Andrew Pace
The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team has experienced varying levels of success throughout its history, with notable achievements and setbacks. The team began varsity intercollegiate competition in 1906 and has since built an impressive basketball legacy. While they have not won a national championship, they rank 15th in total victories among all NCAA Division I college basketball programs. The Longhorns have also made 39 appearances in the NCAA tournament, reaching the Final Four three times and the Elite Eight eight times. More recently, in 2023, the Texas men's basketball team won the Big 12 championship, showcasing their talent and determination.
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What You'll Learn
Texas Longhorns men's basketball history
The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team has a long and storied history, dating back to the early 20th century. The University of Texas began varsity intercollegiate competition in men's basketball in 1906 under the direction of Scotland native Magnus Mainland. Since then, the Longhorns have established themselves as a consistent force in college basketball, ranking 15th in total victories among all NCAA Division I programs and 23rd in all-time win percentage.
The Longhorns experienced substantial success during the early decades of their existence. From 1912 to 1950, they suffered only one losing season, achieving a winning percentage of .703 during that span. They reached two Final Fours and one Elite Eight during the first decade of the NCAA Tournament and were retroactively recognized as the 1933 national champions by the Premo-Porretta Power Poll. Senior centre Clyde Littlefield, who played for the team from 1916 to 1920, was a pivotal figure during this era, later receiving recognition as Texas' first consensus All-American in basketball.
However, the team's fortunes took a turn for the worse in the following years. From 1951 to 1976, they recorded ten losing seasons and their win percentage dropped to .522. Despite this, the 1977-78 Longhorns produced one of the more successful seasons in program history, finishing 13-13 under head coach Abe Lemons. Lemons, who coached the team from 1976 to 1982, remains the only men's basketball coach in UT history to earn National Coach of the Year honours.
The program rose to prominence once again under head coach Rick Barnes, who guided the Longhorns to 16 NCAA tournament appearances in his 17 seasons from 1998 to 2015. During this period, Texas made 14 consecutive tournament appearances and recorded 15 20-win seasons, including a school-best 13 in a row from 2000 to 2012. In recent years, the team has continued to find success, winning the Big 12 championship in 2023 under interim coach Rodney Terry.
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Texas men's basketball players
The Texas men's basketball programme, also known as the Longhorns, began in 1906 under the direction of Scotland native Magnus Mainland, a graduate engineering student and former basketball player at Wheaton College (Illinois). The Longhorns rank 15th in total victories among all NCAA Division I college basketball programmes and 23rd in all-time win percentage among programmes with at least 60 years in Division I.
Some notable Texas men's basketball players include Slater Martin, a five-time NBA champion and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, and forward John Hargis, who played alongside Martin in the 1946-47 season. Senior centre Clyde Littlefield, who played for the Longhorns in the 1916 season, would later become the first consensus All-American in basketball for Texas. B.J. Tyler became the first Longhorn since 1982 to receive All-American honours in 1994, and Albert Burditt earned first-team all-SWC honours for the 1993-94 season.
Under head coach Rick Barnes, who led the team from 1998 to 2015, Texas rose to prominence, making 16 NCAA tournament appearances in his 17 seasons. During the 2022-23 season, Texas was coached by Sean Miller, who was hired after the dismissal of Rodney Terry. Terry served as interim head coach after former head coach Chris Beard was suspended following an arrest for assaulting a family member.
In March 2023, Texas won the Big 12 championship, beating Kansas 76-56 at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. Interim coach Rodney Terry praised the team's grit, defence, rebounding, and balanced attack. Texas players who contributed to the win included Dylan Disu, Marcus Carr, and Brock Cunningham.
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Texas men's basketball coaches
The University of Texas' men's basketball team, the Longhorns, has had a long history of coaches since its beginning in 1906. The team's first coach was Scotland native Magnus Mainland, a graduate engineering student and lineman for the Texas football team. The team has had several notable coaches throughout its history, including Abe Lemons (1976–82) and Tom Penders (1988–98), under whom the program achieved national recognition.
However, it was under former head coach Rick Barnes (1998-2015) that the Texas men's basketball program rose to its highest level of prominence. During his 17 seasons with the program, Barnes guided Texas to 16 NCAA tournament appearances, including a school-record 14 consecutive appearances (1999-2012). Barnes also led the team to fifteen 20-win seasons and a school-best 13 consecutive 20-win seasons (2000-2012).
Following Barnes' departure, the team has had several coaches, including Sean Miller, who was hired in 2025 after the dismissal of Rodney Terry. Miller previously coached at Xavier and Arizona and is tasked with leading the Longhorns back to success. Bucky McMillan is another recent addition to the Texas men's basketball coaching staff, although he coaches the Texas A&M Aggies, not the Longhorns.
The Longhorns have achieved notable success under their various coaches, including winning 29 total conference championships in men's basketball and making 39 total appearances in the NCAA tournament as of the end of the 2024-25 season. They have reached the NCAA Final Four three times (1943, 1947, 2003) and the Elite Eight eight times.
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Texas men's basketball wins
The Texas men's basketball team, also known as the Texas Longhorns, has a long history of success in the sport, dating back to the early 20th century. The University of Texas began varsity intercollegiate competition in men's basketball in 1906 and has since achieved numerous victories and championships.
One of the earliest notable achievements of the Texas Longhorns was their winning streak from 1913 to 1917, which stood as the NCAA record for consecutive wins in men's basketball for almost 40 years. During this period, the team was coached by Scotland native Magnus Mainland, who also played on the university's first varsity basketball team.
Over the years, the Texas men's basketball team has experienced both highs and lows. After initial success in the early decades of its existence, the team went through a period of ups and downs from 1951 to 1988, with 14 losing seasons during that time. However, they have also had impressive runs, such as 15 20-win seasons and 13 consecutive 20-win seasons under the guidance of former head coach Rick Barnes from 1998 to 2015.
More recently, in 2023, the Texas men's basketball team won the Big 12 championship by beating Kansas. This victory showcased the team's grit, defence, rebounding, and a balanced attack, contributing to their second Big 12 tournament title in three years. As of the end of the 2024-25 season, Texas ranks fourth among all Division I men's basketball programs for total NCAA Tournament games won without winning the national championship.
Overall, the Texas men's basketball team has a rich history and has consistently demonstrated their skill and determination on the court. They have achieved notable wins, conference championships, and NCAA tournament appearances, solidifying their place as a competitive force in college basketball.
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Texas men's basketball losses
The Texas men's basketball team, the Longhorns, has had a long and storied history since its establishment in 1906. While the team has achieved significant success, including numerous conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances, they have also experienced their fair share of losses and setbacks.
One notable loss in the history of the Texas Longhorns men's basketball team occurred in 1913, when they suffered a 24-18 defeat against Rice in Austin. This loss ended a remarkable winning streak that had begun in 1913 and stood as the NCAA record for consecutive wins in men's basketball for almost 40 years. Despite this setback, the Longhorns have demonstrated resilience and a commitment to improving their performance.
Another challenging period for the Texas men's basketball team occurred during the 1951 to 1988 era. During this time, the Longhorns experienced a decline in their performance, finishing with losing records 14 times out of those 37 years. Their winning percentage during this period dropped to .522, a significant contrast to their earlier success. However, it is important to note that the team still managed to reach the expanded Tournament five times during this stretch.
More recently, the 2024-25 season concluded with the Longhorns ranking fourth among all Division I men's basketball programs for total NCAA Tournament games won without claiming the national championship. While they accumulated an impressive 40 wins, they fell behind Oklahoma, Illinois, and Purdue in the rankings. This reflects the highly competitive nature of college basketball and the ongoing pursuit of excellence by the Texas men's basketball team.
Lastly, the Texas men's basketball team has faced losses due to off-court issues. In December 2022, former head coach Chris Beard was suspended following an arrest on a charge of assaulting a family member. This incident led to an interim coaching situation during a crucial period for the team. Despite these challenges, the Longhorns have consistently demonstrated a capacity for resilience and a determination to improve, both on and off the court.
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Frequently asked questions
No, they did not. As of the end of the 2024-25 season, Texas ranks fourth among all Division I men's basketball programs for total NCAA Tournament games won without having won the national championship.
Texas has won 40 NCAA Tournament games as of the 2024-25 season.
They have made 39 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Final Four three times (1943, 1947, and 2003) and the Elite Eight eight times.
The Texas Longhorns rank 15th in total victories among all NCAA Division I college basketball programs with 1,920 wins.
Yes, the Texas men's basketball team has won the Big 12 championship at least twice in recent years, in 2020 and 2023.
