since that time. The Longhorns had a streak from the 1999-2000 season all the way through the 2007-2008 season where they were ranked at the end of the season in seven of nine seasons. Their highest finish in the AP poll came in 2023 when they were fifth.
NBA Talent At Texas
The Longhorns have an array of NBA players from their time in the Big 12. LaMarcus Aldridge was there from 2005-2006. He became a seven-time NBA, All-Star. Jarrett Allen, the big man for the Cleveland Cavaliers was originally drafted by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2017 draft. D.J. Augustin has been a solid point guard in the league, as was on the all-rookie second team his first season in the league. Mo Bamba was the sixth overall draft by the Magic in 2018. Of course, you cannot forget two-time Finals MVP, 2014 NBA MVP, and four-time scoring champion Kevin Durant. His 2007 season with the Longhorns was incredible, which garnered him the second pick in the NBA Draft that spring. Other former Longhorns in the NBA include Jaxson Hayes, Tristan Thompson, P.J. Tucker, Myles Turner, Kai Jones, and Jericho Sims.
So Long To Some Rivalries
As we mentioned earlier, some of the in-state rivalries are no longer going to be in play on the hardwood. One rivalry that may be renewed is with Texas A&M, which also plays in the SEC. In 142 meetings, the Longhorns have beaten the Aggies 83 times. Texas will be sad to see their rivalry with Baylor and TCU go, as they have won 58% of the meetings against the Bears, and 61% against the Horned Frogs. Texas and Baylor have played 165 times in school history, and the Horned Frogs and Longhorns have played 127 times. The Longhorns had a tough time against Kansas during the Big 12 years. Kansas won 35 of the 48 meetings between the two. That is 27% for the Longhorns.
New Look Schedule
When the 2024-2025 season starts, the Moody Center in Austin will get Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas A+M to town. The Longhorns will make stops at Arkansas, Florida, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas A+M and Vanderbilt.
