Tag: Texas basketball news

ESPN Bracketology: Texas a four seed in the West

ESPN has projected UT as a four seed in the 2021 NCAA Tournament Bracketology. This would be UT’s highest seed in the tournament since 2011.

Picking up five-star forward Greg Brown has built up hype for this upcoming basketball season, with Texas expected to be better than usual. Bringing back 100% of their production to go along with Brown and Shaka Smart is expected to have his best team ever in Austin.

Even ESPN’s Joe Lunardi is buying into the hype around this Longhorns team, ranking them as high as a four seed in his 2021 NCAA Tournament Bracketology. This would be Texas’ highest seed in the tournament ever under Smart and the highest since the 2011 tournament.

Playing in the West region, Gonzaga reigns as the No. 1 overall seed. Wisconsin, Big 12 rival Texas Tech, and Oregon round out the top five.

Here is the full region:

Outside of the west, five other Big 12 schools are projected to make the NCAA tournament, including Baylor being a one-seed in the South region. With those first and second-round games projected to be in Dallas, the Bears would have a huge home-court advantage against their opponents.

Kansas is once again expected to be a top team in the country, being a two-seed in the Midwest region. The Jayhawks are joined by Oklahoma State in their region but on the opposite side of the bracket. The Cowboys are projected to be nine-seed. This would be the first time Oklahoma State made the NCAA Tournament since 2017.

To round out the conference, West Virginia and Oklahoma will represent the Big 12 in the East region. The Mountaineers will be a three-seed, while the Sooners will be a nine-seed. The two were both expected to make the 2019 NCAA Tournament but was canceled due to the coronavirus.

As a whole, the Big 12 is going to have a rebound type season in college basketball. While the conference may have the same amount of teams in the NCAA Tournament, a couple schools outside of Kansas and Baylor will be highly seeded.

Thanks to the commitment of Greg Brown, Texas will hopefully be one of those highly seeded teams. Last season, finishing third in the Big 12 (as the Longhorns did) put you in an elimination game in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament. In 2020-2021, finishing third in the conference could have you as a top seed in the NCAA Tournament.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

247Sports links Shaka Smart with Wake Forest job

Despite coming back to Texas for the 2020-2021 season, 247Sports have put Smart on their list for potential head coach hires at Wake Forest.

Shaka Smart has been on the hot seat for the past couple of seasons, needing to make the NCAA Tournament. The Longhorns were on pace to make the big dance in 2020, but the coronavirus shut down the season, not letting it play out.

Shortly after the season was canceled, athletic director Chris Del Conte announced Smart would be back for the 2020-2021 season. It will be his sixth season in Austin, needing to make the NCAA Tournament for just the third time in his tenure.

Despite all of this, 247Sports have put Smart as the first name of their list for potential head coach hires at Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons fired Danny Manning after losing seasons in five of his six years. His one winning season saw them losing in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament.

Here is what 247Sports had to say about the potential hire:

It’s 2014 all over again, as Shaka Smart is once again being linked to the Wake Forest Basketball head coaching position. Is it still a dream hire for Demon Deacon fans? It might be tough to find a more qualified candidate. Smart has made the NCAA Tournament seven of his 11 years coaching, and led VCU to the Final Four in 2011. Of course, he’s still the coach at Texas, a massive school with an astronomical athletics budget and a sizable contract buy-out that goes along with that. The friendship between incoming Wake Forest athletic director John Currie and Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte could potentially bridge that gap, however. Del Conte has already announced that Smart will return for the 2020-21 season, and the Longhorns played reasonably well down the stretch last season.

If Del Conte was not willing to pay the buyout back in March, there is no reason he would do it today. Especially if it meant Smart was going to be coaching elsewhere. Texas would then be left without a head coach during an awkward time in the sports world.

While he is on the hot seat and needs to perform, Smart will be staying in Austin, Smart should be in place for the 2020-2021 season. Returning all of their talent next season, the Longhorns are set to have a good season. Possibly the best team Smart has assembled during his time as head coach.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Texas to open the season against Louisiana

Texas will open the 2020-2021 season against Louisiana. Scheduled to play November 10, the game will be played at the Frank Erwin Center.

According to Jon Rothstein of CBSSports.com, Texas will open the 2020-2021 season against Louisiana. Scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 10, the game will be held at the Frank Erwin Center. It will be the fifth consecutive season the Longhorns will begin in Austin.

This will be the fifth time the programs have played each other but the first  since the 1999-2000 season. Despite a 2-2 record in the series, Texas has won the past two games, 1987 and 1999. The Ragin Cajuns snagged victories in 1972 and 1980.

Under Shaka Smart, the Longhorns are 4-1 in season openers. All but one have been against non-power conference schools, including Incarnate Word, Northwestern State, Eastern Illinois and Northern Colorado. The one loss came in his first season, playing against Washington in China.

Texas’ non-conference schedule is slowly rolling out. The Longhorns are scheduled to face Gonzaga and Villanova at home and take part in the Maui Invitational.

With Greg Brown committing on Friday, the Longhorns’ expectations for the 2020-2021 season have gone up. Even with another tough nonconference schedule, Texas will be expected to perform next season.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

2020 five-star Greg Brown commits to Texas

Texas has landed a huge recruit in the 2020 cycle, with five-star forward Greg Brown announcing he will be staying home and attending UT.

Texas has landed a huge recruit in the 2020 cycle, with five-star forward Greg Brown announcing he will be staying home and attending the University of Texas. Coming out of Austin, not only is this a huge in-state get for the Longhorns but getting such a highly rated recruit within your own city is a big win for Texas.

Brown chose Texas instead of the professional route and playing on the new NBA G-League team. After five-star guard Jalen Green announced he would be turning professional instead of going to college, Brown’s name was immediately rumored to be next. Reportedly offered just over $400,000 to play professionally, Brown decided he would go the college route and play for Shaka Smart.

Jerry Meyer of 247Sports describes Brown as “long and freakily athletic” and he “runs like the wind.” The perfect description for Smart’s quick-paced system, Brown will have the opportunity to run up and down the court and be a major piece around Texas’ star guards.

With the commitment of Brown, here is how Texas’ starting lineup could next season:

  • Matt Coleman
  • Courtney Ramey
  • Andrew Jones
  • Greg Brown
  • Jericho Sims

Brown will now be the only unfamiliar face playing for Texas next season. Every other player on the roster next season will be returning players, something that is valuable in college basketball.

Big 12 basketball had a down season in 2019-2020 and is expecting a big rebound year. Kansas and Baylor are expected to play at an elite level, while teams such as Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia are expected to return to top 25 status throughout the entire season.

Brown will be able to bring the Longhorns into the conversation at the top of the Big 12 conversation. Winning five out of their last six to end the season in 2019-2020, Texas comes into the 2020-2021 season with a great chance to contend for a conference championship.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Texas interested in Oregon transfer Francis Okoro

UT is once again trying to pull players from this transfer portal. According to CBS Sports, UT has reached out to Francis Okoro of Oregon.

Shaka Smart is once again trying to pull players from this transfer portal, this time from out west. According to Jon Rothstein of CBSSports.com, the Longhorns have reached out to Francis Okoro, who has spent two seasons at Oregon. 15 other schools including Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Purdue, Seton Hall, and Texas A&M have also reached out.

The junior forward from Nigeria has seen decent minutes during his time in Eugene but has failed to make a huge impact. In the 2019-2020 season, he played in 29 games while averaging 17 minutes. Okoro was able to produce an average of 3.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks.

Listed at 6-9 and 235 pounds, Okoro is a big body forward is a physical athlete who has a solid presence inside the three-point arc offensively and defensively.

His best game of his career came in 2019 when he posted a career-high 12 points on 5-6 shooting and added another career-high with 17 rebounds against Montana.

With Greg Brown set to commit on Friday, the Longhorns going after Okoro could be an in case of emergency plan. The five-star forward from Austin is expected to choose between Texas, Memphis, and going professional.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Texas to face Villanova in Big East-Big 12 Battle

Texas’ opponent in the annual Big East-Big 12 challenge will be Villanova. This will be the fourth career matchup between the two schools.

Texas’ non-conference schedule continues to get filled, adding their opponent in the annual Big East-Big 12 challenge. After going on the road and losing to Providence in 2019, the Longhorns will now get to play host to Jay Wright and the Villanova Wildcats.

Texas and Villanova have played each other three times in their respective histories, all coming since 2006. The Longhorns have been ranked in all three games, having a 2-1 overall record against the Wildcats. Texas defeated Villanova in their last matchup, 67-58, at Madison Square Garden.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOjlwZinB2w

As for the upcoming matchup in the 2020 season, the Wildcats are once again expected to have one of the best teams in the country. Star point guard Collin Gillespie, who averaged 15.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game last season, is expected to return and continue to be one of the best players in the country.

Villanova won a share of the Big East regular-season title in 2019-2020 and was expected to be a two-seed in the NCAA Tournament before it was canceled due to the coronavirus.

Here is the full slate of games for the Big East-Big 12 Battle:

While the entire non-conference schedule has yet to be announced, the Longhorns already having a tough slate. To go along with Villanova, Texas added Gonzaga back in March and will be participating in the 2020 Maui Jim Maui Invitational.

Alabama, Davidson, Indiana, North Carolina, Providence, Stanford, and UNLV will be joining the Longhorns on the islands.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Kevin Durant on Michael Jordan: Would fit in as best player in the league

Kevin Durant had his say on the Michael Jordan in modern NBA debate, saying Jordan “would fit in as the best player in the league.”

ESPN aired ‘The Last Dance’ on Sunday, showcasing the final season of the Chicago Bulls’ 1990s dynasty. With the main focus of the documentary being Michael Jordan and his greatness, the movie has once again sparked a debate about his playing ability in the modern NBA.

While much of the argument is centered around which player is the greatest of all time between Jordan and the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, the former Bull still has his doubters about playing in the league today.

Former Texas superstar Kevin Durant had his take on the situation, saying Jordan “would fit in as the best player in the league.”

Durant added, “he can adapt his game to anything.”

Jordan never faced the Longhorns during his three seasons at North Carolina. Winning one NCAA title during his freshman season, many never knew exactly how great he would become.

To have Durant, considered a top player in today’s NBA, provide such strong comments about Jordan shows how much of an influence he has on players today. Durant himself has been through the challenge of winning championships, as he already has three to his name.

A debate which will go on for years to come, but if Durant thinks Jordan could do it today, it would be scary to think about how much more dominant MJ could become.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Is the G League a potential route for Texas target Greg Brown?

Greg Brown more than likely will be a one and done prospect. Could he see the positives in foregoing the college experience and turning pro?

College basketball took a major blow on Thursday when five-star combo guard Jalen Green announced he would be turning professional to play in the NBA G-League. The number three overall prospect in the 247Sports Composite chose the professional route instead of heading to either Memphis or Auburn.

According to The Athletic and Stadium’s Shams Charania, the G-League is looking to create a team in Los Angeles to help high school prospects “focus on development and preparation for NBA.”

Shortly after Green made his announcement, it was reported that former Michigan commit Isaiah Todd would be joining the Los Angeles based team as well.

This now has begun a trend where some of the best high school prospects skip out on college basketball to pursuit their dreams of playing in the NBA.

Before Green and Todd, there was RJ Hampton of Little Elm, TX, who also turned professional. Hampton relocated to New Zeland to play in the National Basketball League. The fifth-ranked player in the 2019 class chose professional basketball instead of the likes of Kansas, Duke, and Texas Tech.

Even players who did decide to enroll at a school ended up leaving early in the year to pursue their professional careers. When former No. 1 overall recruit James Wiseman got in some trouble with the NCAA, he left Memphis to prepare himself for the NBA Draft. He appeared in three games.

For Texas, all eyes are now focused on Greg Brown, the five-star small forward. Brown has been rumored to be heading to Texas recently, but with the recent trend of highly-rated prospects going pro, there could be worry for Shaka Smart.

The Austin native more than likely will be a one and done prospect, leaving whichever school he chooses after one season. Could Brown see the positives in spending his one season before the NBA Draft as a professional?

With Green making a reported $500,000 next season, it would be difficult for anyone, let alone an 18-year-old, to turn down a significant paycheck.

At the moment, Brown is scheduled to make his announcement on April 24. 247Sports’ Crystal Ball is 100% towards Texas, mainly due to the Longhorns deciding to keep Smart for at least one more season.

If Brown was to pick the collegiate route and pick Texas, it would be a major bolster to the 2020-2021 team, who looks primed to make a run towards the NCAA Tournament.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Texas women’s basketball: Schaefer lands Penn State forward

The Texas Longhorns women’s basketball team gained a new member with the Lauren Ebo transfer. How does she fit onto this team?

New Texas women’s basketball coach Vic Schaefer hasn’t been on the job very long but he has already started working on his roster for the future. Lauren Ebo announced through social media that she is leaving State College, Pennsylvania for the Forty Acres.

The Washington DC native provided 5.3 points per game for the Nittany Lions during the 2019-20 season in 20.3 minutes per game. Should she be deemed immediately eligible to play, she will try and help fill a void left by the departure of senior Joyner Holmes. Ebo is subject to the NCAA transfer guidelines that could require her to sit out next season unless she is granted a waiver.

This marks the second Penn State player to come to Austin. Karisma Ortiz also made the move to go from the Lady Lions to the Longhorns. Ortiz will be eligible to play the first season under new coach Schaefer. The new coach still has work to do as he tries to rebuild the program back up but Schaefer isn’t letting these current times to deter him from getting started.

Provided that Ebo can play in the upcoming season, she would likely see plenty of minutes next to Charli Collier as the forward duo. Not to mention the incoming class that features Elyssa Coleman of Humble and Precious Johnson of Baytown.

Texas a six-seed in way-too-early 2021 Bracketology

ESPN projects UT to be a six-seed in the East region for the 2021 NCAA Tournament. It would be the second six seed for UT under Shaka Smart.

The 2019-2020 college basketball season never got the ending it deserved, with most conference tournaments and the NCAA Tournament getting canceled due to COVID-19. To make up for it, Joe Lunardi has released his way-too-early Bracketology for the 2021 NCAA Tournament.

Lunardi projects Texas to not only make the tournament but to be a six-seed in the East region. If his projections are correct, it will be the second time Shaka Smart has been a six-seed during his time in Austin, with the first coming in 2016.

The Longhorns would get no easy matchups throughout the bracket as teams such as Villanova, Ohio State, West Virginia, Michigan State, LSU, and Duke also make up the East region. Texas would also face the winner of a First Four game, which Lunardi projects to be former conference rival Colorado and the SEC’s South Carolina.

As usual, major conferences make up a big chunk of the field, with the Big 12 having seven representatives in the tournament. Baylor, Kansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, and West Virginia all make the cut, with the Bears and Jayhawks coming in as two-seeds.

If 2019-2020 was a down year for the Big 12, 2020-2021 will be a swing back to reality. Kansas and Baylor are expected to continue their dominance, while schools such as Texas Tech and even Oklahoma State are expected to take a step up.

Texas must adjust and raise the bar as well. Returning 100% of their production will help, but Smart’s squad must show up consistently throughout the season. If they can, a six seed in the NCAA Tournament could be on the cards.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]