March Madness Report: Huge opportunity in Waco (Monday 11:30 a.m. CST)

March Madness Report: Huge opportunity in Waco 

Let's begin the Big Monday showdown in Waco with a chance to end a bad streak. The Texas Longhorns have the opportunity to do something tonight the program hasn't accomplished since February 1, 2016 - win at Baylor. That's right, it's been eight years since Texas walked out of the Ferrell Center with a victory. Of course that would be nice, but there are much more important and bigger things on the table tonight. 

With last weeks wins at Texas Tech and Oklahoma State in Austin, the Longhorns are back inside the top 30 of the NCAA NET rankings. Texas begins the week at No. 27. That means Texas is right there on the No. 7 seed line, and in position to avoid the dreaded 8/9 seed game winner against a No. 1 seed in the Round of 32.

A win tonight would unequivocally change the trajectory of Texas' potential seeding in the NCAA Tournament. If Texas pulled the upset (Baylor a 6.5 point favorite), the Horns would have a real shot to move to the 6/7 seed line headed into the regular season finale against arch-rival Oklahoma Saturday. 

OnTexasFootball takes a look at the various rankings and scenarios headed into tonights game. 

Texas NCAA Tournament seeding scenarios

Win at No. 15 Baylor: Texas moves to the 6/7 seed line. Would be a big mover/trajectory win. Would give Texas 6 Quad wins, and five Big 12 road wins. Would give Texas a fourth win over a ranked opponent this season. Would set up a very strong finish to the regular season with shot at 10-8 in Big 12 play. 

Loss at No. 15 Baylor: No pain, unless it's a really bad showing. Baylor is favored by 6.5 for good reason. Texas strength of schedule ascends tonight no matter the outcome. 

Loss at Baylor, and win Saturday against Oklahoma: Would keep Texas on that 7/8 seed line making a win in the Big 12 Tournament paramount. Would be a third Quad 2 win. And get Texas to 20 wins, and a 9-9 Big 12 record. 

Loss at Baylor and to Oklahoma: Texas would be on the 9/10 seed line, and limp into the Big 12 Tournament in need of a win. Would mean 19-12, and 8-10 in Big 12 play. 

Texas’ Remaining Regular Season Schedule
3/4 @ No. 15 Baylor 
3/9 Oklahoma 

NCAA Men’s Basketball NET Rankings (March 1)
Texas is No. 27 in NCAA NET headed into the game tonight. The Horns moved up 13 spots last week from No. 40 with wins at Texas Tech and Oklahoma State in Austin.

The Longhorns are 5-7 in Quad 1 games, 2-2 vs. Quad 2, 3-1 vs. Quad 3 and 8-0 vs. Quad 4. 

Quad 1 games remaining for the Longhorns:
No. 13 @ Baylor 

Quad 2 game remaining:
No. 41 Oklahoma 

T-Rank 
Texas is No. 23 in Bart Torvik’s rankings headed into Monday games.

2024 Ken Pomeroy College Basketball Ratings
Texas checks in at No. 26 headed into this week. Texas began last week at No. 28 prior to the two victories.