As Christmas nears so too does the end of the 2018 calendar year, and over the last 12 months, the big three Texas sports have collectively performed at a more successful level than any year since 2009. Yes, it has been that long, and yes, the last eighth years have made the bar easy to clear. Texas can’t have success without individual players performing at a very high level, and 2018 included some outstanding performances.
(Note: I linked a lot of our coverage of these performances throughout the story)
Let’s look back at the best of the best from Texas Football, Basketball, and Baseball players over the 2018 calendar year:
1) Sam Ehlinger versus Oklahoma (regular season)
Leading into the Oklahoma game, Ehlinger began to show real signs of progression. He stopped turning the football over, was making his presence felt on the ground, and while his efficiency was up-and-down, there were signs of big improvement.
Against the rival Sooners on an October afternoon at the Cotton Bowl, a unique college football environment that can create momentum swings capable of chewing up young QBs and spitting them out, Ehlinger was the best player on the field and made a very loud statement: the Texas QB job is his until he leaves campus, and the Longhorns are a legitimate Big 12 title contender. Ehlinger finished 24-of-35 for 314 yards with two touchdowns, and added 72 yards rushing on 19 carries with three emphatic scores on plays the entire stadium knew Texas was running.
Coming out of high school, Ehlinger’s scouting report highlighted his mental makeup, instincts, and competitiveness. His performance against OU, which ended on the field with some words for an upset Kyler Murray, was a shining example of those attributes.
Ketch's analysis from that day...
2) Kody Clemens against Tennessee Tech in the Super Regional final
Tennessee Tech tried to pitch around Clemens. It failed. In the third inning with a trip to Omaha on the line, Clemens hit a solo homer to put Texas in front 3-0. It was his third homer in the Super Regional, and third consecutive game to hit a homer.
3) Kerwin Roach II goes off in Las Vegas against North Carolina
Against the Tar Heels in Las Vegas, Kerwin Roach II was the best player on the floor and had one of the best individual games in the history of the program. The senior guard scored 32 points on 12-of-15 shooting (3-of-3 from three-point range and 5-of-7 from the free throw line) with six rebounds, seven assists, three turnovers, and four steals. UNC threatened to come all the way back and deliver Texas an excruciating loss similar to the Duke game a year prior, but it was Roach down the stretch who made play after play in the half-court to make sure Texas won the game. Plus, he delivered the moment of the game when he threw down a monstrous dunk on Cameron Johnson.
After the game, Roach had a brief moment of being overcome with emotion when he hugged assistant coach Darrin Horn.
4) Clemens gets the best of the Aggies in the Austin Regional
Quickly, Clemens developed a reputation as thriving in big moments, especially against rivals. The All-American infielder and Golden Spikes Award Finalist blasted a three-run homer in the top of the first inning against Texas A&M in the Austin Regional.
But it wasn’t just the homer that made Clemens a Texas legend in that moment. As he rounded the bases, Clemens put up his horns towards the left field fan area, and then stared holes into the entire A&M dugout as he rounded third. The Aggies weren’t ready for that game and moment. Clemens was.
If you don’t recall, Clemens, when Texas A&M was announced as being in the Austin Regional, jumped out of his seat in celebration while the rest of the Texas team was fairly subdued.
Later in the same game, Clemens blasted another home run, a solo shot, to give Texas a commanding 8-1 lead.
5) In Lubbock, Lil’Jordan Humphrey gets some revenge for 2008
With Collin Johnson sidelined because of an injury, Lil’Jordan Humphrey stepped up and dominated the Texas Tech defense. The junior receiver caught eight passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Of course, the play of the game came when Ehlinger threw a well-placed, back shoulder throw into one-on-one coverage, which allowed Humphrey to go up and make a play to win the game in the same corner as Michael Crabtree did versus Texas in 2008.
6) Andrew Jones makes return to basketball in season-opener versus Eastern Illinois
Less than a year after his Leukemia diagnosis, junior guard Andrew Jones was back on the floor in a Texas uniform during the 2018-19 season-opener. Incredible.
7) With College Gameday in Austin, Matt Coleman outplays Trae Young
Just a few days after missing key free throws in a heartbreaking loss at Texas Tech, Matt Coleman, who immediately went to the gym to get up shots once Texas returned from Lubbock late in the night, outplayed Trae Young. Coleman scored 17 of his 22 points in the second half, and was asked to defend Young down the stretch after Roach struggled to do so.
8) Clemens pushes Texas closer to Big 12 title with walk-off homer versus TCU
This was perhaps the moment when UFCU Disch-Falk Field regained its magic and Texas Baseball started its ascent back to being a national contender. Everyone, including Clemens himself who said after the game he felt chills as he walked towards the batter’s box, at the stadium could feel a special energy in the air when Duke Ellis beat out an infield single with two outs to bring up Clemens.
With two outs, Clemens smashed a two-run, walk-off homer to give Texas a win over its rival, and the homer also allowed Texas to play for a Big 12 Championship the next day. It was Clemens’s second two-run homer after hitting one in the fifth inning.
9) Mo Bamba’s dominant performances back-to-back against Ole Miss and Iowa State
As the calendar neared the end of 2017, Mohamed Bamba began to truly figure out how to excel as a college basketball player. During late January against Ole Miss and Iowa State in back-to-back games, Bamba posted the following combined stat line:
49 points on 15-of-19 shooting (3-of-3 from three-point range and 16-of-17 at the free throw line), 27 rebounds, seven blocks and two steals.
Against Iowa State, Texas was plus-25 when Bamba was on the floor. That’s nutty.
10) Ehlinger puts Texas in a position to win versus WVU with brilliant performance
With 2:34 left in the game, Ehlinger found Devin Duvernay for a 48-yard touchdown pass to put Texas in front 41-34. Unfortunately for Texas that day, Ehligner’s late score and performance wasn’t enough.
Statistically, the sophomore QB outplayed West Virginia’s Will Grier. Ehlinger finished 25-of-36 for 354 yards with three touchdowns and rushed for 52 yards on 11 carries with a score. If Texas had any time left on the clock, is there any doubt Ehlinger would have put his team in a position to kick a game-winning field goal?
11) Caden Sterns announces his presence with two interceptions versus TCU
Sterns turned hype into reality with his two interceptions against TCU, which established the freshman defensive back as one of the emerging stars at the position nationally.
He showed his outstanding instincts by picking off a TCU receiver on a trick play the first time, and the second interception proved to be the biggest play of the game. After Texas took a 17-16 lead just before the end of the third quarter, Sterns picked off Shawn Robinson and returned it to the TCU two-yard line. Texas, much to the delight of a fired up crowd, then punched it in the next play to take a 24-16 lead.
12) Under the weather, Nolan Kingham empties the tank in a postseason win over A&M
Kingham will be remember most for his performances in the postseason and against TCU in the final regular season series. Against the Aggies, Kingham threw 7.2 innings and gave up three runs on nine hits, one walk, and he struck out eight.
That morning, Kingham, who was dealing with flu-like symptoms, was throwing up and Texas was unsure if he’d even be able to pitch. Towards the end of his outing, the junior righthanded was clearly on fumes and could barely move around the mound in between pitches; the performance was a perfect example of gutsy.
13) With a heavy heart, Coleman guides Texas to win over TCU a day after AJ1 diagnosis announced
Less than 24 hours after being told one of their teammates and closest friends was diagnosed with Leukemia, the Longhorns had to play a crucial home game at home against TCU. Oh, and they had to also do it without Roach (broken bone in left hand).
Coleman played 49 minutes of a double-overtime game, was basically the entire Texas offense for the first 35 minutes, and also chased around two of the best guards in the league on defense. He finished with 17 points, 12 assists, five rebounds, five turnovers, and three steals. More importantly, his positive spirit and vibe on the floor helped lift his teammates.
After the game, many associated with the Texas program couldn’t hold back tears.
14) Charles Omenihu begins an impressive streak with stellar performance at Kansas State
After the Texas offense stalled following a 19-0 lead, the Texas defense had to pick up the slack to desperately hold onto a road win. Senior defensive end Charles Omenihu started to flash as a dominant force against USC and TCU, but his real party was at Kansas State. He recorded 5.0 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks and a safety.
From that game forward, Omenihu recorded at least 0.5 TFL in every game the rest of the season, a season that resulted in him being named Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year.
15) Thanks to an adjustment, Matteo Bocchi throws best game at UT in the Super Regional final
In the biggest start of his life, Bocchi, a native of Parma, Italy that didn’t even really know what postseason NCAA baseball was prior to the 2018 season, did exactly what Texas needed him to against one of the nation’s best lineups. Bocchi gave up just one run on four hits, one walk, and struck out three over 5.0 innings.
How was he able to do it? Bocchi was up to 94 MPH against Tennessee Tech after being mostly 88-91 MPH all season until something recently clicked to unlock more velocity and spin. Our exclusive story about that outing, adjustment, and how it all came together was one of my personal favorites from 2018.
16) With Ehlinger hurt, Collin Johnson steps up to help Texas avoid upset loss versus Baylor
Remember all those stories about how good of friends Johnson and Shane Buechele are? They became closer against Baylor.
Ehlinger was forced to leave the game early with injury, and a pesky Baylor team could taste a potential upset. As Buechele struggled some and the Texas offense couldn’t click consistently without Ehlinger, Johnson stepped up to play the role of star, and caught 11 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown. Although his touchdown catch was massive, perhaps his biggest grab of the game came with just over three minutes left when he caught a 10-yard pass for a first down to allow Texas to work a little more time off the clock.
17) Gary Johnson flies all around the field against USC
Named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for his performance, Johnson flew all over the field against USC, and was a big part of the Texas defense making J.T. Daniels look like an overmatched freshman. The senior linebacker had 4.0 TFL, 1.0 sacks, and forced a fumble.
18) Chase Shugart and Blair Henley keep Texas alive in the postseason
After losing the first game of the Austin Super Regional, Texas needed its pitching to come through against a very tough Tennessee Tech lineup. Chase Shugart and Blair Henley, two starting pitchers that were up-and-down during the 2018 season, came through with outstanding performances.
Shugart tossed 6.0 innings and gave up just one unearned run on two hits, five walks, and punched out five. He routinely executed big pitches in key moments with runners on base, and Henley finished the job with 3.0 innings of one-run baseball on just one hit with three strikeouts. The first batter Henley faced actually blasted a homer, which prompted almost everyone to second-guess the decision by David Pierce. Henley responded by retiring the next nine batters in order to earn the save.
19) Clemens raises average to .380 with 4-for-4 night at Oklahoma
Did I mention Clemens feasted on rivals? He helped Texas clinch a road series win at Oklahoma with a 4-for-4 performance in the second game of the series, which included a homer, double, three runs scored and a RBI. Not only did Clemens perform well, he also did it against any type of pitcher OU tried to throw at him – righty, lefty, weird angle in the freezing cold… it didn’t matter.
20) In a must-win situation, Roach comes through for Texas against West Virginia
Without Mohamed Bamba in a must-win situation versus West Virginia to end the regular season, Roach was a big part of a Texas offense that finished with 1.23 points per possession against one of the nation’s best defenses. He also made a big impact defensively on West Virginia star Jevon Carter, who made just five field goals and didn’t go to the free throw line once.
Roach played 43 minutes in an overtime win with 22 points on 6-of-15 shooting (2-of-5 from beyond the arc and 8-of-10 at the free throw line), eight assists, three rebounds, five turnovers, two blocks and a steal.
21) Samuel Cosmi establishes himself as a future star against Tulsa
Yes, it’s Tulsa. But Cosmi proved his outstanding performance in his second game at Texas wasn’t a fluke. According to Alex Dunlap’s Deep Dig grading, Cosmi finished with an 81.44 versus Tulsa, which is one of the highest grades of all-time. Cosmi let Texas and its fans know early that he is a future star at the tackle position.
22) Clemens hits two homers at Texas Tech to open a huge road series that would result in Texas taking two of three
The ball can fly out in Lubbock, and Clemens took advantage in the first game of the series, a game Texas would win before winning the rubber match on Sunday. The junior infielder went 4-for-5 during Friday’s game with two homers, three RBI, and three runs scored.
If Texas didn’t win that series, it wouldn’t have been able to play for a Big 12 Championship the next series.
23) Johnson abuses OU secondary in Big 12 Championship Game
No one in an Oklahoma uniform could contain Johnson. Literally, Johnson was the only one that could slow himself down. Although it was in a losing effort, Johnson was sensational against the Sooners with 177 yards on eight catches with a touchdown. The junior set the record for most receiving yards in a Big 12 Championship Game.
24) Jacob Young goes nuts in the Big 12 Tournament with 29 points
Young is a streaky shooter. He was that way in high school, he was that way at Texas, and he’ll be that way at Rutgers. Against Texas Tech in the Big 12 Tournament, the guard from Houston caught fire with 29 points on 11-of-17 shooting (6-of-7 from three-point range), and nearly led Texas to an upset over Texas Tech.
25) Bamba grabs 18 rebounds in road win at Oklahoma
Entering the game 15-11 and 5-8 in Big 12 play, the Longhorns desperately needed a road win at Oklahoma. They came through thanks in large part to Bamba, who grabbed 18 rebounds, blocked four shots, and was part of a terrific defensive performance that held one of the nation’s best offenses to 0.89 points per possession.
26) Dylan Osetkowski’s seven three-pointers help Texas beat Iowa State on the road
The Longhorns opened the Big 12 season with Kansas, at Iowa State, and at Baylor. So, after the opening loss to Kansas, there was a real chance Texas could have started Big 12 play 0-3. Winning on the Big 12 on the road is difficult no matter the opponent, and Osetkowski’s 7-of-13 performance from beyond the arc allowed Texas to leaving Hilton Coliseum, one of the most difficult places to play, with a key road victory. It was Texas’s first win at Iowa State since 2010.
27) David Hamilton allows Texas to avoid bad midweek loss with walk-off grand slam against Texas State
Under Pierce, Texas has become a much better team in midweek games. It appeared like Texas would drop one of those contests at home to Texas State, which would have been a blow to its resume. But San Marcos native David Hamilton was there to deliver a crushing swing of the bat to his hometown university.
With the bases loaded and no outs and Texas trailing 10-7, the sophomore infielder smashed a 3-2 pitch over the wall in right field for a walk-off grand slam. It was another reminder to never count out the 2018 Longhorns.
28) Anthony Wheeler, Gary Johnson part of dominant defensive effort on Senior Night against Iowa State
Iowa State managed just 4.6 yards per play as the Longhorn defense completely overwhelmed the Cyclone offense. The senior duo of Johnson and Wheeler combined to make 12.0 tackles, 2.5 TFL, and 2.0 sacks. In particular, Wheeler showed a quicker first step and more urgency than other games leading up to Iowa State.
Anwar's Sunday Pulpit following the Iowa State win
29) Andrew Beck plays big role in UT’s dominant effort in trenches versus Oklahoma (regular season)
Although he had just three catches for 29 yards, Beck was instrumental in UT’s dominant effort in the trenches, and was a lead blocker for Ehlinger’s three rushing touchdowns on QB sweeps/draws at the goal line. On the final scoring drive for Texas, Beck made a big catch for an eight-yard gain to help keep the drive on schedule.
30) Parker Joe Robinson’s gutsy outing in the Super Regional Final
After throwing 2.0 shutout innings in the first game of the Super Regional, Robinson was again effective with 2.2 innings against Tennessee Tech in the Omaha-clinching win for Texas.
The 49 pitches the righty threw were the most he threw all season, and it was remarkable how poised he was on the mound even when thrown in some extremely tough situations. Robinson entered the game with bases loaded and one out in the sixth inning with Texas clinging to a 4-1 lead. He limited the damage to one run, and Texas, as it so often did, responded to manufacture a run the next time it was up.
(Note: I linked a lot of our coverage of these performances throughout the story)
Let’s look back at the best of the best from Texas Football, Basketball, and Baseball players over the 2018 calendar year:
1) Sam Ehlinger versus Oklahoma (regular season)
Leading into the Oklahoma game, Ehlinger began to show real signs of progression. He stopped turning the football over, was making his presence felt on the ground, and while his efficiency was up-and-down, there were signs of big improvement.
Against the rival Sooners on an October afternoon at the Cotton Bowl, a unique college football environment that can create momentum swings capable of chewing up young QBs and spitting them out, Ehlinger was the best player on the field and made a very loud statement: the Texas QB job is his until he leaves campus, and the Longhorns are a legitimate Big 12 title contender. Ehlinger finished 24-of-35 for 314 yards with two touchdowns, and added 72 yards rushing on 19 carries with three emphatic scores on plays the entire stadium knew Texas was running.
Coming out of high school, Ehlinger’s scouting report highlighted his mental makeup, instincts, and competitiveness. His performance against OU, which ended on the field with some words for an upset Kyler Murray, was a shining example of those attributes.
Ketch's analysis from that day...
2) Kody Clemens against Tennessee Tech in the Super Regional final
Tennessee Tech tried to pitch around Clemens. It failed. In the third inning with a trip to Omaha on the line, Clemens hit a solo homer to put Texas in front 3-0. It was his third homer in the Super Regional, and third consecutive game to hit a homer.
3) Kerwin Roach II goes off in Las Vegas against North Carolina
Against the Tar Heels in Las Vegas, Kerwin Roach II was the best player on the floor and had one of the best individual games in the history of the program. The senior guard scored 32 points on 12-of-15 shooting (3-of-3 from three-point range and 5-of-7 from the free throw line) with six rebounds, seven assists, three turnovers, and four steals. UNC threatened to come all the way back and deliver Texas an excruciating loss similar to the Duke game a year prior, but it was Roach down the stretch who made play after play in the half-court to make sure Texas won the game. Plus, he delivered the moment of the game when he threw down a monstrous dunk on Cameron Johnson.
After the game, Roach had a brief moment of being overcome with emotion when he hugged assistant coach Darrin Horn.
4) Clemens gets the best of the Aggies in the Austin Regional
Quickly, Clemens developed a reputation as thriving in big moments, especially against rivals. The All-American infielder and Golden Spikes Award Finalist blasted a three-run homer in the top of the first inning against Texas A&M in the Austin Regional.
But it wasn’t just the homer that made Clemens a Texas legend in that moment. As he rounded the bases, Clemens put up his horns towards the left field fan area, and then stared holes into the entire A&M dugout as he rounded third. The Aggies weren’t ready for that game and moment. Clemens was.
If you don’t recall, Clemens, when Texas A&M was announced as being in the Austin Regional, jumped out of his seat in celebration while the rest of the Texas team was fairly subdued.
Later in the same game, Clemens blasted another home run, a solo shot, to give Texas a commanding 8-1 lead.
5) In Lubbock, Lil’Jordan Humphrey gets some revenge for 2008
With Collin Johnson sidelined because of an injury, Lil’Jordan Humphrey stepped up and dominated the Texas Tech defense. The junior receiver caught eight passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Of course, the play of the game came when Ehlinger threw a well-placed, back shoulder throw into one-on-one coverage, which allowed Humphrey to go up and make a play to win the game in the same corner as Michael Crabtree did versus Texas in 2008.
6) Andrew Jones makes return to basketball in season-opener versus Eastern Illinois
Less than a year after his Leukemia diagnosis, junior guard Andrew Jones was back on the floor in a Texas uniform during the 2018-19 season-opener. Incredible.
7) With College Gameday in Austin, Matt Coleman outplays Trae Young
Just a few days after missing key free throws in a heartbreaking loss at Texas Tech, Matt Coleman, who immediately went to the gym to get up shots once Texas returned from Lubbock late in the night, outplayed Trae Young. Coleman scored 17 of his 22 points in the second half, and was asked to defend Young down the stretch after Roach struggled to do so.
8) Clemens pushes Texas closer to Big 12 title with walk-off homer versus TCU
This was perhaps the moment when UFCU Disch-Falk Field regained its magic and Texas Baseball started its ascent back to being a national contender. Everyone, including Clemens himself who said after the game he felt chills as he walked towards the batter’s box, at the stadium could feel a special energy in the air when Duke Ellis beat out an infield single with two outs to bring up Clemens.
With two outs, Clemens smashed a two-run, walk-off homer to give Texas a win over its rival, and the homer also allowed Texas to play for a Big 12 Championship the next day. It was Clemens’s second two-run homer after hitting one in the fifth inning.
9) Mo Bamba’s dominant performances back-to-back against Ole Miss and Iowa State
As the calendar neared the end of 2017, Mohamed Bamba began to truly figure out how to excel as a college basketball player. During late January against Ole Miss and Iowa State in back-to-back games, Bamba posted the following combined stat line:
49 points on 15-of-19 shooting (3-of-3 from three-point range and 16-of-17 at the free throw line), 27 rebounds, seven blocks and two steals.
Against Iowa State, Texas was plus-25 when Bamba was on the floor. That’s nutty.
10) Ehlinger puts Texas in a position to win versus WVU with brilliant performance
With 2:34 left in the game, Ehlinger found Devin Duvernay for a 48-yard touchdown pass to put Texas in front 41-34. Unfortunately for Texas that day, Ehligner’s late score and performance wasn’t enough.
Statistically, the sophomore QB outplayed West Virginia’s Will Grier. Ehlinger finished 25-of-36 for 354 yards with three touchdowns and rushed for 52 yards on 11 carries with a score. If Texas had any time left on the clock, is there any doubt Ehlinger would have put his team in a position to kick a game-winning field goal?
11) Caden Sterns announces his presence with two interceptions versus TCU
Sterns turned hype into reality with his two interceptions against TCU, which established the freshman defensive back as one of the emerging stars at the position nationally.
He showed his outstanding instincts by picking off a TCU receiver on a trick play the first time, and the second interception proved to be the biggest play of the game. After Texas took a 17-16 lead just before the end of the third quarter, Sterns picked off Shawn Robinson and returned it to the TCU two-yard line. Texas, much to the delight of a fired up crowd, then punched it in the next play to take a 24-16 lead.
12) Under the weather, Nolan Kingham empties the tank in a postseason win over A&M
Kingham will be remember most for his performances in the postseason and against TCU in the final regular season series. Against the Aggies, Kingham threw 7.2 innings and gave up three runs on nine hits, one walk, and he struck out eight.
That morning, Kingham, who was dealing with flu-like symptoms, was throwing up and Texas was unsure if he’d even be able to pitch. Towards the end of his outing, the junior righthanded was clearly on fumes and could barely move around the mound in between pitches; the performance was a perfect example of gutsy.
13) With a heavy heart, Coleman guides Texas to win over TCU a day after AJ1 diagnosis announced
Less than 24 hours after being told one of their teammates and closest friends was diagnosed with Leukemia, the Longhorns had to play a crucial home game at home against TCU. Oh, and they had to also do it without Roach (broken bone in left hand).
Coleman played 49 minutes of a double-overtime game, was basically the entire Texas offense for the first 35 minutes, and also chased around two of the best guards in the league on defense. He finished with 17 points, 12 assists, five rebounds, five turnovers, and three steals. More importantly, his positive spirit and vibe on the floor helped lift his teammates.
After the game, many associated with the Texas program couldn’t hold back tears.
14) Charles Omenihu begins an impressive streak with stellar performance at Kansas State
After the Texas offense stalled following a 19-0 lead, the Texas defense had to pick up the slack to desperately hold onto a road win. Senior defensive end Charles Omenihu started to flash as a dominant force against USC and TCU, but his real party was at Kansas State. He recorded 5.0 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks and a safety.
From that game forward, Omenihu recorded at least 0.5 TFL in every game the rest of the season, a season that resulted in him being named Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year.
15) Thanks to an adjustment, Matteo Bocchi throws best game at UT in the Super Regional final
In the biggest start of his life, Bocchi, a native of Parma, Italy that didn’t even really know what postseason NCAA baseball was prior to the 2018 season, did exactly what Texas needed him to against one of the nation’s best lineups. Bocchi gave up just one run on four hits, one walk, and struck out three over 5.0 innings.
How was he able to do it? Bocchi was up to 94 MPH against Tennessee Tech after being mostly 88-91 MPH all season until something recently clicked to unlock more velocity and spin. Our exclusive story about that outing, adjustment, and how it all came together was one of my personal favorites from 2018.
16) With Ehlinger hurt, Collin Johnson steps up to help Texas avoid upset loss versus Baylor
Remember all those stories about how good of friends Johnson and Shane Buechele are? They became closer against Baylor.
Ehlinger was forced to leave the game early with injury, and a pesky Baylor team could taste a potential upset. As Buechele struggled some and the Texas offense couldn’t click consistently without Ehlinger, Johnson stepped up to play the role of star, and caught 11 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown. Although his touchdown catch was massive, perhaps his biggest grab of the game came with just over three minutes left when he caught a 10-yard pass for a first down to allow Texas to work a little more time off the clock.
17) Gary Johnson flies all around the field against USC
Named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for his performance, Johnson flew all over the field against USC, and was a big part of the Texas defense making J.T. Daniels look like an overmatched freshman. The senior linebacker had 4.0 TFL, 1.0 sacks, and forced a fumble.
18) Chase Shugart and Blair Henley keep Texas alive in the postseason
After losing the first game of the Austin Super Regional, Texas needed its pitching to come through against a very tough Tennessee Tech lineup. Chase Shugart and Blair Henley, two starting pitchers that were up-and-down during the 2018 season, came through with outstanding performances.
Shugart tossed 6.0 innings and gave up just one unearned run on two hits, five walks, and punched out five. He routinely executed big pitches in key moments with runners on base, and Henley finished the job with 3.0 innings of one-run baseball on just one hit with three strikeouts. The first batter Henley faced actually blasted a homer, which prompted almost everyone to second-guess the decision by David Pierce. Henley responded by retiring the next nine batters in order to earn the save.
19) Clemens raises average to .380 with 4-for-4 night at Oklahoma
Did I mention Clemens feasted on rivals? He helped Texas clinch a road series win at Oklahoma with a 4-for-4 performance in the second game of the series, which included a homer, double, three runs scored and a RBI. Not only did Clemens perform well, he also did it against any type of pitcher OU tried to throw at him – righty, lefty, weird angle in the freezing cold… it didn’t matter.
20) In a must-win situation, Roach comes through for Texas against West Virginia
Without Mohamed Bamba in a must-win situation versus West Virginia to end the regular season, Roach was a big part of a Texas offense that finished with 1.23 points per possession against one of the nation’s best defenses. He also made a big impact defensively on West Virginia star Jevon Carter, who made just five field goals and didn’t go to the free throw line once.
Roach played 43 minutes in an overtime win with 22 points on 6-of-15 shooting (2-of-5 from beyond the arc and 8-of-10 at the free throw line), eight assists, three rebounds, five turnovers, two blocks and a steal.
21) Samuel Cosmi establishes himself as a future star against Tulsa
Yes, it’s Tulsa. But Cosmi proved his outstanding performance in his second game at Texas wasn’t a fluke. According to Alex Dunlap’s Deep Dig grading, Cosmi finished with an 81.44 versus Tulsa, which is one of the highest grades of all-time. Cosmi let Texas and its fans know early that he is a future star at the tackle position.
22) Clemens hits two homers at Texas Tech to open a huge road series that would result in Texas taking two of three
The ball can fly out in Lubbock, and Clemens took advantage in the first game of the series, a game Texas would win before winning the rubber match on Sunday. The junior infielder went 4-for-5 during Friday’s game with two homers, three RBI, and three runs scored.
If Texas didn’t win that series, it wouldn’t have been able to play for a Big 12 Championship the next series.
23) Johnson abuses OU secondary in Big 12 Championship Game
No one in an Oklahoma uniform could contain Johnson. Literally, Johnson was the only one that could slow himself down. Although it was in a losing effort, Johnson was sensational against the Sooners with 177 yards on eight catches with a touchdown. The junior set the record for most receiving yards in a Big 12 Championship Game.
24) Jacob Young goes nuts in the Big 12 Tournament with 29 points
Young is a streaky shooter. He was that way in high school, he was that way at Texas, and he’ll be that way at Rutgers. Against Texas Tech in the Big 12 Tournament, the guard from Houston caught fire with 29 points on 11-of-17 shooting (6-of-7 from three-point range), and nearly led Texas to an upset over Texas Tech.
25) Bamba grabs 18 rebounds in road win at Oklahoma
Entering the game 15-11 and 5-8 in Big 12 play, the Longhorns desperately needed a road win at Oklahoma. They came through thanks in large part to Bamba, who grabbed 18 rebounds, blocked four shots, and was part of a terrific defensive performance that held one of the nation’s best offenses to 0.89 points per possession.
26) Dylan Osetkowski’s seven three-pointers help Texas beat Iowa State on the road
The Longhorns opened the Big 12 season with Kansas, at Iowa State, and at Baylor. So, after the opening loss to Kansas, there was a real chance Texas could have started Big 12 play 0-3. Winning on the Big 12 on the road is difficult no matter the opponent, and Osetkowski’s 7-of-13 performance from beyond the arc allowed Texas to leaving Hilton Coliseum, one of the most difficult places to play, with a key road victory. It was Texas’s first win at Iowa State since 2010.
27) David Hamilton allows Texas to avoid bad midweek loss with walk-off grand slam against Texas State
Under Pierce, Texas has become a much better team in midweek games. It appeared like Texas would drop one of those contests at home to Texas State, which would have been a blow to its resume. But San Marcos native David Hamilton was there to deliver a crushing swing of the bat to his hometown university.
With the bases loaded and no outs and Texas trailing 10-7, the sophomore infielder smashed a 3-2 pitch over the wall in right field for a walk-off grand slam. It was another reminder to never count out the 2018 Longhorns.
28) Anthony Wheeler, Gary Johnson part of dominant defensive effort on Senior Night against Iowa State
Iowa State managed just 4.6 yards per play as the Longhorn defense completely overwhelmed the Cyclone offense. The senior duo of Johnson and Wheeler combined to make 12.0 tackles, 2.5 TFL, and 2.0 sacks. In particular, Wheeler showed a quicker first step and more urgency than other games leading up to Iowa State.
Anwar's Sunday Pulpit following the Iowa State win
29) Andrew Beck plays big role in UT’s dominant effort in trenches versus Oklahoma (regular season)
Although he had just three catches for 29 yards, Beck was instrumental in UT’s dominant effort in the trenches, and was a lead blocker for Ehlinger’s three rushing touchdowns on QB sweeps/draws at the goal line. On the final scoring drive for Texas, Beck made a big catch for an eight-yard gain to help keep the drive on schedule.
30) Parker Joe Robinson’s gutsy outing in the Super Regional Final
After throwing 2.0 shutout innings in the first game of the Super Regional, Robinson was again effective with 2.2 innings against Tennessee Tech in the Omaha-clinching win for Texas.
The 49 pitches the righty threw were the most he threw all season, and it was remarkable how poised he was on the mound even when thrown in some extremely tough situations. Robinson entered the game with bases loaded and one out in the sixth inning with Texas clinging to a 4-1 lead. He limited the damage to one run, and Texas, as it so often did, responded to manufacture a run the next time it was up.
