FORT WORTH — Vic Schaefer is a competitor, worrier and taskmaster all rolled up into one.
Add philosopher to the list.
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1-TEXAS VS. 2-MICHIGAN
When/where: 6 p.m. Monday in Fort Worth.
TV/radio: ESPN; 1300 AM.
His Texas Longhorns followed Saturday’s first-half knockout of Kentucky with a so-so second half at Dickies Arena that would normally draw the ire of one of the biggest perfectionists in the sport. But that wasn’t the case after the Horns cruised to a 76-54 win and advanced to their fifth Elite Eight in Schaefer’s six seasons.
The No. 1-seeded Longhorns put in somewhat of a clunker in two of Schaefer’s pet peeve categories by missing 10 of 15 free throws and committing 16 turnovers, but all is fine in the 512 because the Horns are right on schedule.
A diferent Schaefer in postgame
During his stay in Austin, we the media have become accustomed to Schaefer spending the first 30 seconds of postgame interviews scrolling down the stat sheet and circling areas of concern. And he was sure to audibly groan if the Horns were overly deficient in a key area.
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Not so Saturday, not even Texas suffered through a 1-for-5 free throw drought that was finally broken when senior fan favorite sank a couple after the Wildcats were whistled for a flagrant foul. That and the nine second-half turnovers would usually push Schaefer to red-line levels of frustration, but this was a calmer, gentler coach in postgame.
MORE CED: Texas basketball has bright future under Sean Miller
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“I’m not going to get too worked up about the second half,” Schaefer said. “It’s really hard. We’ve had this issue all year long. We’ve had some big leads at the half and can’t seem to play 0-0 on the clock and on the scoreboard. And that’s young people.”
That response begged a follow-up question: Who are you, sir? And what have you done with Vic Schaefer?
Texas Longhorns guard Rori Harmon (3) celebrates a score during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Sweet 16 game against Kentucky at Dickies Arena on Saturday, March 28, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
“I’m just trying to enjoy my group,” he said. “This team has worked hard to put us in a position where we’re at right now. You’ve heard me talk about coaching against ghosts. I’m a big-time worrier, but sometimes I have to sit back and give them credit. They have answered the bell. They have really responded and they’re playing really good together.”
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In all seriousness, Schaefer is proof that one is never too old to learn. How many us noticed how strict our parents were during our childhoods only to soften up as grandparents? Vic doesn’t have any grandkids yet, but something in him realizes he has a special group that doesn’t come along every year. They bust their butts for him on defense, put in the work at practice and play as if their lives depended on it.
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Shoot, basketball is their life, just like it’s his. He has taught them well and this amazing season is the fruit of their collective labor.
Sure, he went off the handle after the 86-70 loss at Vanderbilt Feb. 12 by questioning his team’s heart and suggesting it was possibly the softest group he has ever coached.
Texas Longhorns forward Madison Booker (35) pushes towards the basket during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Sweet 16 game against Kentucky at Dickies Arena on Saturday, March 28, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
The comments were over the top on a night that was more about Vandy’s Mikayla Blakes — the eventual national scoring champion — being in the midst of a scoring binge. The 34 points she scored against Texas were part of a seven-game stretch where she topped 30 six times.
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Texas (34-3) has won 11 straight since that night in Music City and hit all the right notes in Saturday’s first half with a 48-26 blitz which quickly settled the issue even though the Wildcats played more competitively over the final 20 minutes. Monday’s Elite Eight opponent, Michigan, will provide a push, but the Horns have enough weaponry down the roster to survive one or two players struggling and still manage to book a trip to Phoenix for a second consecutive Final Four.
Sweet-shooting Madison Booker can get to her spot against any defender in the country. Point guard Rori Harmon, who shrugged off any concerns about the free-throw shooting or a banged up finger, is hungry to end her college experience with a national championship. And sophomore guard Jordan Lee is playing like fifth-year senior eyeing the WNBA draft.
There will come a time when the Horns will need to put together two good halves to get where they need to go, but that time wasn’t Saturday in Cowtown.
“We definitely put a premium on starting fast, getting out, and punching first in the first five minutes,” Lee said. “I’m definitely proud of us for that start. It’s March and you want to be hot at this time of the year but like (Schaefer) mentioned going forward, the level of competition and the preparation is only going to get higher and it’s only going to get better.”
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So close to Phoenix
The Horns are one win from college basketball utopia and right now, there aren’t too many teams that can bang with them with the table stakes increasing by the round.
Even if he spent most of the second half red-faced and frustrated with this team’s play on both ends, Schaefer wouldn’t trade this group for any on the planet, not even the top overall seed UConn Huskies. Texas is two wins away from playing in a national championship game for the first time in 40 years. Schaefer coached in consecutive title games in 2017 and 2018 and has been stalking a spot on the sport’s biggest stage in the years since.
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Texas is good enough to win the whole damn thing and sometime along the way, Schaefer realized it’s OK to enjoy this incredible ride.