Junior guard Rori Harmon continues to have an impact even after being injured.
When the buzzer went off, the Moody Center exploded in shouts as the Longhorns defeated the No. 2 Kansas State Wildcats. The game mirrored the intensity and turnout of Texas’ previous season matchup with UConn. But the absence of Rori Harmon was the primary distinction between those two games.
Now on crutches, Harmon is forced to watch her coaches play point guard while sitting on the bench rather than being the standout player for the Longhorns.
The junior guard, whose ACL injury kept her from playing the remainder of the season, has decided to take on an active coaching position with the club, as seen in a video posted on the team’s social media pages.
The video concluded with a private moment between her and her mother following the Longhorns’ victory over the Jayhawks at home. Harmon gave her family a hug and a kiss, but when she walked on the court while using crutches, the microphone she was wearing recorded their chat.
Harmon’s mother responded, “They miss you.” Next, Harmon’s mother said, “She’s our coach now,” echoing what her teammates had said about her.
Harmon’s season was cut short when she tore her right ACL during warm-ups on December 27 before the Jackson State game. Head coach Vic Schaefer said some poignant things in a team statement.
Schaefer remarked, “It is absolutely heartbreaking; my heart hurts for her.” But I know Rori will attack this, just like she does in every game and practice, and she’ll quickly revert to her previous state.
Despite losing Harmon, who averages 14 points and 8 assists per game, the Longhorns have only lost three games since his injury. Harmon hasn’t diminished, though, even if she is taking the remainder of the season off, owing to the other players’ contributions. Schaefer anticipated his seasoned leader to act in this way.
In the upcoming months of the season, Schaefer said, “I know she will continue to be a great teammate and she will help her team.”
Late in a game against the Oklahoma Sooners at home, Harmon yanked the team apart. Shay Holle, a senior guard, discussed how Harmon continues to play a part even in games that result in a loss, as it did against the Sooners.
Essentially, Holle stated, “we need to lock in and dig in for the remainder of the game and get out of our feelings.” “Obviously, she is someone we all look up to a lot.”
Texas headed to Waco, Texas to play No. 13 Baylor before their most recent game against No. 2 Kansas State at home. Her doctor didn’t want Harmon to sit on the bench and urged her not to travel with the team. However, it was decided that Harmon could remain courtside if she sat in the rear row of the bench after pleading with Schaefer for assistance.
“The child is a rival. Schaefer remarked, “She wants to be there.” “She wants to coach, she wants to support her teammates!”
Though Schaefer is appreciative of Harmon’s dedication to the team’s success, he would rather have his seasoned point guard on the court.
Schaefer remarked, “I don’t like her over there sitting with me, but she’s so good over there and has a lot to offer.”
Harmon will be on the Longhorns’ side at every turn as they attempt to win The Big 12 Championship.