Texas Basketball: 3 reasons Horns should keep Shaka Smart

3. Continuity in the backcourt

There is a common theme among the three reasons on this list for the Texas basketball program to keep Smart hanging around beyond the regular season. That main theme is continuity and foundation of the program under one head coach. If Texas lands one talented guard via the 2020 signing class or through the NCAA Transfer Portal, this will be one of the better backcourt rotations through and through for the next two or three years in the Big 12.

The Longhorns are used to having a consistent head coach at the helm with their men’s basketball program. Former head coach Rick Barnes was with Texas for a little over 15 years. He’s now in a tenure with the Tennessee Volunteers basketball program in the same role that could last a long time. He found success right away in Knoxville.

However, Texas is establishing something that appears to be very positive for the course of the next year and a half with their backcourt rotation. Sophomore guard Courtney Ramey is scorching hot of late, and junior Matt Coleman is a rock on both ends of the floor for the Longhorns. With likely neither of those two departing for the NBA this offseason, they should combine to form one of the better backcourts in the Big 12 for next season.

What’s even more exciting about the potential of the Texas backcourt is the play of freshman shooting guard Donovan Williams and junior Andrew Jones of late. Ramey and Jones really combined to help Texas nab that upset win over West Virginia yesterday. And Williams is finally starting to see a breakthrough in his true freshman campaign.