Hook'em Headlines
Fansided

Texas Basketball: Shaka Smart coaching departure looming?

By Andrew Miller

(Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images)
(Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
AUSTIN, TEXAS – JANUARY 29: Mitch Lightfoot #44 and Dedric Lawson #1 of the Kansas Jayhawks defend a shot by Jaxson Hayes #10 of the Texas Longhorns at The Frank Erwin Center on January 29, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS – JANUARY 29: Mitch Lightfoot #44 and Dedric Lawson #1 of the Kansas Jayhawks defend a shot by Jaxson Hayes #10 of the Texas Longhorns at The Frank Erwin Center on January 29, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /

What happened this season

Not to say that this season was a complete disaster for the Texas basketball program, but there will definitely be room for improvement come next season. Smart didn’t have the most successful season even by his considerations during his four years thus far on the Forty Acres. This was too much of an up and down season to consider it a true success for the Horns.

The good news for Smart is that there is still time to salvage the season depending on what happens in the Big 12 Tournament and the Big Dance. Selection Sunday will be very telling as to what the status is for the Horns in the national eye and for the Selection Committee. If the Horns miss the NCAA Tournament completely, that would be considered a disaster.

Texas at least did pull off some big victories during the regular season that are memorable. Defeating the North Carolina Tar Heels the second time during his years on the Forty Acres is huge for Smart. The same is true for taking down the likes of the Kansas Jayhawks, Kansas State Wildcats, and Iowa State in Big 12 play.

However, the roller coaster ride during the regular season is why Smart is on the hot seat in the first place. Losses in general to the likes of Oklahoma State, Radford Highlanders, Providence Friars, VCU Rams, and getting swept by TCU could seal the fate for Smart either way. This Texas offense couldn’t find an identity for the bulk of the year, or for the past three seasons.

Home/Texas Basketball