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Big 12 Basketball: 3 bold predictions for the 2019-20 season

By Brian Rauf

AUSTIN, TEXAS - JANUARY 29: Head coach Shaka Smart of the Texas Longhorns reacts as his team plays the Kansas Jayhawks at The Frank Erwin Center on January 29, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS - JANUARY 29: Head coach Shaka Smart of the Texas Longhorns reacts as his team plays the Kansas Jayhawks at The Frank Erwin Center on January 29, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /
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PORTLAND, OR – NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Shaka Smart of the Texas Longhorns yells out to his team during the first half of the game against the Duke Blue Devils during the PK80-Phil Knight Invitational presented by State Farm at the Moda Center on November 24, 2017 in Portland, Oregon. Duke won the game 85-78. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR – NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Shaka Smart of the Texas Longhorns yells out to his team during the first half of the game against the Duke Blue Devils during the PK80-Phil Knight Invitational presented by State Farm at the Moda Center on November 24, 2017 in Portland, Oregon. Duke won the game 85-78. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

3) Texas doesn’t improve and Shaka Smart gets fired

Perhaps the biggest story in the Big 12 centers on Texas and the future of Shaka Smart as head coach of the Longhorns. It’s no secret that the first four seasons of his tenure in Austin have been underwhelming – his 71-66 record and 31-41 mark in Big 12 play are indicative of that, as has his inability to advance past the first round of the NCAA Tournament in either of his two appearances.

Smart did create a bit of goodwill with the fan base and administration by winning the NIT last year. However, after their 81-66 win over Lipscomb in the NIT title game, athletic director Chris Del Conte admitted that Smart has to advance the program in his fifth year.

"“We’re not where we want to be. But we’re making progress. Our goal is to win the NCAA championship. But we won the NIT championship, and that locker room is cohesive.”"

Advancing the program means making the NCAA Tournament again in 2020 and doing so without being a bubble team, which is how Smart earned his first two bids.

And expectations are high for the Longhorns. They return three starters from last year’s team and welcome in the nation’s No. 17 overall recruiting class with three top-75 prospects.

Texas will have talent, but talent has never been an issue under smart. He has coached three one-and-done lottery picks during his tenure (Jarrett Allen, Mo Bamba, Jaxson Hayes) but hasn’t been able to find success. The reason? Stagnant offenses and poor shooting caused by lacking offensive sets and poor execution.

Quite frankly, I don’t think that changes all of a sudden. Texas has had more talented rosters than this under Smart and still couldn’t accomplish much. With the Big 12 projected to be as strong as ever, the Longhorns are projected to finish in the middle of the conference again.

Next. Ranking the 10 head coaches in the Big 12. dark

Look for the Longhorns to have a similar season as the past few years (roughly 18-14 and firmly on the bubble), in which case Texas will make the decision to part with Smart.

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