Texas met former head coach Shaka Smart for the first time when the Longhorns face Marquette.
game between Texas and Marquette has multiple stories.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Tyrese Hunter, a Wisconsin native, has plenty of experience playing in Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum, having led Iowa State to two NCAA tournament triumphs in the home of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks and Texas’ Wednesday night opponent, No. 8 ranked Marquette.
Hunter, who is just 35 minutes away from his birthplace of Racine, is laser focused on the task at hand: helping the Longhorns defeat a top opponent.
“All I’m telling the guys is it’s another basketball game and it’s just another crowd,” Hunter went on to say. “I’m just focused on us being together, making sure our defense travels and getting a win.”
After falling to defending national champion No. 5 UConn in the Empire Classic tournament finals, Rodney Terry and Texas have won back-to-back games over a pair of mid-majors, with the Longhorns using offensive outbursts to put away opposition.
However, Terry expects defense to be the driving force, with Hunter playing a key role, as they prepare to take on one of the nation’s top.
“When Tyrese is playing defense at an elite level, it takes our team to a whole different level defensively,” Terry said. “When he started playing defense at an elite level last year, our team became really good and he’s a guy who has a chance to be an all-Big 12 type of defender.”
Hunter enters the game averaging 12 points per game and 4.1 assists per game, while taking the load defensively in the backcourt as teams have attempted to pick on Max Abmas due to his size restrictions.
Golden Eagle guards Kameron Jones and Tyler Kolek, who combine to average 30.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game, will be looking to welcome Hunter in his homecoming.
“Kolek is an outstanding player, he’s a smart player who always has the defense on their heels because he’s constantly putting pressure on the basket,” Terry remarked. “Kam Jones is another guard who if we’re not on our game, he can score the ball at a really high level.”
Aside from Hunter’s homecoming, the other major storyline looming over the game is Texas facing their former head coach in Shaka Smart, who left the Forty Acres for the Midwest in March of 2021 after leading the Longhorns to three NCAA tournament appearances in six seasons – all of which ended in the round of 64.
Terry was quite appreciative of Smart, whom he considers a friend and with whom he maintains a strong relationship.
“I’ve always had great respect for Shaka, he and I have known each other a long time and we often talk about each other’s teams,” Terry added. “There’s no denying that he’s one of the top coaches in college basketball and he has that team playing at a high level with their highest ranking since the 70’s, so I have nothing but respect for him and the job he’s done.”
Texas and Marquette will face off on FS1 on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Central.
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