Texas Longhorns Drop in AP Top 25 Poll After 2-0 Start

Texas Longhorns men's basketball has started 2-0 in non-conference play.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas Longhorns men's basketball has fallen one spot to No. 19 in the Week 2 AP Poll after a 2-0 start to begin the season. Texas was previously ranked No. 18 during blowout wins over Incarnate Word and Delaware State in the opening week of the campaign.

Elsewhere in the Big 12, the No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks maintained their top spot in the rankings. The Houston Cougars moved up one spot to No. 6 while the Baylor Bears jumped Texas and rose five spots to No. 15.

Through two games, guard Ithiel Horton leads the team in scoring (17.5) and steals (2.5) while Dillon Mitchell leads Texas with 8.5 rebounds per game.

Dillon Mitchell / © Aaron E. Martinez, Austin American-Statesman

Mitchell was a major reason the Longhorns were able to put together a 27-2 run to close out Delaware State in Friday's 86-59 win. He finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

"I just think our energy, having a different type of energy, having a different type of mindset coming out," said Mitchell on how the game changed in the second half. "We knew this team was going to come in and try to wreck our season."

Texas hosts the Rice Owls on Friday before the team hits the road for the first time this season, as coach Rodney Terry's squad will head to New York City to take on the Louisville Cardinals in the Empire Classic on Sunday. The Longhorns will then face the winner/loser of Indiana vs. UConn depending on if they handle business against a Louisville team that's struggled in the early going this season.