Longhorns' Tyrese Hunter Experiencing March Madness Flashbacks vs. Miami

Texas Longhorns guard Tyrese Hunter turned up his game to a new level in the NCAA Tournament last season with Iowa State. He's doing the same this time around headed into the Elite Eight, and is now set to face a Miami Hurricanes team that feels all too familiar to him.

© Jamie Sabau, USA TODAY

KANSAS CITY, MO. - New threads, new number, new team and new expectations.

But for Texas Longhorns guard Tyrese Hunter, the 2023 NCAA Tournament is beginning to feel all too familiar.

Behind a team-high 19 points on 3 of 3 from deep to go along with two blocks and two assists, Hunter helped lead Texas to a dominant all-around performance in a 83-71 win over No. 3 seed Xavier in Kansas City on Friday. His efforts now has him experiencing a bit of déjà vu, as the Longhorns will play the No. 5 seed Miami Hurricanes in the Elite 8 at T-Mobile Center on Sunday.

Sunday will mark exactly one year and a day since Hunter played his final game with the Iowa State Cylcones, which ended in a 70-56 loss in the Sweet 16.

The opponent? None other than the Hurricanes, who got the best of Hunter in that game despite his 13-point, seven-assist, three-steal performance. Miami advanced to its first-ever Elite Eight while Hunter began the process of transferring.

The déjà vu part of it all is something that Hunter didn't shy away from admitting when speaking to the media on Saturday, saying he "sees no difference" in this Miami team.

"I think last year they played very fast," Hunter said. "I think there were everywhere on defense, just playing, trying to get out in transition. I really don't see no difference this year."

Everything's now coming full circle for Hunter, though he and the Longhorns will have a tall task to overcome if they want to return back to the Lone Star State for the Final Four in Houston. Miami is coming off one of the best wins in program history on Friday, topping No. 1 Houston 89-75 in convincing fashion to advance to the Elite Eight for the second time ever.

Hunter and guard Marcus Carr will have their hands full with an elite Miami backcourt that features former Kansas State and Big 12 guard Nijel Pack - who hit seven 3s on Friday - and longtime Hurricanes guard Isaiah Wong. The pair combined for 46 points and 10 rebounds against Houston.

"Honestly they kind of filled in the roles of the players they lost last year," Hunter said. "Just getting out, running and jumping, playing fast up and down, and keeping the pace up."

Hunter will likely be aiming for a bit of personal revenge, though the stoic-faced guard won't admit it. But the Longhorns will be hoping he uses last year's loss as fuel to potentially help send Texas to its first Final Four since 2003.

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You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7

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