Tag: big 12 basketball

How Hot Is Shaka Smart’s Seat?

In the fifth season under Shaka Smart, is the seat warming up for the Texas Longhorns men’s basketball coach?

This is the fifth year that Texas Longhorns men’s basketball coach Shaka Smart has been the man in charge in Austin. After winning over 70 percent of his games at Virginia Commonwealth University, the thought was that Smart could bring some of his March Madness magic to Austin.

A team that hasn’t had much success in the tournament since Rick Barnes led the Longhorns to the Sweet 16 or better five times during his tenure. For any college coach, they should get at least four to five seasons to get their program in place. In the beginning using players that were recruiting by their predecessor.

With this being the fifth year under Smart, this is his team. For a program that has seen success, it has to be increasingly frustrating to see a team that seems to be regressing rather than improving as time has gone by. After two tournament invites, the Longhorns were invited to the NIT tournament that Smart was able to win but with the start of Big 12 play, how hot is the seat for Smart?

Increasingly. For Smart to remain in the cards for the future, he needs be better than 8-10 in conference play as the team finished the last two seasons after falling to 4-14 in 2016. Even though Smart is under contract through the 2023 season, will that be enough of a deterrent to keep him in Austin without a positive showing throughout the remainder of 2019-2020 basketball season.

3 reasons why Oklahoma beat Kansas State 66-61

Oklahoma (10-3, 1-0) started Big 12 play on the right foot by beating Kansas State (7-6, 1-0) 66-61. Here are three reasons why OU won.

Oklahoma (10-3, 1-0) started Big 12 play on the right foot by beating Kansas State (7-6, 1-0) 66-61.

The Sooners played their second half of basketball of the season, playing complimentary ball and showing great effort on both ends of the court.

Here are three reasons why Oklahoma beat Kansas State.

WILDCAT FOUL TROUBLE

Oklahoma capitalized on Kansas State’s over-aggressiveness, drawing fouls early and often to start both halves. The Sooners were in the bonus with 12:56 left in the second half. Oklahoma attacked on and off the ball, making the Wildcats pick up fouls left and right. The Sooners capitalized at the line, shooting 23-29 to Kansas State’s 5-9.

WINNING UGLY

Both teams struggled to make shots but it could be chalked up more to good defense rather than bad offense. Oklahoma showed they could win ugly against UCF, pulling out a 53-52 win. But conference play is different and the Sooners rang the bell. Defensively De’Vion Harmon and Jamal Bieniemy both locked down their assignments and were nuisances all afternoon.

IN THE ZONE

Lon Kruger switched to a 2-3 or 3-2 zone inside the last five minutes of the game to throw the Wildcats off their pace. Bruce Weber’s squad was given fits with the defensive switch up, going scoreless over the last 3:45.

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How to Watch, Listen, and Stream Texas Face Sixth Ranked Baylor

The Longhorns are 1-3 in Big 12 openers with Shaka Smart in charge. Texas will be looking to get off to another good start in Big 12 play.

After a fairly successful non-conference season from the Longhorns, Big 12 play finally gets underway. Texas has a tough opener as they travel to Waco to face No. 6 Baylor. The Bears coming in with a 9-1 record with their only loss coming to Washington.

The Longhorns are 1-3 in Big 12 openers with head coach Shaka Smart in charge. That one win came last season against Kansas State and Texas will be looking to make it back to back seasons with a 1-0 Big 12 record.

Here is how you can watch, listen, and stream Texas and sixth ranked Baylor.

Game Information:

Date: 1/4/20

Location: Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas

Watch: ESPN2

Listen: TexasSports.com/audio —Austin 104.9FM, 99.3FM, 98.5FM, 1260AM; Dallas 1080AM; El Paso 600AM; Houston 790AM; San Antonio 1200AM — Spanish: Austin 105.3FM; Dallas 990AM, 99.9FM

Stream: Watch ESPN

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With non-conference play over, Oklahoma looks forward to tough Big 12 slate

Making it through the first two months of play with just three losses, the Sooners face the toughest Power 5 conference in the nation.

Making it through the first two months of play with just three losses and a No. 45 NET ranking, the Sooners face the toughest Power 5 conference in the nation.

The Big 12 is never a walk in the park. With Kansas being the team to beat every year, the other nine teams in the conference have built tough, reputable programs in the shadows of Lawrence, Kansas. Over the past two seasons, 13 of 20 teams made the NCAA Tournament.

Oklahoma has made the Big Dance each of the past two seasons, missing the 2016-17 season after making four straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 2013-16.

The Sooners come into conference play with three of the top-10 scorers in the Big 12 in Kristian Doolittle (No. 6, 16.7 ppg), Austin Reaves (No. 7, 16.3 ppg) and Brady Manek (No. 8, 15.4 ppg). The trio will be key to Oklahoma’s success the rest of the way, but they cannot do it alone.

An unexpected role player has appeared over the suspected fourth and fifth options last Monday against Texas Rio Grande Valley. Kur Kuath started in place of Doolittle who was benched for a “situation”, per Lon Kruger. Kuath dazzled the crowd, slamming home dunk after dunk to start the game against UT-Rio Grande Valley. Finishing with a career-high 17 points and eight rebounds, Kuath still played within himself.

“It’s been a while since I’ve played, so it was a good experience,” Kuath told reporters on Thursday.

With Kuath’s emergence, both De’Vion Harmon and Jamal Bieniemy have yet to exceed expectations this season. The guard duo has combined for an average of 12.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.3 rebounds a game so far this season. Although underwhelming in the box score, Coach Kruger sees plenty to be happy about.

“Jamal’s (Bieniemy) come along, doing really well—I think he’ll make more shots,” Kruger said on Thursday. “De’Vion, I think is playing his best basketball right now. He’s really energizing us coming off the bench and has handled that really well. Great attitude and great work ethic,”

With six guys being somewhat consistent on a nightly basis, the Sooners should be competitive every night when facing a Big 12 opponent.

“It’s going to be tough,” Manek said Thursday after practice. “It doesn’t matter if you’re the bottom or the top of the Big 12, you’re coming to play every day.”

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3 keys for Oklahoma against Kansas State

Oklahoma (9-3) and Kansas State (7-5) face-off to kickoff Big 12 play on Saturday. Here are three keys for the Sooners against the Wildcats.

Oklahoma (9-3) and Kansas State (7-5) face-off to kickoff Big 12 play on Saturday. The two clubs have been voted No. 8 and No. 9 in the Big 12 pre-season poll, giving both teams plenty of fuel to add to their respective fire.

Here are three keys for the Sooners as they open up conference play.

CONSTANT MOTION

The Sooners need to keep the ball in motion around the court to keep the Wildcats on their toes. Against UT-Rio Grande Valley, Oklahoma moved the ball efficiently for a season-high 21 assists as a team. If the Sooners can swing the ball around the arc, good shots are bound to make themselves appear.

ROLE PLAY

Oklahoma needs more than three guys to play well not just to beat Kansas State, but to beat anyone in the Big 12. Starters De’Vion Harmon and Jamal Bieniemy need to realize their role just as much as guys like Kur Kuath and Alondes Williams. Either make shots or get out of the way of someone who will. With Kristian Doolittle, Austin Reaves and Brady Manek all in the top-10 of Big 12 scorers, everyone else needs to buy into their role.

PLAY CLEAN

Yes, both teams were predicted towards the bottom of the conference but the Sooners have more talent. If Oklahoma can keep the Wildcats off the foul line and force misses from the three-point line, the Sooners should be in good shape come the final four minutes.

The Sooners tip-off against Kansas State at 12:00p.m. CT on ESPN+.

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When, where, how to watch, how to stream Oklahoma-Kansas State

Oklahoma (9-3) opens Big 12 play, hosting Kansas State (7-5) at the Lloyd Noble Center. Here is everything you need to know about the game.

Oklahoma (9-3) opens Big 12 play by hosting Kansas State (7-5) at the Lloyd Noble Center.

The Sooners come off a slow start to the season, capping off non-conference play with two drastically different wins over UCF and Texas Rio Grande Valley.

The Sooners and Wildcats can be seen on ESPN+ Big 12 NOW, the Big 12 conference’s streaming service that launches this past fall.

Both Kansas State and Oklahoma have been predicted to be bottom feeders of the Big 12 with the two teams coming in at No. 8 and No. 9 respectively in the pre-season Big 12 poll.

After making a run in the NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats are in a rebuilding year. As for the Sooners, they are also in their rebuilding year but much further along in the process thanks to Kristian Doolittle, Brady Manek and Austin Reaves all being in the top-10 in Big 12 scoring.

Here is how to watch, listen and stream the Big 12 opener.

WHERE: Norman, Okla. (Lloyd Noble Center)

WHEN: 12:00 p.m. CT

HOW TO WATCH: ESPN+ Big 12 NOW

HOW TO LISTEN: Sooner Sports Radio Network—KOKC AM 1520 and KRXO 107.7 FM in OKC, KMOD FM 97.5 and KTBZ AM 1430 in Tulsa (click here for more options if not in either of those markets)

HOW TO STREAM: ESPN+ Big 12 NOW

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Texas Longhorn Pro Athlete of the Decade: Kevin Durant

Arguably the best player in the NBA this decade, Kevin Durant was a monster throughout the 2010s. Here is your UT pro athlete of the decade.

Arguably the best player in the NBA this decade, Kevin Durant was a monster throughout the 2010s, playing with great players like Russell Westbrook, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. Currently on his third team of the decade, Durant’s latest stop is in Brooklyn after also playing for Seattle/Oklahoma City and Golden State.

Playing in a two-person tandem with Westbrook, Durant took the Thunder as far as the NBA Finals in 2012 but lost to LeBron James and the Miami Heat. He never reached that stage with Oklahoma City again, making it as far as the Western Conference Finals. After blowing a 3-1 series lead in the 2016 Conference Finals to the Warriors, Durant decided that was as far he was going to make it with the Thunder, so he made a switch out West.

His move from Oklahoma City to Golden State was a controversial one, but Durant backed it up by winning. In his three seasons by the Bay, he won two championships, winning Finals MVP in both of them. His 2019 playoffs came to an end early, as he tore his Achilles in the NBA Finals. It was the only season the Warriors did not win a championship with Durant on the roster.

Winning was the only thing in Durant’s vocabulary, constantly finding himself deep in the playoffs with both the Thunder and Warriors. An All-Star in every year this decade, his dominate performances have been consistent for nearly over 10 years.

Here is your pro athlete of the decade:

Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder (2010-2016), Golden State Warriors (2016-2019), Brooklyn Nets (2019-)

Stats: 27.7 PPG, 4.7 APG, 7.4 RPG

Team achievements: NBA Champions x2 (2017, 2018)

Individual achievements: 10x NBA All-Star (2010-2019), 2x NBA Finals MVP (2017, 2018), 2x NBA All-Star Game MVP (2012, 2019), 6x All-NBA First Team (2010-2014, 2018), 3x All-NBA Second Team (2015-2017), 4x NBA Scoring Champion (2010-2012, 2014)

Best moment: Dagger three-pointers in Game 3 of the 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals

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Three Gifts Texas Needs On Christmas

Merry Christmas from everyone here at Longhorns Wire! Here are three gifts that could benefit the Longhorns football and basketball team.

Merry Christmas from everyone here at Longhorns Wire!

Texas has had a shaky football season, but still has some work to do. Getting a win against the Utes should be the priority, but the coaching staff still needs to be filled. Fulfilling both of those as soon as possible would be nice, as the Longhorns can get focused on the 2020 season as soon as possible.

Once football season ends, it is officially basketball season. Texas has been doing a decent job so far, but still has some work to do. With conference play beginning at the beginning of January, the Longhorns need to get off to a fast start to keep their NCAA tournament hopes where they are at.

Here are three gifts Texas need this Christmas:

A bowl win against Utah

First and foremost, Texas needs to find a way to get a win against a really good Utah team. Much like the Sugar Bowl last season, the Utes are just off a conference championship loss that would have put them in the College Football Playoff. Not only did they lose to Oregon, but they got dominated. Utah may be excited to be playing in the Alamo Bowl, but it is not where they wanted to be.

Texas is also in a similar position as they were last year as they are in a better bowl game than they deserve. They are also underdogs for the second year in a row, coming in as a touchdown underdog. Off a disappointing 7-5 season, winning on New Year’s Day would be a huge momentum builder going into the 2020 season.

A win against Utah could do what everyone thought the Sugar Bowl win against Georgia was going to do this season. While it may not have Sam Ehlinger saying “We’re back,” it would prove that the Longhorns can still compete with top-quality teams.

An offensive coordinator

The moment Texas took away the offensive coordinator title from Tim Beck, there were some big names connected to the position. Graham Harrell from USC was mentioned, but he has recently signed an extension with the Trojans. Passing game coordinator Joe Brady from LSU was the biggest name connected with the job, but the Tigers have made it clear they want to keep him.

Now, Ohio State’s passing game coordinator Mike Yurcich is the new favorite to get the job. Currently in the middle of a national championship run with the Buckeyes, if the Longhorns are going to hire it, it may not be until the middle of January. Kirk Ciarrocca is listed as the second favorite, but Texas seems to be all in on Yurcich.

Not hiring an offensive coordinator did not fully hurt the Longhorns on National Signing Day, but they did lose some commits before the big day. The sooner Texas is able to hire someone to run the offense, the better.

The basketball team starts Big 12 play out strong

With football season coming to an end, it is nearly basketball season in Austin. Texas’ current record is 9-2, but have been unimpressive at times. Winning games against teams they should be beating so far this season, that has been a positive. When playing against tournament-caliber teams, the Longhorns have been less than impressive.

A good win against Purdue on the road is the best win so far this season but loses against Georgetown and Providence have been brutal. Hosting High Point before opening up Big 12 play, Texas needs to rattle a few wins off to keep their NCAA tournament chances safe.

Baylor, Oklahoma, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and Kansas are the first five games of conference play. The Bears and Jayhawks are currently ranked in the top five in the AP poll and a win against one of those teams would go a long way. As for the other three, they are the type of games the Longhorns need to win. Quality Big 12 opponents that would be good on the resume. If Texas can start conference play, their NCAA tournament resume will start to come together.

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Oklahoma’s Kristian Doolittle named Big 12 Player of the Week for the second time this season

Oklahoma forward Kristian Doolittle was named Big 12 player of the week after averaging a double-double.

Oklahoma forward Kristian Doolittle was named Big 12 player of the week after averaging a double-double.

Doolittle is averaging 16.7 points per game for the season and 18.3 points per game over the Sooners’ last three games. Accompanied by an 8.9 rebound per game average on the season and 10 boards per game over his last three, Doolittle has been a bright spot in Oklahoma’s early-season struggles.

Doolittle was named most improved player in the Big 12 following the 2018-19 season and so far, it appears he has continued to build off of his award-winning junior season. Hitting double-digit points in all but one of his games played (Stanford, 4 points), Doolittle has been a huge factor in the Sooners offense.

Leading not only Oklahoma but the entire conference in scoring average in the month of December has validated Doolittle’s growth as a player. Averaging 9.1 points his freshman year, 2.9 in an injury-riddled sophomore campaign and 11.3 last year, Doolittle has exploded offensively, quickly becoming a guy opponents are forced to respect no matter where he is on the floor.

Oklahoma’s next game is Monday, Dec. 30 as they host Texas Rio Grande Valley at 6:00p.m. CT.

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Texas Longhorns Fall To Providence Again

The Texas Longhorns are now 9-2 after falling to the Providence Friars for the second straight year.

For the second year in a row the Providence Friars to it to the Texas Longhorns, only this time it happened at home for Providence. The Longhorns had one of their worst shooting performances under head coach Shaka Smart. In fact the 31.7% shooting from the field was their lowest all season, their second lowest being 37.7% against the Georgetown Hoyas earlier this season.

Much like their game against Central Michigan it became a game of live by the three, die by the three. The Longhorns shot a season low 3-21 (14.2%) from behind the three point line. Texas trailed by 19 at the half and only shot 28.6% during the second half only mustering up 20 points. The Longhorns have over a week to get ready to take on High Point as their last tune up before Big 12 Play.

Courtney Ramey led the horns with 12 points. Jase Febres added six points in 33 minutes. Jericho Sims pulled down 13 boards and added seven points for Texas. The Texas Longhorns are now 9-2 looking for win number 10 in nine days at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin. High Point Panthers will come into the game with a 3-9 record.