Texas Longhorns 71, Iowa State Cyclones 65: Post-Mortem & Celebration Thread

by jc25 on Mar 8, 2026 10:50 PM CST in Texas Longhorns and Other Basketball

VICTORY!!!

The Longhorns live to fight another day.

J'Covan Brown came up huge. Again. I love when dude plays like it's him against the world, then after getting fouled on an And-1, screams "M'Fer!!" really loud while flexing to no one in particular. He has struggled getting free in recent games with teams clamping down on him, but Mr. Brown still comes through when it counts. Game ball.
It was a really good team effort by the Longhorns. The big men--Clint Chapman, Jaylen Bond, and Jonathan Holmes--had an underrated game crashing the boards, exploiting mismatches, and checking Royce White. Julien Lewis was Mr. Glue Guy (I love how he skies high on rebounds in the lane), and Sheldon McClellan got hot when we needed instant offense.
Myck Kabongo and zero turnovers. My favorite stat of the night.
Rick Barnes was positively ecstatic in the post-game interview with Holly Rowe. He got in hugs pre-interview hugs from Kabongo and Brown, and may have cracked a half-smile. It was plainly obvious in the post-game celebration: every single Horn knew how important this win was.
That said, this win doesn't ensure that Texas gets an NCAA Tournament bid as the announcer was spouting off. But it sure does help.
No rest for the weary and tournament bubbled. Texas plays Missouri tomorrow in the late game. Hook 'em!

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Read More: Clint Chapman (F - Texas), Royce White (F - Iowa St.), J`Covan Brown (G - Texas), Julien Lewis (G - Texas), Sheldon McClellan (G - Texas), Jaylen Bond (F - Texas), Jonathan Holmes (F - Texas), Myck Kabongo (G - Texas), Texas Longhorns, Texas Longhorns, Texas Longhorns at Iowa St. Cyclones, Mar 8, 2026 8:30 PM CST

Comments

Awesome, gutty win.

Special props to JCB, Chapman, Kabongo. We’re in the tournament. It’s done.

by Scipio Tex on Mar 8, 2026 11:00 PM CST reply actions

Agreed...

Keeping it competitive tonight would tighten it up and possible help seed. I’m coming around on J’Covan. In fact, I may be there.

by hiphopopotamus on Mar 9, 2026 8:46 AM CST up reply actions

Good to hear.

You have to watch him play a bit to get him. And explaining his game to another person who hasn’t seen it much really is fruitless.

by Scipio Tex on Mar 9, 2026 12:52 PM CST up reply actions

J'Onions!!!

I hope we get Brown and Kabongo back next year, 2012-2013 could be really special.

Gangsta rap made me do it.

by TexasTopHand on Mar 8, 2026 11:03 PM CST reply actions

Yeah, we’re in. 50/50 had we lost.

by nordberg on Mar 8, 2026 11:08 PM CST reply actions

The win in isolation was enough.

The help we got was overkill. Northwestern and South Florida go down.

by Scipio Tex on Mar 8, 2026 11:11 PM CST up reply actions

I hope we get out of the First Four...

but I doubt that will happen…unless we can beat Mizzou

"We are who we are. People say what they say. The outcome is the outcome. We are proud of ourselves." -DeLoss Dodds 9/21/2011

by TowerPower on Mar 8, 2026 11:17 PM CST up reply actions

I think you are overly pessimistic here.

we are in. I can’t imagine we aren’t. We are the only bubble team to beat a tourney team this week so far, and not only that- we aren’t seeing bid stealing happening.

Great win for this texas team, and our upside at the beginning of the year, imo was getting into the tourney by the skin of our teeth- Mission Accomplished!

I think if we play Mizzou close we aren’t even in a play in game either- we are in the main field.

by Wulaw Horn on Mar 8, 2026 11:13 PM CST reply actions

I agree we're in

but I think we’ll have to beat Mizzou to get out of the first (last) four…that’s so confusing

"We are who we are. People say what they say. The outcome is the outcome. We are proud of ourselves." -DeLoss Dodds 9/21/2011

by TowerPower on Mar 8, 2026 11:18 PM CST up reply actions

something about counting chickens

but it sure seems that way.

http://aseaofblue.com | https://www.barkingcarnival.com | @JC_Hoops

by jc25 on Mar 9, 2026 9:11 AM CST up reply actions

Lunardi has us in the field proper

no more texas in the last 4 in. I think we would be in the main field if the season ended today. We don’t need to beat Mizzou- just play with them- to stay in that position imo.

We will see, but I’m no longer sweating Sunday.

by Wulaw Horn on Mar 8, 2026 11:26 PM CST reply actions

Joey Bids

Follow @BarkingCarnival

by Sailor Ripley on Mar 9, 2026 11:03 AM CST up reply actions

After tonight

Texas should be an underdog in any remaining games . . . unless the Horns meet a Cinderella in a second round NCAA game.

So no matter what, any win the Horns get from here on should be greatly savored.

by Cirque Du Salado on Mar 8, 2026 11:27 PM CST reply actions

Rick Barnes will be....

…..coaching in his 17th consecutive NCAA Tournament. Active HCs exceeding Rick’s string of consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournaments?

Mike Krzyzewdki at Duke and Roy Williams’ streak of 20 that ended in 2009-’10.

END OF LIST.

--- All roads to the Big-XII Championship lead through OU/RRS. It's not just another game! We're all about championships here. ---

by HornChamps on Mar 8, 2026 11:50 PM CST reply actions

I love when dude plays like it's him against the world, then screams "M'Fer!!" really loud while flexing to no one in particular.

This describes the typical BC reader composing a comment, and most of my working day.

by Parlin on Mar 9, 2026 6:07 AM CST reply actions 3 recs

I'm always embarassed when the spirit takes me and I forget to close my door prior

Nothing is worse than getting scornful looks from the plant guy.

by nobis60 on Mar 9, 2026 10:51 AM CST up reply actions

On many occasions Parlin

has strode from the whiteboard, a marker thrown to the ground in triumph before him, the cry of “I just deconstructed that motherfucker!” still ringing in the ears of his graduate students as they grasp their styli, heads dipped in fealty.

by Scipio Tex on Mar 9, 2026 12:57 PM CST up reply actions

White chalk on whiteboard

invisible to all eyes
students cry for hours

by Parlin on Mar 9, 2026 5:32 PM CST up reply actions

The Big 12 deserves 6 teams and will get it.

We are in, and it is important to be there with this group.

First of all, it is a reward for the work put in by the players and coaches.

Secondly, the majority of these players return next year, (hopefully 7 out of the top 8) and having the NCAA experience can be very helpful. A taste of March Madness — even a one and done — exposes you to the surroundings and what is needed to survive and advance in the tournament. That could be very important next season when again Texas will be a very young (but very talented) team that should make a deeper run.

Then there is the Big Picture — in terms of your program’s place in the game.

Here is the list of teams that currently have been to 14 NCAA Tournaments in a row
Duke
Kansas
Michigan State
Wisconsin
Gonzaga

and (apparently) Texas

That’s a neighborhood you want to live in.

by srr50 on Mar 9, 2026 7:33 AM CST reply actions

if we do make 14 in a row

I think we make it 16 to 17 in a row with the guys on roster now, and the ones coming in.

Lots of developing talent on this team.

by Texoz on Mar 9, 2026 10:41 AM CST up reply actions

I have a good feeling

about Brown returning. He may not help himself by staying, but I don’t think he’s a first rounder either way. He’s an old school scorer but has questionable defensive skills and isn’t the quickest cat around. I see him as a Royal Ivey career type, which will make him financialy secure, but unless he just wants to go ahead and get paid something to play, I think he returns.

by boorad on Mar 9, 2026 12:11 PM CST up reply actions

JCB keeps his own counsel.

He might value a degree more than most believe.

by Scipio Tex on Mar 9, 2026 12:58 PM CST up reply actions

Excellent point

Given the problems we had in getting him in, what I’ve been reading looks like he’s been seriously taking care of business in that area so its not a throwaway piece of the decision process.

All that stated, both he and Myck will probably declare early to at least guage what the scouts think. In Brown’s case, as a junior, that’s a no brainer.

by boorad on Mar 9, 2026 1:55 PM CST up reply actions

At halftime

I was somewhat confident Texas would win. They were down 3 or 5 or something but were shooting 22%. The wildcard was if they could continue to play defense and rebound. They did and the shooting came around. I think some of their shooting problems were nerves and then ISU being very physical. I think it made them uncomfortable shooting the ball. Once they quit giving up transition dunks it was all Longhorns.

by Monahorns on Mar 9, 2026 9:52 AM CST reply actions