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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, TX – NOVEMBER 16: Head coach Shaka Smart of the Texas Longhorns reacts as his team plays the Citadel Bulldogs at the Frank Erwin Center on November 16, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX – NOVEMBER 16: Head coach Shaka Smart of the Texas Longhorns reacts as his team plays the Citadel Bulldogs at the Frank Erwin Center on November 16, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /

1. Inconsistency

Among all the positives that emerged from Texas basketball coming out strong in this game and getting back on track by racking up a postseason victory, there is one big theme overshadowing it all. The inconsistency that we see over and over again from this Smart-coached squad is one of the main reasons why he is on the hot seat in the first place.

This is a Texas team that was able to handily beat the likes of the Iowa State Cyclones, Kansas State Wildcats, Purdue Boilermakers, North Carolina Tar Heels, and Kansas. Losing to teams like the Oklahoma State Cowboys, Radford Highlanders, and getting swept by the TCU Horned Frogs highlights the ups and downs for this team.

In general, the Horns were one of the nation’s most confusing teams. Finishing with a .500 record was pretty much as close as Texas could get to a complete meltdown at the end of the regular season and in the Big 12 Tournament. All that the Horns needed to do was win one game in the final six previous to the postseason to get in the “Big Dance”.

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This showing against South Dakota State was even more proof of the roller coaster ride that this Smart squad can drag the fans through this season. Starting out on a 19-0 run should’ve sealed this game early for the Horns. Yet, South Dakota State managed to claw its way back into things. Smart’s fate could ultimately be determined with how things go against either Xavier or Toledo in round two.

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