Texas Longhorns Face NC State in NCAA Tournament First Four Matchup
DAYTON, OH – The Texas Longhorns (18-14) will compete in the First Four of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, facing off against NC State (20-13) at the University of Dayton Arena. The winner of this matchup will advance to the first round as an 11th seed in the West Region, where they will play sixth-seeded BYU in Portland.
A Familiar Opponent
This marks the second time this season the Longhorns and Wolfpack will meet. Texas defeated NC State 102-97 during the Maui Invitational in November. However, both teams have experienced struggles since that initial encounter, leading them to the First Four.
Recent Struggles for Both Teams
Texas has lost five of its last six games, including defeats against Oklahoma and Ole Miss. NC State has fared similarly, dropping seven of its last nine contests. NC State coach Will Wade has openly questioned his team’s discipline and effort during this stretch.
Miller’s Perspective
First-year Texas head coach Sean Miller expressed a sense of calm and opportunity following the team’s selection. “Now it’s our time to see if we can take advantage of this opportunity to do something more than what we’ve done during the regular season,” Miller said. He emphasized the team used time off to regroup and prepare for the tournament.
Key Players to Watch
For Texas, junior Dailyn Swain leads the team in scoring (17.8 points per game), rebounding (7.5 rebounds per game), assists (108), steals (55), and minutes played (32.2 per game). NC State boasts a strong offensive trio, with Quadir Copeland, Ven-Allen Lubin, and Paul McNeil Jr. All reaching 20 points in their previous matchup against Texas.
Looking Ahead
Both coaches acknowledge the familiarity between the teams, but anticipate a highly motivated contest. “When they play well, they have great offensive power and great scoring ability,” Miller said. “They know us well, and we know them. I don’t think that’s any advantage for either of us.” The game, scheduled for either March 17 or 18, will be televised on truTV.