Andrew Pace
The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team has never won an NCAA men's basketball national championship. The team has made it to the Final Four three times (in 1943, 1947, and 2003) and the Elite Eight eight times. They have won 29 total conference championships and have made 39 appearances in the NCAA tournament. The team has experienced success in the early decades of its existence, but its modern success is more recent. The Longhorns have also won a retroactive Premo-Porretta Power Poll national championship in 1933.
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What You'll Learn
Texas Longhorns men's basketball history
The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team has had its fair share of successes and setbacks over the years. The team's history can be traced back to the early 20th century, with the 1909–1911 seasons being the first three years of the programme. During these inaugural seasons, coach W. E. Metzenthin led the team, but it wasn't until the 1930s that the Longhorns men's basketball team claimed their first championship title.
In the 1933 season, the Longhorns won the Premo-Porretta Power Poll national championship. However, this title was a retroactive championship bestowed for the pre-NCAA Tournament years. Following this early success, the team experienced a mix of winning and losing seasons. From 1912 to 1950, they had only one losing season, reaching two Final Fours and one Elite Eight during the inaugural decade of the NCAA Tournament.
The 1951–52 season saw Thurman "Slue" Hull take over as head coach. Hull's final two seasons, 1954–55 and 1955–56, ended with a combined record of 16–32, marking the worst two-year period for Longhorn basketball up to that point. As a result, Hull was dismissed, and Marshall Hughes was brought in as the new head coach for the 1956–57 season.
The 1977–78 season stands out as one of the more successful campaigns in Longhorn basketball history. Under coach Abe Lemons, the team posted a 13–13 record, a four-game improvement over the previous season. Lemons remains a notable figure in UT history as the only men's basketball coach to earn National Coach of the Year honours. The 1978–79 season started with high expectations, but the team struggled early on, falling out of the AP rankings.
The Longhorns men's basketball team has continued to strive for excellence, with notable achievements such as matching the most wins in program history with a 26–8 record in the 1993–94 season. They have also consistently reached the NCAA Tournament, with 35 appearances as of 2022. While they have not won a national championship in the modern era, they continue to pursue that goal, with their last Final Four appearance being in 2003.
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Texas' NCAA tournament appearances
The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team has a rich history in the NCAA Tournament, with 39 appearances as of the end of the 2024-25 season, which is the ninth-most of any team. The team has experienced success in the tournament, reaching the Final Four three times (in 1943, 1947, and 2003) and the Elite Eight on eight separate occasions.
The Longhorns' first NCAA Tournament appearance came during the early decades of the team's existence. Under the leadership of head coach L. Theo Bellmont, the team achieved significant success in the 1914 and 1915 seasons, winning the inaugural Southwest Conference (SWC) championship in the latter season. The early years of the program saw a strong winning percentage, with only one losing season between 1912 and 1950 and an impressive overall record of 24-14 and 17-11 victories over the Aggies.
The 1930s marked another successful era for the Texas Longhorns. Ed Olle, who played for the team before becoming a coach, led the Longhorns to a remarkable 22-1 overall record. During his tenure, the team won a conference championship and was retroactively awarded the 1933 Premo-Porretta Power Poll national championship.
In more recent years, the Texas Longhorns have continued to make frequent appearances in the NCAA Tournament. The team reached the Final Four in 2003, marking their most recent appearance in the latter stages of the tournament. In 2023, the Longhorns advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2008, showcasing their ongoing competitiveness in the tournament.
While the Texas Longhorns men's basketball team has yet to win an NCAA men's basketball National Championship, their numerous tournament appearances, deep runs, and regional success highlight their consistent presence as a formidable contender in the NCAA landscape.
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Texas' performance in the modern era
Texas has never won an NCAA men's basketball national championship. The Texas basketball team has experienced a mix of successes and setbacks in the modern era. The team's performance in recent years has been variable, with some strong seasons and appearances in the NCAA Tournament, but they have not managed to claim the top prize.
During the 2024-25 season, the Longhorns demonstrated their potential by accumulating 29 total conference championships in men's basketball. They also made their mark in the NCAA Tournament, with 39 total appearances, placing them among the top ten teams in terms of participation. Their overall record in the tournament stands at 40-42, and they have reached the prestigious Final Four on three memorable occasions: in 1943, 1947, and 2003. Additionally, they have advanced to the Elite Eight eight times, showcasing their potential to go deep into the tournament.
However, Texas has yet to play in the championship game of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. Their recent appearances in the tournament have been less consistent, with a notable gap since their last Sweet 16 appearance in 2008. Despite their strong record and numerous achievements, Texas has not been able to secure the ultimate victory in the modern era.
Looking further back, Texas enjoyed substantial success in the early decades of its basketball programme. From 1912 to 1950, the team displayed dominance, achieving a winning percentage of .703 during that period. The foundation for this success was laid even earlier, with coach Carl Taylor igniting a passion for basketball at the University of Texas in 1912-13. The following academic year, under the guidance of head coach L. Theo Bellmont, the team achieved an impressive 11-0 record and went on to win the inaugural Southwest Conference championship in 1915 with a 14-0 record.
The early decades of the 20th century witnessed Texas's basketball programme excelling, with four basketball conference championships secured in the first five years of the Southwest Conference's existence. The 1919 season stood out with a remarkable 17-3 overall record under the leadership of head coach Henderson. This strong foundation positioned Texas as a competitive force in college basketball, setting the stage for their ongoing pursuit of excellence in the sport.
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Texas' head coaches
The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team has never won an NCAA men's basketball national championship. The team has made it to the NCAA Final Four three times (1943, 1947, and 2003) and the Elite Eight eight times. As of the end of the 2024-25 season, they have made it to the NCAA tournament 39 times, the ninth-most appearances of all time.
The Texas men's basketball head coaching position has had several occupants over the years, each with their own impact on the team's performance and success. Here is a detailed look at some of the notable Texas head coaches:
L. Theo Bellmont (1914-1915)
L. Theo Bellmont, the University of Texas's first athletic director, served as the head coach of the men's basketball team for two seasons. In his first stint, the team achieved an 11-0 record in the 1914 season. The following year, they improved even further, going undefeated with a 14-0 record and winning the inaugural Southwest Conference (SWC) championship. Bellmont's success helped elevate the status of basketball at the university, transforming it from a minor sport into a prominent one.
Eugene Van Gent (1916-1919)
Eugene Van Gent took over as head coach in 1916 and guided the Longhorns to consistent success. During his tenure, the team maintained a high level of performance, achieving an overall winning percentage of .789 from 1916 to 1919. This placed Texas among the top NCAA schools in terms of winning percentage during that period.
Ed Olle (1931-1934)
Ed Olle, a former player for Texas, became the head coach for three seasons. During his tenure, the Longhorns excelled, achieving a remarkable 22-1 overall record. In his second year, they won a conference championship, and Olle led them to a retroactively awarded Premo-Porretta Power Poll national championship. Olle's success continued in his third year, after which he resigned and recommended freshman team and assistant varsity coach Marty Karow as his replacement.
Marty Karow (1934-1936)
Marty Karow stepped up from his role as assistant coach to become the head coach of the Texas Longhorns. In his two seasons at the helm, Karow led the team to a combined 31-16 record. However, his coaching tenure was marked by friction with Texas Athletic Director and Longhorn football head coach, Jack Chevigny, which ultimately led to his resignation in the summer of 1936.
Shaka Smart (2015-2021)
Shaka Smart guided the Texas Longhorns men's basketball team for six seasons. During his tenure, the team experienced ups and downs, but they consistently qualified for the NCAA Tournament. Smart's teams showcased potential, but they fell short of reaching the Final Four or winning a national championship.
Chris Beard (2021-present)
Chris Beard took over as the head coach of the Texas Longhorns in 2021, bringing high expectations. In his first year, Beard led the team to a Top 25 ranking and a March Madness appearance. Beard's ultimate goal is to guide the Longhorns to the top of the tournament and win their first NCAA men's basketball national championship.
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Texas' women's basketball
The Texas Longhorns women's basketball team has had a rich history in the sport, with several notable achievements. The team represents the University of Texas at Austin in NCAA Division I intercollegiate women's basketball competition and has had a strong presence in the AP Top 10 rankings over the years.
The Longhorns women's basketball team rose to prominence in the 1980s under the leadership of head coach Jody Conradt, a legendary figure in women's basketball. Conradt guided the team to their first National Championship game in 1982, where they narrowly lost to Rutgers 83-77. This game was part of the AIAW Tournament, which was the National Championship tournament until 1981. The Longhorns began participating in the NCAA Tournament from 1983 onwards.
The team's hard work paid off in 1986 when they won the NCAA Division I Tournament championship under Conradt's guidance. This triumph solidified the Longhorns' status as a force to be reckoned with in women's college basketball. Conradt's impact extended beyond this victory, as she was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999.
The success of the Texas Longhorns women's basketball team continued into the late 1980s, with the 1987 season being a standout year. The team, led by the previous year's NCAA Final Four MVP Clarissa Davis and 1988 Olympian Andrea Lloyd, achieved their fifth straight undefeated Southwest Conference season and conference championship. They advanced to the Final Four once again, showcasing their consistent excellence.
In recent years, the Longhorns women's team has continued to make their mark. In 2022, they played their final game in the Frank Erwin Special Events Center, where they compiled an impressive 576-118 record over the years. They secured an NCAA second-round victory over Utah, 78-56, on March 20, 2022, adding to their list of accomplishments.
While the Texas Longhorns men's basketball team has not won a national championship, the women's team has brought glory to the university with their 1986 NCAA Division I Tournament championship. The women's team has consistently performed at a high level and continues to strive for success under the guidance of head coach Vic Schaefer.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Texas has never won an NCAA men's basketball national championship.
No, they have not played in the championship game.
They have made it to the Final Four three times, in 1943, 1947, and 2003.
As of the end of the 2024-25 season, Texas had won 40 NCAA Tournament games without taking the national championship.
Yes, they were awarded a Premo-Porretta Power Poll national championship in 1933. However, this was a retroactive award for pre-NCAA Tournament years.
