Texas Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer went on a rant about his point guard Rori Harmon after the Longhorns’ 77-64 victory over LSU. Despite No. 4 Texas securing its fourth win against a top-10 opponent this season, Schaefer felt the spotlight was missing on Harmon. During his postgame presser, he tried to advocate for his star point guard, who had just delivered a masterclass in defensive pressure and floor leadership.
Schaefer’s primary concern lies with the lack of attention from national awards committees. Even as Harmon became the first player in program history to hold both career assists and steals records, she has yet to win the Nancy Lieberman Award. Schaefer believes her stats and impact on winning are being overlooked by those voting for the same. In a fit of frustration, Schaefer said:
“When Rori’s done playing, y’all… the numbers that she’s gonna have, there won’t be another player in the history of women’s college basketball. And yet she still hasn’t been awarded the point guard of the year.”
Schaefer further emphasized that Harmon has been the engine behind Texas’ pursuit of the No. 1 seed. He praised her “big heart” and her ability to shut down high-scoring offenses like LSU’s. For him, the lack of hardware for Harmon is a slight he intends to keep fighting until her final game in a Longhorn uniform. He added:
“She deserves way more. I’ll toot that horn from now until she’s done.”
How Well Does Rori Harmon Compare in Winning the Nancy Lieberman Award?
Rori Harmon is currently a top-10 midseason candidate for the 2026 Nancy Lieberman Award, among other elite floor generals in the country. Her statistical profile is bolstered by a 4.64 assist-to-turnover ratio, which ranks second nationally, and she is the only active Division I player to hold her program’s records for both assists (894) and steals (351).
Having recently surpassed 1,500 career points, Harmon’s resume combines high-volume playmaking with elite defensive production, a combination that has historically been a hallmark of Lieberman Award winners.
Her primary competition includes several high-impact guards, such as Olivia Miles of TCU and Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame. Miles is currently averaging 19.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists, leading the nation in triple-doubles. Meanwhile, Hidalgo and others like UCLA’s Kiki Rice, who is nearing a 50/40/90 shooting season, present strong cases based on scoring efficiency and overall versatility.
While Harmon’s scoring average of 9.3 points this season is lower than some of her peers, her importance is measured by her immediate impact. She made a record-breaking 351 career steals and leads the Texas defense that ranks first in the SEC, holding opponents to just 53 points per game.
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