Disu has big hopes for close of career
Unlike past, health not an issue in bid to lead lengthy run
AUSTIN — Dylan Disu, who had a bone bruise at the time, believes if he was able to suit up for the Longhorns in last season’s Elite Eight matchup between Texas and Miami that it might have ended differently.
“That’s something that a lot of people talk about,” Disu said last week. “Hats off to Miami, obviously they had a great game. I do feel like, you know, there were a couple of times or different ways that I could have impacted the game. So, I think we’d probably be in the Final Four if I did play. But I don’t want to throw my teammates under the bus or try to take away from Miami’s win. Because they earned the win for sure.”
Disu played a critical role in Texas’ postseason run last year, which ended with the 88-81 loss to Miami. He was the Big 12 tournament’s Most Outstanding Player honor after leading Texas to a commanding 76-56 win over Kansas for the title. Disu’s 28point performance against Penn State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament was the most scored by a Longhorn the tournament since Kevin Durant dropped 30 points on USC in 2007.
This season, Disu increased his scoring to 16.1 points per game (up from 8.8) and was named the Big 12’s Most Improved Player.
But injuries have hindered his play throughout his career. Disu missed the first nine games of this season, including two tough non-conference games against Connecticut and Marquette, as he recovered from foot surgery.
“At Vanderbilt when I was reaching my peak, I had a knee injury right after I was actually named SEC Player of the Week,” he said. “And then last year, I felt like I was peaking physically
and mentally with my game and (there was) another injury, so it's been difficult for sure.”
Disu, who had been slowed by a stomach virus, ended up playing in last Monday's game at Baylor and suffered a left knee sprain and having to be helped off the court with 11 minutes left in what turned into a 93-85 loss. Disu was able to play 25 minutes against Oklahoma in Saturday's regular season finale. He scored 16 points and had eight rebounds in the 4-80 win.
Despite the uncertainty at the end of the regular season, his status for the postseason is not a question.
“I'll be playing in the NCAA Tournament and the Big 12 tournament,” he said Thursday.
Texas' journey back to the NCAA Tournament starts this week in the Big 12 tournament in Kansas City. The No. 7-seeded Longhorns are set to take on the No. 10-seeded Kansas State Wildcats on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Texas last played Kansas State on Feb. 19 at home and defeated the Wildcats 62-56.
And while Disu's journey on the Forty Acres isn't over yet, the senior is more than grateful for his time at Texas.
“It's a dream come true,” said Disu, who is from nearby Plfugerville. “If you told me when I was nine years old going into Mack Brown football camp that I'd be playing basketball here, I wouldn't have believed you.”