Despite a season-opening loss, Texas battled Duke's physicality, dominating rebounds and paint points, hinting at future chemistry and upside.
As far as season openers go, the Texas Longhorns couldn’t have drawn a much tougher challenge. Facing the sixth-ranked Duke Blue Devils at the Dick Vitale Invitational, Texas fell to 0-1 in a double-digit loss, but there was plenty to like about what the Longhorns showed.
Duke is a legitimate championship contender, and this game set the bar for where Texas stands early in the season. It served as a measuring stick, revealing both who the Longhorns are now and who they could become as chemistry develops.
Texas played with physicality against one of the most talented teams in the country, winning the rebounding battle 41-37 as well as points in the paint.
The issues, however, came elsewhere. The Longhorns committed six more turnovers than Duke, made nearly half as many three-pointers, and finished with less than half as many assists. Much of that stems from chemistry and comfort — elements that naturally improve with time. Duke, even while integrating several five-star freshmen, looked like the more connected group.
Still, there were bright spots for Texas. Dailyn Swain led the team with 16 points, showcasing offensive upside beyond his defensive reputation. Jordan Pope provided a spark off the bench with 15 points, while seven-footer Matas Vokietaitis added 15 points and eight rebounds, despite committing five turnovers.
Point guard play remains a work in progress, as Tramon Mark finished with just two points and one assist. His ability to orchestrate and get teammates involved will be key moving forward.
Despite the loss, the Longhorns left with encouraging takeaways from their first test. They’ll return home to face Lafayette on Saturday afternoon, aiming to build on the promise shown in their opener.