 "Photo: Stephen Durda")
 "Photo: Stephen Durda")
Though the Longhorns' road to a national championship seems to be paved in burnt orange following the opening two rounds, Rick Barnes refuses to look ahead.
After taking a wrong turn in Spokane and exiting prematurely from last season's NCAA Tournament, Barnes is not concerning himself with completing the journey. He just wants to make it to each destination.
First stop: Little Rock, Ark., where the No. 2 seed Longhorns open their March Madness against the No. 15 seed Austin Peay on Friday at 2 p.m.
"What's important is that we go and win one game and then you get ready to play another one. You don't think about moving forward, you just think about what's right in front of you," Barnes said. "If you do start getting caught up with that, it won't matter, because it won't happen."
Even if Barnes is not yet considering potential pit stops in Houston and San Antonio in the subsequent rounds, Texas' fans certainly are. And they have every right to do so.
The Longhorns (28-6, 13-3 Big 12) are one of only five schools to reach the Sweet 16 in four of the last six seasons while advancing to the Elite Eight in 2006 and the Final Four in 2003. If history is any indication, this Texas team should have few problems against the Governors (24-10, 16-4 Ohio Valley Conference) after accumulating an all-time record of 6-2 versus Austin Peay's conference brethren. Then again, second seeds in the Big Dance have posted four first round losses since 1991.
But to Barnes, the numbers are virtually useless.
"We don't make a lot over seeds or what we're going to do; we really don't," Barnes said. "This time of year is a great time of year because of the buzz with college basketball, but we've got to be smart enough to [learn from last year]."
In 2007, Texas fell to Southern California in the second round. With a more balanced and experienced roster this year, the Longhorns look to exploit Austin Peay's porous field-goal defense (46.6 percent) that ranks 287th out of 341 Division I teams.
If Texas win its tournament opener, the survivor of No. 10 St. Mary's (Calif.) versus No. 7 Miami (Fla.) will be waiting in round two on Sunday afternoon at 1:15 p.m.
On Jan. 5, the Longhorns ran over St. Mary's (25-6, 12-2 West Coast Conference) in Austin, winning 81-62. Against Miami (22-10, 8-8 ACC), Texas is 1-1 all-time with the last game occurring almost 20 years ago in 1989.
But Barnes is still very familiar with the Miami program.
Hurricanes coach Frank Haith spent three seasons at Texas under Barnes.
"I love Frank Haith," Barnes said. "He's one of my best friends; he's like a brother to me."
However, when it came to offering Haith tips on beating the Gaels, Barnes said his buddy didn't need any help from him.
"Frank and his staff know that anybody in this tournament can play and they'll be ready. I know St. Mary's will, too."
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