Texas basketball vs. Tennessee prediction: Who has edge in 2024 NCAA Tournament second round?

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When the NCAA Tournament’s selection committee unveiled its bracket Sunday, Texas basketball fans couldn’t help but notice the possibility of a second-round matchup between the Longhorns and their former coach Rick Barnes, who’s now the coach at Tennessee.

Both teams made that matchup happen with first-round wins Thursday. Texas (21-12), the seventh seed in the Midwest Region, used a dominant defensive effort to down Colorado State 56-44. Tennessee (25-8), the No. 2 seed, blasted Saint Peter’s 83-49. The two UTs will face off Saturday at 7 p.m. (CBS, 1300).

Here's what you need to know about the matchup:

More: Rodney Terry praises Colorado State, says Texas 'answered bell' in first 2024 NCAA Tournament win

Tyrese Hunter: Tip of Texas’ defensive spear

The 44 points allowed by Texas in its round-one win were the second-fewest points given up by the Longhorns in an NCAA Tournament game, behind the measly 40 points the 1947 team gave up in a win over Wyoming. Guard Tyrese Hunter scored just eight points on 2-of-5 shooting in 38 minutes, but Texas coach Rodney Terry credited Hunter with “a great game” for his defensive effort against Colorado State point guard Isaiah Stevens. Stevens had 10 points but shot just 4-for-16 from the field and had as many turnovers (four) as assists. “When I’m guarding anyone, I just don’t want them to feel comfortable,” Hunter said. “He is a great player; I was just trying to get him out of his comfort zone.” Hunter will have another tough matchup Saturday against Tennessee guards Dalton Knecht, the SEC’s player of the year, and Santiago Vescovi, the SEC’s active leader in made 3-pointers.

Max Abmas: Tough task against the Vols

Much like Hunter for Texas, guard Zakai Zeigler keys the Volunteers’ perimeter defense. A hard-nosed, 5-foot-9 junior from Long Island, N.Y., Zeigler earned the SEC’s defensive player of the year award as well as a spot on the all-conference first team, and he’s a three-time All-SEC defensive player. He’s likely to draw the assignment against Texas guard Max Abmas, who leads the Longhorns with 17.1 points a game.

Rick Barnes: Tournament rematch with Texas coming up

This won’t be the first time Barnes has coached against Texas, but it will be the first time he’s met his former team in the NCAA Tournament. Tennessee and Texas met in the Big 12/SEC Challenge in back-to-back seasons in 2022 and 2023, with Tennessee losing 52-51 in Austin in 2022 and winning 82-71 at home in 2023. Barnes led the Texas program from 1998 to 2015. Terry was an assistant to Barnes for nine of those seasons. Texas enjoyed unmatched success in Barnes’ era, including its only Final Four berth of the modern era in 2003. Barnes' tenure also was the last time Texas won three consecutive first-round NCAA games (2007-09) before this season’s Longhorns won a third consecutive NCAA opener Thursday against Colorado State.

Texas vs. Tennessee prediction

Tennessee. The Longhorns showed off a dominant defense in the first round, but Tennessee has more weapons, more size and more depth than Colorado State.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas vs Tennessee prediction, pick for March Madness second round