KANSAS CITY, Mo. - When Kerwin Roach last made an appearance on the court, he was leading a win over Oklahoma State and Texas was solidly in the NCAA Tournament field.
A five-game suspension has underscored the senior guard’s importance to a young team and Texas’ inability to sustain any kind of success in the Shaka Smart era.
Now Texas (16-15) faces a potentially season-defining game in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship against third-seeded Kansas (23-8).
Win and the Texas’ chances of joining March Madness increase exponentially, with a second victory over the Jayhawks this season to go with non-conference wins over North Carolina and Purdue.