GREENVILLE, S.C. – On Friday night, Texas women’s basketball coach Vic Schaefer said his team deserved a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Alabama’s Kristy Curry seconded that motion.
But will the NCAA Tournament’s selection committee agree with Schaefer and Curry? After Friday night’s results at the SEC Tournament, it might not have a choice.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer greets center Kyla Oldacre (00) after she was fouled during the game against Mississippi State at the Moody Center on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
In the quarterfinal round of the SEC Tournament, Vanderbilt fell behind by as many as 32 points in an 89-78 loss to Ole Miss. That 11-point loss by the Commodores at Bon Secours Wellness Arena preceded an 83-60 win over Alabama by Texas, which rested its starters for much of the second half as it advanced into a semifinal showdown with Ole Miss.
“They’re a one seed for a reason,” Curry opined of the Longhorns.
More: Texas again takes care of Alabama to advance to SEC semifinals
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Now about that No. 1 seed. Last Sunday, the NCAA Tournament’s selection committee revealed its newest projections for its top-16 seeds. Texas was listed fourth. Vanderbilt came in fifth.
For Vanderbilt to even have a chance at leapfrogging the Longhorns for the fourth and final No. 1 seed, the Commodores needed to have a better showing in Greenville than UT. That won’t happen. So, is the case closed? Schaefer seemed to think so.
Truth be told, Schaefer thought that Texas had wrapped up a No. 1 seed before even arriving at the SEC Tournament. During the regular season, Texas recorded a nation-leading 12 wins over teams that were ranked by that Associated Press. The Longhorns also beat UCLA and South Carolina, two teams currently projected by the NCAA Tournament’s selection seed as being worthy of No. 1 seeds, at an early-season tournament in Las Vegas. The only notable blemish on UT’s résumé is a lopsided loss to Vanderbilt last month so another loss to the Commodores in Greenville would have at least given the committee something to think about.
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“I’ve been thinking to myself, how could we be even considered not in the top four in the country, knowing who we’ve played and who we’ve beaten? I mean, I don’t understand that line of thinking,” Schaefer said after beating Alabama. “Everything we’re told is strength of schedule and playing people and all that. We went and played a schedule. We played the best schedule in the country when it comes to top 25s, and we won.
“I don’t know what else we could possibly do. But at the end of the day, all I can control is the next game, and that’s Mississippi tomorrow. So we’ll get ready for them.”
Louisiana State Tigers forward Grace Knox (2) brings the rebound down in the fourth quarter of the Texas Longhorns’ game against the LSU Tigers at the Moody Center in Austin, Feb. 5, 2026. Texas won the game 77-64.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
ESPN analyst doesn’t believe the race for the final No. 1 seed is over
Even though Vanderbilt was sent home from Greenville, Texas may not be able to rest easy just yet. After the dust had settled on Friday, ESPN analyst Charlie Creme wrote that “LSU still has a chance to sneak into the final No. 1 slot if it wins the SEC tournament. But first, the Tigers must beat South Carolina on Saturday. Win or lose, the Gamecocks are safe as the third No. 1 seed, so it’s LSU or Texas for the fourth 1-seed. Unless, of course, Ole Miss keeps pulling surprises and wins the SEC tournament, which could open the door for Iowa or Michigan to reach the top line if either can win the Big Ten tournament.”
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More: SEC Tournament scores, schedule for South Carolina, Texas, LSU and more
Three teams projected by the NCAA Tournament to be No. 2 seeds are still alive in their conference tournaments. LSU will play South Carolina in the other SEC semifinal while Michigan and Iowa are set to face off in the Big Ten semifinals. How do Iowa, LSU and Michigan’s résumés compare to UT’s?
Texas Longhorns (committee ranking: 4)
Record: 29-3
NET ranking: 4
Top-25 wins in regular season: 12
Top-25 wins in nonconference play: 5
Conference standings: T-2nd (SEC)
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Iowa Hawkeyes (6)
Record: 25-5
NET ranking: 8
Top-25 wins in regular season: 7
Top-25 wins in nonconference play: 1
Conference standings: T-2nd (Big Ten)
LSU Tigers (7)
Record: 27-4
NET ranking: 5
Top-25 wins in regular season: 4
Top-25 wins in nonconference play: 0
Conference standings: 4th (SEC)
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Michigan Wolverines (8)
Record: 25-5
NET ranking: 6
Top-25 wins in regular season: 6
Top-25 wins in nonconference play: 1
Conference standings: T-2nd (Big Ten)
Texas is looking to secure a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season. Before 2024, UT had been a No. 1 seed on just five occasions.
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