Best and worst of March Madness: Both Texas basketball teams make 2026 Ceddys | Golden

The NCAA tournaments were an absolute smash. Congrats to the Michigan men and the UCLA women for a job well done and a quick shoutout to the Texas teams that gave the locals plenty to cheer about during the NCAAs.

That said, let's not allow this shining moment to pass without diving into the latest batch of the Ceddys: the best and worst of March Madness.

Michigan men's basketball players Yaxel Lendeborg (23), Aday Mara (15) and L.J. Cason react on the bench against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament at the United Center on March 29, 2026 in Chicago. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

March Madness review: Ceddys for 2026

Texas Longhorns guard Tramon Mark (12) shoots for three points in the first half as Texas plays Purdue in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, March 26, 2026. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)

The second-best spring resurrection

The Texas men.

To steal a line from Jules Winfield III of "Pulp Fiction" fame, the Longhorns were as dead as fried chicken after they lost five of six games, including an unfathomable no-show in what was believed at the time to be a must win against a 12-19 Ole Miss team in the first round of the SEC tournament. Somehow, with veterans Tramon Mark, Jordan Pope and Chendall Weaver leading the way, Texas rallied to win its NCAA play-in game against North Carolina State before making an improbable Sweet 16 run after upsets of BYU and Gonzaga.

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That was one heck of a save job from first-year coach Sean Miller, but he has a huge challenge ahead with the OGs leaving, along with his best player Dailyn Swain.

(The best spring resurrection? Have you been to church?)

MORE CED: Future is bright for Sean Miller, Texas men

The worst bracket buster

Duke’s Elite Eight loss to UConn.

I actually thought I had a chance to win my buddy Kevin Lyttle’s annual office pool, that is until Duke’s Cayden Boozer’s careless pass resulted in the Blue Devils — my national runner-up pick — losing on Braylon Mullins’ 30-foot buzzer beater. I was somewhat relieved when Arizona — my title pick — got steamrolled by the eventual champs. For the record, I finished with a 51.7% success rate. Next time, I’ll spend that $10 on two gallons of gas.

Texas Longhorns guard Simeon Wilcher (7) brings the ball around a screen from center Matas Vokietaitis (8) in the first half of Texas’ 79-77 loss to the Purdue Boilermakers in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, March 26, 2026. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)

My most interesting conversation

I was with Houston Chronicle sports columnist Kirk Bohls at the Austin airport last week and we saw Texas' 7-foot Matas Vokietaitis — who announced Friday that he will return to the Longhorns — walking toward us. The following conversation ensued:

Me: “Where are you headed, Matas?”

Matas: “Las Vegas.”

Kirk: “Have you decided if you’re coming back to play here next season?"

Matas: “Not yet.”

Me: “Are you going to win big money out there? Avoid blackjack at all costs.”

Matas: “I don’t gamble.”

Me: "Are you going to some shows? I hear the Wizard of Oz at the Sphere is really good.”

Matas: "I’m not.”

Kirk: “When will you make your announcement?”

Matas: We’ll see. (Puts his index finger to his lips).

The whole thing lasted less than two minutes, but the question we should have asked was, "Why are you going to Vegas, again?"

Texas Longhorns forward Madison Booker (35) and UCLA guard Kiki Rice (1) fight for control of the ball during the NCAA Final Four game at the Mortgage Matchup Center on Friday, April 3, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)

The toughest women's loss

The Texas women.

Texas may never have a better chance at winning a national title than 2026. The Horns were the best team in Phoenix, but picked the absolute worst time to play their poorest offensive game in years. Two straight 35-win seasons is nothing to sneeze at, but without the big trophy, those are just numbers. Coach Vic Schaefer has raised the bar. Only a championship will suffice at this point.

MORE CED: How a national title eluded the Texas women

The best grown-man quote

“I think I can clear the air now. With five minutes left against Gonzaga, I broke my foot, a complete break, so it was definitely tough.”

This came from Texas guard Jordan Pope after he went out and scored 12 points in 33 minutes against Purdue in his final college game. Kid breaks his foot and goes out like a champ. Respect.

The best goodbye present

UCLA seniors Gabriela Jaquez, Gianna Kneepkens, Kiki Rice, Charlisse Leger-Walker, Angela Dugalic and Lauren Betts (who was the women’s most outstanding player winner) scored every point of the Final Four for their team. Who needs a bench or underclassmen?

The toughest departures

The Texas women lost sophomore guard Jordan Lee, sophomore forward Justice Carlton and freshman guard Aaliyah Crump to the transfer portal. Those three would have played vital roles next season. Now they will do so somewhere, but not at Texas. I can't help but wonder if this is blowback from Schaefer saying this team had no heart or toughness after its SEC loss at Vanderbilt. Time eventually passed, but once something is out there, it's out there.

TEXAS BASEBALL: Schlossnagle preps for Texas A&M return

The toughest goodbye

Schaefer and his departing point guard Rori Harmon shared a long hug in the closing seconds of the UCLA loss. Schaefer nailed it when he said he probably won’t be able to replace what she brought to his program. Harmon has small feet, but some humongous shoes someone will have to fill. Bryanna Preston will get the first bite.

The toughest day at the office

Texas All-America forward Madison Booker had her worst game ever: a 3-for-23 shooting performance in the Final Four loss to eventual national champion UCLA. No one outworks Book, so expect a huge bounce-back in next season’s NCAAs.

The best gesture

Members of Texas’ 1986 national championship team under coaching legend Jody Conradt sent messages of encouragement to the current team before the national semifinal loss to UCLA. Conradt has been a wonderful support to these young women as well. Cool stuff.

South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley and UConn coach Geno Auriemma argue during the second half of a Final Four game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 3, 2026 in Phoenix. (C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

Worst sportsmanship

UConn coaching legend Geno Auriemma soiled South Carolina’s huge Final Four win with an ugly display directed at Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley, which came after a profane third-quarter interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe. You’d think Geno didn’t own 12 national championships by the way he acted. Totally unacceptable. His half-baked statement a day later did not include Staley’s name, though he corrected that behavior Tuesday, which was days after the incident. The two have since spoken, according to reports.

TEXAS FOOTBALL: Spring football game is off

Best sportsmanship

Dawn Staley. The three-time national championship coach’s team was absolutely trampled in the NCAA championship game, but still gave UCLA coach Cori Close her flowers in postgame.

“I’m always happy for people who’ve worked hard in this game, who are really quality people,” Staley said. “I want good things to happen for them. And Cori is one of those people who really works at making our game better — not just UCLA, but our entire game.”

Class personified.

BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (right) dribbles the ball while being guarded by Texas forward Dailyn Swain during the first half in the first round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. (Soobum Im/Getty Images)

The most honest halftime answer

Michigan’s banged up forward Yaxel Lendeborg to CBS’ Tracy Wolfson on his first-half performance in the title game: “I feel awful. I feel super weak right now. I can't hit anything. I'm trying to push through obviously because it's the championship game and all that, but I'm missing plays that I don't usually miss.”

We need more like Yaxel.

The best takeover

The Big Ten. The conference has won the last three national football titles and now here comes hoops with the male-female double, courtesy of Michigan and UCLA. That conference is cooking. SEC beware. And don’t look now, but UCLA baseball is No. 1 in the latest rankings.

The best reunion

Michigan's Fab Five back together in Indianapolis. A lot of rain has fallen since this Michigan quintet made it to consecutive national championship games in 1992 — with all freshman starters — and 1993, but it was cool to see Austin’s Ray Jackson reunite with college teammates Jalen Rose, Chris Webber, Juwan Howard and Jimmy King at the Final Four.

They were a cultural phenomenon. Hard to believe these guys are in their 50's now.

The best dunk

BYU’s AJ Dybantsa vs. Texas. I’ve seen a lot of dunks in my day, but Dybantsa's wicked reverse throwdown on a baseline drive is in my top 10 all-time.

The best description of a heater

Texas' Tramon Mark after scoring 29 points on an array of jumpers in his final college game: “The rim looked like a hula hoop.”

The best upset

Trailing by 19 points in the second half didn’t bother 11th-seeded VCU, which rallied to knock out blue blood North Carolina in the first round.

The quickest walking papers

North Carolina coach Hubert Davis was shown the door after six seasons following that first-round loss.

The best video

“One Shining Moment”at the end of the tournament. There's no better way to close out basketball season than with the golden voice of the late, great Luther Vandross. Goosebumps every year. Rest well, King.

The worst empty space

The one created on TV with the loss of March Madness. For three weeks every year, it’s the absolute best thing going. It’s the only sporting event in America that never fails to deliver.