Longhorns Blow Lead, Lose Third Straight

The losing streak continues, and the bubble watch begins. #17 Texas (15-7, 4-4) falls, 58-55, to unranked Nebraska in Lincoln. I never thought this team would be just .500 in conference play at the halfway point but that is exactly where we sit.

Forget the top-20 ranking and forget the early season wins over Villanova and UCLA. This team is really struggling right now with almost no signs of things changing. The Big XII is pretty good this year but is at least behind the Big East and the ACC in terms of national respect. Even the Big 10 is getting more love recently. I don't see the Big XII getting six teams this season, more likely four or five. In order to be in the top four or five, Texas probably needs to get to 9-7 in conference to be assured of an NCAA bid but five more conference wins is going to be really tough.

After a pretty good first half, Texas extended their seven point halftime lead to 34-22 with about 17 minutes left in the game and looked to be in control. It was not to last.

The turnovers that plagued the Longhorns to start the game returned, Dexter Pittman picked up a couple of fouls and was relegated to the bench, and the Huskers started to make shots and get to the line.

Give credit to Nebraska. They never gave up, took every Texas shot, and sank three huge three-pointers down the stretch.

Issues: rebounding in the second half, failing to attack the rim against smaller defenders, protecting the ball in the first half and in spots in the second, failure to control the tempo and generate offense from good defense, settling for perimeter jumpers, offensive execution in the final possession, etc.

I’m too frustrated/disappointed to write anything else.