There’s been no shortage of news surrounding the Texas men’s basketball program over the last week.
After the Longhorns were shockingly upset by Abilene Christian in the first round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament, Texas head coach Shaka Smart’s future in Austin looked bleak.
Smart has been with Texas for six seasons and has zero NCAA Tournament wins to show for it. While winning the Big 12 tournament championship this year was certainly a nice surprise, Smart’s squads couldn’t get it done when it mattered most.
While many assumed that Texas would move on from Smart in the near future, hardly anyone could have expected it to happen this way. On Friday, CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein broke the news that Marquette was closing in on hiring Smart as their next head basketball coach.
It’s as clean of an exit that you can ask for on both sides and expertly played by all Texas parties.
Take a look at the best reactions from the sudden turn of events on the next page.
just seen Shaka Smart in the airport leaving Texas to go to Marquette pic.twitter.com/0sUOY4iQjr
— Stunna4Conyers (@jorryetavious) March 26, 2021
Shaka Smart 0 tournament wins at Texas the last 6 years.
Marquette 0 tournament wins in the last 8 years.
It’s a perfect match!
— Ben Brust (@BenBrust) March 26, 2021
If I'm Texas, the two names I call after I'm rebuffed by Chris Beard. I'm calling Dana Altman at Oregon. Man knows how to win in March. And….I'm calling John Calipari. They're moving into a new bldg next season. No one sells excitement like Cal. And yes, he can really coach
— Chuck Cooperstein (@coopmavs) March 26, 2021
Shaka Smart needed a basketball school and he got a basketball school, let’s do this.
— Corey Catholdi (@jetsmokey1) March 26, 2021
CDC will make the two most important hires of his career in a 4 month span. No pressure. #HookEm
— HornSports (@HornSports) March 26, 2021
This is ultimately why both he and Texas are moving on from each other. The recent Big 12 title is nice but that stat there on the bottom is not going to cut it https://t.co/pNpsE8dOFj
— Griffin McVeigh (@Griffin_McVeigh) March 26, 2021
Shaka Smart bolting for Marquette was probably the best thing for UT..His seat was already white hot and an eventual split seemed almost certain..Today’s move saves Texas from another expensive buyout, something that is quite common in Austin
— Todd Miller (@PlayByPlayGuy1) March 26, 2021
Wow Shaka Smart has been insanely unlucky in the tourney since 2014
2014: Up 4, 10 sec left, 4-point play sends to OT. Loss
2015: Loss by 3 (OT)
2016: Loss by 3 on half court shot
2018: Up 1, 5 sec left, foul sends to OT. Loss
2021: Up 1, foul w/ 2 sec left, loss
— Nathan Marzion (@nathanmarzion) March 26, 2021
#mubb: We need a coach who can win in the NCAA Tournament.
Shaka Smart: I've won games in the tourney! #mubb: Oh yeah? Recently?
Smart: …is 2013 considered recently?#mubb: pic.twitter.com/U5Z6HbTpJl
— Andy Braun (@TBucsFan62) March 26, 2021
https://twitter.com/GoodmanHoops/status/1375520336603713537?s=20
Change at Texas was inevitable after NCAAT loss to Abilene Christian.
Shaka Smart got ahead of it & found fit that makes sense at Marquette.
Early names for Longhorns: UT grad Chris Beard & ex-‘Horns assistant Russell Springmann (recruited Kevin Durant; now at Oral Roberts). https://t.co/MVB8XlU8C9
— Joshua Parrott (@JoshuaParrott) March 26, 2021
Shaka Smart presumably finishes his tenure with more NBA Lottery Picks (3) than Tournament wins (0).
— Carter Yates (@Carter_Yates16) March 26, 2021
https://twitter.com/TarHeelTanMan/status/1375533753574039553?s=20
https://twitter.com/gkketch/status/1375470793795178498?s=20
Chris Beard's buyout to go to another Big 12 school drops to $4 million on April 1, sources told ESPN. $2 million for any school outside the Big 12.
Just, you know, in case anyone is randomly wondering this morning.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) March 26, 2021
https://twitter.com/PerrynKeys/status/1375533328619732999?s=20
Last week I questioned whether or not Texas & Shaka Smart were headed for divorce & news has come out that they are going there separate ways. Shaka is a very good coach & if Marquette is his next gig he will do a great job. Texas is pro job & that's not what college coaching is.
— Frankred (@Bigfrankred) March 26, 2021
Shaka Smart’s record at Texas:
Overall: 109-86
Big 12: 52-56
NCAA Tourney Wins: 0— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 26, 2021