Texas men's basketball preview: Breaking down the Longhorns' 2023-24 schedule
The Texas men’s basketball team will compete in the Big 12 for one final run before joining the SEC next season. Here's a breakdown of the 2023-24 schedule, including the highlight matchups:
Monday's opener: Incarnate Word
The Cardinals shouldn’t offer much of a test for Texas, but it will provide the first clue on how coach Rodney Terry will utilize a rotation that will be without injured forward Dylan Disu for at least the near future. How much will 6-foot-11 Virginia transfer Kadin Shedrick play after being medically cleared just last week following offseason shoulder surgery? What role will Dillon Mitchell play, especially on offense? And how long will bench energizer Brock Cunningham start in place of Disu, if at all?
Nov. 10: vs. Delaware State, 7 p.m.
Nov. 15: vs. Rice, 8 p.m.
Nov. 19: vs. Louisville, 3:30 p.m., Madison Square Garden, New York
Bring on the Huskies? UConn or Indiana, Nov. 20
Texas' nonconference schedule, especially at home, won’t move the needle much when it comes to RPI rankings and other trinkets the NCAA selection committee searches for in March. But the Empire State Classic at Madison Square Garden certainly draws some attention, especially with possible games against defending champion Connecticut, traditional power Louisville and another blueblood in Indiana, which won 23 games last season and picked up a handful of votes in the AP preseason poll.
More: Texas men's basketball team pulls away from scrappy St. Edward's for exhibition win
Nov. 26: vs. Wyoming, 2 p.m.
Nov. 30: vs. Texas State, 8 p.m.
Hello, Shaka on Dec. 6: Smart's got a top-five team in Marquette
Marquette coach Shaka Smart made plenty of friends during his six-year stint as the Longhorns’ head coach from 2015-21. He just didn’t have any NCAA Tournament wins, which led to his ouster. He landed on his feet at Marquette and has rejuvenated a proud Warriors program that starts the season with a lofty No. 5 ranking.
More: Texas men's basketball notes: Ze'Rik Onyema impresses, Rodney Terry gives injury updates
Dec. 9: vs. Houston Christian, 2 p.m.
A SEC barometer: LSU, Dec. 16 (Houston)
This era of LSU hoops doesn’t have a Pete Maravich or a Shaquille O’Neal. Heck, they don’t have an Angel Reese, who helped the LSU women win the national championship a year ago. But the Tigers do have a solid program seeking a third consecutive NCAA Tournament berth that will serve as a good conference barometer for a Texas team that will soon join the SEC.
Dec. 22: vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 2 p.m.
Dec. 29: vs. UNC-Greensboro, 7 p.m.
More: Dillon Mitchell shows off expanded game during Texas men's basketball scrimmage
Jan. 1: vs. UT-Arlington, TBA
Big 12 play begins at home vs. Texas Tech, Jan. 6
Texas’ final Big 12 slate begins with a suitable foe, considering the downright hatred for all things burnt orange that often seethes up from the South Plains. That bitterness didn’t ease with last season’s firing of former Texas coach Chris Beard, who left Lubbock for Austin after leading the Red Raiders to the 2019 title game.
Jan. 9: at Cincinnati, 6 p.m.
Jan. 13: at West Virginia, 5 p.m.
Jan. 17: vs. UCF, 7 p.m.
Jan. 20: vs. Baylor, TBA
Jan. 23: at Oklahoma, 6 p.m.
Jan. 27: at BYU, 1 p.m.
More: From treys to trophies, Texas' Max Abmas ready for lone year with Longhorns
A pride game: Hungry Houston comes to town, Jan. 29
The Cougars, now in the Big 12, are hungry for statewide respect after being jilted at the Big 12 altar during the conference’s formation in 1996. They also will show up at Moody Center with one of the nation’s best point guards in Jamal Shead, a former star at Connally and Manor High School who will test the Texas backcourt.
Feb. 3: at TCU, 1 p.m.
Feb. 6: vs. Iowa State, 7 p.m.
Feb. 10: vs. West Virginia, 2 p.m.
Feb. 17: at Houston, noon
Feb. 19: vs. Kansas State, 8 p.m.
Saying goodbye to Allen Fieldhouse: at Kansas, Feb. 24
Will this be the last trip Texas ever makes to the iconic Allen Fieldhouse? And can the Longhorns knock off the preseason Big 12 favorite and the nation’s No. 1 preseason team? If so, that must mean Texas has the qualities of a true contender, which means this game could carry heavy NCAA seeding ramifications.
Feb. 27: at Texas Tech, 8 p.m.
March 2: vs. Oklahoma State, 1 p.m.
New arena, same rivalry: at Baylor, March 4
Baylor's sparkling new Foster Pavilion along the banks of the Brazos River should be sufficiently broken in by this point late in the season, but Texas may have to break through for a rare road win in Waco in order to keep its hopes of a Big 12 regular-season championship alive.
March 9: vs. Oklahoma, 1 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas men's basketball preview: Breaking down the Longhorns' schedule
