The 2022-23 season was of high aspirations for many fans. The Longhorns started the season with second-year head coach Chris Beard, who had completely changed the culture for the players and fans at UT Austin. The team was led by a handful of very experienced seniors.

The guards for the team this past year were elite. It all starts with two-year starter Marcus Carr. The point guard averaged a team-high of 16 points, along with three rebounds and four assists per game. Alongside Carr was sophomore Tyrese Hunter. Hunter was a transfer from Iowa State, and he took a good bit of the season to find his role on the team. He ended up putting up 10 points, three rebounds, and three assists per game. Next up was another stellar senior, Timmy Allen. Allen was the defined leader for this team. The 6’6 forward averaged 11 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Lining up with Allen was freshman Dillon Mitchell. Mitchell didn’t have great production his freshman year, but he created electric plays that made the crowd erupt and roar. And rounding out the starting five was center Dylan Disu. Disu had a solid regular season, but exploded in the postseason, having multiple 20-point outings. Additionally, Sir’Jabari Rice was the nation’s best sixth man, and was a crucial member of the team.

The team jumped to a seemingly 7-1 start. However, head coach Chris Beard was charged with a felony after allegedly beating his fiance in a heated argument. Beard was immediately removed from the team, and interim head coach Rodney Terry stepped in. The pressure was on for Terry, as he had to unexpectedly take the reins of a top-5 team in the nation.

Rodney Terry delivered better than anyone expected. During his stint, the Longhorns went 19-7, with all the wins coming in Big 12 conference play. The Big 12 was the most challenging college basketball conference this past season. Coach Terry, along with the players, rallied and almost won the regular season conference championship. They ended up as the second seed in the Big 12 tournament. The team went into the tournament confidently and did not disappoint. They won the tournament title convincingly and had great momentum heading into the NCAA tournament.

After the seeding, Texas was left as a second seed in the tournament. The team had a first-round matchup with 15-seed Colgate. The game was fairly close in the first half, but Texas pulled away in the second half, winning 81-61. The next game was against 10-seed Penn State. The game was close throughout, but Texas pulled out the win 71-66. With that win, the Longhorns were heading to their first Sweet 16 in 15 years. The team then matched up with number three seed Xavier. After a competitive battle, Texas won the matchup 83-71. Then, they turned around to face off against five-seed Miami, hoping to make the Final Four. The Longhorns had a double-digit lead for almost the entire game until the final 10 minutes. Miami led an inspired comeback that eventually ended Texas’ run.

All in all, Texas had one of the most successful seasons in team history. They made it to the elite eight for the first time in over a decade and a half. Soon after the loss, Texas officially offered Coach Rodney Terry a contract. He is expected to sign the contract and lead the team for the next few years.