Texas women’s basketball coach Vic Schaefer insists that he isn’t tired of reaching the Elite Eight.
“Am I sick of the Elite Eight? No, I’m not sick of the Elite Eight. It’s hard to get there,” Schaefer said this week.
Still, the Longhorns would like to reach the Final Four for the first time since 2003. And for a Texas team that has ended three of its past four seasons in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA tournament, that mission begins on Sunday. For its season opener, Texas is set to host Southeast Missouri State (2 p.m., SEC Network+, 103.1 FM).
Texas was ranked No. 4 in both the USA Today Sports Coaches and Associated Press preseason polls. Southeast Missouri State is coming off a 9-20 season. Here’s what you need to know about this weekend’s matchup:
What channel is Texas vs SEMO on Sunday?
TV channel: SEC Network+
Livestream: Fubo (free trial), ESPN+
Time: 2 p.m.
Eyes on plenty of Longhorns
Every member of UT’s projected starting lineup was placed on a preseason watch list for a major award. Senior point guard Rori Harmon is expected to contend for the Nancy Lieberman Award, given to a player who demonstrates superior leadership play-making and ball-handling; and Madison Booker was an unsurprising addition to the Cheryl Miller Award’s watch list since she won that honor for the nation’s top small forward last season.
Various committees are also keeping a lookout for guard Laila Phelia (Ann Meyers Drysdale Award for the nation’s top shooting guard) and forwards Aaliyah Moore (Katrina McClain Award for the nation’s top power forward) and Taylor Jones (Lisa Leslie Award for the nation’s top center).
Welcome back, Rori
After missing the final 26 games of the 2023-24 season, Harmon will make her official return to the basketball court Sunday. When Sunday’s game tips off, 319 days will have passed since Harmon tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee.
Before her injury last season, Harmon was averaging 14.1 points and 7.8 assists per game. She enters this season with 501 career assists, which ranks fifth in the Texas record books.
Freshman gives SEMO its best shot at upset
Under the direction of new coach Briley Palmer, SEMO was beaten 75-70 at Dayton during its season opener this past Tuesday. The Redhawks, picked to finish last in the Ohio Valley Conference’s preseason poll, were led by freshman guard Zoe Best’s 25 points, seven rebounds and four steals.
Texas vs. SEMO prediction
Texas. Under Schaefer, Texas is 4-0 in its season openers. The Longhorns have won those games by an average of 50.5 points. The Longhorns might not replicate the 131-36 blowout against New Orleans that opened its 2021-22 season, but Sunday’s matinee at Moody Center won’t be close either.
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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas basketball vs SEMO: Rori Harmon returns for season opener
