Longhorns guard Tramon Mark (back) is questionable after sitting out last game, an 83-67 home loss to Georgia. He's an excellent perimeter defender; his absence helped Silas Demary erupt for 26 points on 8-of-14 shooting. The Longhorns could use a healthy Mark against Mississippi State's Josh Hubbard, who is averaging 18.4 points and coming off a 30-point outburst. Mark's status is one of many issues plaguing Texas, which has dropped three straight and six of seven. In that seven-game span, the Longhorns are giving up 85.4 points per game. That poor defense only increases the pressure on Tre Johnson -- who has played 38 minutes in three straight games -- to be electric on every possession. Lay the points.

This late season slide for Texas has made the NCAA Tournament look like a long shot along with the odds that the program avoids a coaching change this offseason. Starkville is not a spot where I expect the Longhorns to be able to circle the wagons after losing six of their last seven, even with some of the high-scoring performances from Tre Johnson in recent weeks. Texas is just 2-6 on the road in SEC play this season, with the only victories coming at Oklahoma (14th in SEC) and LSU (15th in the SEC).