The Texas Longhorns announced their decision on suspended basketball head coach Chris Beard on Thursday afternoon. The school fired Beard after an investigation into alleged domestic violence. The decorated head coach had five years left on a seven-year guaranteed contract from the university, but that deal included a provision allowing the university to fire him for cause if he were charged with a felony. The Texas Longhorns basketball betting odds shifted following the news.
“This has been a difficult situation that we’ve been diligently working through,” University of Texas Vice President and Athletics Director Chris Del Conte said in a statement. “Today I informed Mr. Beard of our decision to terminate him effective immediately.”
Texas Basketball Odds Shift After Chris Beard’s Firing
The Longhorns (12-2) got off to a hot start to the college basketball season with Chris Beard at the helm. After going 6-0 and taking down top-10 teams in Gonzaga and Creighton, the Longhorns vaulted into the top five. But following Beard’s arrest on Dec. 12 and subsequent suspension, the Longhorns have slowed down. After squeaking out a 70-69 win over the Oklahoma Sooners on New Year’s Eve, the Longhorns lost 116-103 to Kansas State on Tuesday night.
The Longhorns seem to have lost the defensive identity that made them such a force at the beginning of the season.
“K-State played extremely well, and we weren’t able to get the stops we needed,” interim head coach Rodney Terry told the Austin American-Statesman. “We’ve got to continue to buy in on how important that end of the basketball court is. It’s a work in progress, and we need to take more ownership. In the Big 12, you’re not going to outscore people. You have to get stops and play good [defense] night in and night out.”
With Chris Beard’s termination official, the onus now falls on Terry to right the ship and get Texas into March looking like a team that can compete for a title.
“I’m super proud of Rodney and our entire coaching staff and players,” Del Conte said before the Kansas State game. “They just bonded together and have done an incredible job. It tells you the team itself is just galvanized, and that’s a testament to the entire team.”
Per DraftKings, Texas’ odds fell to +450 to win the Big 12, +500 to make the Final Four and +1800 to win the NCAA Championship. Even without Chris Beard to lead the way, the Longhorns are a talented team that can make some real noise this season. However, their players need to prove their mettle, and new head coach Rodney Terry must step up.
The Longhorns will next play on Saturday. They’ll face the Oklahoma State Cowboys on the road.
