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Gameday preview: How to watch Texas vs. Rider in the last game of the Longhorns' four-game homestand

Joe Cookby: Joe Cook17 hours agojosephcook89
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Nov 12, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns center Matas Vokietaitis (8) shoots a free throw during the first half against Fairleigh Dickinson at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images

Texas concludes its first homestand of the 2025-26 season this evening against Rider. The Longhorns lost their season-opener to Duke then beat up on Lafayette, FDU, and Kansas City on their way to a 3-1 start.

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Each of those games had bright spots, but Texas struggled more than it would have liked against Kansas City on Saturday in a 71-55 win. Sean Miller‘s team won only by 16, the second half was more even than he would have liked, and Texas was a dismal 18% from distance.

With one more home game followed by a long yet entertaining road trip, what does Miller want to see later tonight at the Moody Center?

“I know coming back off of our opening night against Duke, we had this home stretch and I think the home stretch is obviously No. 1, you’re trying to win every game,” Miller said Monday. “I also think we talked about the month of November, regardless of what program you’re in in college basketball, it also becomes becoming better, more comfortable, improving, leaning more about each other, and, to some degree, learning what it takes to become the best team we can be. We’re going through all of that. Big week in terms of our development and improvement.”

Miller mentioned that one of the things he wants to see his team improve upon is maintaining good process on offense even if shots aren’t falling. Texas not only was 18% from three versus Kansas City, the Longhorns were 17-for-28 from the line and shot under 40% from the field as a team.

“Basketball’s no fun when the ball keeps missing,” Miller said. “We have to overcome that. We have to improve that. We’re a better shooting team than we’ve shown early on. My hope tomorrow night is that we can put it all together.”

There are things he has been pleased with over the first four games of the season. Miller highlighted protecting the basketball, rebounding, getting to the line, and the team’s defensive upside as bright spots.

Against Rider, he hopes those areas remain strong while seeing development in other areas before playing in the Maui Invitational next week.

“It’s about learning, bouncing back, improving, and taking a different standard into this game,” Miller said.

Game Notes via UT

Texas (3-1, 0-0 SEC) vs. Rider (1-2, 0-0 MAAC)
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025 – 8 p.m. Central
Moody Center (10,763) – Austin, Texas

GameDay Quick Facts

  • TELEVISION: The game will be televised nationally by SEC Network with Lowell Galindo (play-by-play) and Bryndon Manzer (analyst) on the call.
  • RADIO: The Longhorn Radio Network broadcasts every UT game on the statewide network. Craig Way (pxp) and Eddie Oran (analyst) will call the action. Check TexasLonghorns.com for a listing of affiliates carrying the game.
  • SERIES: First meeting

Notables

  • CLEANING THE GLASS: The Longhorns have registered an impressive +14.3 (47.3-33.0) rebound margin and outrebounded each of their first four opponents this season.
  • TAKING CARE OF THE BALL: Texas has averaged just 9.8 turnovers per contest through its first four games this season. The Longhorns had a season-low five turnovers in Saturday’s win against Kansas City.
  • GETTING TO THE LINE AT HOME: During their first three home games, the Longhorns have attempted 91 free throws (30.3 per game) while holding their opponents to just 38 free throw attempts (12.7 per game).
  • TRAORE SEES DOUBLE: Graduate F Lassina Traore recorded his 33rd career double-double with 10 points and a game-high 12 boards (five offensive) in 23 minutes during Saturday’s victory. Traore is averaging a team-best 9.0 rpg in 18.0 mpg this season.

Previous game’s starting five for Rider

  • G Zion Cruz: 11.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 0.7 apg
  • F Cole McCabe: 4.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.7 apg
  • G Flash Burton: 13.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.0 apg
  • G Caleb Smith: 9.3 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 1.3 apg
  • F Mohamad Diallo: 5.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 0.3 apg

2025-2026 Texas Longhorns

PlayerNumberGradePPGRPGAPGPrevious School
Jordan Pope0Sr.9.51.82.8Oregon State
Cole Bott1Gr.0.00.00.0
Chendall Weaver2Sr.7.56.01.3UT-Arlington
Dailyn Swain3Jr.12.57.02.3Xavier
Declan Duru Jr.4Fr.1.51.50.0
Camden Heide5Jr.1.71.70.7Purdue
Simeon Wilcher7Jr.7.52.81.5St. John’s
Matas Vokietaitis8So.15.08.30.5FAU
John Clark9Fr.0.00.00.0
Nic Codie10So.6.34.31.0
Tramon Mark12Gr.11.52.52.0Arkansas
Lewis Obiorah14Fr.0.00.00.0
Lassina Traore23Gr.6.39.00.8Xavier
Anthon McDermott33R-Fr.3.00.50.0
Brandon Taylor44Gr.0.00.00.0East Texas A&M

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