Texas Longhorns coach Sean Miller insists his team isn't a Cinderella story despite their Sweet 16 run, calling them a legitimate contender after upsetting third-seeded Gonzaga 74-68. The 11th-seeded Longhorns have now won 11 NCAA tournament games as a double-digit seed since seeding began in 1979, the most of any program. Miller emphasized that Texas represents the University of Texas in the SEC, not an underdog narrative.

Miller's tournament success continues with a 9-1 record in the round of 32, the best mark since the tournament expanded to 32 teams in 1975. The former Arizona and Xavier coach has won his past nine games in this round, surpassing coaching legends like Mike Krzyzewski and Bob Knight. Texas' path included defeating sixth-seeded BYU despite freshman AJ Dybantsa's 35-point performance.

Guard Jordan Pope's resilience proved crucial, scoring 17 points while playing through an ankle injury in the final minutes. Pope's clutch 3-pointer with 2:31 remaining gave Texas a five-point lead they wouldn't relinquish. Miller credited Texas' rigorous SEC schedule, including wins over Alabama, Missouri, Georgia, and Texas A&M, for preparing his team for postseason success.