Texas Basketball: Matt Coleman should have an NBA future

On the night of March 20, the three-seed Texas basketball and head coach Shaka Smart will take part in their first game of the “Big Dance” against the 14-seed and in-state foe Abilene Christian Wildcats. Texas will take on Abilene Christian as they look to win their first game since knocking off the Oklahoma State Cowboys to win the Big 12 Tournament crown last weekend. Smart and this Texas squad are rolling right now, having won five straight heading into the Big Dance.

This is about the most hope that the Longhorns basketball program had under Smart’s direction as head coach. And one of the big reasons why the Longhorns have more valid optimism this postseason than in recent years is the play of senior versatile standout guard Matt Coleman. Few Longhorns players had as integral of a role in this team’s success so far this season than Coleman.

It was Coleman that hit the game-winning free throws to beat the Texas Tech Red Raiders and head coach Chris Beard in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament. And Coleman was the one that scored a career high 30 points on an efficient 10-of-14 shooting from the field and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.

Future of Texas basketball guard Matt Coleman

A question that remains for Coleman himself following the conclusion of this season (whenever that may be) is where he can take his talents to next. Coleman isn’t really a bona fide 2021 NBA Draft prospect like that of breakthrough sophomore power forward Kai Jones and/or the former elite five-star recruit and talented freshman power forward Greg Brown.

But given what Coleman has showed us so far this season, there should at least be a shot for him in the NBA in his future. A skilled and proven two-way guard like Coleman surely has a place at the next level.

Coleman is lightning fast off the dribble, a capable shooter and shot creator, effective distributor, and rebounds well on the offensive glass for a guard. And that only takes into account his skill set on the offensive end of the floor.

On the defensive end, Coleman is one of the toughest guards in the Big 12. He’s a very capable perimeter defender with good hands, length, and overall gifted physical tools. He’s averaged more than one steal per game for his career, and sat among the team leaders for the Longhorns in both defensive rating and defensive box plus/minus rating in each of the four years of his college career.

So far this season, Coleman has averaged 13.3 points per game, 3.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.1 blocks. And he’s shot 48.8 percent from the field, 38.9 percent from beyond the arc, and 82.4 percent from the free-throw line.

This is the best season for Coleman so far in college. And while he would be one of the older NBA prospects in this class coming out of college, he’s worth a look from a number of NBA teams with depth needs in the backcourt rotation.

Coleman and the Longhorns are set to tip off against Abilene Christian in the Round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament on March 20 at 8:50 p.m. CT. Texas comes in with 19 wins on the season (20 if you include the win by COVID-19-induced qualification over the Kansas Jayhawks in the Big 12 Tournament).