First Four Preview: Rodney Terry looks to improve his own NCAA Tournament record

Rodney Terry has a chance to improve his own solid record in March Madness.

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In one appearance leading Fresno State and entering his third appearance at the end of the bench at Texas, Terry has a 4-3 record in the NCAA Tournament including a 4-2 record in Austin. Three of those wins came as the interim coach after he took over for Chris Beard in early 2023 during the Longhorns’ run to the Elite Eight. The remaining Tournament win was from last season, when Texas defeated 10-seed Colorado State in the first round before dropping a close one to 2-seed Tennessee in the second round.

His 4-2 record in burnt orange is part of Texas’ 40-41 record in 39 NCAA Tournament appearances. And although Wednesday’s game is a First Four matchup where the winner gets the right to play 6-seed Illinois in the first round, it counts as a NCAA Tournament game.

Terry spoke Tuesday about what it takes to win NCAA Tournament games, explaining that while skill, defense, and shot-making is required, so too is energy.

“We practiced earlier over at a junior college, and I said, guys, the teams that have success this time of year are teams that have tremendous juice and energy, and they’re excited about this opportunity,” Terry said. “Sometimes it’s not the best team that wins this time of year. For 40 minutes, you’ve got to be the team that comes in and puts your will on that team for 40 minutes in terms of how you’re going to play.”

Terry mentioned that the most complete games his team played this year were against Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament and on the road against Mississippi State, problems with the Bulldogs’ full-court pressure notwithstanding.

While those were quality wins for Texas, there were lapses, including some in the late-game, that almost cost the Longhorns. Terry knows his team cannot afford those against Xavier.

The effort Terry views as necessary were displayed in his four wins, the aforementioned win over Colorado State plus victories in the 2023 Tournament over Colgate, Penn State, and Xavier before falling to Miami (Fla.) in the regional final. Texas played cleaner contests in all but the loss to the Hurricanes.

To get to a fifth Tournament win, Terry knows it’ll take more of the same.

“Every possession really matters, Terry said. “The urgency that you have to play with really matters. Rebounding, having a defensive presence really matters. It really decides the outcome of games.”

Texas coaches by NCAA Tournament appearances

• Rick Barnes – 16
• Tom Penders – 8
• Shaka Smart – 3
• Rodney Terry – 3
• Harold Bradley – 2
• Jack Gray – 2
• Leon Black – 1
• Chris Beard – 1
• Abe Lemons – 1
• H.C. Gilstrap – 1

How to watch

Date: Wednesday, March 19
Time: 8:10 p.m. CT
TV Network: tru TV

Location: Dayton, Ohio – UD Arena

2024-25 Texas Longhorns

Tre Johnson, 6-foot-6, 190 lbs, Fr., Link Academy (Mo.), 19.8 pts, 3.0 reb, 2.8 ast

Arthur Kaluma, 6-foot-7, 225 lbs, Sr., Kansas State, 12.4 pts, 7.6 reb, 1.8 ast

Jordan Pope, 6-foot-2, 175 lbs, Jr., Oregon State: 11.2 pts, 2.0 reb, 1.7 ast

Tramon Mark, 6-foot-5, 200 lbs, Gr., Arkansas: 10.4 pts, 3.6 reb, 1.6 ast

Kadin Shedrick, 6-foot-11, 231 lbs, Gr.: 8.7 pts, 6.1 reb, 0.6 ast

Chendall Weaver, 6-foot-3, 180 lbs, Jr.: 6.3 pts, 5.0 reb, 1.3 ast

Jayson Kent, 6-foot-8, 215 lbs, Gr., Indiana State: 5.5 pts, 3.3 reb, 0.5 ast

Julian Larry, 6-foot-3, 185 lbs, Gr., Indiana State: 4.7 pts, 1.5 reb, 3.0 ast

Devon Pryor, 6-foot-7, 185 lbs, So.: 3.2 pts, 2.0 reb, 0.5 ast

Ze’Rik Onyema, 6-foot-9, 235 lbs, Sr.: 3.2 pts, 2.5 reb, 0.4 ast

Jamie Vinson, 6-foot-11, 225 lbs, Fr., Oak Hill Academy (Va.): 2.2 pts, 1.1 rebs, 0.1 ast

Nic Codie, 6-foot-8, 200 lbs, Fr., Dallas (Texas) Newman Smith: 1.7 pts, 0.9 reb, 0.1 ast

Cole Bott, 6-foot-6, 195 lbs, Gr. (walk-on): 0.7 pts, 0.3 rebs, 0.5 ast

Preston Clark, 6-foot-6, 220 lbs, R-So. (walk-on): 0.3 pts, 1.5 rebs, 0.3 ast

Malik Presley, 6-foot-6, 200 lbs, So., Vanderbilt

Anthon McDermott, 6-foot-5, 185 lbs, Fr., Hallsville (Texas) (walk-on)

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Previous Game Starters for Xavier

F Zach Freemantle: 17.3 pts, 7.1 reb, 2.1 ast

G Ryan Conwell: 16.8 pts, 2.8 reb, 2.5 ast

F Dailyn Swain: 10.5 pts, 5.4 reb, 2.6 ast

G Dayvion McKnight: 9.6 pts, 2.6 reb, 4.3 ast

G Marcus Foster: 7.6 pts, 4.8 reb, 2.0 ast