Rodney Terry explains why win vs. Baylor meant so much for Texas

As good as Texas has been this season, the Longhorns got a bit of a wake-up call in Knoxville during their 82-71 loss to Tennessee. However, that was the foundation on which Rodney Terry’s pride was built on after they responded on Monday night against Baylor.

Terry applauded his team’s answer following their 76-71 victory over the Bears. He said the response from his staff and players meant everything to him, especially against a conference foe that they haven’t had much success against as of late.

“I was really proud of the way our guys responded to getting beat,” Terry said. “They got a chance to pick themselves up off the mat from Saturday against a team that, again, is an elite team. I was just proud of the way they really responded.”

“Baylor’s been really good. Scott’s done an incredible job with that program. And they’ve had our number, just to be honest. You look over the years and we haven’t won very much. I think they’d won 12 of the last 13 matchups. We needed to try to find a way and see if we couldn’t get this thing done,” said Terry. “We’re at home, but home is not enough. I tell our guys you still have to come out here and compete against a top team in the Big 12 on our home court. Nobody’s gonna give it to you…I was just really proud of this moment.”

The Longhorns and the Bears got after it all night in the Moody Center. In the end, though, Texas did enough things offensively by shooting 47.3% from the field to hold on and win. Sir’Jabari Rice led the way in that effort with 24 points and six rebounds off the bench while Timmy Allen chipped in 18 points, six rebounds, and four assists of his own.

Now, after the victory, they sit with a half-game lead for first place in the Big 12. Still, Terry says it’s not time to drop any confetti yet. They still have a month to go and, although they enjoyed their win last night, it’s now on to prepare to survive against Kansas State their next time out.

“This is the Big 12. It’s a monster now. You get one night…and then it’s on to the next challenge,” Terry said. “We’ve got great coaches in this league, great players in this league. But you just keep it for one night. We worked really hard to get in this position. Now we know we have to keep taking it one game at a time. 40 minutes by 40 minutes.”