Texas basketball (15-10, 4-8 SEC) suffered a brutal 103-80 defeat to the powerhouse No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide (21-3, 10-1 SEC) on February 11, and the writing was on the wall after a shaky start. Despite an early 7-2 lead, the Longhorns quickly fell behind after Alabama’s dominant run, sealing Texas’s third straight loss. Here are three explosive takeaways from this disappointing blowout:
1. Injury Crisis Hits Texas Hard
The Longhorns were severely impacted by missing key players in this matchup. Junior guard Chendall Weaver and sophomore forward Devon Pryor were sidelined with lower-body injuries, and senior forward Arthur Kaluma suffered an injury in the first half, forcing him to miss the rest of the game. Kaluma’s absence was especially felt on the glass and defense, where he has been the team’s rock. Without these players, Texas couldn’t match Alabama’s intensity, leaving them scrambling defensively.
2. Texas Crushed on Offense: Inability to Keep Up
Texas was utterly outclassed offensively, struggling to even stay in the game. Despite scoring 80 points, they were completely overshadowed by Alabama’s high-octane offense, which shot a scorching 60% from the field and 59% from beyond the arc. The Longhorns were just outgunned, particularly from deep, where Alabama drained an astounding 17 of 29 threes. Texas’s own shooting efficiency—under 25% from the field and 20% from three—was disastrous, making it impossible to catch up after the Tide’s unstoppable surge.
3. Kent & Johnson Shine Amid the Chaos
Amid the offensive chaos, there were a couple of bright spots. Freshman guard Tre Johnson and senior forward Jayson Kent delivered strong performances, combining for over half of Texas’s 80 points. Kent had his best game of the season, scoring a season-high 19 points, while Johnson continued his impressive form with over 20 points, marking his ninth game with 20+ points this season. Both players shot above 50% from the field and from three, showing promise despite the team’s struggles.
Texas’s backslide continues, and with Selection Sunday inching closer, the Longhorns have a tough road ahead. The absences, the shooting woes, and the lack of defensive depth make it clear: there’s work to do if they hope to bounce back.
