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Introducing Texas' potential opponents in the NCAA Tournament

Joe Cookby:Joe Cook•03/16/25•

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Sean Miller by Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
Sean Miller (Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK)

In order to play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the Texas Longhorns will have to get out of the First Four. Texas is scheduled to play Xavier on Wednesday in Dayton as part of the First Four, and the winner of that game gets the right to fill in the 11-seed line ahead of a matchup with 6-seed Illinois.

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Texas last played Xavier in 2023 on the Longhorns’ run to the Elite Eight. The Longhorns topped Sean Miller‘s Musketeers 83-71 before falling to Miami in the Elite Eight.

What do the 2024-25 Musketeers bring to the table? How about the Illini? And should Texas make it to the second round, who could they face?

Here’s a look at Texas’ portion of the Midwest bracket.

First Four Matchup

Team: Xavier Musketeers
2024-25 Record: 21-11 (13-7 Big East)
Bid secured by: At-large selection
Head coach: Sean Miller
Overall seed: No. 42
Leading scorer: Zach Freemantle (17.3 ppg)
Notable wins: at Marquette, UConn, Creighton

Potential First Round Matchup

Team: 6-seed Illinois Illini
2024-25 Record: 21-12 (12-8 Big 10)
Bid secured by: At-large
Head coach: Brad Underwood
Overall seed: No. 22
Leading scorer: Kasparas Jakucionis (15.0 ppg)
Notable wins: Wisconsin, Purdue, vs. Missouri, Michigan, Oregon, Arkansas

Potential Second Round Matchups

Team: 3-seed Kentucky Wildcats
2024-25 Record: 22-11 (10-8 SEC)
Bid secured by: At-large selection
Head coach: Mark Pope
Overall seed: No. 11
Leading scorer: Otega Oweh (16.2 pts)
Notable wins: vs. Duke, Florida, Tennessee, at Tennessee, vs. Gonzaga, at Missouri, Texas A&M, Louisville

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Team: 14-seed Troy Trojans
2024-25 Record: 23-10, 13-5 Sun Belt)
Bid secured by: Sun Belt Tournament champion
Head coach: Scott Cross
Overall seed: No. 56
Leading scorer: Tayton Conerway (14.3 ppg)
Notable wins: at Arkansas State, vs. Arkansas State, South Alabama

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