Texas' Jordan Pope Shines in Sweet Sixteen Run

The Longhorns guard has emerged as a star in the NCAA tournament after transferring from Oregon State.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 7:54pm

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Texas guard Jordan Pope has been a key factor in the Longhorns' surprise run to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament. Pope, who previously played at Oregon State, has stepped up with clutch performances, including a win over No. 3 seed Gonzaga. His former coach at Oregon State, Wayne Tinkle, has been in touch to offer encouragement, helping fuel Pope's success.

Why it matters

Pope's story is an inspiring one of an underdog player who has found success after transferring to a bigger program. His performance has been crucial in Texas' tournament run, and his connection to his former coach highlights the importance of mentorship in college athletics.

The details

Pope was a standout player at Oregon State for two seasons, but the Beavers struggled to win during his time there. He then transferred to Texas, where he helped the Longhorns make the First Four last year. This season, Pope has been a driving force behind Texas' upset wins over BYU and Gonzaga to reach the Sweet Sixteen. His former coach, Wayne Tinkle, has been in touch to offer encouragement, which Pope says has helped fuel his strong play.

  • Pope played two seasons at Oregon State before transferring to Texas.
  • Last season, Pope helped Texas make the First Four.
  • This season, Pope and the Longhorns have pulled off multiple tournament upsets to reach the Sweet Sixteen.

The players

Jordan Pope

A guard for the Texas Longhorns who previously played at Oregon State.

Wayne Tinkle

The former head coach of the Oregon State Beavers, who played a key role in Pope's development.

Sean Miller

The head coach of the Texas Longhorns, who has praised Pope's performance in the tournament.

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What they’re saying

“He texted me after our first win vs BYU. Just letting me know he was proud of me and to keep going, and take it as far as I could. I told him I was appreciative of everything he's done for me up until this point.”

— Jordan Pope, Texas Guard

“I don't know if there are too many guards that are playing in the tournament that are playing at a higher level than Jordan Pope. He means a lot to our team, and what he's really mastered is that he controls the game and he's our point guard, but he adds such a strong scoring punch that he can change the game from the three-point line.”

— Sean Miller, Texas Head Coach

What’s next

The Longhorns will now face No. 2 seed Purdue in the Sweet Sixteen in San Jose, California.

The takeaway

Jordan Pope's inspiring tournament run with Texas, after transferring from Oregon State, highlights the value of mentorship and perseverance in college athletics. His former coach's encouragement has fueled Pope's emergence as a star player on the big stage.