Texas Basketball: 3 reasons Horns upset Kansas amid Big 12 Tourney

LAWRENCE, KANSAS - MARCH 09: Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks coaches from the bench during the game against the Baylor Bears at Allen Fieldhouse on March 09, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KANSAS - MARCH 09: Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks coaches from the bench during the game against the Baylor Bears at Allen Fieldhouse on March 09, 2019 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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AUSTIN, TEXAS – JANUARY 19: Courtney Ramey #3 of the Texas Longhorns drives around Jamuni McNeace #4 of the Oklahoma Sooners at The Frank Erwin Center on January 19, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS – JANUARY 19: Courtney Ramey #3 of the Texas Longhorns drives around Jamuni McNeace #4 of the Oklahoma Sooners at The Frank Erwin Center on January 19, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /

3. Desperation and urgency from coaching staff and locker room

There might not be a head coach in the Big 12 on a hotter seat than head Texas basketball coach Shaka Smart. At least Smart is getting a fully healthy freshman standout big man Jaxson Hayes and senior shooting guard Kerwin Roach Jr. back from a regular season suspension that held him out of the last five games.

On March 14, both the deciding factor for Smart’s fate with Texas and this team getting into the NCAA Tournament could come down to the result against Kansas. Texas needs a win now more than ever and it’s difficult to foresee them as a lock for the field come Selection Sunday without at least one win in the Big 12 Tournament.

With that in mind, you’d figure this locker room and coaching staff will come out with one of its most energized and spirited efforts of the season to date. Leaving it all out on the court is a factor that comes and goes for this team this season. Some consistency in the play in the Big 12 Tournament finally needs to shine through.

On the other hand, Kansas is a lock for at least a four seed for the NCAA Tournament for all intents and purposes. Would the Jayhawks like to improve the tourney seeding? The answer to that question is quite obvious, but doesn’t carry the same level of desperation and urgency that the Horns should have in this scenario.