'It's pretty surreal, honestly': Texas guard Shay Holle reflects on Moody Center crowd

As Texas dribbled out the final seconds of a 65-54 victory over Alabama on Sunday night, an announced crowd of 9,753 at Moody Center witnessed a win that secured the Longhorns' spot in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament.

NBA star Kevin Durant was among those 9,753 fans. So was Texas volleyball coach Jerritt Elliott and UT men's basketball coach Rodney Terry. Thanks in part to a generous offer by former Texas football star Michael Huff to buy tickets, the venue's student sections were packed.

For a player like Shay Holle, the size of the Moody Center crowd was notable.

A fourth-year guard, Holle's first year on campus happened during the pandemic season. As a freshman, she had to play some of her games inside of an empty Erwin Center with cardboard cutouts of fans in the stands.

During her next two seasons, Texas struggled to consistently draw fans. Head coach Vic Schaefer often resorted to publicly criticizing UT's attendance numbers and pleading for more support. At one point during her sophomore year, Holle said she had more fun playing in road games because of the fan interest.

But this season, UT has seen more success at the box office. Texas averaged 6,590 fans during the regular season, and that average ranked 12th nationally (UT averaged the 11th-most fans last season, but averaged just 5,794 fans).

The crowd for Sunday's game was UT's third-largest of the season. Texas drew 10,763 fans for the UConn game on Dec. 3 and 10,364 for its regular-season finale against BYU.

In the Texas locker room after the Alabama game, Holle was able to reflect on the increased interest in her basketball program over the years:

"Thinking back to freshman year, we're in Erwin Center, it's giant and there's no one even allowed in it. Every game kind of felt like a closed scrimmage, honestly. Then to get to tonight, four years later and be able to play in front of over 9,000 people, it's kind of crazy. It's pretty surreal, honestly," Holle said. "We all don't take it for granted, none of us do. I think it's so much fun where the women's game is at and how it continues to grow. To see KD at our game, if you would have told me that my freshman year, I wouldn't have believed you. I think it's just so special and it's so much fun. It makes the game so exciting. I think it gives that homecourt feel that we've been kind of missing in the years past and the fans definitely did not disappoint."

In an interview later in the evening, Texas junior Aaliyah Moore took time to thank the fans and give a shout-out to student groups like the Texas Darlins and Texas Wranglers. "We appreciate you guys so so so much," Moore said.

So, are the Texas Longhorns now a must-see show on the Moody Center marque? Holle thinks so.

Said Holle: "I think we've definitely caught some people's attention for sure. Coach Schaefer always says when you win, people are going to want to come, and if you get them to come to one game, then they'll be sold. If they come and watch you play and you play hard and you play how you're supposed to play, they're going to want to come back. I think we've done a pretty good job of that. We got people in the door at first and then they're like, 'Oh, this is really fun, actually.' I think across the country, you see that. I think there's just players that are really taking their game to the next level, (Texas freshman) Madison Booker being one of them, obviously. I mean, she's so fun to watch. But yeah, it's really special to be a part of."

For Texas, the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight rounds of the NCAA Tournament will be played in Portland. If UT makes it, the Final Four is in Cleveland.

So that means that basketball is done at the Moody Center for a while. Texas went 17-2 in its home games this season.