OTF Premium SEC Hoops Game Thread: Texas vs. No. 7 Florida

[Jeff Howe]

After having its five-game winning streak snapped, Texas returns to Moody Center to face arguably its toughest test of the 2025-26 season when it hosts No. 7 Florida on Wednesday (6 p.m., ESPN2). While the Longhorns remain on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble, a win over the Gators would likely lock Texas (17-10, 8-6 SEC) into the field of 68.

Getting by Florida (21-6, 12-2), which sits atop the SEC standings and enters Wednesday’s game on a seven-game winning streak, will take nothing short of an exceptional performance by the Longhorns.

“Obviously, any time you host the national champion from a year ago, it has amazing meaning,” Sean Miller said on Tuesday. “Really, credit Todd Golden and his program.

“I think it's very impressive to see him and his staff how they've built Florida, especially in the NIL/transfer portal era,” he added. “I think there's a lot you can learn from just watching how they've added and developed their roster. I also think they're playing their very best basketball of this season right now, on a win streak in dominant fashion the last several road games in our league — not easy to do. They've gone on the road and they've won by big, big margins. We know we have our hands full.”

TEXAS vs. No. 7 FLORIDA

When: 6 p.m. CT
Where: Moody Center (Austin, Texas)
TV: ESPN2

Betting line
Florida -6.5
O/U: 157.5

Texas 2025-26 roster
Starters:
Jordan Pope, CG, 6-0, senior (12.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists)
Tramon Mark, CG, 6-6, Gr. (13.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals)
Camden Heide, F, 6-7, junior (6.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 50.0% from three) 
Dailyn Swain, F/G, 6-8, junior (17.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.8 steals)
Matas Vokietaitas, C, 7-0, sophomore (15.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.0 blocks)

Reserves:
Simeon Wilcher, CG, 6-4, junior (7.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists) 
Chendall Weaver, G, 6-3, senior (6.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists)
Lassina Traore, C, 6-10, senior (3.4 points, 5.1 rebounds) 
Nic Codie, PF,  6-9, sophomore (4.1 points, 2.9 rebounds)
Declan Duru, F, 6-8, freshman 

Redshirts:
John Clark, PF, 6-8.5, freshman 
Lewis Obiorah, C, 7-1, freshman 

Texas splits:
49.7% FG/ 74.9% FT/ 35.4% from three

Sean Miller file
Career record: 504-206 (71%)
NCAA Tournament record: 22-13
NCAA Tournament: 4 Elite Eights and 8 Sweet 16s
Conference Championships: 8. Five in the Pac-10/Pac-12, and three in the Atlantic 10
Conference Coach of the Year awards: 4. Three in the Pac 10/Pac 12, and one in the Atlantic 10. Also the 2015 USA Basketball National COY in 2015

Texas in the rankings

— Texas is currently No. 37 in the NCAA NET rankings with five Quad 1 wins.
https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball-men/d1/ncaa-mens-basketball-net-rankings

— KenPom ranks Texas 32 (down from No. 28 last week)
https://kenpom.com/

— Bart Torvik T-Rank checks in at No. 43
https://barttorvik.com/#

— Texas strength of schedule is currently around No. 23, and will likely finish in the top 25
https://www.teamrankings.com/ncaa-basketball/ranking/schedule-strength-by-other

Remaining schedule
*- projected NCAA Tournament team
*Feb. 28 - at Texas A&M (No. 42 in NCAA NET) - Quad 1 game 
*Mar. 3 - at Arkansas (No. 18 in NCAA NET) - Quad 1 game 
Mar. 7 - vs. Oklahoma (No. 68 in NCAA NET) - Quad 2 game

View full news story

[Joe Zura]

Might want to fix the betting line Jeff didn’t know Georgia was favored in the Texas Florida game 😂

[Thorn007]

could lose 4 straight.  says debbie downer

[LonghornFan4Ever]

15 minutes ago, Joe Zura said:

Might want to fix the betting line Jeff didn’t know Georgia was favored in the Texas Florida game 😂

Too many losses to Georgia over the years will do that to you I guess

[Alex Butler]

Zero confidence in us even covering in this game. I do hope the Moody crowd is wild and crazy 🤪 

[LonghornLegends]

15 minutes ago, Alex Butler said:

Zero confidence in us even covering in this game. I do hope the Moody crowd is wild and crazy 🤪 

Agree 100% lol got manhandled last game, now going against a team way more talented than Georgia lol. My hope is beat either Aggie or land thieves. 

[CJ Vogel]

Going to need a big time game from outside shooting and defensive rebounding. 

Surprisingly, the line sits at only 6-points in favor of UF

[Jordan91]

Texas has no defense. They win when they are shooting well and find a way to be at least average on defense. The current team will not step up and be consistent for the rest of the season on defense. When a coach has to talk about over and over it means they can’t do it. Florida is excellent at positions Texas is the weakest at. Matas can’t handle their forwards and centers. He doesn’t have the quickness to stay in front of them. He’s slow to rotate to begin with. He’s still learning the game so based off that he is doing very well. This is not something he’s ready for. defensively. Texas has no power forward so good luck with that. Texas still has the punchers chance though. If they light it up from three and Florida just has one of those nights where the ball just won’t go in they can win. I hope they win, but I am not expecting that to happen. I will watch and root for them though. Also Texas crowd doesn’t get that loud anymore anyway. It’s not like Texas has a sizable home court advantage. They cheer on dunks and when the game is close and it’s winning time. Texas is still building in all phases. Hoping for the best. 

[Jordan91]

6 minutes ago, CJ Vogel said:

Going to need a big time game from outside shooting and defensive rebounding. 

Surprisingly, the line sits at only 6-points in favor of UF

Maybe they think it’s a football rematch. 

[Jordan91]

I will also add that I am looking for fight from the players. Don’t just lay down at the start. Coach Miller has already alluded to pulling players that don’t start off the game right. 

[CJ Vogel]

18 minutes ago, Jordan91 said:

Maybe they think it’s a football rematch. 

Well I’d hope at least this time there’d be some defensive physicality present

[Califashorn75]

Cosch Vic needs to show this team how to play defense.  

[LonghornLegends]

41 minutes ago, Califashorn75 said:

Cosch Vic needs to show this team how to play defense.  

Man only if Vic coached their defense with Millers offense we'd be doing alright lmao. Currently we have a go all out offense and a take a break and text the GF defense while other team is wide open lol.

[ArizonaLonghorn]

"After having its five-game winning streak snapped, Texas returns to Moody Center to face arguably its toughest test of the 2025-26 season when it hosts No. 7 Florida on Wednesday"

Uh, no ... Duke on a not quite neutral-ish court was a tougher test by far ...

[TTaylor2135]

I'm gonna go with the Florida is "due" for a loss route. 89-85 good guys. Vegas line is screaming to take Florida so we know how that always goes. 

[LonghornFan4Ever]

7 minutes ago, TTaylor2135 said:

I'm gonna go with the Florida is "due" for a loss route. 89-85 good guys. Vegas line is screaming to take Florida so we know how that always goes. 

Exactly how I’m feeling.  That Vegas line is fishy for sure.  Surprised Florida isn’t favored by like -12.5.  Florida might be due for a loss to reset before they get to the NCAA tournament.  Would love to see a good court storming in the Moody tonight if that happens.

[Jordan91]

They are in the 100-200 range on defense. How do you get that bad? That’s out of over 300+ D1 schools. At least be around eighty. 

[CRG]

36 minutes ago, TTaylor2135 said:

I'm gonna go with the Florida is "due" for a loss route. 89-85 good guys. Vegas line is screaming to take Florida so we know how that always goes. 

I like it 🤘

[MarkInAustin]

32 minutes ago, Jordan91 said:

They are in the 100-200 range on defense. How do you get that bad? That’s out of over 300+ D1 schools. At least be around eighty. 

Jordan Pope is not a defensive threat against most of the guys he must cover in the SEC.  In fact, he is a liability.  He physically cannot defend the three point line because he must be in the face of the shooter to defend it, which guarantees a foul.  He is better off leaving his man open for three and crashing the boards - it is that bad.  I write this as someone who had the same problem defending guys three inches taller than I on the perimeter.  Might as well race to the boards as the shooter committed.

[That was in City League, I never played in school].

There are some good man defenders on the team.  What I find disappointing are team lapses - open lanes, open baselines, allowing a man to get behind the entire team at the basket... .  Two of the best man defenders are the engines of the offense, Swain and Mark.  They may suffer fatigue in grueling games, which shows on defense first.

I think Matas is quicker than you think he is, Jordan, but I think he simply hasn't mastered the game yet as he is still relying on his height and strength, rather than his positioning.  I believe he is often guilty of [fortunately for Texas uncalled] three second violations, btw.

Edited 40 minutes ago by MarkInAustin

[davisxcole]

Not to sure I’ll be watching tonight 😅