Texas women’s basketball ready to do some damage in Big 12s, NCAAs
It’s time to stand up and give some props to the Texas women’s basketball team, a squad that’s shoved its way to the top of the Big 12 heap and could make plenty of noise in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
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The 2022-23 edition of the Longhorns has already accomplished a feat no other Texas team has done in 19 campaigns – it won the Big 12 regular-season championship. In fashioning a 23-8 overall record and finishing 14-4 in league play, the Longhorns claimed their 13th regular season conference championship and the No. 1 seed in the Big 12 tournament.
All this was accomplished despite the fact that the Longhorns have faced adversity with multiple players suffering injuries this season. Texas has had 45 missed games by rotational players and will be without guard Sonya Morris (12.1 points per game) for the Big 12 tournament because of a quadriceps injury that’s forced her to miss the last seven games.
“We thought we had a team coming into the year that could win the Big 12 regular season title,” Texas coach Vic Schaefer said on Thursday. “We just didn’t envision all the obstacles and injuries.”
Texas opens the Big 12 tourney with quarterfinal game against Kansas State on Friday in Kansas City. The Longhorns finished the regular season with an 80-52 road win over the Wildcats to wrap up the conference title and swept the season series.
“This is another opportunity to win a championship and an opportunity to continue to get better,” Schaefer explained. “If you can navigate a Big 12 18-game schedule, then the Big 12 Tournament, then you can navigate the NCAA Tournament.”
In three seasons at Texas, Schaefer has guided the Longhorns to back-to-back Elite Eight appearances, a Big 12 conference tournament championship and now a Big 12 regular season championship. On Monday, he was named as the Big 12’s coach of the year as selected by the league’s head coaches.
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In addition, four Texas players earned spots on the All-Big 12 Women’s basketball award teams. Rori Harmon and DeYona Gaston earned All-Big 12 First Team honors and Shaylee Gonzales earned an All-Big 12 Second Team selection.
Harmon also garnered the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award and a spot on the Big 12 All-Defensive team while Gonzales was voted the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. Amina Muhammad earned a spot on the Big 12 All-Freshman team.
Harmon and Iowa guard Caitlin Clark are the only two players in NCAA Division I women’s basketball that are averaging at least 11.9 points, seven rebounds and five assists per game.
Defense and versatility have been the hallmarks of the Longhorns’ success.
Texas is 19-0 on the season when it’s held an opponent to 59 points or less. And 21 times this season the Longhorns have held an opponent to single digits for a quarter. Texas ranks 10th in the NCAA in turnovers forced per game and seventh in the NCAA in blocked shots per game.
“I like our focus, and I like our attention to detail, our intensity,” Schaefer said. “And it’s the postseason, so our kids have a little bit of energy and excitement about them.
