Texas Longhorns Reach Sweet 16 After First Four Appearance

Head coach Sean Miller describes the emotions of the team's unexpected tournament run.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 1:48am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a college basketball game or tournament action, with sharp, overlapping planes of burnt orange, royal blue, and bright white colors representing the dynamic energy and unpredictability of the Longhorns' tournament journey.The Texas Longhorns' unexpected tournament run showcases the team's growth and potential under new head coach Sean Miller.Today in Dayton

The Texas Longhorns were considered a 'Last Four In' team on Selection Sunday, meaning they had to play in the First Four round of the NCAA Tournament. However, the Longhorns were able to win three games in a week and advance to the Sweet Sixteen, a rare feat for a First Four team. Head coach Sean Miller reflected on the team's journey, from struggling to find chemistry early in the season to peaking at the right time and making an unexpected deep tournament run.

Why it matters

Reaching the Sweet Sixteen is a significant accomplishment for the Texas Longhorns, who had only made it that far once since 2009 prior to this season. Miller's comments provide insight into the team's growth and development over the course of the season, highlighting how they were able to overcome early challenges and come together at the right time to make a surprising tournament run.

The details

The Longhorns were considered a 'Last Four In' team, meaning they had to play in the First Four round of the NCAA Tournament. However, they were able to win three games in a week to advance to the Sweet Sixteen, a rare feat for a First Four team. Miller reflected on the team's journey, noting that early in the season during a trip to Maui, 'nobody knew each other' but the players kept working together and grew closer, allowing them to peak at the right time and make the unexpected deep run.

  • The Longhorns played in the First Four round in Dayton, Ohio.
  • Texas advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, only the second time they had made it that far since 2009.

The players

Sean Miller

The head coach of the Texas Longhorns men's basketball team.

Rodney Terry

The former interim head coach of the Texas Longhorns who guided the team to an Elite Eight appearance.

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What they’re saying

“It feels really good to be a part of what we did. That's one thing that I would say. I remember being in Maui over Thanksgiving and having gone there a number of times, it's an amazing trip and experience. Playing three games in three days on national television in this wonderful, beautiful place. We went there this year and I remember thinking on the trip, 'God, nobody knows each other.' It's just the circumstances of being so new.”

— Sean Miller, Head Coach, Texas Longhorns

“There's no moral victory of 'That's okay.' Because there's no guarantee you're coming back anytime soon. Our goal, obviously, is to make that happen, to come back soon, and to build a program and a team that can get to this round and go beyond.”

— Sean Miller, Head Coach, Texas Longhorns

What’s next

Miller hopes to retain some of the same players for next season, and Texas also brings in a highly-ranked recruiting class. The Longhorns will look to build on this year's unexpected tournament run and make a return trip to the Sweet Sixteen or beyond.

The takeaway

The Texas Longhorns' unexpected run to the Sweet Sixteen as a First Four team showcases the team's growth and development over the course of the season, as well as the program's potential moving forward under head coach Sean Miller. This deep tournament run, while not guaranteed to be repeated, provides a blueprint for the Longhorns to build a consistently competitive program that can compete at the highest levels of college basketball.