The Texas Longhorns faced a tough game against Auburn and lost 88-82, even though they started strong. This matchup exposed some old problems that keep popping up: turnovers, fouls, and a few key players just not showing up when it mattered.
They’ll have to figure this out fast before their rivalry game against Oklahoma. If they don’t, it’s hard to see things changing much for the rest of the season.
Turnovers: A Persistent Problem
Turnovers have haunted the Longhorns all season. Against Auburn, Texas gave up the ball 11 times, which is pretty much what they’ve been averaging—11.3 per game.
The real problem was when those turnovers happened. Nine of them came in the first half, and Auburn turned those mistakes into 14 points. That stopped Texas from building a big lead, even though they were up by as many as 14 at one point.
Impact on the Game
The turnovers weren’t just numbers on a stat sheet—they changed the whole vibe of the game. Some were just sloppy, unforced mistakes, which made it even more frustrating for everyone watching. Auburn used those chances to shrink the gap before halftime, setting themselves up for a comeback in the second half.
Fouls: A Season-Long Issue
Fouls have been another headache for Texas. In this Auburn game, they racked up 26 fouls—second most this season for them.
That let Auburn shoot 39 free throws and make 29 of them, which played a big part in the outcome.
Defensive Discipline
Coach Sean Miller’s been begging his guys to stop fouling so much all year. Playing defense without fouling is huge, especially against Auburn, who are absolute pros at getting to the line.
But Texas just couldn’t manage it this time. They had 26 fouls, a big jump from the 19 they had in their last win over Georgia.
Key Player Performance: Tramon Mark
Tramon Mark, a sixth-year wing, has usually been reliable for Texas. But against Auburn, he struggled badly.
He only scored four points, shooting 2-for-13 and missing all six of his three-point attempts. On top of that, he picked up four fouls in just 22 minutes.
Offensive Struggles
That’s a tough pill to swallow because Mark’s been one of their steadiest scorers. He’d hit double digits in 10 straight games, with four 20-point performances in there.
His cold night really hurt, even though four other Longhorns—Dailyn Swain, Jordan Pope, Camden Heide, and Matas Vokietaitis—managed to score in double figures.
Looking Ahead: The Oklahoma Rivalry
Now Texas has to regroup for their rivalry game against Oklahoma on January 31. That one’s set for 1 p.m. on ESPN2, and it’s a big chance to get back on track after this rough loss to Auburn.
Key Areas for Improvement
- Turnovers: Texas has to protect the ball better. Giving away easy points just kills momentum.
- Fouls: Cutting down on fouls is non-negotiable, especially against teams that know how to get to the line.
- Player Performance: Guys like Tramon Mark need to find their rhythm again if Texas wants a shot at winning.
If you want more details on the Longhorns and Coach Sean Miller’s thoughts, check out the full article on 247Sports.
Conclusion
The Texas Longhorns have shown flashes of brilliance this season. Still, turnovers, fouls, and inconsistent play have kept tripping them up.
The Auburn game really put all those struggles on display. The Longhorns let a big lead slip away thanks to unforced errors and some pretty shaky defense.
Now, with the rivalry game against Oklahoma coming up, they need to fix these issues—or at least make some progress. The talent’s there, no doubt, but it’s going to take a real team effort to get things back on track.
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