Jeff Howe

A 2-point FG percentage and a high free-throw rate have carried Texas offensively, Miller said. "Offensively, Miller said, "it's hard for me to be too critical."

"I don't know that we ever disconnected from that moment," Miller said of how Texas reacted to the loss to OU. He believes that the Longhorns have disconnected from the loss to Ole Miss and are ready to face N.C. State.

On the possibility of Xavier fans who might show up, Miller said (with a smirk) he's got a lot of friends in Cincinnati and he thinks the environment will be very supportive.

"We need those guys really playing well and setting the tone for our team," Miller said.

The Longhorns are at their best, Miller said, when Tramon Mark, Jordan Pope, Dailyn Swain and Matas are all playing well.

Miller: "The familiarity of already being there a year ago will be good."

It's "healthy" that Miller's staff and a lot of the players on this team know what it's like to start the NCAA Tournament in Dayton.

Playing offense and committing fewer than 10 turnovers is what Texas needs to do to be successful in the NCAA Tournament, he said.

Why did the Longhorns win 18 games and win nine SEC games? "It really starts on the offensive end," Miller said. Turnovers have been a major issue in the last two games, he said. Many of those, Miller added, were live-ball turnovers.

Miller said this team is ready to embrace the moment in Dayton.

Miller gave the Longhorns a couple of days off after the loss to Ole Miss. He believes the team has been in NCAA Tournament mode for the last couple of days.

Miller's message to the team has been to treat the NCAA Tournament as the start of a new season, and what happened against Ole Miss doesn't matter.

Miller compares the loss to OU and dropping the game to Ole Miss to the two-game stretch when Texas lost to Mississippi State and then didn't play well in a road loss to Tennessee the next time out.

Miller: "I don't think we ever had a chance, nor did I take it upon myself to separate the end of the regular season" from the start of the postseason with the team's first (and only) SEC Tournament game in Nashville.

Miller: "We have to get back to playing our best."

Miller calls the Wolfpack "very explosive" on offense, adding that Will Wade's team benefits from "balanced scoring."

Like Texas, Miller said N.C. State didn't finish as strong as they probably would've liked.

Miller believes Texas "is super excited to keep playing."

Miller said Texas was "playing in mud" to start the Ole Miss game, indicating that they let the loss to OU carry over to the SEC Tournament.

Miller told the team that he should've been better going into and during the Ole Miss game.

Miller: "I don't think it's easy enough to say that we haven't played well." He mentioned losing to Arkansas on the road after the Razorbacks were routed by Florida. Had Texas won one of the last two games, Miller knows Texas would've been "one seed higher on the seed line."

"We know the schedule we played," Miller said. "We know what we're capable of."

Miller: "There has been nothing easy for our team."

Miller: "I wouldn't say I'm surprised at all that we got in. There are some really smart people that pick the field. There are no favors here."

Familiarity with Dayton and the arena can help Texas, Miller said.