Inside Texas Today: Basketball teams finish ranked, Melendez named Big 12 POTW
Welcome to Inside Texas Today! Each weekday morning, Inside Texas Today will provide the latest news and notes from around the Forty Acres, including notable events, player honors, and where to watch Longhorn sports that day.
Here’s the Tuesday, March 15, 2022 edition.
[Subscribe to Inside Texas today and get a FREE 7-day Plus trial!]
Both basketball programs finish in final AP Top 25
The Associated Press released its final top 25 polls on Monday for both men’s and women’s basketball, and the Texas Longhorns were ranked in both.
Chris Beard’s men’s program finished ranked No. 25 in the AP after a 21-11 (10-8, Big 12) season. This is the first time Texas finished ranked in back-to-back seasons since 2006-07 and 2007-08.
Beard’s team reached the NCAA Tournament in his first year leading the program. The Longhorns will face the Virginia Tech Hokies on Friday in Milwaukee, Wis., in the first round of March Madness. The Hokies were the first team outside of the top 25 in the final AP Poll.
Vic Schaefer’s Big 12 Tournament champion women’s basketball program finished ranked No. 6 in the final AP women’s top 25 after a 26-6 (13-5 Big 12) campaign. Their ranking, one spot higher than the Baylor Bears, solidified their place as the highest ranked team from the Big 12 in the final poll.
Women’s basketball will host first and second round games at the Frank Erwin Center. The Longhorns’ first round matchup is with the Fairfield Stags out of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference on Friday at 7 p.m. Potential second round matchups include the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Utah Utes on Sunday at a time to be announced.
Melendez named Big 12 Player of the Week
Texas first baseman Ivan Melendez was named the Big 12’s player of the week on Monday. Melendez, listed as a redshirt junior from El Paso, hit .450 with a 1.150 slugging percentage and drove home 11 runs during Texas’ 2-3 week.
Melendez recorded four multi-hit outings in five games, including a three-hit game versus the Texas State Bobcats on Wednesday. He also added a multi-home run game in the first contest versus the South Carolina Gamecocks, and knocked a home run in Columbia that traveled an estimated 493 feet. He now has seven home runs on the year.
Texas viewing for 3/15
Women’s golf – Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge – Palos Verdes Golf Club – Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. – 10 a.m. – Live stats
Baseball – at College of Charleston – College of Charleston Baseball Stadium – Charleston, S.C. – 5 p.m. – FloBaseball
Men’s Tennis – at No. 9 USC – David X. Marks Tennis Stadium – Los Angeles, Calif. – 7 p.m. – Live video
