IT Week in Review: The SEC move is another achievement for the UT triumvirate, tourney time approaching, 2K Timmy Allen

The Inside Texas week in reviews lauds the UT athletics leadership triumvirate of Kevin Eltife, Jay Hartzell, and Chris Del Conte, praises Timmy Allen for scoring his 2000th career point, and notes how Texas’ recent men’s basketball schedule could come in handy during March Madness.

[Get Inside Texas Plus until the start of the 2023 season for $29.99!]

During the course of their time working together, University of Texas board of regents chairman Kevin Eltife, UT president Jay Hartzell, and athletics director Chris Del Conte have aligned their vision on multiple occasions with regards to Texas Longhorns sports.

They came together during course of the end of the Tom Herman era to hire Steve Sarkisian. They were key in bringing Chris Beard to Texas from Texas Tech.

Most notably, the three worked together (along with their Oklahoma counterparts) to establish a place for the Longhorns (and Sooners) in the Southeastern Conference. The move ensured Texas a firmly-established place in the premier athletics conference amid the volatile college sports landscape.

But questions remained even after the summer of 2021 announcement. Would Texas and Oklahoma really wait until July of 2025 before moving to their new home? What would the Big 12 want in return for the exit of the two breadwinners as far as eyeballs go?

That became a massive hurdle, but to the great credit of Eltife, Hartzell and Del Conte, they were able to overcome the various sticks in the mud to expedite the exit process. With millions of dollars and a variety of parties to satiate, the UT triumvirate were able to find an amenable outcome for all involved.

It also was an outcome far more beneficial for the Longhorns than staying the extra year.

The three were able to make it happen, and Texas the athletic department, Texas the school, and Texas the state will benefit from it.

The Horns’ last football season in the Big 12, this 2023 season, will be an interesting one. Opponents will take the chance to ridicule the Horns on the way out. Even opposing administrators may try to get their shots in.

It won’t matter much to the triumvirate. They made the winning move, another in a line of winning moves.

Timmy Allen, 2000 point scorer

Between his time at Utah and Texas, Timmy Allen has made a lot of shots. On Saturday in Texas’ 94-60 win, he made a signature elbow jumper early in the first half.

It helped him cross the 2000-point threshold as a college basketball player.

“It’s really just a testament to the journey, staying healthy and being productive,” Allen said on Saturday. “I’ve played with a lot of great teammates and coaches along the way. It’s been fun. It’s cool to have that feeling and just to get buckets.”

Allen has been a key part of the Longhorns both this season and last year. An All-Pac 12 selection during his time with the Utes, he chose to enter the portal and be a part of Chris Beard’s first Texas team.

He returned for his super-senior season, and has been a steady presence both on and off the court for a team that has needed his leadership.

Congratulations to Allen, who is on track to earn his bachelors’ degree this May. His contributions to the Longhorn basketball program in the past two seasons have been pivotal to the success of the team, and his ability to score 2000 career points is a testament to his consistency.

Tournament schedule

When the Longhorns travel to Lubbock on Monday for a Big 12 matchup with Texas Tech, it’ll be the third consecutive week where Texas plays a Big Monday game right after a Saturday contest. Texas is 3-2 so far, winning two Saturday matchups (at Kansas State, West Virginia) and one Monday affair (Baylor). The Longhorns have lost one each on those two days, at Tennessee on a Saturday and at Kansas last Monday.

The schedule is akin to the one the Longhorns hope to encounter in the NCAA Tournament. While these February games may not have the same stakes as those coming in March, the routine still is something Terry is glad his Longhorns will have under their belt.

“I love it to be honest with you, because it does prepare you for postseason play,” Terry said Friday.

He continued: ”It definitely prepares our guys for that type of opportunity in the future. It’s one that we will reference back to as we approach March Madness.”

Two games in three days is no easy venture. Winning in the NCAA Tournament, where that’s part and parcel of the process, is no easy venture.

If they can begin this week with a victory, it’ll mark the end of a tough stretch and keep Texas in first place in the Big 12.

And, it’ll serve as a harbinger of future success.