Texas Longhorns men's basketball
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| Texas Longhorns men's basketball | |
|---|---|
| Name | Texas Longhorns men's basketball |
| University | University of Texas at Austin |
| Conference | Big 12 Conference |
| Location | Austin, Texas |
| Arena | Erwin Center |
| Capacity | 16,540 |
| Nickname | Texas Longhorns |
| Studentsection | Hook 'em |
| Ncaa final four | 1943, 1947, 2003 |
| Ncaa tourneys | 1943, 1947, 1951, 1953, 1959, 1960, 1963, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1980, 1982, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 |
Texas Longhorns men's basketball is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Texas at Austin in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The program competes in the Big 12 Conference and has featured numerous notable coaches, players, and postseason appearances since its founding in the early 20th century. The team has cultivated rivalries with regional and national programs and plays home games in Austin, Texas facilities that have hosted conference tournaments and NCAA events.
History
The program traces origins to the early 1900s at the University of Texas at Austin and rose to prominence under coaches like Evan "Eddie" J. Hicks? and later figures such as Tom Penders, Rick Barnes, and Shaka Smart. Early achievements include appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 1943 and 1947, with a Final Four berth in 1943 that overlapped with wartime rosters influenced by World War II military service. The 1970s and 1980s featured conference competition in the Southwest Conference against schools such as Texas A&M University, Baylor University, and Southern Methodist University. The transition to the Big 12 Conference in 1996 intensified matchups with programs including University of Kansas, University of Oklahoma, and Iowa State University. The 2000s under Rick Barnes produced a national runner-up appearance and deep tournament runs, while later eras under Shaka Smart and Chris Beard featured modern recruiting battles with programs like Duke University, University of Kentucky, and University of North Carolina.
Home arenas and facilities
Home court history includes early campus gymnasia and municipal venues before the construction of the Erwin Center in Austin, Texas. The program has trained and competed in facilities linked to the University of Texas at Austin athletic complex, sharing resources with programs such as Texas Longhorns women's basketball and Texas Longhorns football. Upgrades over decades included strength and conditioning centers comparable to those at Allen Fieldhouse and Cameron Indoor Stadium-era renovations. Practice facilities and recruiting spaces have hosted camps attended by prospects from McDonald’s All-American Game, Nike EYBL, and Adidas Gauntlet circuits.
Coaches and coaching staff
Notable head coaches include early-era leaders, transformative figures such as Tom Penders, who reoriented offensive philosophy, long-tenured leaders like Rick Barnes, and high-profile hires including Shaka Smart and Chris Beard. The coaching staff historically included assistants who later advanced to head jobs at programs such as University of Arkansas, Texas Tech University, University of Oklahoma, and University of Cincinnati. The coaching tree links to personalities associated with NCAA Basketball Coaches Association events and coaching clinics alongside figures from ACC and SEC staffs. Athletic directors from the University of Texas at Austin have overseen hires amid competition from conferences including the Pac-12 Conference and Big Ten Conference.
Season-by-season results
Season records reflect participation in the Southwest Conference and later the Big 12 Conference, with both conference regular-season titles and postseason bids. Seasons in the 2000s under Rick Barnes included consecutive NCAA appearances and high national rankings in the Associated Press Poll and Coaches Poll. Recent seasons featured fluctuations with NCAA berths, National Invitation Tournament bids, and matchups against ranked opponents like Kansas Jayhawks and Baylor Bears. Year-by-year results have been shaped by nonconference schedules including games at events such as the Maui Invitational Tournament and the NIT Season Tip-Off.
Players and records
The program produced NBA draft selections such as Kevin Durant, Duncanville?, T. J. Ford, LaMarcus Aldridge? and other professional players who competed in the National Basketball Association and international leagues. School records cover career scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals, with individual award winners appearing on lists for accolades like Naismith College Player of the Year, Wooden Award, and Big 12 Player of the Year. Alumni have represented United States men's national basketball team camps and Olympic qualifying rosters, while others transferred to and from programs including Kentucky Wildcats, Duke Blue Devils, and North Carolina Tar Heels.
Rivalries and traditions
Traditional rivalries include in-state and regional opponents such as Texas A&M Aggies, Baylor Bears, Texas Tech Red Raiders, and Houston Cougars. Conference rivalries intensified with Kansas Jayhawks and Oklahoma Sooners during Big 12 play. Game-day traditions feature Hook 'em Horns gestures, colors tied to University of Texas at Austin branding, and rivalry trophies and events modeled after broader college traditions like those at Iron Bowl and Red River Showdown matchups.
NCAA tournament and postseason history
Postseason history includes multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, Final Four trips, and NCAA regional finishes. The Longhorns have also participated in the National Invitation Tournament and hosted NCAA regional sites in Austin, Texas. Tournament seedings and upsets have connected the program to marquee matchups against Gonzaga Bulldogs, UCLA Bruins, and Michigan State Spartans in various brackets. Individual tournament performances have led to All-Tournament honors and selections to postseason all-star events such as the McDonald's All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic.