Texas Longhorns Ranked in First AP Top 25 of 2023-24 Season
AUSTIN, Texas -- Coming off a memorable season that saw them make it to the Elite Eight and win a Big 12 Tournament title, the Texas Longhorns are set for continued success this season in the first full year under coach Rodney Terry.
As a result of the expectations, the Longhorns find themselves as the No. 18 team in the country after Monday's reveal of the first AP Poll of the 2023-24 season. Texas will now head into the season opener at home against Incarnate Word on Monday, Nov. 6 as a ranked team to watch.
Unsurprisingly, the Big 12 was in abundance on the first installment of the Top 25. The Kansas Jayhawks will enter the season as the No. 1 team in the nation, followed by No. 7 Houston and No. 20 Baylor. The Big 12 boasts the second-most schools in the current rankings with four while the SEC leads the way with five teams.
Texas Longhorns forward Dylan Disu (1) and guard Tyrese Hunter (4) high five after a basket against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the first half at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
© Alonzo Adams, USA TODAY
Texas is set to play six total matchups against teams currently ranked in the Top 25. The Longhorns will play Houston and Baylor twice in conference play while having just one meeting with Kansas.
In non-conference, Texas will play at Marquette on Wednesday, Dec. 6. The Longhorns could also potentially face the defending champion UConn Huskies at the Empire Classic in November, but that will hinge on if both teams first win their respective matchups in the early-season tournament.
Here's the complete Top 25:
1. Kansas
2. Duke
3. Purdue
4. Michigan State
5. Marquette
6. UConn
7. Houston
8. Creighton
9. Tennessee
10. FAU
11. Gonzaga
12. Arizona
13. Miami (FL)
14. Arkansas
15. Texas A&M
16. Kentucky
17. San Diego State
18. Texas
19. North Carolina
20. Baylor
21. USC
22. Villanova
23. Saint Mary’s
24. Alabama
25. Illinois
