Ryan Wingo Returns, Jermaine Bishop Buzz, And Colin Simmons Mindset | Biggest Longhorns Concern?

Dez Bryant just tossed gasoline on a Texas spring football storyline: he thinks true freshman Jermaine Bishop could become the Longhorns’ No. 1 wide receiver this fall. We react to the claim, separate hype from what actually translates once pads come on, and dig into why Bishop’s early buzz still matters even if the top of the depth chart is stacked with names like Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo.

We also hit the most important spring practice takeaway for Texas’ passing game: Wingo is back on the field after offseason wrist surgery, and every rep now is a step toward real timing later with Arch Manning. From receiver rotations to how the offense could look when the pieces are healthy, we lay out what should excite fans and what still needs to be proven before the Orange and White game.

Then we shift to defense and the mindset story that might define the season. Colin Simmons is trading record-chasing pressure for a simpler focus: team goals, winning a national title, and having fun. If that unlocks an even freer, cleaner version of his pass rush, SEC quarterbacks are in trouble. Finally, we take the cautionary turn: Texas’ biggest worry might be depth, especially across the offensive line and in an unproven secondary.

We close with Texas basketball, where a brutal loss and a late skid puts the Longhorns on the NCAA tournament bubble, watching other games and waiting on Selection Sunday chaos. Subscribe, share the show with a Longhorn fan, and leave a review. What’s your biggest concern for Texas football or hoops right now?

Transcript

Spring Practice Quick Check-In

SPEAKER_02 0:03

More spring football is in the books, and there is more big time news on the forty acres. Welcome into another edition of the Texas Longhorns on SI podcast. I'm your host, Matt Galatson. Joining me as always is my co-host, Zach Demitt. Zach, we've gotten two media availabilities in spring practice thus far. Uh, and you know, things are going pretty well, I would say, for the Longhorns to the first couple days. I don't think anybody expected them not to. Every review out of spring football is always a glowing one, and everybody is always the best player at their position that they could possibly be. Uh, but there are a few things that we can still glean and glean and take away from uh as we continue to watch these practices. And we have a few, a few, you know, tidbits that we thought were particularly interesting, and uh, we're gonna bring those to you now.

Ryan Wingo Returns To Practice

SPEAKER_02 1:29

Uh the first one that I thought was good news, better than good news, in my opinion, is Ryan Wingo returned to practice after missing uh the first day. You know, he uh he's limited, which which is still to be noted because he is recovering from an offseason wrist surgery. But having him back in the fold and getting the chemistry out there with uh with Ryan Wingo or with uh with Cam Coleman on the field, with some of these other younger receivers having his veteran presence in the fold. It's kind of odd to talk about Ryan Wingo as a veteran because it feels like he just got to campus, but he is he's heading into his junior campaign. Uh it's great to have him back. He will continue to progress and continue to get more healthy as the spring continues, and hopefully by you know, uh orange and white game here at the at the is it at the end of April, uh he he will be ready to go, and we will get to see him catching passes from Arch Manning on the field at the same time as Cam Coleman.

SPEAKER_01 2:26

Yeah, good to see Ryan Wingo back. Uh there wasn't, you know, really any doubt that he would um you know have some sort of uh, or there wasn't really any concern, I should say, that he would not be able to play or practice during spring. Um so good good to see that there was no sort of uh uh you know setback or anything like that with him because you're gonna need him on the field, uh catching passes from not only some some of these quarterbacks, but eventually Arch Manning when Arch Manning uh gets back into the fold a little bit, uh, more than he already has, uh, because he's been throwing passes, but not in a full capacity quite yet. So uh yeah. The Longhorns, they just finished the first sort of I guess uh session of spring um because they don't practice again until the 24th, according to the official uh schedule. Um today was their final practice, and they get about 11 days off. And then they go spring break. Yeah, spring break, of course, and then they go 24th, 26th, 28th, 31st, and then it's pretty much all the way um until uh the spring game where they have tons of practices uh after that. So um yeah, uh good to see Ryan Wingo back. I'm you know, doesn't seem like there will be any concern about him not being able to play in the spring game. Uh, I think fans are gonna want to see what that looks like. Of course, the teams will be split, so who knows what the receiving core will look like on each side, but you'll get so somewhat of a sense of what the offense could eventually look like when you have Cam Coleman, Ryan Wingo, Emma Mosley um as your three top three guys. Then you add in some of these uh dynamic freshmen, of course, Jermaine Bishop, who we'll talk about in a second, has been getting so much hype already. Um, and then you have uh you know Cohen Brown, Chris Stewart, and some of those returning guys like Khalik Lockett, Dalen McCutcheon, and then a veteran edition who's getting overlooked a little bit, Sterling Burkhalter. Uh, there's just tons of guys to look at in that receiving room. And Ryan Wigos, uh uh outside of Cam Coleman, is you know, going to be one of those most important guys. Yeah, and I'm I'm with you. It's kind of it's weird to talk about him as being the veteran going into his third year. I feel like we are just covering him coming out of high school, and now here he is about to be in year three. I mean, the time really flies, and it's pretty crazy. So um, but yeah, good to see him back. And you I think Emmett Mosley he he had uh that ankle injury in the in the bowl game. So I think he's gonna still be um you know a little bit more down the line, sort of when it comes to his return, uh, you know. But uh I think I think uh he's gonna be back soon as well in spring because there wasn't really any really cons you know concern that he'd be missing all of the spring practice, like Justice Terry or Ty Anthony Smith. So uh good to see those guys uh kind of progressing.

SPEAKER_02 5:03

Yeah, absolutely.

Jermaine Bishop Hype Hits Overdrive

SPEAKER_02 5:05

And and you know, that kind of leads us to our next takeaway. You you you briefly mentioned it already. Jermaine Bishop. I'm not surprised by this. I I mean I I thought he was going to be a contributor next year at some point. Uh there are other people who think that it could be a whole lot more than that, though. Uh not only is he getting rave reviews at practice from the coaches, from the other players, uh, from the media, you know, by the way he's running routes, his speed, his quickness, uh, you know, how silky smooth he is running his routes, his mentality, all the things that you want to see out of a true freshman in spring practice. Dez Bryant, former Dallas Cowboys star wide receiver, uh, and quite outspoken personality at this point. I mean, he was always outspoken, but he, you know, he he he flings some hot takes out there. He says that Jermaine Bishop is going to be the Longhorns number one wide receiver. Not Cam Coleman, not Ryan Wingo, not Emmett Mosley, not even Kaliq Lockett, who is you know pretty good in the bowl game. He thinks Jermaine Bishop will be basically the next Malachi Tony, if you want to really think about it that way, because you know, kind of an undersized guy uh who comes in and can play a couple of different positions and you know can make an impact right away. That that sounds like Malachi Tony to me. It sounds like that's what Des Bryant kind of thinks. I mean, I'm putting the the comparison uh you know kind of in his mouth there, but at the same time, it's I mean, if if Des knows anything, it's wide receivers. And if he's saying that about Jermaine Bishop based off of a couple of practice clips, by the way, he wasn't at practice. Um that's kind of cool. It's it's kind of exciting.

SPEAKER_01 6:54

Yeah, it's it's really exciting, and uh no pressure Jermaine Bishop uh to uh live up to Des Bryant's expectations. Um, because whenever I saw that original post from Des, and like you said, he's a hot take machine when it comes to some of these things, but uh when I saw that uh you know that original post, he I thought he was maybe saying, Oh, you know, 2027, Jermaine Bishop will be the number one wide receiver, which isn't exactly a hot take or anything. Um, but then that's what I assumed. Yeah, but yeah, exactly. Yeah, that's what I thought. And then a fan followed up with saying, but what about Cam Coleman? Uh Cam Coleman being on campus uh this upcoming season, and Des made it clear that he was talking about this season, this upcoming fall, Jermaine Bishop will be the number one wide receiver. So uh I think that is definitely a bold prediction, and that has nothing to do with Jermaine Bishop's talent, not at all. He is obviously uh silky smooth, has all the talent in the world, just passes the eye test very, very well. Uh, but we still haven't even seen him in uh in full pads in skirmish. We just don't know for sure what what it's gonna look like quite yet, but the potential is you know there in flying colors. So um, yeah, if Jermaine Bishop somehow emerges as the team's number one wide receiver this upcoming season, you can just go ahead and give the national championship trophy to Texas because then they'll just have the probably the best offense in the country of if he's able to somehow surpass Cam Coleman and Emmett Mosley and Ryan Wingo in that room. I just think that's unlikely because he just he's just too young and he's not experienced quite yet. So uh, but man, if that ends up happening and Des Bryant's right, uh yeah, the Longhorns will be due for some pretty big things this upcoming season, but I think it's unlikely. I think he'll probably emerge into that role in 2027. Uh, but it's it certainly uh says a lot about how he's seen, um, even by a guy that was that was a pro bowler, all-pro sort of guy, leads the Cowboys in all-time receiving touchdowns. He obviously knows what he's talking about. So um, yeah, Jermaine Bishop, he's looked really, really smooth so far, but we've got to wait till he gets his pads on, wait till he uh we don't even know how he knows the playbook quite yet. That's a big part of it, too. So uh, but regardless, he's he's gonna contribute this upcoming season. Uh, will he be the number one wide receiver? I think it's pretty unlikely just because of the guys in that room, but certainly a big part of the team's future. There's no doubt about that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 9:15

Cam Coleman might have something to say about that. Um, if you really want to know what Jermaine Bishop is all about, though, uh, let me read you off a couple of things because the numbers are well, uh, insane. Okay. Not only has he been compared by scouts to Jordan Addison of the Minnesota Vikings, who I believe was a Bolitnikov winner, if not a finalist, uh, back when he was at Pitt. Uh unbelievable player. That's a great guy to get comp to. Um, he's one of the fastest guys in the in the uh in this entire recruiting class. Um he shattered the Houston Metro area's all-time receiving records with 5,000 yards from scrimmage, 60 plus touchdowns. He also had 15 interceptions and scored six uh touchdowns and returns, including interceptions, punt returns, and kick returns. Um he uh for his entire career, he had he caught 284 passes for 4,921 yards, averaging 17.3 yards per catch with 55 touchdowns, had almost a thousand yards rushing, averaging 11.2 yards uh per carry, and 17 rushing touchdowns. He had 200 tackles, 17 picks, four of those he took back for touchdowns. Uh he also in his final season uh at at with uh with Willis, he caught 120 passes for 1,940 yards, 20 touchdowns, ran 45 times for 424 yards and eight touchdowns. He also threw three touchdown passes uh and then made 77 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four picks, three force fumbles, one fumble return, uh fumble recovery, twelve pass breakups, and uh led his team into the state playoffs. They did not win a state title, but dude, that is production, and we love to see it. Uh so I I can't wait to see him play. I'll tell you, I'll tell you that. But um, you know, we'll we'll we'll see what happens. Obviously, that's a wild projection considering Cam Coleman, Ryan Wingo, and Emmett Mosley are all there. Khalik Lockett is there, Dalen McCutcheon is there. But who knows? I I mean I already think Texas might have the best offense in the country next year, at least in the SEC. But if you get a basically a Malachi Tony out of uh out of Jermaine Bishop, that's gonna that's gonna really put it through

Colin Simmons Chooses Joy Over Stats

SPEAKER_02 11:48

the roof. Uh one more takeaway, Zach. Colin Simmons has a new mentality heading into this season, which is interesting because it seemed like kind of halfway through the Florida game last year, he just flipped a switch and was like, okay, I'm gonna be the best player on the field every game that I play from here on out. And he pretty much was. I mean, you just look back to the the Vanderbilt game, for example, he completely took that game over, absolutely shredded Vanderbilt's offensive line, made one of the game-changing plays, ended up with, I think, three sacks in that game, maybe I'm misremembering, but he had multiple sacks in that that game, a force fumble, uh, and he did crazy things throughout the year, ended up leading the SEC in sacks, and now he's got a new mentality. Tell us about that, Zach, because it's it's very interesting.

SPEAKER_01 12:42

Yeah, I mean, last season, uh, you know, last offseason, I should say, Colin Simmons, he was you know not short in confidence, and you know, why would he be? He, as a true freshman, he was one of the best pass searchers in the SEC. Um, and then one that won the Sean Alexander Award as best freshman in the country. Um over Jeremiah Smith, by the way. Right, right. And that would that a lot of people thought that was pretty controversial, but uh, you know, this says a lot about what he was able to do as a true freshman. Um, and so last offseason he came in and he was pretty vocal. Saying he wants to break the program stack record and do all these things. And, you know, now this spring, fast forward to a few days ago, um after uh what was another elite year, uh now he's he's just trying to have fun, is what he was saying uh when he was speaking to the media. And that uh, you know, maybe this were th this wasn't his words, but maybe uh it was a you know a bit of a uh um a regret to say that he wanted to break the program sack record, putting that kind of pressure on himself and worrying about chasing these numbers. He those was those weren't his words necessarily, but it you got the kind of that you got that sense a little bit, um, and that now he's just focusing on the team goals. Uh he says team goals win the natty, and then the personal goals are have fun. Um, and that's that's what you want to see from him because uh if he's out there having fun and not putting too much pressure on himself, just imagine how much more productive he's gonna be if he's just out there playing like uh like he's like he's in the backyard or something. Uh these quarterbacks are already in for a nightmare, and now it's gonna be even more scary. Uh that's what I'm predicting, at least. So um, we all know this is gonna be Colin Simmons' last year in Austin. Um, he's heading to the NFL next next season, he's gonna be a first-round pick. We all know this, and so if he's and he knows that too. So he's trying to take a new mentality, um, you know, a new approach, because it's it's obvious that this is a make or break year for Texas, they're going all in, and he's at the center of that. And uh, you know, being able to have your goals as a team, but uh uh personally be able to be a little bit laid back and not put pressure on yourself personally is gonna be big for him. And so I really like that approach from him. Uh, Sark was talking about uh earlier in the week during the the first practice that uh he he's been really impressed with how mature uh Simmons has been since stepping on you know uh onto the 40 acres as a freshman to now, he's just matured in a major way. There were some issues with penalties um this this past season during non-conference play. Uh, you know, so not even just maturity off the field, but on the field as well. And so uh yeah, we already knew the talent is there, but now the maturity is there, the new approach is there, and it's gonna be crazy to see what he's gonna be able to do this upcoming season.

SPEAKER_02 15:36

Yeah, and and it's the the having fun thing is interesting because I think you hit it right on the head. I think early in the season he was pressing so hard because he wanted to be this game-breaking player that that was setting a program record for sacks, and that caused him to be a little bit you know, a little bit sloppy, overpursuing, committing penalties, uh rushing too hard after the passer when potentially he may have just had to seal off an edge or or whatever the case may be. It was just he wasn't quite there through the first really four games of the season. And then once it got like halfway through the Florida game, he was just it almost it was almost like the arch manning moment against Michigan where he was just like, I'm gonna stop giving a fuck. And he just started playing really well, like really loose, stopped committing penalties, started producing sacks, started producing pressures, making big time plays. And if he can play like that, like play that free without the putting the pressure on himself heading into next season, I think that the sky's the limit. And here's something that's really crazy that I want everybody to think about. Can you name off the top of your head, Zach, just real quick, the last time there was a number one overall pick from the Texas Longhorns?

SPEAKER_01 16:58

Uh it wasn't Earl Campbell, was it? It wasn't Vince.

SPEAKER_02 17:03

I mean, that that's how that's how far back you'd have to go. Like it's been that long. And we can we can do the research and we could figure out for sure. But here's this is crazy to think about though. Not only could Texas have the number one overall pick with Arch Manning, they could have the number two pick as well. They could they could go back to back, number one, number two, theoretically, potentially, with Arch Manning and Colin Simmons. Oh, and then if Cam Coleman, you know, progresses and becomes the player that we think he can be as well, they could have three top five picks in next year's NFL draft.

SPEAKER_01 17:44

And throw in Trevor Goosebey as a late first rounder.

SPEAKER_02 17:48

Yeah, absolutely. And there's others, there's other first round potential in there as well. Don't forget that either. There's more like there's a potential that Texas could have five to six first-round picks next year, including three in the top five. That is insane to think about. This this is gonna be one of the best draft classes we've ever seen. And uh with Texas headlining potentially the best draft class that we have seen in quite some time, I think that would be really, really

The Big Worry: Depth In 2025

SPEAKER_02 18:16

cool. Uh all right, let's uh let's change gears real quick. Uh, we're gonna go uh a little bit more of a cautionary negative route here now. Uh and then tomorrow, you know, on Monday, we'll we'll we'll get into something, you know, we'll we'll do the reverse uh reverse of this. But it I think it's fair to say that not every team in college football now is perfect, especially considering the talent dispersion across the sport with the transfer portal and all the money that's flowing around in the Big Ten and the ACC and the Big 12, in addition to the SEC, or in addition to the SEC, there's it's more even now than ever. No longer can you sit here and say the SEC is by far the most dominant conference from top to bottom, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, in terms of talent. I mean, there's they're still the best, in my opinion, but it is far more narrow than it used to be. And there's and there's no more, and I don't think that there's ever really going to be another uh like 2019 LSU where they're just the best at almost every position on the field, every single game, and they they've got stacked five star on five star on five star behind them. Uh so that's you know, that that's no longer a thing these days. So it leads me to the to the idea of what is our biggest concern about Texas next year? Uh, you know, uh obviously we're what six months away, just just a shade under six months away from the season opener. Uh but it's worth talking about this now. And and my buddy Brooks Austin mentioned this on his show uh a couple days ago, and it it it really got me thinking is depth going to be a problem for Texas? The the talent is not a problem, the talent in the depth is not a problem, but when you get past the starting 11 on both sides, it's very unproven. And the secondary itself, even in the starters next year, is going to be a little bit unproven. The offensive line has never played together fully. That's going to be uh interesting. And behind them, not a lot of depth, not a lot of proven depth, not a lot of proven depth at wide receiver, not a lot of proven depth at running back behind the top two. Not any proven depth behind Arch Manning at quarterback. So if there is a big injury to a star player, like a Cam Coleman, like a Trevor Goosby, like uh Rasheem Biles, or Jelani McDonald, or um, you know, I feel pretty good about what's behind Colin Simmons. But if like if somebody in one of those realms gets hurt, is there somebody who's prepared to step up and you know take over and not have a huge fall-off? That's something that national championship teams typically have. And I'm just I'm a little wary about it with Texas because we just don't know yet. And that's concerning.

SPEAKER_01 21:18

Yeah, I I think that's definitely a good point. And you mentioned the secondary. Uh, there's obviously some star power there with you know, Johnny McDonald, Bo Masco. Um, but then after that, some experience, but also some inexperience, and you just kind of wonder uh, you know, what it will what it'll look like in that in that room, both at cornerback and safety. I mean, Grayson Littleton and Kid Phillips, they were you know impressive as true freshmen, but will they be able to take that step forward, you know, and will will the uh room as a whole be able to take a step forward when you have guys like Roardell Mack, even Jonah Williams? Uh, what what will that depth look like? Um, you know, not just at you know uh cornerback and safety, but over. And then the offensive line, uh we've talked at length about it this offseason, about you know what that's gonna look like. We still don't even know if Lawrence Seymour is gonna be on this team next year because we haven't gotten any update on his eligibility. And so if worse in worst case scenario, he's not part of the fold, you're you're taking a big hit when it comes to not only your starters, but your depth, because then a guy you were planning to potentially have uh as that number six or number seven guy may now have to start. Uh, we mentioned Andre Kojo coming back, uh Dylan Sikorsky, uh, you know, who's gonna step into that guard spot if Lawrence Timor somehow isn't able to be granted his eligibility. So, because Sark said on Monday there still is no update, and so that's a little bit concerning that there hasn't been any news there yet. Um, I think that at running back, uh, you don't really have to have much concern about the depth there, wide receiver as well, offense, uh the skill positions it look it looks pretty good. Um, you know, of course, you don't want to assume Arch Manny misses any time, but uh you do have a veteran, MJ Morris, you have KJ Lacey who's shown some, you know, some shine early in spring ball, but um I think it's more important to look at the other groups when it comes to uh a depth perspective. So yeah, there is there is a lot of questions. Um, and I think it actually I mentioned the secondary, but it really does start with the offensive line because that's been the biggest concern or one of the biggest concerns coming into this offseason already. And then now you may not it if if there's a worst case scenario, you you may not have one of the top transfer guys in Lawrence Seymour at that position uh coming in, you know. Let's look we'll have to wait and see what happens, but then you're you're already short a guy uh before you've even taken the field. So um, yeah, I I think I think that's definitely something to watch. But like we saw last season, uh Grayson Littleton did step up, Kate Phillips did step up. So just you got to see wait and see who's ready to step up and who's ready to fill a void if there is an injury, because as the seasons go on, you're gonna have guys that are unproven, but there's gonna be that moment where they prove that they're ready to contribute, and then they're gonna be a big part of the program, and it just has to be there's there's gonna be some of those moments next season, so we just don't know who that's gonna be quite yet, but I think it'll happen. And so I've got confident across I've got confidence about what they have across the board. Um, and we'll get we'll get a taste of that during the the spring game uh here next month.

SPEAKER_02 24:31

Yeah, and you know that's just that's just one thing that that I think and and I think it holds true to almost every team in the country at this point. There's not a team that is going to be that stacked depthwise in college football anymore, like I mentioned. And if that's gonna be the case everywhere, then it's probably not as big of a concern uh as as maybe it would have been in years past. But I think that one thing that we can be sure of is that uh more often than not Texas will probably have the best 22 on the field at almost every single game that they play. And that's a really good thing. That's really good.

Sponsor Break And Reset

SPEAKER_02 25:15

Uh all right, Zach, let's let's take a break real quick. Uh when we come back, we will uh discuss the Texas Longhorns basketball team and um, you know, if they're gonna make it, because we don't know.

SPEAKER_00 25:32

This episode of the Texas Longhorns on SI podcast is brought to you by Custom Built Trailers of Mississippi. Custom Built Trailers is the largest in-stock trailer dealer in Mississippi with a variety of options to choose from. From flatbed goosenecks to bumper pool equipment trailers and car haulers to enclosed trailers and basic utility trailers. We do a little bit of everything. And if we don't have exactly what you're looking for in stock, we can typically have your custom-built trailer built in 7-10 working days. Zero percent financing options are available, and we also deliver out of state. So give Custom Built Trailers of Mississippi a call at 601-722-9581 today, and let us take care of your hauling needs. Custom Built Trailers of Mississippi. If we don't have it, we'll be glad to build it.

Texas Basketball Bubble Panic

SPEAKER_02 26:24

Welcome back to the Texas Longhorns on SI podcast. I'm your host, Matt Glatson, joined by Zach Demitt, my co-host as always. Uh kind of an abrupt end for the Texas Longhorns in the uh SEC tournament, Zach. A really embarrassing loss to Ole Miss, Sean Miller, visibly frustrated, but he did have an interesting quote uh about more or less saying that he's he's sleeping fine at night, he's not too worried about it. It's year one. Um you got to build and and you know figure out where you need to fix your your team and your building for the future. It's not all about year one, and that's that's true. Um, but you still want to make the damn NCAA tournament. Uh that's why you fired Rodney Terry, because he couldn't get you he couldn't advance you in the NCAA tournament. And uh, you know uh we're not sure. I mean Texas is gonna be gritting their teeth on selection Sunday at this point. Right now they're they're projected to be in the f in Dayton by Joe Lenardi. Uh at least the last I saw, I don't know if that's changed, but um that doesn't guarantee a spot. That that that's putting it plainly, because there that there's there's always shocking things that happen. I believe North Carolina was was one last year that they got in that a lot of people didn't think should have gotten in. And maybe they pick a team like that over Texas this year. We just don't know. Uh had you know, had you beaten Ole Miss, I'm not sure it would have helped you tremendously, but losing to them hurts you. And you know, if you look at what they've done recently, uh it's it hasn't been that great either. You you lost to Oklahoma uh to end the regular season. Uh like I said, you lost to Ole Miss in the SEC tournament, you lost to Arkansas before that. You you've lost five of your last six after you know, it had looked like this team had really turned a corner uh with you know I guess they had won six of their six of their previous seven before going on that streak. So uh I don't know, Zach, where are you sitting on this? I'm not too comfortable with where the Longhorns are right now.

SPEAKER_01 28:37

Yeah, uh Texas should not be feeling comfortable. Longhorns fans should not be feeling comfortable. Uh look, Joe Lenardi, his last update was nine hours ago this morning, and Texas is the final team in that that is that is uh really, really gritt your teeth there. Um, especially when you consider that Oklahoma is the first team out, and they play Arkansas in a few hours, and if they win that game, Oklahoma and there's there's there's not an argument. Oklahoma's probably gonna be jumping Texas, and they're probably gonna be in Dayton, which is insane to think. I mean, uh when we when we've been talking on the show a few weeks ago, it almost felt um like Texas was close to being a lock. Just got to get one more win, and they'll and they'll be a lock. And then has just really, really fallen off the rails. Uh, when when they won in at in college station a few weeks ago, that was a big road win. Felt like they were right there, you know, close to being a lock. And then they lose to Arkansas, they lose at home to Oklahoma, and then okay, it is what it is, and then you drop a game to Ole Miss, who was 12 and 19 entering the game. Battle Miss team. Oh Miss, yeah, Ole Miss is not good this year, and Texas made them look like an elite team. Um, the committee is gonna value the whole body of the resume. Um, will the will will there be some recency bias, maybe for some of them, but I think as a whole, the whole body of the resume is gonna play into and play a factor in not just what they just saw happen. Um, you know, and so Texas still has a lot going for it when it comes to the resume. They still have some big wins, but the string of losses has come at the worst time. Um, and the fact that one of those losses was to Oklahoma, you could have ended Oklahoma's season potentially while locking yourselves into the tournament, and instead now um it could be Oklahoma that passes up Texas. Who knows what happens? I mean, there has been a precedent that that's been set, uh like set in years past, where if you're a team that's far off the bubble, you can't just work your way back onto the bubble and get into the tournament just by winning a few games in Nashville, unless you win the whole thing in Nashville. Uh that that that's been set in years past. So we'll have to wait and see what the committee does with Oklahoma because I did lose nine straight games in SEC play. And that's that's on their resume. So that they're not gonna ignore that either. Um uh, but yeah, Texas who I I don't think I saw this coming. Uh, I thought Texas was gonna be safely in, uh, assuming that they were gonna win some of these games, but now they are going to be absolutely sweating. Uh, and uh some of these games to watch today include uh VCU and the in the Atlantic 10 tournament, uh New Mexico in the Mountain West, um, SMU, Missouri are already out, but then of course that Oklahoma game tonight, these are some teams that Texas fans are gonna be wanting to watch because that these are all bubble teams that are still playing in their tournaments, and uh that could that could hurt Texas uh along with a potential bid stealer being in some of these conference tournaments. So uh we'll have to wait and see what happens. Uh selection Sunday is gonna um it's only a few days away, but it's gonna feel like an eternity for the team uh because there's uh there's gonna be a lot of pressure.

SPEAKER_02 32:07

Well, I don't really know what uh what to think because I know that there's a precedent set that the SEC tournament's not really gonna help you unless you win it. Uh, but look, Oklahoma's been super hot lately. If they beat Arkansas, I don't think it'd be crazy to consider like the the committee, especially because they beat Texas on their home floor. Like, well, I mean, that's that's a that's a really good win. They're you know, they're right on the bubble. We could we can switch out the last team. Right. Uh, and and what's Oklahoma's coach's name? Porter Porter Moser.

SPEAKER_01 32:44

Moser.

SPEAKER_02 32:45

Yeah, he's uh he was he was on the hot seat like a couple weeks ago, and now he's he's you know working his way back into it. It seems like Oklahoma is is really on fire, they're playing really, really well. I never thought I'd be sitting here with Texas basketball sweating what happens with VCU in New Mexico. Yeah, like that's bizarre to me. Uh, but you know, new precedents can be set. Uh you know, we saw the college football playoff committee basically, you know, reset all of their uh all of their rules and regulations as the season went on and they didn't really have any sort of continuity or or consistency. I don't expect the March Madness Committee to do the same thing, but I mean you never know. Uh Texas has kind of been a disaster over the last couple weeks, and I would not blame them if they decided to leave a team like that out. The what the thing that does work for Texas, well, I don't think it's gonna work this year, but the thing that worked for Texas last year, I think, was they had a they had Trey Johnson, who was a lottery pick. And you you combine the name Trey Johnson and the name Texas Longhorns, that's a team that the committee wants in the tournament. You know what I mean? And they just they don't have really any star power to the level of a Trey Johnson, they don't really have a lottery pick on the team. I mean, maybe Dalen Swain can make it in, but like that's it that seemed like more of a more of a thing a couple of weeks ago than it does today, right? So it Texas, like they still have the the the Texas Longhorns name, they don't have the star power, maybe that's gonna end up hurting them at the end. And if Oklahoma beats Arkansas, it's probably over. It's probably over. I wouldn't be surprised if it

Final Thoughts And Listener Requests

SPEAKER_02 34:27

was over. Uh, but thank you so much for tuning in to this edition of the Texas Longhorns on SI podcast. Please make sure to like and subscribe and rate our podcast. Uh, also comment down below on YouTube to let us know your thoughts. It really helps us out in the YouTube algorithm and helps us pay the bills. Uh, but most importantly, be sure to tell somebody you love them, and we'll catch you in the next one.