Despite its best efforts, No.7 Texas fell in the second round of the NCAA tournament to second-seeded Tennessee, 62-58 Saturday night. 

The matchup was overall slow, with neither team making impressive moves on either side of the ball. Texas and Tennessee shot a low 36.4% and 33.8% from field goal range, respectively. Texas managed to dominate in three-point shooting with 30.4% in comparison to the Volunteer’s miserable 12%. 

The ultimate cause of Texas’ downfall seemed to be on the defensive front. Tennessee was able to find most scoring opportunities inside the paint, while the Longhorns were shut down by the Volunteers in a majority of their offensive attempts. Tennessee forced 17 Texas turnovers and out-rebounded Texas on the offensive glass 14-7. Switching off screens that led to mismatches on defense, such as graduate guard Max Abmas on 6-foot-6 fifth year forward Dalton Knecht, allowing Tennessee to create easy scoring opportunities.

However, Texas was able to maintain a close game, letting Tennessee no more than 12 points out of sight. The Longhorns even obtained a three point lead at one point in the matchup. 

Despite this, Texas’s comeback seemed to be a little too late in the game, taking place in the final minutes of play. Texas was able to get to a one point deficit, trailing 56-55 with less than a minute to go, but was forced to foul. Tennessee retaliated by making both of its one-and-ones, 58-55, and Texas followed by missing a three-pointer with 20 seconds on the game clock. Junior guard Tyrese Hunter scored a three-pointer from well outside the line with 4.2 seconds left. From there, Texas couldn’t convert any more points and finished with a close loss in which Tennessee seemed to be there for Texas’ taking, based off Tennessee’s below-average game.

Abmas and graduate forward Dylan Disu both accumulated 10 and 12 points, respectively, despite Tennessee’s clear efforts to target them on defense.

Sophomore guard Chendall Weaver and Hunter finished off the matchup with 13 points each, with Hunter also picking up six rebounds and two assists. 

Tennessee’s Knecht led both teams with 18 points and nine rebounds and junior guard Zakai Zeigler was a major factor in the Volunteer’s defense while holding six points, seven assists and four rebounds.

Now that the Longhorns have exited the 2024 March Madness tournament and with several players forced to leave the squad due to eligibility, the future of Texas basketball is a mystery, but that’s a wrap on the Texas men’s 2023-2024 season.