Timmy Allen says Rodney Terry has been 'fantastic' in NCAA Tournament prep

Texas interim head coach Rodney Terry has earned the praise of many people in the basketball world, including from his players like Timmy Allen.

The most recent praise from Allen has come in regards to how Terry has been getting the team prepared for their NCAA Tournament games.

The No. 2 seed Longhorns defeated 15th-seeded Colgate by 20 points in their first round matchup. Then in its second round game, Texas went up against a tough and hot Penn State team. The Longhorns got the job done with a big-time 71-66 victory.

Now they have No. 3 seed Xavier with a shot at the Elite Eight on the line.

“He’s been fantastic,” Allen said. “He’s kept the main goal the main goal the whole time. He’s given us a great perspective and plan to get it done, and he’s stayed humble along the way. He knows what we’ve got going on, and we have the same collective goal trying to get that not do. He never loses focus of that. He never lets him be a distraction from us or anything else. He’s always about team, team first. He’s humble and hungry, just like we are.”

Timmy Allen hoping to bring Rodney Terry, Texas back to the Final Four

It has been 20 years since Rodney Terry and Texas last got back to the Final Four. It was the 2003 NCAA Tournament as Terry was an assistant coach under Rick Barnes. The Longhorns, led by Naismith College Player of the Year T.J. Ford, were the No. 1 seed in the South Regional. They made it to the Final Four in New Orleans before losing to the Syracuse, the eventual national champion.

Terry hasn’t spent all 20 years in Austin. He was the head coach at Fresno State and UTEP for about a decade before returning as an assistant coach last season. But with Chris Beard‘s dismissal, Terry has stepped up and led the team to the Big 12 tournament title and the Sweet 16. Plus, he has put himself in an excellent position to earn the full-time head coaching role.

But Timmy Allen said the team isn’t done accomplishing all of its goals.

“He doesn’t feel like he’s accomplished all the things he’s wanted to accomplish this season, so we’re on the same page when it comes to that,” Allen said. “Just keep the main thing the main thing and stay humble along the way.”