HOUSTON — The Longhorns fell 85-67 to a bigger, stronger Memphis team at the Reliant Center.

Texas fell behind early and only mounted one  brief comeback bid before succumbing to the Tigers. A.J. Abrams led the Longhorns with 17 points, but 12 of them came on four 3-pointers in the final three minutes, when the game was already out of hand. D.J. Augustin scored 16, but hehad more turnovers (4) than assists (3).

The Longhorns 31-7 final record is good enough to set a new standard in wins but not good enough to put them in their first Final Four since 2003. Memphis joins UCLA, UNC and the winner of the Davidson/Kansas match-up in that rare air.

Photo by Stephen Durda 

HOUSTON — The Longhorns are scrapping to survive but it isn’t pretty.

Memphis holds a 39-28 lead at the half, and Texas’ leading scorers, D.J. Augustin and Justin Mason, have only seven points apiece.

Augustin is 1-for-7 from the field. A.J. Abrams is 1-for-5 from the field. As a matter of fact, only Mason and Gary Johnson hit more than one field goal during the period.

Because of early foul trouble, Connor Atchley only played seven minutes and Damion James played only ten. With everything that’s going wrong for the Longhorns, the fact that they’re down “only” 11 points at the half shows that they’re still in the game.

Oddly enough, Mason has played the point most of the game. While he’s looked as good as anyone out there, it’s strange to see that head coach Rick Barnes isn’t danacing with who brung him as Darrell K Royal might suggest. (more…)

HOUSTON — The Elite 8 might be something special, but it’s nothing new for Memphis (who makes its third straight fourth-round appearance) or the Longhorns, who were here in 2006.

A.J. Abrams and Connor Atchley were on that team, and now they represent Texas’ only starters that have been there.

“Me and Connor got a lot of experience in those games,” Abrams said. “I just hope to pass it down, just try to relax everybody. It’s just another game, but at the same time we know what we’re playing for and what we’re up against.”

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Augie Garrido said it was Texas’ best game of the year.

The Longhorns got great pitching from junior Austin Wood and freshman Cole Green. But Thad Weber had a career night for Nebraska.

The senior threw the first complete game of his career in a 2-0 shutout victory over Texas Saturday night. Weber struck out five, walked two and allowed only two hits.

Nebraska’s game-two win clinched the series victory after their 14-4 triumph in game one Friday.

HOUSTON — Look at the Texas bench when Clint Chapman isn’t in the game, and you can usually identify him quickly.

Not because of his six-foot-ten frame.

Not because of his distinctive blonde hair either.

No, he’s the guy displaying more emotion than anyone else. The fiery freshman had his best game of the NCAA Tourney yesterday as the Longhorns rolled Stanford 82-62 in the Sweet 16, and his enthusiasm will only build from here.

“It’s a dream come true,” he said about playing in the tournament.

His brother Alex, a sophomore at Nebraska who redshirted this season, saw his season end when the Huskers fell to Ole Miss in the second round if the NIT, and Clint says Alex’s excitement about the Longhorns’ tourney run matches his own.

Alex sends Clint a text message after every game — and then waits for his little brother to call.

“We talk every day,” Clint said in the locker room yesterday. “He’s waiting for me to call right now.”

While most college players never make the Elite 8, Clint gets to experience it in his freshman season. And he’s not taking the experience for granted.

He also acknowledges that this season sets a high standard for the rest of his career, but doesn’t necessarily look at it quite like that.

“It’s really a good way to come in,” he said. “You know how great you can be as a team.”

Photo by Stephen Durda