Texas Longhorns women's basketball will learn from loss at South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Texas Longhorns weren’t ready to face South Carolina’s wrath on Sunday when they suffered a 67-50 loss in Columbia. 

“We were very uncomfortable early, and then it just went south in a hurry,” Texas coach Vic Schaefer said following the loss. “That’s the mental piece. I told my team – it just seemed like we got uncomfortable today and we did a lot of uncharacteristic things. That’s what a team like that will do to you. It’s what we normally do to people, but it’s hard to do it to a team like that who’s so tough mentally and physically.”

But Texas is no stranger to facing adversity – and when they fall down, they always come back stronger. 

Last season, the Longhorns learned a lot about themselves in a year where they weren’t at full strength. Starting point guard Rori Harmon suffered a torn ACL just 12 games in, and the Longhorns had to rely on freshman wing Madison Booker to fill that void. 

“There was no tryout in my mind,” Schaefer told On3. “I knew who was going to be our point guard, and it was Madison Booker.” 

It turned out, Booker was more than ready for the responsibility. 

“I never thought I was going to be the starting point guard for half of the season,” Booker told On3. “I never thought I would get the awards that I got last season. I just kind of came in knowing that I was probably going to be a backup… That definitely changed, and I’m happy it did. It really helped me grow as a player.”

The freshman was named a WBCA All-American and was the first frosh to ever win Big 12 Player of the Year. She averaged 16.5 points, five rebounds, five assists and 1.5 steals per game.

This season, it’s been more of the same – until Sunday. She was held to just seven points on 3-of-19 shooting from the field. It was one of Booker’s least efficient performances in her young career, but the Longhorns aren’t concerned.

“I’m not going to be too terribly worried about it, but I think we’ve got to learn from it and she will,” Schaefer said. “You’re talking about one of the all-time greatest kids ever, and so I don’t worry too much about her. Today was not her day, but it wasn’t any of our days.”

Last season, without Harmon, Texas still managed an Elite Eight appearance. This season, they’re looking for a title. 

The Longhorns are 16-2, with falters at No. 2 South Carolina and No. 3 Notre Dame and wins over two ranked SEC squads in Oklahoma and Alabama. Texas has one of the top-scoring offenses and remains of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country. 

Not only that, but they’re also deep. The Longhorns have two freshmen who were top-15 recruits and both have made an impact in big moments. 

Six-foot guard Jordan Lee scored a resounding 17 points on 4-of-5 shooting from deep to push the Longhorns to an 80-73 victory over Top 10 Oklahoma. Post player Justice Carlton scored 22 points in that game and posted a double-double in the Longhorns’ victory over then-ranked West Virginia. 

While Booker leads the team in scoring with 14.8 points, there are 10 Longhorns averaging at least six points.

“If everything falls into place, I think they’ll have a chance to be really good,” Schaefer told On3 before the season. “I don’t think they will be afraid of anybody.” 

While Sunday’s showing wasn’t what the Longhorns had hoped, there’s still plenty of season left and Texas remains one of the most formidable teams in the country.