Shaka Sensible pulled off probably the most memorable Cinderella runs in NCAA Match historical past, taking VCU from the First 4 to the Closing 4 in 2011
INDIANAPOLIS — Shaka Sensible pulled off probably the most memorable Cinderella runs in NCAA Match historical past, taking VCU from the First 4 to the Closing 4 in 2011.
However as Texas coach, Sensible is 1-3 in three event appearances throughout his six seasons. Twice his Longhorns have been knocked out within the first spherical by mid-majors with unbelievable last-second finishes.
Texas was bounced from the NCAA Match as a No. 3 seed Saturday night time, 53-52 by in-state rival Abilene Christian, in a turnover-filled efficiency that left the Longhorns shocked.
“It looks like a nasty dream,” senior guard Matt Coleman stated. “I haven’t wakened but.”
Lots of Texas followers suppose Sensible has been a disappointment in Austin, and surprise if he is value his $3.2 million wage.
Coleman is not having any of that.
“He can’t win a sport for us,” Coleman stated. “He isn’t on the court docket. It is not on him.”
Sensible is 109-86 at Texas. He appeared like a slam dunk rent in 2015 after he had turned VCU into an NCAA Match common. However even with the Rams, he by no means was in a position to come near repeating the magic of 2011.
His first season with the Longhorns ended within the first spherical of the NCAA Match when Northern Illinois’ Paul Jesperson hit a buzzer-beating, half-court game-winner. That Texas workforce was seeded sixth.
This one was coming off Sensible’s greatest season in Austin and the varsity’s first Massive 12 Match title.
That made the meltdown on offense in opposition to 14th-seeded ACU much more surprising and painful. Texas (19-8) was held to a season low in factors and turned the ball over 23 occasions — probably the most for this system in eight years — in opposition to a Southland Convention workforce that led the nation in takeaways.
“We definitely might have carried out a a lot better job being sound with the ball, however they deserve a ton of credit score the way in which they pressured turnovers,” Sensible stated.
Abilene Christian shot solely 29% from the ground, however made some wild, banked-in drives to remain forward of the Longhorns a lot of the method within the first assembly between the colleges.
“The very best groups discover a strategy to get past that,” Sensible stated.
Andrew Jones, a Leukemia survivor and probably the greatest tales in school basketball, made a 3-pointer to present Texas a 52-51 lead with 13.8 seconds left. It appeared as if Texas would escape when ACU’s final drive to the ring was blocked. However then Coleman fouled Joe Nice on the rebound with 1.2 seconds left and the 58% foul shooter made them each.
Nice picked off a desperation move at midcourt to seal it, and the Wildcats went nuts as Texas trudged off.
“Actually really feel for our guys proper now as a result of up till tonight we had an exceptional season,” Sensible stated. “This is not the way in which any of us envisioned it ending.”
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