Midwest Region: A look at the Sweet 16
The Texas Longhorns are one of four teams left standing in the Midwest Region with the Sweet 16 set for Friday in Kansas City.
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No. 1 seed Houston and No. 5 seed Miami will tipoff at 6:15 p.m. Central. No. 2 seed Texas and No. 3 seed Xavier will follow at roughly 8:45 p.m. Central. Both games are on CBS.
If the Longhorns are to make a third Elite Eight appearance as a No. 2 seed, they will have to beat one of the top offensive teams in the country in Sean Miller’s Musketeers. Xavier averages 81.2 points per game, leads the nation in assists per game, and is third in three-point percentage nationally.
The Longhorns have already faced two of the nation’s top six three-point shooting teams, and held Colgate and Penn State to a combined 11 of 43 (26%) from beyond the arc.
The head coaching resumes remaining are full of NCAA Tournament experience and success. Two head coaches remaining in the Midwest Region have led a team to a Final Four. They are Kelvin Sampson and Jim Larranaga. Xavier head coach Sean Miller is looking for a fifth Elite Eight appearance. And Rodney Terry is one win away from a first Elite Eight appearance.
Inside Texas takes a look at the Sweet 16 of the Midwest Region.
No. 1 Houston
2022-23 record: 33-3 (17-1 in the AAC)
How they advanced to the Sweet 16: Beat No. 16 seed Northern Kentucky 63-52 and No. 9 seed Auburn 81-64
Record vs. Field of 68: 9-2
Head coach: Kelvin Sampson
Kelvin Sampson in the NCAA Tournament: 24-17 (2 Final Four’s, 4 Elite Eight’s, 7 Sweet 16’s)
How the made the field: At-large
KenPom ranking: No. 1
Adjusted Offensive rank: No. 9
Adjusted defensive rank: No. 4
Points per game: 74.9
Field goal percentage: 46.1%
Three-point percentage: 34.2%
Free throw percentage: 72.7%
Defensive field goal percentage: 36.1%
No. 5 Miami (Fla.)
2022-23 record: 27-7 (15-5 in the ACC)
How they advanced to the Sweet 16: Beat No. 12 seed Drake 63-56 and No. 4 seed Indiana 85-69
Record vs. Field of 68: 7-5
Head coach: Jim Larranaga
Jim Larranaga inn the NCAA Tournament: 12-10 (1 Final Four, 2 Elite Eight’s, 5 Sweet 16’s)
How the made the field: At-large
KenPom ranking: No. 32
Adjusted Offensive rank: No. 11
Adjusted Defensive rank: No. 108
Points per game: 79.1
Field goal percentage: 48.1%
Three-point percentage: 36.8%
Free throw percentage: 77.4%
Defensive field goal percentage: 44.7%
No. 3 Xavier
2022-23 record: 27-9 (15-5 in the Big East)
How they advanced to the Sweet 16: Beat No. 14 seed Kennesaw State 72-67 and No. 11 seed Pittsburgh 85-73
Record vs. Field of 68: 10-6
Head coach: Sean Miller
Sean Miller in the NCAA Tournament: 21-11 (4 Elite Eight’s, 8 Sweet 16’s)
How the made the field: At-large
KenPom ranking: No. 15
Adjusted Offensive rank: No. 7
Adjusted Defensive rank: No. 63
Points per game: 81.2
Field goal percentage: 49.3%
Three-point percentage: 38.9%
Free throw percentage: 71.1%
Defensive field goal percentage: 44.1%
No. 2 Texas
2022-23 record: 28-8 (12-6 in the Big 12)
How they advanced to the Sweet 16: Beat No. 15 seed Colgate 81-61 and No. 10 seed Penn State 71-66
Record vs. Field of 68: 14-7
Head coach: Rodney Terry (interim)
Rodney Terry in the NCAA Tournament: 2-1
How the made the field: Won Big 12 tournament
KenPom ranking: No. 5
Adjusted Offensive rank: No. 15
Adjusted Defensive rank: No. 10
Points per game: 77.9
Field goal percentage: 47.1%
Three-point percentage: 34.1%
Free throw percentage: 75.2%
Defensive field goal percentage: 42.1%
