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This should be a fun one. Texas is looking for their first tournament win since 2014.

It was an afternoon to forget in Waco as Baylor blasted Texas 80-63. Chris Beard’s squad failed to match the intensity of the Bears and the game was pretty much over by halftime. Here are some thoughts and takeaways as the Longhorns fell to 18-7 overall and 7-5 in Big 12 play. Baylor was a bad matchup for Texas athletically, but it was surprising to see just how big of an advantage the Bears had inside the paint. Texas struggled all afternoon with finishing shots inside 5 feet of the basket. Flo Thamba had 4 blocks for Baylor and the Bears finished with 7 blocks overall. This game had some similarities to the Iowa State game in Ames about a month ago. In both games, Timmy Allen spent much of the afternoon in foul trouble and had a minimal impact. Without Allen on the floor, Texas struggled to get in a rhythm offensively. Teams who can apply consistent on-ball pressure to the Texas ball handlers have given the Longhorns issues all season. Baylor forced Texas in a lot of uncomfortable possessions and Chris Beard just doesn’t have the type of athletic ball handlers this year to prevent teams from applying a lot of pressure. For as good as Texas has been on the defensive side of the floor for much of this year, the last two games have not been very good defensive performances. The amount of mental mistakes have increased and Texas is leaving good shooters open far too frequently. If there is one positive takeaway for Texas from this game, it is that Jase Febres knocked down a pair of three pointers and played 21 minutes. Febres has struggled shooting the basketball for the last month and has seen his minutes decrease significantly. If he can get anywhere close to his old form, that will be very good news for the Longhorns. What’s Next? Texas travels up to Norman on Tuesday to face OU before returning back home to host Texas Tech on Saturday. The Sooners have been playing solid basketball lately, defeating Texas Tech this past week and nearly upsetting Kansas in Lawrence earlier today.

The environment lived up to the hype, as Texas Tech fans showed up in full force Tuesday evening to welcome Chris Beard back to Lubbock. The game itself played out as many expected. The Longhorns went through extended stretches where they struggled against a good Texas Tech defense, ultimately falling 77-64 to the Red Raiders. There was a 5 minute stretch early in the first half where Texas really let the game get away from them. From that moment forward, it was an uphill climb and the Longhorns were never able to truly get back in the game. They cut the lead to 6 or 7 points a few times in the second half, but every time they appeared poised to get back in the game, Texas Tech responded. The achilles heel of this team right now is the inability to get an offensive flow on too many possessions. Marcus Carr has received some criticism for his play as teams primary ball handler, but the Longhorns offense as a hole just looks unorganized and lost at times. Texas seems to be much more comfortable when they get out and push the tempo a little. Carr also began opening up the offense more in the second half when he was able to get in the lane and get to the free throw line. Devin Askew had a rough evening, turning the ball over 3 times in 15 minutes. It has been an up and down season for the transfer from Kentucky. He had a big opportunity to step up when Carr exited the game early with two fouls, but wasn't able to provide a spark. Perhaps the most frustrating performance came from Timmy Allen, who finished the game with 5 points and 5 rebounds. Texas Tech clearly had a plan to not let Allen beat them offensively and Texas didn't have a counter punch ready. Courtney Ramey single handily kept Texas in the game in the first half by connecting on 4 three pointers. Unfortunately, he didn't score at all in the second half and went ice cold from the floor. Big picture thought This wasn't a game many expected Texas to win. It doesn't change much in terms of where the Longhorns are in relation to chasing a NCAA tournament bid, but it does call into question what the ceiling of this team truly is. Defense travels and wins games in March, but you still have to have an offensive pulse. Sloppy play on offense combined with being turnover prone is a sure path to an early exit. Texas must clean up on the turnovers if they want to maximize this season. They are way too reckless with the basketball and it's somewhat surprising it hasn't hurt them more up to this point. They have won several games this season committing 17+ turnovers which is a major gift.

Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports Since becoming the head basketball coach at the University of Texas on April 1st, Chris Beard has leaned heavily on the transfer portal to build his future roster. With the departure of Kai Jones who declared for the NBA Draft and the uncertainty of a return from Greg Brown III, Jericho Sims, Matt Coleman and Courtney Ramey, Beard is wasting no time in putting together the pieces to field a dominant product on the hardwood next season. Vanderbilt forward Dylan Disu entered the transfer portal last week and didn't stay on the market long, announcing his landing spot and becoming the fourth transfer commit during Beard's short time in Austin. Disu, a 6-9, 220 lb. sophmore this season, played in and started in 17 games for the Commodores and averaged 15 points per game. He also led Vanderbilt in rebounds (9.2 per game) which also was good enough to lead the Southeastern Conference in the category. His field goal percentage improved from 35.8% as a freshman to 49.2% last season. In addition, he shot 36.9 percent from 3-point range and 73.6 percent from free throw line. He was a 3-start prospect out of Hendrickson High School (Pflugerville, Texas) and held offers from DePaul, Illinois and Georgia Tech. The week after being named SEC Player of the Week for his dominant performances against Kentucky and Alabama, Disu suffered a knee injury against Tennessee in February which required surgery. Disu should be full-speed by the start of next season and will finish his collegiate career closer to home, joining forwards Timmy Allen (Utah), Christian Bishop (Creighton) and guard Devin Askew (Kentucky) as transfer products to commit to Chris Beard's Longhorns.

Photo: Texas Athletics Chris Beard was formally introduced as the 25th head basketball coach at Texas on Friday at 10:00 am. Highlights: Beard and Texas Athletic Director Chris Del Conte met at a Comfort Inn in Plainview, Texas and discussed the vision for Texas Basketball over Egg McMuffins from McDonald's. A handful of hours later Beard and Del Conte had worked out a 7-year, $35 million deal to make Beard the 25th head basketball coach at Texas. Beard was always Del Conte's #1 candidate, commented on Beard's character as a human being as Beard was visibly emotional after telling the Tech players and coaches of his decision. "We got it right, We got it right" was what Del Conte thought to himself during this time. UT President Jay Hartzell on Texas Ex Chris Beard's hiring: "I too know what it is like to return home to a place that you love." Beard: "Expectations don't scare me. That's why I'm here." Beard says he understands the expectations and standards at Texas and reiterates that those standards and expectations don't scare him. Beard on Texas Basketball: "It's a Monday Night Program." Beard talked about his time as a player under his former head coach." I was a 5-year redshirt point guard under Tom Penders." Beard says he had a chance to spend time with Steve Sarkisian the day before. He mentioned how he is a hug college football fan and said "Texas football will have no bigger supporter than him." Beard said Texas will win at the highest level and will do so sooner rather than later. "I don't coach for money, I coach to win. I'm all about one thing - winning." --Chris Beard Beard says UT is going to recruit the best players in the world, says "We're not messing around. That's why I'm here." Beard says he loves the word pressure. Says pressure to him is a good word. Beard says that there are NBA players on the Texas roster and there are winners on this roster. He says this isn't a rebuild and that the program is trying to win a championship now - not when the new arena is built. Beard, when asked why he is the guy: "The pride and winning tradition of the University of Texas shall not be entrusted to the weak or the timid. I'm not weak. I'm not timid." "Nobody can match my hunger." --Chris Beard Beard says the staff at Texas will be the best in college basketball. Beard says the staff isn't sitting around thinking about what they are supposed to do. Says they already have a plan and it's time to execute that plan.

Photo: @jaylontyson Newly hired Texas men's basketball coach Chris Beard landed his first commitment with the Longhorns on Thursday afternoon. John Paull II High School (Plano, TX) 2021 small forward Jaylon Tyson was committed to Beard at Texas Tech, and decided to follow Beard in his same role at the University of Texas. Tyson, a 6-6, 185 lb. four-star prospect, announced his decision via his Twitter account which included the following statement: "I want to thank Texas Tech University and everyone in association with the men's basketball program for your support. It has always been my dream to play for Coach Beard. When I started getting recruited by high major schools, Coach saw something that I did not see in myself. With that being said... Hook 'Em!" Tyson signed his National Letter of Intent with Beard and Texas Tech last November, but requested his release from the Red Raiders on Thursday before announcing his commitment to the Longhorns. Tyson was the lone Red Raider commit in the 2021 class. His commitment serves as the third in the 2021class as he joins combo-guard Emarion Ellis (Assumption HS - Davenport, IA) and power forward Keeyan Itejere (Grace Christian High School - Raleigh, NC).

Photo: Ricardo B. Brazziell via Imagn Content Services, LLC In six seasons as head coach of the Texas Basketball program, Shaka Smart won an NIT Championship and a recent Big 12 Tournament Championship. He's also taken the 'Horns to the Big Dance three times in the six seasons. All three appearances ended with first round losses to Northern Iowa, Nevada, and Abilene Christian University. Basketball will always play second fiddle to football at Texas, but a program that recruits well and has good coaches that develop players should make appearances in the NCAA Tournament more often than not. It just hasn't worked that way for the Longhorns under Smart. As first reported by CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein, it appears a transition is in place in Austin which will allow Athletic Director Chris Del Conte to hire a new basketball coach. That report moved quickly into something more substantial. Smart is owed $7.1 million on a remaining contract that spans the 2023 season. He's not a poor basketball coach - Smart can recruit well and he can coach - he will likely do well at Marquette. Which leads us to who the Longhorns are targeting/ will target? Texas Tech's Chris Beard, Texas alumnus and former player/current Brooklyn Nets Assistant Royal Ivey and Arkansas' Eric Musselman are names that first pop up when potential coaching names surface. There are pros and cons to each, and Chris Del Conte will have the ultimate decision as to who leads the program forward in a new arena. Stay tuned as this story develops.

PREVIEW: Texas hosts red-hot #18 Kansas State in Austin The Longhorns hope to keep their win-streak alive against league-leading Kansas State Published 58 mins ago on February 12, 2019 By Austin Stevens Jan 2, 2019; Manhattan, KS, USA; Texas Longhorns guard Kerwin Roach II (12) dribbles against Kansas State Wildcats guard Shaun Neal-Williams (1) during the second half at Bramlage Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports In another important Big 12 matchup, Texas will host the conference-leading Kansas State Wildcats on Tuesday. The second game of the season between the two schools will be a rematch of the early January meeting in which Texas embarrassed the Wildcats, 67-47. Wildcat sophmore guard Cartier Diarra will miss Tuesday night’s contest due to hand surgery, but forward Dean Wade is back in the lineup, unlike last time these two teams played in Manhattan. When: Tuesday, February 12th Time: 8 PM CST Venue: Frank Erwin Center Location: Austin, TX Television: ESPN2 What to watch for from Texas: GETTING HOT LATE IN THE SEASON: Texas has played well in their last two games, achieving their first win streak since early January. Their shooting percentage of 49.56% (56-113) in those games has played an impactful role. Over the last two games, Texas is shooting well above their current average field goal percentage (43.6%) and Shaka Smart’s team is shooting better than Iowa State, who lead the Big 12 Conference in field goal percentage (48.1%). The team is averaging a margin of victory of 17 points over the two-game stretch, building confidence for the Texas defense moving forward. GUARD IMPACT: Texas has three electric guards in Kerwin Roach II, Matt Coleman III, and Courtney Ramey. In the last two performances, Roach has averaged 17.5 PPG, Coleman has averaged 12.0 PPG, and Ramey has averaged 14.5 PPG. This trio has played cohesively as of late, bringing intangibles to their performances. Roach’s worth speaks for itself, as does the prolific speed of Coleman on fast breaks and the stout defensive performances from Ramey. It will be interesting to see how Kansas State handles the three-headed monster of these guards. EFFECTIVENESS OF THREE-POINTER/SHOT SELECTION: In this two-game stretch, Texas has shot 39.53% (17-43) from behind the arc, which has given them an edge over their opponents. Compared to 3-point shots against Iowa State (6-23, 26.1%), the team is shooting with more conviction from deep. The team is also improving their shot selection by feeding Jaxson Hayes and Jericho Sims more often. Hayes has a field goal percentage of 81.8% (9-11, 21 points) in the last two games, while Sims has a field goal percentage of 75.0% (6-8, 13 points) over the same span. Utilizing the pick-and-roll has contributed to their success, but they also are receiving better feeds from the guards and are finding better looks. MINIMIZING TURNOVERS: The Longhorns have handled the ball well in their last two games, averaging 8.5 turnovers per game, much less than their season average of 11.4 per game. Against a team like Kansas State, who has the best turnover margin and most steals-per-game in the Big 12, ball security will be paramount for Texas to have an edge. What to watch for from Kansas State: CONFERENCE LEADERS: The Wildcats have won 8 straight conference games. They have beaten Iowa State, Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Kansas during this stretch. They have all the momentum of the league since losing in Manhattan to Texas, and are seeking revenge. BARRY BROWN JR. & DEAN WADE: The two top scorers for the Wildcats have led this team to where they are. Dean Wade did not play at the last meeting between these two teams, and will most certainly be a lot to handle. Wade averages 14.0 points per game, 6.8 rebounds per game, a field goal percentage of 50.9%, and a three-point percentage of 44.1%. Brown Jr. averages 15.3 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, a field goal percentage of 44.3%, and a three-point percentage of 31.6%. These players will most likely be indicators of the success of Kansas State in this game. DEFENSIVE PROWESS: Kansas State leads many categories defensively within the Big 12, and their success will depend on maintaining that edge. They have the highest defensive rebound percentage at 76.1%, greatest turnover margin of +3.3, the most steals per game at 7.6, and the second-best scoring defensive with 59.3 points allowed per game. This has given them an advantage throughout their last 8 conference games, and it will be interesting to see how Texas attempts to overcome this.

Texas Basketball defeats Baylor 84-72 Longhorns dethrone Big 12 leaders Published 11 hours ago on February 7, 2019 By Austin Stevens Feb 6, 2019; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns guard Devonte Bandoo (2) drives against Baylor Bears guard Devonte Bandoo (2) in the second half at Frank Erwin Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Spillman-USA TODAY Sports In a mid-week matchup, Texas looked to improve on last Saturday’s loss in Ames. Luckily, they came ready to play against the 15-6 (6-2, Big 12) Baylor Bears. Their strong start enabled them to do this, as they approached this game differently. Instead of looking for perimeter opportunities, early on Texas found options in the paint and through drive-and-dish opportunities. This allowed for Jaxson Hayes and Dylan Osetkowski to have more chances with high percentage shots. Hayes especially benefited from this, going 5 of 7 from the field and totaling 12 points in 25 minutes. Additionally, this outlook opened up more opportunities down the stretch, allowing Kerwin Roach and Matt Coleman to get open or find open men around the perimeter. This leads me to my next point…. For the most part, the three-point shot selection was much better as a team. With a 26.1% three-point percentage against Iowa State, Texas was much better this game with less attempts from behind the arch and a 40% three-point percentage. The Longhorns’ top performers on the night included: Kerwin Roach II – 21 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists Matt Coleman III – 18 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists Jaxson Hayes – 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks These three played large roles in getting Texas ahead, especially through ball movement, creating space, and field goal percentage. Compared to the loss in Ames, Texas was much better with ball security. They only had 9 turnovers compared to Baylor’s 14, a great improvement from last game. The team was also hot on offense, with a field goal percentage of 55.1%, an improvement from the 43.09% on Saturday. Texas managed to get to the line often, with 34 free-throw attempts on the night. If the team begins to capitalize on these opportunities they will be successful down the stretch. On the defensive side of the ball, the main success point came from their defensive switches. Their intervals of zone and press were decent within the first 30 minutes of play, causing turnovers at times. If Texas is able to figure out a more consistent approach to movement between these fast-pace defensive schemes, they will be a tough defense to face. The issues, which were not as visible, lied within a few places including the occasional lackluster shot selection. This occurred as the game went on and the team got comfortable. Jase Febres was 0 for 5 from three-point range until he hit three in a row, finishing 3 for 9 from that range. Although he hit three, many of his early looks were contested and could have been passed inside for better looks from Hayes, Osetkowski, or Sims. Also, as the game progressed, Texas got too comfortable, allowing Baylor within 8 points at 53-45. This could have been avoided if Texas had converted more of their free-throw attempts, as they went 22 for 34 from the line. A field goal percentage of 64.7% does not scream consistency from a team standpoint, and needs improvement for closer matchups. A win is a win, and Texas will take what they can get, especially with a score of 84-72 against the league’s leading team. If Texas improves on their weaknesses from this game, they should be able to take care of business moving forward, starting with a struggling West Virginia team. Texas heads to Morgantown to play West Virginia on Saturday at the WVU Coliseum at 7:00 PM CST.

The Texas basketball program received good news Thursday morning when it was announced that Guard Kerwin Roach would be withdrawing his name from the NBA Draft and returning to school for his senior season. Roach averaged 12.3 points and 3.6 assist during his junior season in 2017, shooting 43.8% from the field and 36.4% from beyond the arc. The return of Roach means Texas will only lose one player to the draft, freshman Mo Bamba.

Official statement from Bamba “After an incredibly rewarding year at The University of Texas, I will not be returning school as I will be entering the NBA Draft.” The Freshman averaged 12.9 points and 10.5 rebounds in his lone season in Austin

After a one year absence, 10 seed Texas is set to return to the NCAA tournament on Friday against 7 seed Nevada. This will be the Longhorn’s second tournament appearance under third year head coach Shaka Smart, with the first appearance in 2016 ending with a 1st round exit to Northern Iowa on a half-court shot at the buzzer. Nevada returns to the tournament for the second consecutive season, bowing out in the first round last year to Iowa State, 84-73. On the court, the Wolf Pack are led by the Caleb and Cody Martin. The twins have combined to average 32.7 PPG and 11.6 RPG. Cody is also the team leader in assists at 4.2 per game. There is not much to dislike about Nevada offensively. They shoot well from the field (46.8%), shoot well from 3 (39.8%) and rarely turn the ball over (9.9 turnovers per game). Despite the positives on the offensive end, the Wolf Pack will have several factors working against them heading into the first round match-up. Starting point guard Lindsey Drew has been sidelined for a month with an achilles injury, and his absence has left Nevada short handed. The Wolf Pack will likely only play 7 players against the Longhorns, and Nevada also loves to foul. The inside presence of Jericho Sims and Mo Bamba could cause trouble if Wolf Pack players start finding themselves in foul trouble. The Longhorns are coming off a 73-69 loss to Texas Tech in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament. Bamba returned to action against the Red Raiders after missing the previous 2 games with a toe injury. The star freshman claims to be 100% healthy heading into the NCAA tournament, and it would be a welcome site for Shaka Smart and company to have their star player back on the floor at full health. With Eric Davis still out due to an ongoing NCAA investigation, Smart will continue to lean on rising guard Jacob Young, who has elevated his play the past few games. Young poured in a career high 29 points against Texas Tech, and played 32 minutes. The Houston native has given the Longhorns a much needed shooting boast from beyond the arc. Texas and Nevada is set to tip at 3:30 CST on TBS. The winner for face the winner of 2 seed Cincinnati against 15 seed Georgia State. Follow along at HornSports.com for live updates.

With their NCAA tournament hopes hanging in the balance, Texas shot 56.9% from the field and 57.9% from 3, giving the Longhorns a 87-79 overtime win over West Virginia at the Frank Erwin Center. Guards Kerwin Roach and Matt Coleman paced the offensive attack, scoring 22 points a piece and combining for 11 assists. The Mountaineers were led guard Javon Carter, who had 12 points and added 6 assists. West Virginia led 42-40 at the half, and the two teams continued their back and forth battle into the second half. Texas led 72-70 with 6 seconds remaining following a made free throw by Jericho Sims. Shaka Smart called timeout and chose to have the Longhorns apply full court pressure. Carter responded by driving the length of the floor and making a layup to tie the game. In overtime, Texas regained the lead when Matt Coleman connected on a 3 pointer with 3:44 remaining. The Longhorns never trailed after that moment. Jacob Young nailed a 3 pointer with 2:22 remaining to stretch the Longhorns lead to 81-74, and Matt Coleman followed a layup to put the Longhorns up by 9. Carter then pulled the Mountaineers within 6 with a 3 pointer, but West Virginia would never get any closer. Freshman Jericho Sims played 36 minutes with the absence of Mo Bamba for the second straight game. The Minnesota native had a big game on the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. The Longhorns will now prepare for the Big 12 tournament, where they will enter as the 7 seed, facing 10 seed Iowa State in the first round on Wednesday night.

Via Texas Sports Texas (15-10, 5-7 Big 12) vs. Baylor (15-10, 5-7 Big 12) Monday, Feb. 12, 2018 - 8 p.m. Central Frank Erwin Center (16,540) - Austin, Texas GameDay Quick Facts • TELEVISION: The game will be televised nationally by ESPN. Bob Wischusen (pxp), Fran Fraschilla (analyst) and Gene Wojciechowski (reporter) will call the action. • RADIO: The Longhorn IMG Radio Network broadcasts every UT game on the statewide network. Craig Way (pxp) and Eddie Oran (analyst) will call the action. Check www.TexasSports.com for a listing of affiliates carrying the game. • SERIES: Texas leads, 162-89. Last meeting: Baylor 69-60 (Jan. 6, 2018; Waco). Notables • HOME SUCCESS: Texas sports an 11-3 mark in games played at the Frank Erwin Center this season entering Monday's contest. The Longhorns have won three straight league home games against AP Top 20 opponents (defeating No. 16 TCU, No. 8 Texas Tech and No. 12 Oklahoma). • IMPRESSIVE FRESHMAN: Freshman forward Mohamed Bamba topped the 20-point mark for the fourth time this year with his 23-point effort (two shy of his career high) at TCU on Saturday. He leads the Big 12 Conference in rebounding (10.6 rpg), blocks (98) and double-doubles (12) and ranks second nationally in blocks per game (4.08 bpg). • DAVIS JR. PROVIDES SPARK: Junior guard Eric Davis Jr. is averaging 11.7 ppg while hitting 43.6% (24-55) from three-point range in 31.3 mpg over the last 10 contests. He has reached double figures in six of those 10 games, including a 16-point effort (6-8 FG, 3-3 threes) in 31 minutes on Saturday at TCU.

Via Texas Sports Texas (15-9, 5-6 Big 12) at TCU (16-8, 4-7 Big 12) Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018 - 1 p.m. Central Schollmaier Arena (6,800) - Fort Worth, Texas GameDay Quick Facts • TELEVISION: The game will be televised nationally by ESPNU. Lowell Galindo (pxp) and Reid Gettys (analyst) will call the action. • RADIO: The Longhorn IMG Radio Network broadcasts every UT game on the statewide network. Craig Way (pxp) and Eddie Oran (analyst) will call the action. Check www.TexasSports.com for a listing of affiliates carrying the game. • SERIES: Texas leads, 108-65. Last meeting: Texas 99-98 2ot (Jan. 10, 2018; Austin). Notables • RECENT SUCCESS AGAINST TCU: Texas has won 13 of the last 16 and 17 of the last 21 meetings against the Horned Frogs entering Saturday's contest. The Longhorns posted a dramatic 99-98 double-overtime win in Austin earlier this season (Jan. 10). • BAMBA SEEING DOUBLE: Freshman forward Mohamed Bamba recorded his 12th double-double of the season with his 18-point, 12-rebound effort in Wednesday's game against Kansas State. Bamba has registered seven double-doubles in his first 11 Big 12 Conference games and nine double-doubles in his last 13 games. • SEEKING ANOTHER ROAD WIN: After posting an 0-11 mark in true road games last season, the Longhorns won their first three road contests to start this year (posting wins at VCU, Alabama and Iowa State). Texas has dropped four consecutive Big 12 Conference road games entering Saturday's contest in Fort Worth.

After notching back to back wins for the first time in over a month, Texas (14-7, 4-4) will travel to Lubbock to take on Texas Tech (17-4, 5-3). In the first meeting between the two teams on January 17th, the Longhorns defeated the Red Raiders 67-58 behind a 20 point performance from Kerwin Roach. The two teams will battle again, with Texas hoping to notch a resume boosting road win over the 10th ranked team in the country. Following the loss to Texas, Texas Tech was blown out by Iowa State (70-52), before bouncing back and recording victories over Oklahoma State (75-70) and South Carolina (70-63). In the victory over the Gamecocks, point guard Keenan Evans finished with 31 points. The Longhorns held Evans in check during the team’s first matchup in Austin, holding the senior to 11 points and 0-5 from three. Fellow guard Jarrett Culver has emerged as the second scoring option. Culver is averaging 10.6 points per game, including a 16 point performance against the Longhorns 2 weeks ago. The Red Raiders continue to be one of the top defensive teams in the country, holding opponents to 62.1 points per game and 39.1% shooting from the field. In victories over Iowa State and Ole Miss, Texas got a dominating performance from center Mo Bamba. The freshman poured in 24 points against the Cyclones before following it up with a career high 25 points against the Rebels. Along with improved play from Bamba, Shaka Smart also emphasized the need for the Longhorns to continue playing good defense, especially against a Red Raiders team that can score in bunches. “To create success for our team, it must start on the defensive end. It must start with a level of mental toughness and a commitment to all the small details that go into defending a team like Texas Tech,” Smart said. The Longhorns hope to continue their upward trajectory against Texas Tech and leading up to Saturday’s matchup at home against Oklahoma. Tip off will be at 8 PM CST and the game will be broadcasted on ESPNU. Follow along here at HornSports for live updates.

Great piece on Kevin Durant from Corey Elliott - MR. RELIABLE (FYI, Corey Elliot is a contributor for HornSports.com. He is a Senior Writer at the Indy Sports Report and a member of the Professional Basketball Writers Association, recognized as an accredited member of the media by the Pacers and has full media access. Follow Corey on Twitter - @CoreyElliot)

According to Evan Daniels at Scout.com, five-star big man Elijah Thomas has trimmed his list to 6. The 6 schools that made the cut are Texas A&M, SMU, UNLV, LSU, Illinois & Oklahoma St. Texas made his top 10 & was thought to be in good shape with Thomas. The 6-foot-9, 240 pound C currently attends Lancaster after also attending Prime Prep Academy & Rockwall. He is rated at the 17th best player in the nation by 247sports composite score.

Myles and Myles of Texas

The dust is settled on the 2014 basketball season. Chris Flanagan tells you what needs to happen between now and November...

Solid info from Chris Flanagan on the meaning of Myles Turner's commitment.

Basketball team is looking good.

Shaunsters posted the article on the home page of the site but here it is for message board consumption...... Exciting rumor I heard this week related to the Texas basketball program and had 2 trusted sources confirm it to me… Buzz Williams and Billy Donovan have both let (Steve) Patterson or the people around Patterson know that when he’s ready to make a decision on the coaching position, each wants to be let known. Wait, there’s more… Another surprise name (I originally said no way to) has surfaced again on the radar (much like the Saban situation behind the scenes) . This would most likely be a substantial pay raise type of deal if it were to materialize…. Bill Self!!! There has always been a little smoke suggesting Self thought highly of Texas and the program’s resources, but never did I think there was a even a slim chance of him eventually residing in Austin. Especially after the Andrew Wiggins “clown show” that was his recruitment. Never say never, but WOW! I lean toward Billy Donovan and Bill Self looking for a pay raise, but this site is for the fans. Our job is to let you know of the rumors and smoke that are circulating and rising behind the scenes. Here is a relevant question to consider: What if Rick Barnes Barnes leads this team deep into the NIT or earns an NCAA bid? What happens then? Barnes is back to his old ways – he’sactually coaching and putting kids in spots to win. If he does this the rest of the year with a young squad, you have to give him one more year. But if Barnes turns back to his post KD/DJ ways, very hard headed, no imagination, no creativity. He will have to be fired. Also a note – I was waiting on confirmation from another buddy of mine, but look for Texas to make a STRONG push in the recruitment of DJ Hogg (Plano,TX) . If you don’t know DJ Hogg, just YouTube him and stare. He is a 6’6 athletic, gifted and soon to be 5-star kid from Texas. Hogg was once considered a Baylor or OSU sure thing…. It was recently mentioned that schools like Kansas, Kentucky and UCLA are teams pushing hard for him, but from what I am hearing from some, Texas is considered the leader (unlike King McClure). Hogg is a a lights-out shooter with deep range and Texas needs to land him or McClure to hallmark the recruiting class. Make no mistake, Hogg is “loving him some Texas,” which is great news for Horns fans. Along with Tyler Davis who I mentioned on the message board, he’s a 5-star center (Liberty,TX). All the aforementioned are Texas Titans teammates. Landing 2 or 3 of these kids would be big for Rick Barnes and Texas as they are elite kids. One side note on all of these players – watch out for SMU! Anytime you have WWW leading the charge and Larry Brown giving him the ok, you have to be careful not to get to excited. But Hogg is the one kid that truly loves Texas! –Shaunsters

It appears Texas and the Bayou Bengals will face one another as part of a basketball series of games at American Airlines Arena in Dallas on November 8th. No official confirmation yet but it is all but done. Should be a good game. I have always wondered why Texas and LSU never played more in basketball or football. Hell, hold the games in Houston. Both schools have massive fan bases in H-town.

Shooting Guard Demarcus Croaker from Jones High School in Orlando, FL has committed to play basketball at The University of Texas. Croaker is 6-4, 175 lbs and is lightning quick with a fantastic touch on the ball and good range. Will be interesting to see how he is used by Barnes at Texas. He is a versatile player to say the least. Highlight tape on Croaker: