My biggest worry about this game coming in, and the reason that in my bracket (currently have one out of 3 final four teams) I had Memphis over Texas, was that the size of Memphis perimeter players in Derrick Rose (6′4”), Chris Douglas-Roberts (6′5”) and Antonio Anderson (6′6”) would be too athletic, big, and long for the Texas guards of AJ Abrams (5′10”), DJ Augustin (5′11”) and Justin Mason (6′2”). That proved to be too much with as Texas dropped the opportunity to return to the Final Four with an 85-67 defeat to the #1 seed and 36-1 Memphis Tigers.

Augustin had another regrettable outing to end his second, and possibly final season with Texas, finishing with 16 points and 3 assists, but 4 turnovers and 4-18 shooting from the field. Abrams finished with 17, but 12 were in the final 3 minutes, where Texas fouled like crazy, hoping (but failing) to exploit the Tiger’s poor shooting from the line, but Memphis made 30 of 36 to erase their biggest weakness from affecting the outcome.

Mason is worthy of props for a great effort, scoring 7 points early to keep Texas in it at the start, and providing the best defense on Rose during the game. Dexter Pittman improved his game greatly during the tournament, providing very solid performances in Austin Peay and Stanford, and a decent game, with 4 points and 4 rebounds against Memphis in 15 minutes of action, providing hope for what he still can be for Texas the next 2 years.

The loss ends the Horns’ season on a sour note, though they should be proud of really doing a lot more than they were expected to this season at the outset with the loss of National Player of the Year Kevin Durant, and a 2nd-round exit a year ago, to be a top 10 team that played like it, beating UCLA, Tennessee, and Kansas during the season. Augustin became one of the top PGs in the nation, and a 1st-team All-American. Abrams continued being a torrid, streak shooter, and James and Atchley improved tremendously from a year ago. James finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds a game this year, leading the Big 12 in rebounding. Atchley became a much better shooter, averaging nearly 10 a game, and leading the Big 12 in blocked shots at over 2 a game, becoming the anchor of the Texas D on the interior.

Next year, it may actually be easier for the Horns if DJ goes to the draft, as that will inspire Texas to maybe play a bigger lineup, with James at the 3, and Gary Johnson and Connor Atchley inside, with Abrams and Mason as the guards, to maybe matchup better with teams like Memphis who are big all around. This idea would be even better if McDonald’s game MVP Tyreke Evans picks Texas in a couple weeks when the late signing period occurs, as his 6′5” frame would be ideal at the 3, and maybe keep Johnson on the bench as the 6th man.

Either way, the future looks decent for the Horns, and an elite 8 appearance is something to be proud of.