Texas Goes from First Four to Sweet 16 in March Madness

A college basketball team that almost didn't make March Madness at all just wrote one of the tournament's best comeback stories in years.

Texas, seeded 11th and entering through the tournament's First Four play-in games, defeated third-seeded Gonzaga 74-68 on Saturday in Portland. The Longhorns became the first team since UCLA in 2021 to go from the First Four to the Sweet 16, college basketball's regional semifinals.

This wasn't supposed to happen. First-year coach Sean Miller's team entered the tournament with a 19-14 record after losing five of their last six games. They looked shaky in their First Four win over N.C. State, and few expected them to challenge Gonzaga, a powerhouse program that came in with a 31-3 record.

Jordan Pope and Matas Vokieaitis each scored 17 points to lead the balanced Texas attack. Camden Heide sealed the game with a clutch three-pointer in the closing minutes.

For Gonzaga, it was a stunning upset. The Bulldogs have been one of college basketball's most consistent programs, reaching the Sweet 16 in nine straight tournaments before this year. Coach Mark Few's team has played in two national championship games during that stretch.

Why This Inspires

Texas's journey shows how quickly fortunes can change when a team refuses to give up. The Longhorns were playing in a play-in game just days ago, fighting for the right to even be in the main tournament bracket. Now they're headed to San Jose for a regional semifinal matchup with either Purdue or Miami.

The win also highlights what makes March Madness special. Seeds and records matter less than heart and execution when the stakes are highest. Texas proved that teams written off as also-rans can shock the world with belief and solid play.

The Longhorns will take the court Thursday in San Jose with nothing to lose and a whole nation of neutral fans cheering for their underdog story to continue.