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Texas Basketball: 5 takeaways post-South Dakota St NIT win

By Andrew Miller

AUSTIN, TEXAS - JANUARY 19: Kristian Doolittle #21 of the Oklahoma Sooners fights for the ball with Jericho Sims #20 and Elijah Mitrou-Long #55 of the Texas Longhorns during first half action at The Frank Erwin Center on January 19, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS - JANUARY 19: Kristian Doolittle #21 of the Oklahoma Sooners fights for the ball with Jericho Sims #20 and Elijah Mitrou-Long #55 of the Texas Longhorns during first half action at The Frank Erwin Center on January 19, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /
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AUSTIN, TEXAS – JANUARY 19: Kristian Doolittle #21 of the Oklahoma Sooners fights for the ball with Jericho Sims #20 and Elijah Mitrou-Long #55 of the Texas Basketball Longhorns during first half action at The Frank Erwin Center on January 19, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS – JANUARY 19: Kristian Doolittle #21 of the Oklahoma Sooners fights for the ball with Jericho Sims #20 and Elijah Mitrou-Long #55 of the Texas Basketball Longhorns during first half action at The Frank Erwin Center on January 19, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /

Facing up against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits in the first meeting in the NIT showed some flaws and promise from the Texas basketball program.

Although most fans are moving on from this disappointing season at this point, the NIT run for the Texas basketball program started off on the right foot. In its first round matchup in the NIT, Texas basketball was able to knock off the South Dakota State Jackrabbits with solid beginning and end runs to the game. The win over South Dakota State came by the final score of 79-73.

With a 19-0 run to start the game, Texas basketball definitely came out with the right level of preparation following the letdown of a Big 12 Tournament loss to the Kansas Jayhawks. Head Texas basketball coach Shaka Smart at least got a good response out of his team here after missing the MCAA Tournament.

Texas basketball also needed a solid response after losing five of its last six games. A win over Kansas in the NCAA Tournament would’ve put Texas in good position to get into the NCAA Tournament field. Yet, the loss put Texas at 16-16 heading into he NIT as a two-seed against seven-seed South Dakota State.

It will either be the Xavier Musketeers or the Toledo Rockets in the second round. That will be a fun matchup to catch between Texas and either one of two talented teams among the final 16 in the NIT. Texas will find out who it faces in the next round on March 20.

Here’s a look into the five takeaways after the Texas Longhorns basketball program knocked off the South Dakota State Jackrabbits to advance to the next round in the NIT.

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