Texas Longhorns players share their favorite quotes from Vic Schaefer
USAT’s Megan Hall asked Texas Longhorns players for their favorite lines from coach Vic Schaefer.
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FORT WORTH, Texas – The No. 1 Texas Longhorns defeated the No. 2 Michigan Wolverines 77-41 in the Elite Eight, clinching a ticket to the Final Four for the second straight season.
Texas controlled the flow and pace of the game early, and despite Michigan’s push in the second quarter, the Longhorns cruised the rest of the way. The Wolverines had few answers as to how to overcome Texas’ stifling press defense. Poor night photography didn’t help either. Michigan seemed flustered by Texas moving the game on so quickly, but couldn’t really find a sustainable rhythm.
Texas forward Madison Booker was strong from mid-range, leading all scorers with 19 points and seven rebounds. The Longhorns had three other players score in double figures, including Kyla Oldaker who had 12 points off the bench. Oldacre played a key role in extending Texas’ lead by coming off the bench and forcing Michigan to overcommit defensively, resulting in multiple misses at the free throw line.
“Michigan’s a really good team. They average a ton of points. They have great players and these kids played really hard today. Defensively, it really took away a lot of what they wanted to do,” Schaefer said.
“Again, Michigan is very good. They’re really good at what they do and how they do it. To prepare for a day and a half and execute defensively like these kids…I mean really execute. Setting great screens, kids making shots, the right guys hitting the right shots from the right spots on the floor. They were really, really good.”
University of Michigan head coach Kim Barnes Arico watched from the sideline as her team struggled for most of the game. Olivia Olson and Mila Holloway each scored 11 points to lead the Wolverines, who shot 23% from the field on Monday. This was a departure for a team that was averaging over 80 points per game.
“Yeah, that was a tough game for us, obviously very disappointing. Texas is a great team, but we were a better team than we looked tonight,” Barnes Arico said. “A lot of shots came and went. They took a shot in the third quarter. I thought we could get away with it. They just ran us through. They’re really, really, really talented.”
With the win following Monday’s matchup, the Longhorns will head to Phoenix for the 2026 Women’s Final Four. The semifinals are Friday, April 3rd, and the national championship is Sunday, April 5th.
There are just over five minutes left in Michigan’s season, and things aren’t looking great. Texas led 69-29 in the fourth quarter. University of Michigan head coach Kim Barnes Arico sits in a chair for several minutes, some with her head on her hands and some with her hands in her lap. Barnes also didn’t say much as the lead ballooned to 40 points.
Texas players cheered and danced on the sideline after every 3-pointer, every layup or jumper for the fourth point.
Texas won 21-8 in the third quarter thanks to a great performance from Madison Booker, who scored 19 points on 61.5% shooting and grabbed 7 rebounds. Booker was dynamic from mid-range, using his length and size to create space away from defenders.
She got help from Kyla Oldkea and used the paint to get Michigan into foul trouble. Breya Cunningham also had a great performance with 83% shooting, 11 points, and 7 rebounds.
Things aren’t going too well for Michigan as Texas imposes its will on them. The Wolverines didn’t have a single double-digit scorer, and a team that normally averages over 80 points per game had just 29 points after three quarters.
Vic Schaefer taking off his jacket may or may not have something to do with Texas’ lead growing to 17 points. At the 4:27 mark of the third quarter, the Longhorns led 42-25, 8-2. They seem to have become more active since Schaefer abandoned the thread. Texas scored six points off turnovers.
Don’t say we didn’t warn you. At 7:18 of the third quarter, Texas coach Vic Schaefer took off his jacket. Texas started 0-7, and the Longhorns’ coaches were understandably displeased.
34-23, Texas vs. Michigan at 6:40 p.m.
Just before the first half, Cyra Swords’ triple allowed the University of Michigan to cut its lead against the University of Texas from 17 points to 13 points. In the second quarter, both the Wolverines and Longhorns shot 25% and 23%, respectively, and their possession was often sloppy. Michigan also struggled to move the ball well against Texas, scoring 7 goals with 2 assists in the first half.
Madison Booker was the game’s high scorer with 15 points and 6 rebounds. She also stripped Michigan of her basketball rights on several occasions, and while she likely won’t show up on the stat sheet, she helped Texas maintain its lead. Saira Swords leads Michigan with eight points.
Texas led 30-16 with 3:12 left in the second quarter, but the redness in Vic Schaefer’s face as he yelled at his team to “box out” and “be disciplined” made you think his signature suit jacket was off.
Surprisingly, that’s not the case. But half of the basketball games haven’t been played yet, and Texas and Michigan are both shooting 20% in the period. There’s still time.
The first quarter was all Texas as the Longhorns leaned heavily on ball movement to pull Michigan away from the basket. As soon as the Wolverines moved to help the defense, Texas kicked the ball out to an open player and it hit the guy under the basket. rinse. foam. Repeat this for several baskets.
Michigan didn’t shoot well at all, but that’s probably because Texas increased its speed and pressure. Shots don’t fall in a hurry. The Wolverines made three baskets in the first quarter, while Texas shot 11 of 12 from the field, an impressive 92% shooting percentage.
Madison Booker and Breya Cunningham were the leading scorers with six points each. Mila Holloway had four points for Michigan State.
The Longhorns have the perfect floor to open Monday’s Elite Eight game. Texas is 9-9 and shows no signs of stopping. The score was 18-4 at the 3:44 mark, with 12 of Texas’ 18 points coming in the paint.
Michigan doesn’t have an answer and it could be a long day for the Wolverines, who are down to 11% shooting (1-of-9 from the field). The only basket they made was from Cyrasword.
After the first five minutes of the game, Texas has the advantage against the Wolverines. The Longhorns are 12-2 and a perfect 6-6 from the field. All five starting players scored.
Michigan State’s shooting percentage is 14%. The Wolverines struggle to dismantle the Texas press defense and can’t keep up with the ball movement the Longhorns introduced early on to spread the ball out.
After 6:09 of the first, it’s 8-2 Longhorns. The Wolverines started the game 1-6 but were unable to capitalize on Texas’ three early turnovers.
We’re underway in Fort Worth as Texas and Michigan battle it out in the Elite 8 for a ticket to the Final Four in Phoenix. Texas got the tip and Longhorns forward Justise Carlton scored first.
Texas and Michigan met in the tunnel before Monday’s matchup, and the moment was a little tense.
What time is the Texas vs. Michigan Elite Eight game?
- date: Monday, March 30th
- time: 7pm ET
- position: Dickies Arena (Fort Worth, Texas)
The Texas Longhorns will face the Michigan Wolverines in the Elite Eight round of the 2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament on Monday, March 30th at 7:00 PM ET at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
Texas vs. Michigan: TV, streaming
- tv set: ESPN
- stream: ESPN app, Fubo
