Bevo’s Daily Roundup: Let’s talk about John Beilein and Texas

With Texas men’s basketball head coach Shaka Smart struggling, it’s time to think options.

Particularly, that option may come in the form of John Beilein, who recently left his head coaching duties with the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, and who has more than 40 years of experience coaching at the collegiate level. From ESPN: “Beilein struggled to connect with NBA players and was never able to implement his collegiate offense into the pro game. He befell the plight of some previous coaches who made the leap to the NBA: players quickly tuning him out with his penchant for screaming and believing that Beilein was treating them as young, college athletes, not as professionals, league sources said.” That happens.

That, however, could spell good news for the Forty Acres.

Also from ESPN: “[Texas] will likely be the primary job that comes up in speculation about Breilein’s future. Texas coach Shaka Smart’s job status is the biggest question entering the coaching carousel, as the Longhorns are likely to his fifth year in charge with just two NCAA tournament appearances and zero NCAA Tournament wins. A 29-point loss over the weekend to an 11-14 Iowa State team without its best player was Texas’ fourth defeat in a row and dropped the Longhorns to 14-11 overall and 4-8 in the Big 12.”

WHAT THE WISE MEN ARE SAYING ABOUT THE LONGHORNS

Austin American-Statesman: The Dotted Line: Texas begins its search for the next generation of defensive backs

Dallas Morning News: Texas quarterback outlook for 2020: Where can Sam Ehlinger take Texas during his farewell tour?

247Sports: Thoughts on Texas commits and targets in new 2021 Top247

Sports Illustrated: Longhorns looking for spark at home against TCU

USA Today: New NCAA transfer proposed rule is a potential game changer

USA Today: Which new assistant will have biggest impact?

NEWS FROM ELSEWHERE IN LONGHORN LAND AND THE BIG 12

• Four-star safety Bryce Anderson out of Westbrook High School in Beaumont is the latest member of the 2022 recruiting class to receive an offer from the Longhorns. According to 247Sports, he’s the sixth-highest rated safety and 10th overall recruit statewide. However, Anderson is already committed to play for Ed Oregeron and the LSU Tigers. Notably, 247Sports predicts he has 100 percent chance of maintaining his commitment to LSU.

• After falling behind by two runs early on, Texas baseball managed to pull off a win last night in their home opener against the UTSA Roadrunners, largely thanks to a four-run fourth inning. Texas will shoot for a repeat against the Lamar Cardinals today at 4 p.m. Central.

• Texas men’s basketball (14-11) will take on the equally miserable TCU Horned Frogs (14-11) at the Frank Erwin Center tonight. The Longhorns have dropped four of its past five games, while the Horned Frogs have a lost eight of their last 10 since the two last met in January. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. Central. You can catch the game on the Longhorns Network.

• Texas women’s tennis jumped from No. 7 to No. 3 in the latest Oracle/ITA national rankings. It’s the highest the Longhorns have been ranked since 2006. The team’s next test will come in the form of the No. 12 Stanford Cardinal on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Texas Tennis Center.

• Following their loss to the Michigan Wolverines over the weekend, Texas men’s tennis dropped from No. 1 to No. 5, according to the latest Oracle/ITA rankings. The Wolverines’ win over the Longhorns was also enough to boost Michigan to No. 4, just ahead of Texas.

• No. 1 Baylor men’s basketball has broken the Big 12 Conference’s team win streak record (23) with their win over the Oklahoma Sooners on Tuesday night. From our SBNation neighbors Our Daily Bears: “Baylor remained steady all game. The game came in ebbs and flows, but the difference was Baylor’s ability to extend runs with their defense. Oklahoma had several 7 and 9 point runs, but they only lasted 3 or 4 minutes. Baylor, meanwhile, would have 13-2, 17-2 runs over 6 and 7 minute stretches. The Sooners had few answers for Baylor’s chokehold, failing to find offense to extend runs and grab real control of the game.”

• Speaking of the good-for-nothing Sooners, the folks in Norman are currently making room for two new statues dedicated to their most recent Heisman Trophy winners: Baker Mayfield, now of the Cleveland Browns, and Kyler Murray, now of the Arizona Cardinals.