5 Best Replacements For Former Texas Basketball Head Coach Rick Barnes

5 Best Replacements For Former Texas Basketball Head Coach Rick Barnes

By Brian Kalchik

5 Best Replacements For Rick Barnes At Texas

Rick Barnes Texas
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Today, the Texas Longhorns fired Rick Barnes in a largely predictable move. Despite leading the Longhorns to the tournament in 16 of his 17 seasons, the Longhorns have been consistent underachievers under Barnes, especially in the NCAA Tournament. Here are the top five candidates to replace Barnes in Austin.

5. Chris Mack

Chris Mack Xavier
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5. Chris Mack

Chris Mack Xavier
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Chris Mack had the unenviable task of replacing Sean Miller at Xavier, but he has done a great at the university. In six seasons, Mack has won 66 percent of his games with five trips to the NCAA Tournament, and three Sweet 16 appearances.

4. Archie Miller

Archie Miller Dayton
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4. Archie Miller

Archie Miller Dayton
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A head coach for only four seasons, Archie Miller has been one of the hottest coaches on the market. He took a previously anonymous Dayton program and turned into tournament contenders. Last season, Miller led the Flyers to the Elite Eight, and won 27 games this year despite not having a player taller than six-foot-six.

3. Buzz Williams

Buzz Williams Virginia Tech
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3. Buzz Williams

Buzz Williams Virginia Tech
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Buzz Williams just finished his first season at Virginia Tech, but I find it hard to believe that Williams is a long-term fit in Blacksburg. Williams is from Texas, and has coached at a top-level without a lot of talent. His buyout clause would be million if he decides to leave Blacksburg before May 11.

2. Shaka Smart

Shaka Smart VCU
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2. Shaka Smart

Shaka Smart VCU
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Shaka Smart has turned down offers to leave VCU multiple times over the past few years, but the Longhorns job is perfect for Smart. He can implement his havoc defense on the Big 12, and he can recruit.

1. Gregg Marshall

Gregg Marshall Wichita State
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1. Gregg Marshall

Gregg Marshall Wichita State
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The top candidate regardless of conference is Wichita State's Gregg Marshall. Everywhere he has been, he has won (Winthrop and Wichita State). In the past three seasons, Marshall's teams have been to one Final Four, had one perfect regular season, and advanced to the Sweet 16.

Brian Kalchik is a Houston Texans writer and featured writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.

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