Tag: Shaka Smart

John Beilein Could Be An Option For Texas

The Texas Longhorns basketball team has been underwhelming to say the least, could John Beilein be an option to fix it?

There is an increasingly restless feeling surrounding Texas men’s basketball. The seat for head coach Shaka Smart gets hotter with every loss as the Longhorns are the longest of long shots to make the NCAA Tournament. They would need a conference tournament win at this point to get in with an at large bid. The growing question is who will replace Smart?

ESPN Insider Jeff Borzello writes that John Beilein could be an option for the Texas Longhorns (story requires subscription).

This will likely be the primary job that comes up in speculation about Breilein’s future. Texas coach Shaka Smart’s job status is the biggest question entering the coaching carousel, as the Longhorns are likely to his fifth year in charge with just two NCAA tournament appearances and zero NCAA Tournament wins. A 29-point loss over the weekend to an 11-14 Iowa State team without its best player was Texas’ fourth defeat in a row and dropped the Longhorns to 14-11 overall and 4-8 in the Big 12.

Smart is still owed a lot of money and does have talent on the roster, but should he get fired or leave for a different job, Beilein would be a logical candidate in Austin. Texas has not had an issue getting players, but it hasn’t translated into success on the court. If the Longhorns can bring Beilein talent, he will likely figure out the second part of the equation. It’s worth noting that Texas assistant coach Luke Yaklich was an assistant under Beilein for two seasons before Beilein left for the NBA.

During his latest stop at Michigan from 2007-2019, Beilein took Michigan to the Final Four twice (2013,2018). He took Michigan to the tournament nine times in his 12 seasons with the Wolverines. Not too mention, twice winning the conference and the conference tournament. From 2012-2018, Breilein led Michigan to the Sweet 16 twice, Elite Eight once and NCAA Tournament runner up twice. He would help bring Texas back out of the doldrums of the Big 12 conference.

USA Today Sports Bracketology: Where Is Texas Basketball Ranked?

A tough season for the Texas Longhorns basketball might get worse down the stretch but do they have a shot at the tournament?

USA Today Sports writers Shelby Mast and Scott Gleeson have come out with their latest bracketology as they predict just who will get invited to the dance. March Madness is one of the most hectic and enjoyable sports moments of the college season but just how realistic is it that Texas could get an invite?

The Big 12 Schools

  • The number one seeds: Kansas, Baylor
  • 3rd seed: West Virginia
  • 7th seed: Texas Tech
  • 9th seed: Oklahoma
  • Considered for at-large bid: Texas Christian, Texas

The Big 12 Conference is predicted to have five slots for at large bids. For the Texas Longhorns to find a way into the tournament they would need to get ahead of both TCU and Oklahoma or win the Big 12 Tournament. According to the NET rankings which is a team-ranking metric used by the selection committee has Texas at 66. TCU comes in at 80 and Oklahoma is 49th. This ranking metric replaced the rating percentage index or RPI (Texas at 50) for criteria used by the selection committee.

The Longhorns aren’t necessarily eliminated from a potential spot in the dance but their chances to get in are very minor. A strong showing against Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma and Texas Tech in the coming weeks will be huge for the program and the future of head coach Shaka Smart.

Updated Men’s Basketball Standings Halfway Through Conference Play

Following the loss to KU last night, UT is officially halfway through its conference season. Sitting at 4-5, UT is seventh in the standings.

Following the loss to Kansas last night, Texas is officially halfway through its conference season. Sitting at 4-5 in the Big 12 right now, the Longhorns are currently seventh in the standings, only trailing Iowa State, Kansas State, and Oklahoma State.

If the Big 12 tournament was to begin today, Texas would be playing Oklahoma State in the first round. It would be the third time in the Shaka Smart Era that the Longhorns are playing on Wednesday in the conference tournament, ranking in the bottom four after the regular season.

Here is how the Big 12 sits halfway through Texas’ conference season:

  1. Baylor 20-1 (9-0 Big 12)
  2. Kansas 19-3 (8-1 Big 12)
  3. West Virginia 17-4 (5-3 Big 12)
  4. Oklahoma 14-7 (4-4 Big 12)
  5. TCU 13-8 (4-4 Big 12)
  6. Texas Tech 13-8 (4-4 Big 12)
  7. Texas 14-8 (4-5 Big 12)
  8. Iowa State 9-12 (2-6 Big 12)
  9. Kansas State 9-13 (2-7 Big 12)
  10. Oklahoma State 10-11 (0-8 Big 12)

Remaining schedule for the Longhorns

Home: Texas Tech 2/8, No. 1 Baylor 2/10, TCU 2/19, No. 12 West Virginia 2/24, Oklahoma State 3/7

Away: Iowa State 2/15, Kansas State 2/22, Texas Tech 2/29, Oklahoma 3/3

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Texas gets back on the right track, beats TCU on the road

Texas finally picked up a victory Wednesday night, going on the road to defeat TCU. A big win for UT, they are back on the right track.

The Longhorns finally picked up a victory Wednesday night, going on the road to defeat TCU 62-61. Jase Febres led the way in scoring for Texas, having 15 points on 5-7 shooting. All seven shots were from behind the three-point line, shooting 71.4%.

Losers of three straight games, it had been a rough stretch for the Longhorns. Losing to ranked teams Baylor, Kansas, and LSU, a win against the Horned Frogs was crucial if Shaka Smart and the team wanted any chance of making the NCAA Tournament.

Jericho Sims was huge for Texas on the glass, recording 13 rebounds. Nine of them were on the defensive end, the most on either team. He also led the game in offensive rebounds, securing four. Overall, the Longhorns outrebounded TCU by one, 29-28.

Texas was deadly from deep, shooting 50% from behind the arc. Making 11 threes on 22 shots, it is the most they have made since the Jan. 15 matchup against Oklahoma State. It has been a key for the Longhorns all season, as making their three-pointers has led to wins.

For the Horned Frogs, three players were in double figures, with Kevin Samuel and RJ Nembhard leading the way with 17 points. Nembhard also had five rebounds and six assists, leading TCU in both stats.

Up next for Texas is a home game against Iowa State on Saturday. After that, it will be another tough stretch, going on the road to Kansas and then hosting Texas Tech and Baylor. Currently not projected to make the NCAA Tournament, another important set of games is coming up for the Longhorns.

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In Memoriam: Texas coach Shaka Smart reflects on Kobe Bryant’s legacy

Devastating news shocked the world this afternoon, as TMZ reported the tragic loss of basketball legend Kobe Bryant.

Devastating news shocked the world this afternoon, as TMZ reported the tragic loss of Kobe Bryant.

After one of the most reality-shaking, tragic deaths the sports world has ever seen, no words could do justice what Bryant meant to the city of Los Angeles, his family, teammates, and fans across the world.

Bryant spent his entire 20-year professional basketball career with the Los Angeles Lakers, leading them to five NBA championships along the way. One of the greatest basketball players of all time, Bryant was an inspiration both on and off the court to many.

In memoriam, we share this video of Texas’ head basketball coach Shaka Smart discussing Bryant’s legacy and impact on the game shortly after Bryant announced his retirement.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Bryant’s family and all who knew him during this heartbreaking time.

His legacy will live on forever in the hearts of millions.

 

 

 

 

Reactions from Texas’ loss to West Virginia

Texas suffered a devastating loss to WVU on Monday night, 97-59. It was even worse on Twitter, where fans voiced their frustrations.

Texas suffered a devastating loss to West Virginia on Monday night, losing on the road, 97-59. A new low point for the basketball program under Head Coach Shaka Smart, it was not a pretty scene post-game for the Longhorns, as frustrations started to become apparent.

It was even worse on Twitter, where fans voiced their frustrations with the direction the team was headed. Not projected to make the NCAA tournament right now, the expectations of this team were to at least be competitive in the conference. The Longhorns have failed to meet those expectations, losing by double digits for the fifth time this season.

Here is how frustrated Twitter reacted to the loss to West Virginia:

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Texas suffers worst loss in the Shaka Smart era to West Virginia

It seemed as if the season couldn’t get worse for UT. That was proven wrong as WVU handed them the worst loss in the Shaka Smart era, 97-58.

Quickly turning around from their loss on Saturday night to Kansas, it seemed as if the season could not get worse for Texas. That was proven wrong on Monday night as West Virginia handed the Longhorns the worst loss in the Shaka Smart era, 97-58.

Already having one of the worst offenses in the Big 12, tonight did not help. Matt Coleman and Jase Febres were the only players to get anything rolling for Texas, combining 33 of the teams 58 points. The two of them shot 6-11 and 4-9 from the field respectively, making 50% of their shots.

If you take their stats out of the equation, the rest of the team shot 27.2%. Ranking sixth in the conference in field goal percentage, if it is not a three-point attempt, the Longhorns struggle to make their shots.

As for the Mountaineers, four of their starters were in double figures, dominating Texas all night long. Putting up 70 shots, they made over 50% of them. Even more frightening was how many of them were inside the arc. West Virginia only attempted 14 three-pointers, knowing they could outmuscle the Longhorns in the paint.

Even when they missed, the Mountaineers more than likely got their own miss. Securing 23 offensive rebounds, Texas was dominated on the glass throughout the night. Add in their 30 defensive rebounds and West Virginia won the rebounding battle 53-25.

The is a new low for Texas under Shaka Smart, suffering a 38 point defeat and falling to 2-4 in conference play. A team that has played well against inferior opponents has struggled when the competition is clearly above their level. Suffering blowout losses to Providence, Georgetown, Baylor, and now West Virginia, any sort of glimmer for the NCAA tournament is fading away for the Longhorns.

The schedule does not get any easier either, as some of the best teams in the conference are upcoming. After hosting first place in the SEC LSU in the Big 12/SEC Challenge on Saturday, tough games against TCU on the road and Iowa State will show where this team really is.

The three following that is at Kansas, Texas Tech, and Baylor, all teams currently ranked inside of the AP Top 25. The Longhorns’ season very well may be over by that point, as they will not be expected to win any of those games.

An 8-10 conference record was good enough to get Texas into the NIT last season, but that may not be the case this season. Missing the NCAA tournament would more than likely be enough to get Shaka Smart fired, but missing the NIT would be a no-doubter.

In the short term, the goal should be to win their next two conference games against TCU and Iowa State, teams considered to be middle of the pack with the Longhorns. If they can win those games, there is hope to turn the ship around. If not, the season may and well truly be over.

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How Short Should Shaka Smart’s Leash Be?

The Texas Longhorns’ basketball has been a disappointment the last couple of seasons, should Shaka Smart be worried about his job status?

For the Texas Longhorns basketball team, they have been looking for that breakout season that would lead you to believe they are on the right track. While the team has made it to the big dance under Smart, there hasn’t been any sustained success that Smart had for Virginia Commonwealth University.

During his six seasons with the VCU Rams, Smart led the team to a 163-56 record (.744 winning percentage) in those six years. His second season saw VCU make it all the way to the Final Four before getting bounced from the tournament. He wouldn’t get higher than the second round in the final four years before departing for Texas.

Smart has been in charge of the Texas Longhorns basketball program for just over four seasons now. He has a 81-70 record (.540 winning percentage), that doesn’t exactly breed confidence to fans or boosters for that matter. In two of his first four seasons saw Smart lead Texas to the NCAA Tournament only to get ousted in the first round. Last season the Longhorns took home the NIT Tournament Championship.

Texas finally got their first win of the Big 12 season when they defeated Kansas State  at home in Austin. They now look to take down Oklahoma State in Stillwater on Wednesday. The Longhorns are searching for a second-straight conference victory and the first on the road. Given how the rest of the conference is shaping up, can Texas allow Smart to remain in the driver’s seat?

Smart’s predecessor, Rick Barnes led the Longhorns to the Final Four in his fifth season as their head coach. Each year was a progression for Barnes from just making the tournament to the sweet 16 and then the final four. That would be his best season with Texas but unfortunately the Longhorns paid a lot of money to Smart and aren’t seeing a return on their investment.

The question remains, not that should Shaka Smart be on a short leash but just how short is it?

Texas get first conference win, beat Kansas State

Starting Big 12 play 0-2, tonight was a must-win game for the Longhorns. Running into Kansas State, they picked up a much-needed win,

Starting Big 12 play 0-2 with losses to Baylor and Oklahoma, tonight was a must-win game for head coach Shaka Smart and the Longhorns. Running into another struggling team in Kansas State, Texas picked up a much-needed win against the Wildcats, 64-50.

Matt Coleman led Texas in scoring, having 14 points. He added two rebounds and four assists. As a team, the Longhorns shot 49% from the field and 43.5% for behind the three-point line.

The three-point shooting was the difference in the game, as Texas made double the amount the Wildcats have. Making 10 threes, three of them came from Courtney Ramey, while Coleman, Jase Febres, and Kamaka Hepa added two each.

Texas’ defense was outstanding tonight as well, holding Kansas State to 50 points. That is the fewest amount they have scored all year, as they came into tonight averaging 65 points per game. Cartier Diarra was the only Wildcat player in double figures, scoring 14 points on 6-16 shooting.

If the Longhorns did not pick up a victory tonight, it would have been a rough rest of the month attempting to pick up their next conference game. Three of the next four Big 12 games will be on the road for Texas, traveling to Oklahoma State, West Virginia, and TCU. They will play host to Kansas and LSU in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.

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4 takeaways from Oklahoma’s 72-62 win over Texas

Oklahoma (11-3, 0-2) got their first win in Austin, TX., since 2015 over Texas (10-4, 0-2) Wednesday night.

Oklahoma (11-3, 0-2) got their first win in Austin, TX., since 2015 over Texas (10-4, 0-2) Wednesday night. Road wins in the Big 12 are a rarity for the Sooners as tonight’s win is just the fifth over the past four seasons. Not only do the Sooners head home with a win, but a confirmed sense of confidence.

DE’VION HARMON, WELCOME TO THE SHOW

Freshman guard, De’Vion Harmon has not performed nearly to his potential so far this season. He was removed from the starting lineup four games ago but has since blossomed into a fantastic spark off the bench for Lon Kruger’s team. His talents were on full display against the Longhorns as he came out after halftime locking down his assignments defensively, forcing turnovers and getting Oklahoma into transition on multiple possessions. Harmon finished the game with nine points (all of which came in the second half), three rebounds, an assist and three of the Sooners’ seven steals.

JAMAL BIENIEMY WOKE UP

After a promising freshman season, Jamal Bieniemy began the 2019-20 season in a rut. That changed Wednesday night. Bieniemy, much like Harmon, was all over the court, harassing Longhorns from baseline to baseline in his 38 minutes. Not only was his defensive prowess on display but so was his shooting abilities. He finished the game with 11 points, trailing just Kristian Doolittle who had 22. Bieniemy was effective with his shots, knocking down four of six from the floor while also leading the team in assists with four.

KRISTIAN DOOLITTLE IS A NIGHTMARE

The 2018-19 Big 12 most improved player showed that he is a walking mismatch, once again. His team-leading 22 points on eight of 16 shooting included two three-pointers that kept the Texas defense stretched out all night. Doolittle also led the team in rebounds with eight.

OKLAHOMA CAN PLAY DEFENSE

Alex Grinch eat your heart out. The Sooners put a stranglehold on the Longhorns offense, allowing them to shoot just 38% from the field and 28% from deep. not only was Oklahoma forcing tough shots but they were in Texas’ back pocket for all 40 minutes, forcing 12 turnovers.

The Sooners are back in action on Saturday as they face off against Iowa State on the road. The game can be seen on ESPN2 at 7p.m. CT.

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