The Texas Longhorns saw their undefeated streak come to an end after they suffered a 70-65 loss to the LSU Tigers, an understandably disappointing reality for the players and coaching staff alike. In fact, it was so disappointing that head coach Vic Schaefer told reporters after the game the team's tough schedule was partly to blame — and appeared to imply that no other team in the SEC had to contend with back-to-back difficult games.
Schaefer went as far as to accuse the SEC of having a "vendetta" against the team, a claim he didn't substantially back up. His core issue appeared to be the fact that the Longhorns had to play the Tigers and the South Carolina Gamecocks (who are currently ranked No. 2 overall) back-to-back. That's a tough set of games to be sure, but the reality is the entire SEC is tough — not just those two teams.
"Two weeks ago this team that we just played was No. 5 in the country, and it's a bear. They obviously have a vendetta against Texas, because not only have we started in the league, and I get to play South Carolina twice last year, this year I get LSU twice," Schaefer insisted.
He later added: "The league is hard enough as it is, but then to bless me and my group with that, it really has a stench to it. The common denominator is LSU and South Carolina both played Georgia before they played me, and South Carolina was at home today."
Schaefer also said that he's angered by the fact that the SEC didn't clear the schedule with him or anyone on his team ahead of time, something he believes might have made a difference in how the team performed. As he said, "It is what it is, but there's some things that bother me in regards to the schedule. But they don't call me and ask me about it. I just get it. Unless somebody from my university stands up and says, 'Hey, what in the hell is going on here?' Nobody does anything."
Schaefer also insisted that no other teams in the SEC will play LSU and South Carolina back-to-back. While it's true that most teams in the conference will not, Missouri will first travel to play LSU on February 22 and then will travel to South Carolina to meet the Gamecocks on February 26. That's the same span of time the Longhorns had between their two games against the same schools — and Missouri pulled off a similar feat when they played Vanderbilt and then Kentucky within the same five days of one another.
On top of that, Missouri isn't the only team that will meet LSU and then South Carolina. Ole Miss will play both teams within four days of one another, and Georgia played both teams within three days of one another in January. Oklahoma is right smack in the middle of their own back-to-back games with both teams (they played LSU on January 18 and will play South Carolina on January 22).
Schaefer is certainly one of the best coaches in college basketball for a reason, but when it comes to this specific complaint, a little bit of homework might have helped his argument. The Texas Longhorns will next travel to Arkansas on Sunday, January 25.