Texas Basketball: 5 potential replacements for Shaka Smart as head coach

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 23: Head coach Shaka Smart of the Texas Longhorns gestures during the championship game of the 2018 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational basketball tournament against the Michigan State Spartans at the Orleans Arena on November 23, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Michigan State defeated Texas 78-68. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 26: Head coach Brian Dutcher of the San Diego State Aztecs (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

4. Brian Dutcher

The second and final mid-major candidate on this list, San Diego State head coach Brian Dutcher is the front-runner for National Coach of the Year.

Dutcher’s Aztecs are the final undefeated team in the country, only coming close to losing once.

Almost all of the Aztec’s success has come from the transfer market, as superstar guard Malachi Flynn has excelled in his first season since transferring from Washington State, and the production of fellow transfers Yanni Wetzel (Vanderbilt) and K.J. Feagin (Santa Clara) have been massive boosts for San Diego State.

Dutcher is more established than Grant, as his Aztecs made the NCAA Tournament last season, and have been competitors in the Mountain West since Dutcher took over the program from former head coach Steve Fisher.

Much like Grant, a hiring would hinge on Dutcher’s desire to leave his current job. San Diego State has been one of the more successful mid-majors in the past decade, which makes the desire to upgrade significantly less.

Additionally, if Dutcher can control the transfer market as he did in seasons past, he should be the top target for the Longhorns, who would like to win now. The transfer market is as hot as ever, with Kahlil Whitney being among the top targets in what should be a great crop of talent.

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