(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)INDIANAPOLIS – Shaka Smart pulled off one of the most memorable Cinderella runs in NCAA Tournament history, taking VCU from the First Four to the Final Four in 2011. But as Texas coach, Smart is 1-3 in three tournament appearances during his six seasons. Texas was bounced from the NCAA Tournament as a No. He seemed like a slam dunk hire in 2015 after he had turned VCU into an NCAA Tournament regular. “Really feel for our guys right now because up until tonight we had a phenomenal season,” Smart said.

In the most pressure-packed moment of his college career, the Abilene Christian junior forward was perfect on two free throws from a spot where he'd struggled in the past. Another double-digit seed is moving on in the NCAA Tournament, and this one at the expense of the flagship school in Abilene Christian's home state. Jones hit two free throws with 56 seconds left and his 3-pointer with 14 seconds remaining put the Longhorns in front 52-51. Reggie Miller made one of two free throws to push the lead to four. Really disappointed, everybody is.”Texas was rolling coming into the NCAA Tournament after winning the Big 12 Tournament for the first time in school history.

– Texas finally won the Big 12 Tournament championship. 12 Oklahoma State. Isaac Likekele added 13 points and Kalib Boone had 12 for the Cowboys, who fought past No. 10 West Virginia and the second-ranked Bears the previous two days to reach their first Big 12 Tournament title game since 2009. BIG PICTUREAdOklahoma State finished the season on a roll, winning eight of its last nine before the Big 12 title game with a pair of OT victories.

Baylor forward Flo Thamba (0) celebrates a score against Texas during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)AUSTIN, Texas – Texas played Baylor tougher than most teams have this season. 2 Baylor used a big run to pull away for an 83-69 victory over sixth-ranked Texas on Tuesday night. Texas (11-4, 5-3) was within six points late before Baylor pulled away behind open 3-pointers from Adam Flagler and Mitchell. Instead of rallying the Longhorns, Jared Butler made his free throws and another quick basket put Baylor up by 10.

Texas Tech won 79-77. 15 Texas Tech rallied to beat No. “I've got a lot of confidence in Mac,” Texas Tech coach Chris Beard said. Texas Tech has roughed up the Longhorns in recent years with six wins in seven matchups, including three in a row in Austin. After drawing an offensive foul on Texas Tech with 45 seconds left, Texas had the ball and the lead.

14 West Virginia on Saturday. West Virginia was poised to add to a 54-45 lead midway through the second half, then Texas got tough on defense. West Virginia: The Mountaineers became the first team to score 40 points in the first half against Texas this season. It was a reversal of fortunes for West Virginia after terrible starts in their two previous games. But it was the second half Saturday where West Virginia struggled this time, making just 10 of 34 field goals (29%).

(AP Photo/Michael Thomas)AUSTIN, Texas – After opening the season in a Connecticut “bubble,” Villanova went all the way down to Texas to get a big win. 17 Texas 68-64 Sunday, handing the Longhorns their first loss after a strong start. BIG PICTUREVillanova: The Wildcats won in their first trip to Texas since winning the 2018 national championship in San Antonio. STAT LINE:Kai Jones, who doesn’t start for Texas but is averaging 20 minutes per game, is shooting 19 of 22 this season. Texas hosts Texas State on Wednesday night in the Longhorns’ final non-conference game before starting Big 12 play.

2 Baylor will play in Indianapolis on Saturday for the ninth meeting between the top two teams in AP Top 25 since 2005. 2 Kentucky met last season in the previous 1-vs.-2 meeting, a game won by the Wildcats 69-62. Playing in Las Vegas, Baylor opened with a 112-82 win over Louisiana-Lafayette and followed with an 96-52 thumping of Washington. Jay Wright's Wildcats opened the season in Bubbleville and opted to stay in Connecticut to face Hartford. Villanova won that game 87-53 to bounce back from its first loss of the season, 81-73 to No.

Coleman hit a stepback jumper with 0.1 seconds left to help Texas beat No. The Tar Heels (3-1) could only heave the ball the length of the court for a miracle that never materialized. UNC’s Leaky Black answered with two free throws with 25.6 seconds left, setting up Coleman's winner. That gave the Tar Heels three games in Williams’ hometown with fan cutouts in the stands and crowd noise pumped in. UNC: The Tar Heels visit third-ranked Iowa on Tuesday in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.