Singing happy birthday, No. 13 seed Texas men’s basketball stopped for a moment to celebrate graduate guard Julian Larry the day before its matchup against No. 12 seed Vanderbilt in the Southeastern Conference Tournament.
After the moment ended, the team went to work on the court at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
“We’ll do what we can to make sure (Larry) enjoys his birthday, but right now, we’re in business mode,” graduate forward Kadin Shedrick said. “I’m sure the thing he wants most for his birthday is a win tomorrow.”
The win would not only serve as a birthday present for Larry, but would also likely extend the Longhorns’ season. Currently 17–14 and 6–12 in the SEC, Texas is not likely to secure a bid to March Madness if it does not perform well in the SEC tournament.
With the whole season culminating in a single game, the pressure is on for the Longhorns to overcome the adversity they have faced this year and extend their season to the rest of March.
“This time of year is the best time as a college basketball player … it’s like Christmas,” head coach Rodney Terry said. “It’s why you do what you do. You play college basketball to play this time of year, and you never forget it. If you’re a college player and you’re not excited about playing in March, you shouldn’t be playing college basketball.”
And all the Longhorns want for Christmas is a win against the Commodores wrapped under the tree.
Earlier in the season, Texas fell to Vanderbilt 86-78 in Nashville. With skilled guards such as graduate AJ Hoggard and junior Jason Edwards, who combined for 29 points in the second half in the first matchup, the Longhorns have their work cut out for them.
“(I) thought we did a good job last game in the first half, but, in the second half, (Hoggard) kind of got going a little bit, and he’s a difference maker for them,” Shedrick said. “So we gotta play with that same physicality that he plays with.”
Now back in Nashville, the Longhorns will likely be facing a similar crowd, with the same mentality as any other game.
“At the end of the day, it’s a different building for them. It’s a different building for us. Whoever makes the most shots tomorrow is gonna win,” Shedrick said. “We both have the same opportunity right in front of us. The game will have some more energy than maybe some of the other games by it. So I think it’ll actually be better that they’re closer to home.”
But before the game — and the potential end of the Longhorns’ season — the team started together at practice.
As open practice kicked off, the players linked arms and jogged across the court. The coaches and supporting staff did the same, standing on the sidelines.
“We do that every day before practice,” graduate guard Tramon Mark said. “No matter what happens, no matter what goes down, we’re always together.”
Texas will face Vanderbilt together as a team, win or lose, on March 12 at 2:30 p.m.
