Shaka Smart in familiar territory in Texas, but the coach is "grateful to be at Marquette"

FORT WORTH, Texas - Shaka Smart is back in familiar terrain this week

The Marquette men's basketball head coach spent six seasons at the University of Texas and the Longhorns travel to Fort Worth every year to play Texas Christian. Smart also is acquainted with the building in which MU (19-12) will play North Carolina (24-9) on Thursday.

"At the beginning of every season, I always look at the NCAA Tournament sites," Smart said on Wednesday. "And in this case this year, our home court (Fiserv Forum) is one of them. So there was only seven that we could go to (per NCAA rules). So I knew it was going to be one of the sites. And we're excited to be here.

"I've coached one game previously in Dickies Arena. It's a wonderful place. Great fans, basketball fans, in this area of the country. So I'm just happy to be here with our guys and excited about the opportunity we get to play, in my opinion, probably the most historic basketball program in college basketball. And there's not a group of guys I'd rather be here with."

Smart didn't win an NCAA Tournament game at Texas. His teams suffered some heartbreaking losses, but Longhorns fans had started voicing their displeasure. So it wasn't a complete surprise that Smart jumped to MU for a fresh start. 

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"I think in sports there's an assumption on the part of the people that are not playing and coaching that what's being said or being written about is also what's on the minds of the players and the coaches," Smart said. "And we preach to these guys all the time about being in the moment. We preached that previously with other teams. I don't think there's any other place to be other than where you are.

"And so, it doesn't feel any different from the standpoint of what you or someone else might say or write. I understand everyone has a job to do. I respect it. But, for me, we're just trying to be one point better than any other team. And if we can do that, then we get to advance. The thing about the NCAA Tournament, it's win or go home.

"So I'm really grateful to be at Marquette. I'm grateful for all of the people that make our program what it is. Most importantly our players, but not only our players. And I was also grateful to be at Texas. It was a phenomenal group of guys that I got to work with. But that's in the past now. And I'm here today with you, and we're going to play North Carolina tomorrow."

Recognizable faces

In the age of the transfer portal, it's not surprising that former teammates would meet in the NCAA Tournament.

MU's Kur Kuath and North Carolina's Brady Manek played three seasons together at Oklahoma before both elected to use their extra seasons of eligibility elsewhere.

"It's helpful for my teammates because I'm able to give them the insides and outs of how he likes to play," Kuath said. "What are the tendencies, his weaknesses, his strengths. So that's a big help for anybody guarding him tomorrow."

The ex-teammates don't seem particularly close, with Kuath saying that he hasn't talked to Manek since leaving Oklahoma. But Manek was very complimentary toward Kuath.

"Kur is awesome," Manek said. "Awesome teammate and awesome guy. I loved being around him. I was with him for three years. His game's developed ever since I met him. Blocking shots, rebounds. He developed a little bit of a jumper every now and then."

Recognizable faces, Part II

The world of high-level recruiting also leads to come inter-team relationships.

North Carolina guard R.J. Davis was heavily recruited by MU's previous coaching staff and made an official visit to campus. Davis, as well as Tar Heels teammate Caleb Love, were also pursued by Smart when the coach was at Texas.

"One of my favorite things to do is follow guys' careers after we recruit them," Smart said. "And there's that initial sting of not getting him. But then after that, it's fun to watch and see how they develop, how they grow as players, as people. Are they able to accomplish their goals?

"Because one of the things in the recruiting process you talk about is what a guy's goals are. And, obviously, guys like those two have huge, huge goals. I think those guys have gained a ton of maturity in terms of affecting the game and affecting winning. They've always been terrific players. Always been very, very talented. They've always been guys that can really get going offensively, handle the ball, create for others."