Texas battles No. 13 Alabama on the road. Can Tramon Mark and emerging spark Camden Heide ignite an SEC turnaround on the glass?
There’s no easing into SEC road play, and the Texas Longhorns are finding that out the hard way. Game 16 sends Texas (9-6, 0-2 SEC) into one of the league’s loudest buildings Saturday night to face No. 13 Alabama (11-4, 1-1 SEC) at Coleman Coliseum, where momentum, whistles, and emotions tend to swing fast and often.
If Texas fans are looking for a silver lining after an 0-2 conference start, it starts with Tramon Mark.
The graduate guard has been exactly what the Longhorns hoped for when SEC play arrived: steady, aggressive, and unafraid of the moment. Mark is averaging 20 points per game through two league contests, shooting 50 percent from the floor, and quietly reminding everyone that veteran guards tend to age well in this conference.
As one assistant joked this week, “When the game gets ugly, Tramon still knows where the rim is.”
The bigger concern? The glass. Texas spent non-conference play bullying opponents on the boards, posting a gaudy plus-12.5 rebound margin. That edge has vanished in SEC play, flipping to minus-7.0 through two games.
The Crimson Tide don’t need second chances to hurt you, but they’ll gladly take them. If Texas doesn’t rebound with intent early, this one could snowball quickly.
One encouraging development came on Tuesday at Tennessee, where Camden Heide delivered a much-needed spark after a scoreless outing against Mississippi State.
Heide logged a career-high 35 minutes and knocked down four threes, providing spacing and energy when Texas desperately needed both. Don’t be surprised if his role continues to expand, especially if Alabama’s defense collapses on drives.
Historically, Texas has held its own in this series, leading 9-5 all-time, but last season’s 103-80 loss in Austin still lingers. Alabama plays fast, hunts threes, and feeds off crowd energy.
The key for Texas will be controlling tempo and valuing possessions.
This isn’t a must-win, but it is a must-compete. If Texas can rebound, defend without fouling, and let Mark steady the ship late, the Longhorns have a chance to turn an early SEC stumble into a statement.
Survive the first five minutes, and Coleman Coliseum suddenly doesn’t feel quite as intimidating.