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Longhorns fans have seen this before.  Recently in fact.

In 2010, Texas was ranked as high as #1 in the country at one point before a free-falling tailspin led to a #8 seed in the NCAA tournament.  That Longhorn team was undefeated until jan. 18, 2010 before losing 10 of their final 17.  The season ended on an appropriate note – an overtime meltdown in a first round loss to Wake Forest.

This year’s version is a bit better, but ‘Horns fans still have to have deja vu.  Texas started slow but battled a tough schedule, then got white-hot at the turn of the year.  The Longhorns were ranked #2 just a few weeks ago but have lost three of four, all to unranked teams, and have blown their chance at wrapping up a Big 12 regular season title. 

While the offense has struggled, it has been the defense (or lackthereof) that has really hurt the ‘Horns the past few weeks. Texas gives up just 61 points per game and were suffocating teams during the win streak. But in their three recent losses, they’ve given up at least 70 points in each game, including 91 to Colorado.

For whatever reason, Rick Barnes can’t get his team to close out a season.  Texas is going to the NCAA tournament.  They’ll probably win their first game, but after that all bets are off.