Texas vs Missouri: Longhorns travel to Columbia aiming to extend winning streak
After a midweek break, the Texas Longhorns head to Columbia to face Missouri at Mizzou Arena on Saturday, hoping to extend a three-game conference winning streak to four. Coach Sean Miller emphasized the value of the extra rest as his team prepares for a demanding stretch run of the regular season.
Fresh legs after a timely bye
Miller framed the midweek off as more than a recovery day. He described it as an opportunity to be "mentally and physically fresh" for the second half of SEC play while still finding ways to improve. The break arrived after more than a month of grueling schedules with two conference games per week, and the coach made clear he wants practice quality in February to mirror the urgency of November sessions.
Injury updates and roster management
The extra time was particularly useful for junior wing Dailyn Swain, who has shouldered a heavy playmaking load of late, and for graduate forward Lassina Traore. Traore sat out the most recent victory over Ole Miss after taking a knock to his surgically repaired knee. Miller indicated that balancing availability and long-term health is a priority as Texas navigates a tougher conference slate than the one his previous program faced.
Big-picture lessons: finishing strong
Miller drew parallels to a past squad that made a late-season push, noting how practice intensity and veteran buy-in can flip a season. He stressed that the current roster shows similar hunger and determination to close well. While the coach praised present momentum, he also acknowledged the SEC presents a stiffer path to the NCAA Tournament than the Big East did for his earlier team.
Key player: Matas Vokietaitis stepping up
Sophomore center Matas Vokietaitis emerged as a focal point after bouncing back from a rough conference outing to score a team-high 27 points in the win over Ole Miss. The Lithuanian big went 9-of-11 from the field in a career-high 35 minutes, showcasing improved conditioning and a developing ability to finish through contact while limiting avoidable fouls.
Miller said staff are working with Vokietaitis on playing more vertically on defense to force contested shots and on maintaining cleaner offensive contact to reduce foul trouble — adjustments that could unlock significant upside during the final seven regular-season games.
Tournament implications and the road ahead
While the three-game streak has nudged Texas' NCAA Tournament chances upward by roughly 10 percentage points, historical comparisons temper expectations: similar late-season turnarounds have produced modest postseason success. Only a minority of comparable teams advanced past the first round in prior seasons, and none reached the Sweet 16, internal analytics used by the staff.
The Longhorns' immediate schedule is a mixed bag. They arrive in Columbia as narrow underdogs on Saturday, then return home to face LSU as heavy favorites next Tuesday. The grind intensifies afterward, with three of the next four contests on the road and a difficult matchup against Florida looming at the Moody Center on the 25th. How Texas navigates that stretch will strongly influence seeding and selection hopes.
What to watch Saturday
Key indicators against Missouri will include how effectively Texas shares ball-handling duties beyond Swain, whether Traore can return without limitation, and if Vokietaitis sustains his offensive efficiency while staying out of foul trouble. Defensive discipline and the ability to finish possessions in the paint will also be decisive factors in a game that could set the tone for the month ahead.
For a program still building a consistent identity in conference play, the Horns see this weekend as an opportunity to translate a short winning streak into sustained momentum heading into March.
