Despite offensive firepower, defensive struggles plague Texas as tough SEC opponents loom. Will their intensity match the competition?
Warmup time is over for Texas as its next game against Mississippi State marks the start of Southeastern Conference play.
The Longhorns 94-71 home win over Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday seemed like a solid way to close out non-conference play on paper, but the final score doesn't hide the cracks for Texas head coach Sean Miller.
"It was our worst performance of the season," he said after the win. "When I say that, I'm leaning heavily towards the defensive end."
Texas only led the Hawks by six at halftime, allowing them to score 34 points. Earlier in its season, UMES was held to 29 total points by Longhorns conference foe, Georgia.
Texas rebounded in the second half, ultimately outscoring the Hawks by 23 points, but it's not a performance that will help Miller sleep any better entering its toughest stretch of the season.
"Everybody uses the words 'the standard,'" Miller said. "We have one, and when it's not met, it's not just 'ok, didn't meet it tonight, guys.' At some point, from an accountability [standpoint], me as a coach, our staff, individual players, this deals about getting better."
"For us to have a chance to be successful moving forward, this is an area we have to always be able to put a check in the box."
Miller has harped on the Longhorns' defensive efforts all season, and their lack of continuity on that side of the ball continues to hold them back.
Texas has had no problem scoring the basketball so far, ranking 43rd in the nation in points per game with about 85. The Longhorns also rank 28th in college basketball in offensive efficiency, scoring a solid 1.19 points per possession.
But once the calendar turns over to a new year, the competition level will start to rise, making every offensive possession that much harder. That's when a team has to rely on its defensive prowess and physicality to win ball games, and right now, it's just not there for Texas.
"I thought they were the bigger, stronger team, more physical team at times throughout the game," Miller said. " As a group, we didn't have the will, the toughness, the intensity, the togetherness, the fight and desire that it's going to take to be at the very best that we can be in the SEC."
If that's the case against UMES, what's it going to look like against Vanderbilt, Alabama or Arkansas?
Soon, we'll find out what this team is truly made of.