The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Bradley
Women’s Basketball preview: vs. (11) Bradley
03.20.2021 | Women's Basketball
The Longhorns begin the 2021 NCAA Tournament with a Monday-night matchup against 11th-seeded Bradley.
(6) Texas (18-9; 11-7 Big 12) vs. (11) Bradley (17-11; 10-8 MVC)
Where: San Marcos, Texas
Arena: Strahan Arena
Date: Monday, March 22
Time: 7 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN2 (Eric Frede, Tamika Catching)
Radio: Longhorn IMG Radio Network (Roger Wallace, Eryn McMahan)
All-time Series: Never met
• SETTING THE STAGE: Texas makes its 33rd appearance in the NCAA Tournament this year, the fourth-most by a program all-time. In the opening round, the Longhorns are slated to face 11th-seeded Bradley - the champions of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. It is the seventh-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament for the Longhorns, and will be the first matchup between the schools.
• NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY: The NCAA Tournament is featuring the Longhorns in the field of 64 for the seventh-straight year (2014-19; '21). That streak does not include the 2020 season, which was halted due to COVID-19 prior to the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship and subsequent NCAA Tournament selections. Texas is 42-31 (.575 win pct) all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
• TURNING THEM OVER: Texas' pressure defense has made an impression on the national and Big 12 stats rankings this year. UT forced a season-high 35 turnovers in a win over SMU on Nov. 25, and created 34 turnovers in its Big 12 opener at Kansas State on Dec. 21. As a result, the Longhorns lead the Big 12 in turnovers forced per game (+19.48) and turnover margin (+5.44). Both marks rank in the top 30 nationally this season.
• CREATING OFFENSE FROM DEFENSE: Texas is utilizing its defense to create offense this season, as the Longhorns has scored at least 20 points off turnovers in 13 games this season. The Longhorns posted a season-high 39 points off turnovers in the season opener versus SMU, and hit the 30-point mark in three-straight outings against Drake (33 points), at Kansas State (38 points) and against Lamar (32 points). Texas is 12-1 when scoring at least 20 points off turnovers this year.
• CHASING CHARLI: Charli Collier, a Lisa Leslie Award finalist (nation's top center) and Second Team AP All-American this season, has been one of college basketball's top performers as a junior. She is averaging 20.1 points (No. 26 nationally/No. 3 Big 12) and 11.7 rebounds (No. 12/No. 2) per game. In addition, nationally she ranks third in double-doubles (17), 11th in field goals made (194), 12th in final points (542), seventh in free throws made (141), ninth in offensive rebounds per game (4.6) and third in total rebounds (315).
