By the end of the first quarter in Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, fans radiating burnt orange stood up in unison as junior forward Madison Booker looked up toward the scoreboard, yelled with elation and walked across the court back to head coach Vic Schaefer’s huddle.
Just prior, Booker, coming off a career-high 40 points, went to her right hand and laid it up over No. 5-seeded Kentucky junior center Clara Strack to extend Texas’ commanding, early lead to 29-11 as the first quarter ended.
“They were on a different planet today, especially (in) that first quarter,” Kentucky head coach Kenny Brooks said postgame. “They came out and they were aggressive. They play right to the rules.”
A key to this game coming in was how Texas would challenge the Wildcats’ frontcourt duo of Strack and senior forward Teonni Key. Each had double-doubles versus the No. 4-seeded West Virginia in the Round of 32, and similar showings could’ve proven detrimental for Texas.
But Schaefer’s team clearly fed off of the school’s faithful presence in attendance, which broke out in a widespread “Texas Fight” on multiple occasions. The Longhorns took the edge in the interior from the tip, beginning the game clean on the boards and quick in the transition.
Texas scored 10 first-quarter points — and six of its opening 11 — on the fast break, converting rebounds into effective, easy displays the opposite way. The early-game intensity propelled the Longhorns to a 76-54 victory.
“We want to own the paint, and that’s what we did today,” sophomore guard Jordan Lee said. “They had two great post presences inside, so coach (Schaefer) was on our fours and fives all week to make sure we limited their touches and knowing how intricate they are in key parts of their system.”
Texas has built success all season long through suffocating, opportunistic defense. And, plainly, the presentation of that style again showed on Saturday, with graduate point guard Rori Harmon at the epicenter.
Despite suffering a right-hand injury after an uncomfortable fall in the opening quarter, Harmon secured six steals and five assists in the first half, alongside nine points and five rebounds. Postgame, she explained that all-around effort is rooted in knowing any game from now on could be her last as a Longhorn.
“There has to be a certain urgency and intensity that we play with to not let any team try to work their way back,” Harmon said. “Execution-wise, teams are getting smarter; they’re playing harder. You’re getting everyone’s best basketball. You have to present your best basketball at this point, too.”
March Madness is all about doing-or-dying. Schaefer’s team is built for the intensity required to survive and advance. Forcing offenses into tough shots, denying passing lanes and playing at its own speed offensively, these characteristics and more make overriding Texas’ style difficult for any opponent.
That was clear in the first half. Still, the quest continues to sustain it over a full game.
Texas suffered from a dull period for about 15 minutes, mustering just 21 points over that span and letting Kentucky cut the lead to 15, despite the Wildcats’ own shaky shooting. But if Kentucky had any momentum towards making a further dent in its deficit, a Lee steal-and-score sequence put the result to bed.
“I was so proud of them at halftime,” Schaefer said. “They like it when I tell them they look like Piranhas on a roast, and that’s what they looked like. … I just thought (the) second half was frustrating at times, but at the same time, it’s really hard with young people to get them to understand, hey, let’s go out and play (like it’s) 0-0.”
Texas now turns its attention to the Elite Eight and No. 2-seeded Michigan, who fought back from a double-digit deficit to defeat No. 3-seeded Louisville by 19 points. Tipoff on Monday will be at 6 p.m.
