March 16, 2012, 11:15 am CT

Bridgestone Center | Nashville, TN

Television: CBS

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March 9th, 2012 | 9:00 PM CST

Missouri comfortably won the first match up in Columbia thanks to two huge runs, but when the teams played in Austin the Longhorns were right there for a win at the end, and should have had two free throws to tie it. This Texas team has proven all season that it can play with anyone, and one wonders if last night's big win will take some of the pressure off the kids and help them go out there and just play.

The good news is we're playing with house money now, so hopefully we'll have some fun tonight. And as hilariously high-minded as Missouri fans have been over the last year or so, I wouldn't mind sending them off with one more loss. Because that's what Missouri's tenure in the Big 12 has been all about: not winning championships. Hook 'em

March 8th, 2012 | 8:30 PM CST

The post-season starts.... now. In what may prove to be a win-or-go-home game for this Longhorns team sitting right on the bubble, the high drama of March Madness is officially upon us. The teams split their two regular season meetings with each team winning on its home floor, and tonight they'll settle the score on a neutral floor in Kansas City.

For the first time ever, the Big 12 Tournament is meaningful to Texas. And by extension, to us. May the basketball gods be with us. Hook 'em!

March 3rd, 2012

Hey, look at that: Kansas won another Big 12 title. Bill Self and his Jayhawks have put together another brilliant season -- arguably their most impressive conference title yet, all things considered -- and host the Longhorns riding a seven-game win streak that has them sitting at 25-5 overall, 15-2 in Big 12 play. No one's talking about that loss to Davidson anymore.

On the bright side for Texas, the Jayhawks don't have as much to play for as they could have if the conference title were still on the line. And of course it was the Longhorns who last year snapped KU's 69-game winning streak at Allen Fieldhouse. And hey, this Texas team seems to play to the level of its competition, as they certainly did in a narrow defeat the the Jayhawks a month ago.

On the downside, it's senior night at the Phog, the Jayhawks are bigger than us, and the Jayhaws are better than us. We'll get their best shot, no question about it, and Allen will be raucous. Texas is the only team that has consistently challenged Kansas over the last decade, and really, last year's win at Allen probably works against us. Kansas will be fired up and eager to re-establish their ownership of their home floor. We could easily get run out of the gym this evening.

Then again, I think we've all learned to throw expectations out the window with this Texas team. They've played surprisingly well when we've expected them to fade, and soul-crushingly poor when we've expected them to take a step forward. If we take care of the basketball and manage to do a better job on the defensive boards than we did in the first meeting, we'll have a chance if our shooters can knock down open jumpers commensurate with their ability.

Hopefully our kids go out there and have some fun tonight. Hook 'em.

February 14th, 2012

The Texas Longhorns (16-9, 6-6) return to the hardwood seeking to win their fourth straight, climb above .500 in conference play, and get one win closer to the 10-win mark that would make for easier breathing on Selection Sunday. And if your date objects, remember: there's nothing sexier than beating OU.