Matas Vokietaitis’ confidence fuels Texas surge as Longhorns advance
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Matas Vokietaitis’ confidence fuels Texas surge as Longhorns advance originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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There was no hesitation in Matas Vokietaitis’ voice, and after what unfolded in Texas’ 74-68 win over Gonzaga, there did not need to be.
“First of all, I don’t really care who I’m playing against,” Vokietaitis said. “I’m just trying to play hard, confident. For my eyes, I’m the best big man in the country. So that’s the key to play like that.”
Against one of the nation’s most physical post presences in Graham Ike, Vokietaitis delivered 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. It was not just production. It was presence.
Even Sean Miller could not help but smile when he heard it.
“Did you hear what he said?” Miller said. “He said in his eyes he wants to be the best big guy in the country. And he’s really done an amazing job here.”
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That belief has spread through a locker room that nearly saw its season end weeks ago.
“To start with, we had a players-only meeting,” said Dailyn Swain. “We just talked about that we just needed a chance. We didn’t end the regular season the way we wanted to. But we never gave up on each other and that grew us closer.”
The response has shown up on both ends of the floor, especially defensively.
“Aside from desperation from not wanting to go home, I think just our discipline,” Jordan Pope said. “Playing really, really hard with a lot of effort. Making sure we’re all on the same page, we’re all connected on one string.”
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That connection has turned into momentum. Now, the path shifts again.
Texas Longhorns will face the winner of Purdue Boilermakers and Miami Hurricanes, a matchup that promises a completely different test. Whether it is Purdue’s size or Miami’s speed, Texas will be forced to rely on the same identity that carried it here.
“If we keep doing that, it’s really tough to beat our team,” Pope said.
The confidence is not subtle anymore. And if Vokietaitis continues to play the way he believes, Texas may go much further.