SMART TO RETURN TO LONGHORNS’ SIDELINE NEXT YEAR

University of Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte says Shaka Smart will be back as the coach of the Longhorns basketball team next season.

"Shaka's our coach," Del Conte told the Austin American-Statesman. "Nothing's changed. We won five of the last six down the stretch, finished third in the conference. We have a good team coming back. Nothing's changed."

There was speculation all season that Smart could be on the hot seat, given that Texas missed the NCAA tournament in two of the previous three seasons and hasn't won an NCAA tournament game in Smart's four seasons in Austin.

Texas is expected to bring back its entire roster next season, and the Longhorns are squarely in the mix for uncommitted five-star senior Greg Brown.