FORT WORTH, Texas -- No. 1 seed Texas advanced Saturday to the women's Elite Eight, about 190 miles from its campus in Austin. But Kentucky coach Kenny Brooks placed the Longhorns in another location.
"They were on a different planet today," Brooks said after Texas' 76-54 win at Dickies Arena. "Especially that first quarter. They came out, and they were aggressive. They play right to the rules. The rules allow a certain level of physicality. They play right to it. They don't go over it. They play right to it.
"Today, I thought they did a tremendous job of pushing us off of our mark. Their transition was really good. I think it was a combination of their transition offense being really good and our transition defense not being so good. They capitalize on everything."
Texas led 29-11 after the first quarter and 48-26 at halftime. There was no coming back for Kentucky, which lost to Texas 64-53 on Feb. 9 in SEC play. This is the fifth time in the past six seasons that Texas has advanced to at least the Elite Eight. Last season, the Longhorns made the Final Four for the first time since 2003.
That accomplishment has carried over to this season.
"Experience does help a lot ... you know what's at stake," said Texas senior guard Rori Harmon, who had 11 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and six steals.
"You know how to control the game. I can't say we've had this type of urgency throughout the whole season, though, because the urgency has to change when it comes to March."
But the Longhorns had enough urgency to finish tied for second in the SEC and beat fellow NCAA No. 1 seed South Carolina in the league tournament championship game. As big of an accomplishment as that was, though, Texas coach Vic Schaefer said the level the Longhorns have played at for their three NCAA tournament wins is something greater.
"It is our best basketball of the year," Schaefer said.
On Monday, Texas will face No. 2 seed Michigan, which beat Louisville 71-52 earlier Saturday. The Wolverines have been to the Elite Eight just once before, in 2022. They are looking for their program's first Final Four appearance.
Schaefer's stated goal since taking over at Texas in 2020 is to add a second national championship banner to the one the program won in 1986. Junior Madison Booker, who had 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists Saturday, said the Longhorns have a better idea of how to accomplish that now after going through a Final Four trip and a national semifinal loss last year to South Carolina.
"It's great having people that have been there before," Booker said. "They can help calm the room a little bit for other people who haven't been in those moments.
"But I feel like our team is completely calm right now, just because of our preparation."
