Max Abmas shares how Texas is preparing not knowing its opponent

Scouting in the postseason, especially in March Madness, can be a real challenge considering the tight turnaround. It’s even more of a mess for four other teams in the field since their opponent is yet to even be determined based on the outcome of the First Four in Dayton.

Texas is one of those teams as the No. 7 seed in the Midwest Region of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. At the moment, the Longhorns aren’t sure who they’ll play yet between No. 10 Virginia or No. 10 Colorado State. Still, according to Max Abmas, they are having to prepare for both nonetheless until one officially makes it into the field.

“Yeah, I mean, we’re scouting for both opponents,” said Abmas in a media availability on Monday. “I mean both are really good teams and it’ll be a really good game.”

“Kind of scouting for both opponents,” Abmas said. “Kind of working on different coverages that they’ll do on their defensive side. Then kind of different plays in the way that they play on the offensive end too.”

Colorado State (24-10) comes out of the Mountain West to be the final team in the NCAA Tournament. A 15-3 start had them feeling great about an at-large bid. However, a 9-7 finish, including a 1-4 stretch and a loss in their conference semifinals, very nearly cost them. Still, they edged into the final spot and are now a favorite in their First Four matchup inside UD Arena.

The Rams will meet Virginia (23-10) there who finished one spot above them in the ‘Last Four In’. Even as the third-placed team out of the ACC this year, their overall resumé put them in the crosshairs as well, especially after losing in the semifinals of their league tournament. However, it was at very least enough to get them into the play-in game against Colorado State.

Virginia and Colorado State will tip off from Dayton on Tuesday night. The winner will then meet Texas in Charlotte on Thursday. That gives the Longhorns a two-day window to prep for the victor, unlike 60 of the other teams who already know their matchup and had double that time.

Those are their circumstances, though, and, as such, Texas is doing all they can to be ready for either one to meet them later this week.

“We’re scouting for both,” Abmas said. “We know we’ll get a good matchup no matter what.”