The Longhorns surge into Missouri seeking an SEC statement.
Texas basketball heads to Columbia this weekend with momentum ... and a chance to make a serious statement in the SEC race.
The Longhorns (15-9, 6-5 SEC) visit Missouri (17-7, 7-4 SEC) on Saturday night at Mizzou Arena in a matchup that could have postseason implications.
Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2, as Texas looks to build on a recent surge that has put the program back in rhythm.
Rodney Terry’s group has won three straight and four of its last five, outscoring opponents by an average of 10 points during the current win streak. Just as important, Texas has controlled the glass, owning a plus-nine rebounding margin over that stretch.
That balance on both ends has fueled a midseason push in a tightly packed SEC standings race.
A big reason for the turnaround has been junior guard-forward Dailyn Swain. According to ESPN Research, Swain is one of only three players in major conferences leading his team in five major statistical categories.
He tops Texas in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and minutes played - a rare all-around impact that underscores his value. On a nightly basis, Swain sets the tone offensively while anchoring defensive effort.
Graduate guard Tramon Mark is also closing in on a milestone. Mark enters Saturday with 1,828 career points, 617 rebounds, 297 assists and 162 steals.
He needs just three assists to become only the second active Division I player with at least 1,800 points, 600 rebounds, 300 assists and 150 steals - a testament to his consistency and versatility.
The all-time series between Texas and Missouri is dead even at 13-13, and last season’s meeting in Austin went to the Longhorns, 61-53. With both teams jockeying for SEC positioning, Saturday night feels like more than just another conference game.