Courtney Ramey reveals the mindset of Texas entering second round of NCAA Tournament

The Texas Longhorns defeated a surging Virginia Tech team in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, advancing to Sunday’s game against Purdue. After the game, veteran Texas guard Courtney Ramey expressed the importance of the team’s mindset at this time of the season.

Ramey acknowledged that Texas has a lot of guys on the roster that hadn’t won a game in the NCAA Tournament yet prior to this season. Getting the first one against Virginia Tech was important, but now, the Longhorns want to continue winning.

“The first game is always the hardest game and especially with a bunch of guys who haven’t won a game in a tournament,” Ramey said. “I think that helped us out, getting that win in a tough-fought win. And then preparing for Purdue and trying to get the win tomorrow, we just have to prepare the right way and give it our all. it’s going to be a great battle. Just want to win again.”

Ramey, a four-year veteran for Texas, scored 10 points with three rebounds in the win over the Hokies on Friday. He has started in 31 of the 33 games he has played in this season, averaging 9.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 steals in 30.1 minutes per game.

Texas head coach Chris Beard elaborates on Ramey’s comments

When Texas coach Chris Beard arrived to the podium following Ramey’s comments, he was glad to hear that his players looked loose and confident. He wants the Longhorns to enjoy this experience, while also trying to balance the commitment to winning.

“Yeah, I’m glad to hear that,” Beard said. “I’m glad that’s y’all’s perception because that’s the plan. I think the NCAA Tournament, just like any other great opportunity in life, it’s important to me that you enjoy it.

“So we have a twofold plan in March Madness and one is always to be us. So what that means is when it’s time to works, we’re going to work. When it’s time to play, we’re going to play. But when it’s also time to enjoy ourselves, we’re not going to act like we’re a funeral line here. We’re in March Madness, we’re one of 32 teams left in the tournament and we want to enjoy it, whether that be a bus ride or pregame meal or press conference or evening snack. We definitely want to be us. The responsibility to do what we’ve done all year long to get to this point to be one of the last teams standing but also to enjoy the ride, not just the destination, just smell the rows is our vocabulary.”

Texas and Purdue tip off at 8:40 p.m. ET on Sunday night. The winner advances to the Sweet 16 to face off against 15th-seeded Saint Peter’s next weekend.