This might turn out to be a perfect, well-timed move by Shaka Smart. According to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, Shaka Smart is on the move to Milwaukee, to become the head coach at Marquette.
Source: Marquette's administration is meeting with its players in the next few hours.
Barring something unforeseen, Shaka Smart is heading to Milwaukee. https://t.co/Agcn6fKr7D
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 26, 2021
The pressure had increased even more for Smart at Texas after a first-round loss to 14-seeded Abilene Christian in the NCAA Tournament. It came on the heels of the Longhorns winning the Big 12 Conference Tournament with a roster littered with NBA talent. The momentum didn't carry over to the big dance, as Texas was booted after yet another short stay in the NCAA Tournament under Smart.
Shaka Smart took over the Texas program in 2015 after becoming a well sought-after coach for what he did at VCU. In his time in Austin, the Longhorns won a grand total of ZERO NCAA Tournament games. The program needed a recharge before Smart and he certainly brought flare and was able to recruit, but his lack of success in the NCAA Tournament had many wondering if Texas would consider a change. With his move to Marquette, Smart never gave them the chance to decide themselves.
Shaka Smart's last 5 NCAA Tournaments:
2014: Round of 64 loss to 12-seed
2015: Round of 64 loss to 10-seed
2016: Round of 64 loss to 11-seed
2018: Round of 64 loss to 7-seed
2021: Round of 64 loss to 14-seed0-5.
Keep him forever, please.
— Rock Chalk Blog (@RockChalkBlog) March 21, 2021
2016 – Texas loses after Northern Iowa halfcourt shot at the buzzer
2018 – Texas blew a 14-point second-half lead in an OT loss
2021 – Texas loses in the final seconds to Abilene ChristianThree heartbreaking Round of 64 exits for the Longhorns under Shaka Smart. pic.twitter.com/PXVLfvHqBT
— ESPN (@espn) March 21, 2021
It could end up being a savvy move by Smart who heads to Marquette where the internal pressure to produce lofty results won't be nearly as high as it always is at Texas. Don't mix it up, there will be expectations and high goals at Marquette to turn the program around, but the Texas gig always seems to carry extra weight with it.
For Marquette, they get a well-known name who can recruit and has shown in the past the ability to have success in the NCAA Tournament, just not recently.
For Texas, they are now on the search to find someone who can not only get this team to the tournament consistently but produce once they get there.