The NCAA Tournament is entering its second week, having started with 68 teams competing for a national championship, but now only 16 teams remain.
One of the biggest surprises so far is the No. 11 seed Texas Longhorns. They were among the last teams to qualify for the tournament. The Longhorns have a record of 21-14 this season and participated in one of the four play-in games. They have successfully defeated the NC State Wolfpack, the BYU Cougars and the Gonzaga Bulldogs up to this point. Next, they will face the Purdue Boilermakers.
Despite their strong performance, ESPN’s Myron Medcalf ranks them as the worst team among the 16 remaining in March Madness.
Texas Longhorns guard Tramon Mark (12), guard Jordan Pope (0) and forward Nic Codie (10) react after a play.© Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
(© Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images)
“The Sweet 16 has become a rite of passage for Sean Miller: He has now reached the second weekend with three different programs (and in both separate stints at Xavier),” Medcalf wrote. “But this one is the most surprising. There were few signs that Texas, led by Jordan Pope and Tramon Mark, would make it to the Sweet 16 for only the second time since 2008. The Longhorns had been 1-5 leading into the NCAA tournament after ranking 10th in defensive efficiency in the SEC. But those numbers overshadowed two of Texas’ strengths: 6-foot-8 guard Dailyn Swain (12.6 points, 5.3 assists, 6.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals per game in three NCAA tournament games) and 7-footer Matas Vokietaitis (18.3 points, 11.0 rebounds in the NCAA tournament) have perplexed all three opponents so far in the postseason. The Longhorns held NC State, BYU and Gonzaga — all teams ranked in the top 35 in offensive efficiency nationally — to a respectable average of 103 points per 100 possessions.”
Texas’ run has already shifted the perception of what this group is capable of, even if national rankings haven’t caught up. Their ability to slow down high-powered offenses and control tempo gives them a style that translates well in tournament play, where possessions become more valuable and games tighten late.
Against Purdue, that identity will be put to the test in a major way. Purdue’s size and structure present a different challenge than what Texas has faced so far, forcing the Longhorns to prove their defensive success is sustainable against elite competition. If they can dictate pace again, the gap between perception and reality could shrink quickly.
More broadly, Texas has already carved out a place as this year’s Cinderella, but the opportunity in front of them is bigger than that label. A win would push them into the Elite Eight and transform their story from a surprising run to a legitimate contender, continuing one of the most unexpected journeys in this year’s tournament.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Basketball section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.