The Texas Longhorns wrap up the regular season at home against Oklahoma on Saturday.
Despite the fact the Longhorns look poised to secure an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, a victory over the Sooners could bolster their case for a higher and better seed in the upcoming Big 12 tournament in Kansas City.
Just a few days ago the Longhorns performed strongly for most of Monday night's game at Baylor's Foster Pavilion, but a late surge by Baylor, coupled with an injury to star forward Dylan Disu, led to a 93-85 win for Baylor.
On Friday, head coach Rodney Terry shared with the media that Disu has been struggling with a stomach issue which is the main reason he came out of the game on Monday.
The Horns have been optimistic about his status for Saturday's game.
"We've been cautiously optimistic about the progress that Disu has made over the last couple of days," Terry said. "(Disu) is in a much better place with the stomach virus."
In the previous matchup between the two teams, Disu played one of his best games of the season against Oklahoma on January 23, recording a double-double. He finished with 19 points on 6-10 shooting while also snagging 10 rebounds.
Brock Cunningham has also been battling injury but Terry emphasized his significant progress.
Saturday's game will also honor seniors. Coach Terry praised Cunningham in particular, who will be suiting up for his 144th game with the Horns.
"I think the thing I miss most about working with Cunningham is that we'll miss the competitive spirit that he brings every day," Terry said.
Max Abmas will also be recognized at senior night and Terry highlighted his growth and development throughout the season, particularly in becoming a two-way player. He also acknowledged Abmas' experience in NCAA tournament basketball, highlighting the leadership he brings to the table in the postseason.
"Overall, these seniors have been invaluable leaders on and off the court," Terry said. "They bring experience, intelligence, and a competitive spirit that will be missed next season. Their contributions have been immense, and we're grateful for everything they've done for the team."
As they honor their senior players against Oklahoma, the Longhorns look to harness their collective experience and determination to secure a victory and further solidify their position in the NCAA Tournament.
With a blend of seasoned leadership and emerging talent, Texas aims to make a strong statement in the postseason, fueled by the basketball IQ praised by Coach Terry.
"March mentality basketball IQ mentality," Terry said. "those guys are all cerebral players and they've all put it in the books that are very high level."
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