In a shocking turn of events, Texas handed No. 13 Vanderbilt a 16-point loss, 80-64, at the Moody Center on January 14. This monumental upset will send shockwaves through the college basketball world, as the Longhorns, ranked 38th in the net rankings, took down a top-15 opponent. Vanderbilt, boasting an impressive 18-3 record, was expected to dominate, but Texas had other plans.
The Longhorns came out firing, taking a 42-37 lead into halftime. Matas Vokietaitis was unstoppable, scoring 22 points and grabbing 7 rebounds to lead the charge. Tramon Mark added 21 points, while Dailyn Swain chipped in with 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. Vanderbilt's Duke Miles tried to keep his team in the game, scoring 21 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Longhorns' balanced attack.
As the second half got underway, Texas continued to push the pace, outscoring Vanderbilt 38-27. The Commodores struggled to find their rhythm, and the Longhorns capitalized on their mistakes. Tyler Tanner and Tyler Nickel added 17 and 10 points, respectively, for Vanderbilt, but their efforts were overshadowed by Texas's impressive team performance.
This upset is a significant statement for Texas, who needed a marquee win to boost their tournament resume. With this victory, the Longhorns earn a crucial Quadrant 1 win, which will undoubtedly improve their chances of making the NCAA Tournament. On the other hand, Vanderbilt's loss will likely drop them in the rankings, but they still maintain a strong position in the top 15.
The absence of a pre-game prediction only adds to the surprise of this outcome, as many would have expected Vanderbilt to come out on top. However, Texas's impressive performance proves that they are a force to be reckoned with in the college basketball landscape.
As the season progresses, this win will be a vital component of Texas's tournament resume. The Longhorns have now secured a Quadrant 1 win, which will help them build a stronger case for an at-large bid. Meanwhile, Vanderbilt want to bounce back from this loss, but they can take comfort in knowing that this defeat still qualifies as a Quadrant 1 loss, which won't hurt their resume too much. Nevertheless, the Commodores must regroup and refocus to maintain their position in the top 15. For Texas, this upset victory is a massive confidence booster, and they want to ride this momentum into their upcoming games.