Nov 8, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Sean Miller enters the court before the game against the Lafayette Leopards at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images

Sean Miller Not Surprised That Texas Earned NCAA Tournament Bid

Originally posted on Texas Longhorns on SI
By Carson Wersal | Last updated Mar 16, 2026 11:30 AM ET

Despite a rough end to the regular season, the Texas Longhorns will see more postseason action in the NCAA Tournament. It was a tense bubble watch for Longhorn Nation, but Sunday's bracket reveal has Texas in March Madness as a No. 11-seed.

The Longhorns are set to face off against the N.C. State Wolfpack, a team that Texas beat early in the 2025-26 season. While many were surprised to see the Longhorns make the final bracket, Longhorns' head coach Sean Miller made it clear he always believed Texas would make it.

"I wouldn't say I'm surprised at all that we got in," Miller said. "There's a lot of smart people that picked the field. There's no favors here."

Miller's comments on Texas making the NCAA Tournament reflect a mentality that aligns with his coaching style. While the Longhorns had a rollercoaster of a regular season, Miller likely believes that his program can make some serious noise in March.

What Put the Longhorns Ahead of Other Bubble Teams

Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

As previously mentioned, Texas had its fair share of ups and downs during the regular season. While that inconsistency may have hurt programs in the past, the Longhorns seemed to have passed the eye test to the committee.

LAST FOUR IN. FIRST FOUR OUT.

Who got snubbed? pic.twitter.com/Ev1Py6uXN2
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 15, 2026

It's worth noting that the Longhorns earned an NCAA Tournament bid over programs like Oklahoma, San Diego State, Auburn, and Indiana. Both the Tigers and Hoosiers earned net rankings higher than Texas, but couldn't quite make the cut.

While Texas didn't boast the highest net ranking among teams on the bubble, the Longhorns held the advantage in an area that the committee greatly values. Texas' collection of quality wins, most of which came against Quad 1 opponents in the SEC, likely pushed them into the Field of 68.

Texas' Regular Season Record by Quadrant

Quadrant	Record
Quad 1	6-9
Quad 2	1-4
Quad 3	3-1
Quad 4	7-0

That quadrant profile helps explain why the Longhorns weren't left out of the NCAA Tournament, and why Miller wasn't surprised when their name was called during the bracket reveal. While they may not have the greatest momentum heading into the heart of March, Texas stacked enough high-end wins to offset its inconsistent nature.

Now the question becomes whether or not Texas can turn that résumé strength into actual postseason success. If the same Longhorns team that beat Alabama, Vanderbilt, and N.C. State can show up, Texas has a real chance to play beyond the First Four round.

Miller's "there's no favors here" comment sets the tone for how Texas should approach the postseason. He believes the Longhorns earned their spot. To him, Texas isn't lucky to be here; they belong here, and now it's time for them to play like it.

This article first appeared on Texas Longhorns on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: