Beard has rebuild on his hands at Texas
AUSTIN — There probably hasn’t been a lonelier team page than the one Chris Beard now occupies on the Texas Longhorns’ official website.
If you surf over to the site and click on the “2021-22 Men’s Basketball Roster,” you’ll land on a barren page featuring one person: Beard. It’s not a mistake or a glitch. There isn’t a single player bio linked, just that of the coach who left Texas Tech for a new challenge.
Truth is, Beard doesn’t even have enough players for a starting five at the moment. Not after this team’s been ravaged by transfers (Kamaka Hepa, Royce Hamm Jr., Donovan Williams), NBA draft declarations (Kai Jones) and decommitments (Tamar Bates, David Joplin).
Beyond that, fifth-year junior Andrew Jones and seniors Matt Coleman, Jericho Sims and Jase Febres could turn pro or hit the transfer market. Freshman Greg Brown is weighing whether to return or enter the draft after a rocky season. Junior Courtney Ramey’s status is in limbo.
The only guarantee seems to be redshirt sophomore Brock Cunningham.
“Dear 40 Acres,” Cunningham
tweeted April 2, “met with coach Beard. I think we are about the same things. Look forward to winning.”
In a vacuum, this is exactly what every coach wants. An empty sandbox, one they can fill and decorate however they please. They can sculpt the team in their image, get “their guys” and implant coaching schemes and philosophies onto a group unspoiled by any previous coaching staffs.
In reality, Beard is staring down a seven-month scramble in which he’ll have to assemble a roster nearly from scratch. Even if remaining 2021 signees Emarion Ellis and Keeyan Itejere don’t request a release, the rebuild in Texas looks like one of the most daunting in the nation.
Just don’t mention the word “rebuild” to Beard.
“I had a chance in a team setting to meet the players, reaching out to guys individually,” Beard said. “What’s most important right now is the current players. And I’m going to do the best I can to keep those guys here, if they want to be here, and if they understand that we’re trying to win a national championship — now. This will not be a rebuild.”
Beard could fill out the roster with a few familiar faces.
Texas Tech guard Micah Peavy entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal after Beard departed, while it’s possible last year’s leading scorer Mac Mcclung could follow suit. And 2021 Red Raiders four-star signee Jaylon Tyson could be a target if he requests a release from Tech.
Peavy starred at Duncanville and ranked behind only Vandegrift’s Brown among in-state prospects during the 2020 recruiting cycle. He averaged 5.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 20.3 minutes per game as a freshman.
Mcclung, who averaged 15.5 points after transferring from Georgetown, can be inefficient at times but would also arrive as Texas’ top scoring threat. Though new Texas Tech coach Mark Adams will try to keep Mcclung in Lubbock, the 6foot-2 guard could either turn pro or reunite with Beard if he elects to transfer.
And it remains possible Tyson follows Beard to Austin. The Plano John Paul II small forward is ranked No. 4 among in-state prospects and No. 35 in the nation, per the 247Sports composite rankings.
Though landing even two of those three wouldn’t catapult Texas into Big 12 title contention, it would help Beard establish a foundation with players he recruited and understands.
“In terms of our guys, it starts in the recruiting process,” Beard said. “I don’t think I have a magic wand. We don’t recruit this very, very talented player that’s not known for playing hard but he has all the other attributes. We look for guys that understand this is all about competing and playing hard.
“Doesn’t mean we can’t shape some guys and help some guys understand a different level of energy and motor. But our identity is we’re going to play hard, and we’re gonna do it every possession of every game no matter what the scoreboard says.”
Beard’s familiar with accomplishing the inconceivable. He needed just three seasons to guide a crumbling Tech program to its first Big 12 regular season title and first national runner-up finish.
Now, he’s back to basics, trying to construct a serviceable team and forge connections in a new environment. And before long, that roster page will feature the next generation of Texas hoops, one handpicked by Beard.
“I think you can get people and players to do things that maybe they don’t even think they can do,” Beard said. “I think it sounds simple, but it takes a lot of work. Relationships start with trust. I will earn the trust of people that trust us with their college careers here. Once we have the trust, relationships are formed. Once relationships are formed anything can happen, including playing harder than any team in college basketball.”