Texas MBB HC Chris Beard Suspended After Arrest on Charge of Assault on Family Member
Dec 12, 2022
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 06: Texas Longhorns head coach Chris Beard looks on during the second half of the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Madison Square Garden on December 06, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
The following article contains descriptions of interpersonal violence.
The Texas Longhorns announced men's basketball coach Chris Beard was suspended ahead of Monday's game against Rice following his arrest.
"The University takes matters of interpersonal violence involving members of its community seriously," Texas said in a statement, per Dana O'Neil of The Athletic. "… The University has suspended Chris Beard from his position as head coach of Men's Basketball and will withhold his pay until further notice."
The school also said associate head coach Rodney Terry will serve as acting head coach.
Matt Norlander of CBS Sports reported Beard was arrested and booked on a charge of assault against a family/household member, a third-degree felony, early Monday morning.
Tony Plohetski, Danny Davis and Ryan Autullo of the Austin American-Statesman reported Beard was booked into jail at 4:18 a.m. and released on a $100,000 bond.
The Austin American-Statesman report cited Beard's affidavit, which said a woman who said she was the head coach's fiancée told police "he just snapped on me and became super violent" after she broke his reading glasses while taking them from his hand.
She said he slapped her glasses off her face and "choked me, threw me off the bed, bit me, bruises all over my leg, throwing me around, and going nuts."
The woman also said Beard used his arm to impede her breathing and choke her from behind for five seconds.
According to the affidavit, the woman's visible injuries included a bite mark, abrasions to the right eyebrow and left leg, and dried blood on a cut on her left thumb.
Perry Minton, who is Beard's attorney, said he is "100 percent innocent of these charges. He should never have been arrested."
Beard was the head coach of Little Rock and Texas Tech before joining the Longhorns ahead of the 2021-22 campaign.
Texas is 7-1 on the season. Its next game following Monday's is Sunday against Stanford.
Texas MBB HC Chris Beard Arrested on Charge of Assault on Family Member
Dec 12, 2022
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 06: Texas Longhorns head coach Chris Beard looks on during the second half of the game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Madison Square Garden on December 06, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
Texas men's basketball coach Chris Beard was arrested early Monday morning and charged with assault on a family/household member, a third-degree felony, according to Tony Plohetski of the Austin American-Statesman and Matt Norlander of CBS Sports.
Austin police reported to a "disturbance hot shot" at 12:15 a.m. local time, per Norlander.
According to the Travis County Sheriff's Office (via The Athletic), Beard's official charge is "assault by strangulation/suffocation – family violence."
Beard is engaged and has three daughters from a previous marriage.
Beard is reportedly still in police custody. Texas is scheduled to play Rice at home tonight. https://t.co/5vobo6jL7s
Per the sheriff's office (via The Athletic), Beard's bond was set at $10,000. The Athletic also noted additional conditions to the bond:
"An additional condition of the bond requires Beard to stay 200 yards away from the victim and from his house as the case is pending. There is also a protection order in place, meaning Beard cannot communicate in a threatening way with the victim through Feb. 10, 2023."
Dana O'Neil of The Athletic reported on Monday afternoon that it appears Beard is no longer in jail:
Chris Beard's name no longer appears in the Travis County inmate search. From my understanding from the office there, that means he is no longer in jail.
Beard has since been suspended without pay, with associate head coach Rodney Terry set to fill in as the head coach for Monday's game against Rice at the Moody Center in Austin.
Statement from Texas: “The University takes matters of interpersonal violence involving members of its community seriously. ... The University has suspended Chris Beard from his position as head coach of Men’s Basketball and will withhold his pay until further notice.
The 49-year-old is in his second season with Texas, joining his alma mater after spending the previous five years with Texas Tech.
He led the Longhorns to the NCAA tournament in his first season before helping the squad to a 7-1 start to the 2022-23 campaign. Texas won its first six games, reaching No. 2 in the Associated Press poll, before suffering its first loss last week against Illinois.
Beard has a 171-73 career record in Division I across eight seasons with Texas, Texas Tech and Little Rock, including one Final Four appearance.
5-Star Guard Prospect AJ Johnson Commits to Texas over Louisville, LSU, USC, More
Nov 21, 2022
AJ Johnson is heading to Texas.
The 5-star combo guard announced his intention to play for the Longhorns next season, choosing Texas over Louisville, USC, LSU and several other high-profile offers.
“I’m going to Texas,” Johnson said, per Joe Tipton of On3.com. “I chose Texas because I have seen what they do every day and the people around them. I just feel like it’s where I’ll be the most comfortable. Also, I chose Texas because of how they let their guards go and their fan base. The city of Austin is lit.”
Johnson joins 5-star forward Ron Holland to give Chris Beard two building-block talents for his 2023 class. Holland and Johnson are the only two players to commit to the Longhorns thus far, but they're both immediate-impact talents.
A 6'5" guard who has been rising up recruiting rankings, Johnson is the No. 15 player and second-ranked combo guard in this graduating class, per 247Sports' composite rankings. He's still clearly growing into his lanky frame—he's listed at just 160 pounds—but has first-round NBA tools. He can shoot and create off the dribble, finish through contact at the rim and has top-level athleticism.
Provided he adds a bit more bulk to his frame, Johnson has the type of tools that will draw instant interest from NBA scouts. He'll arrive on campus with Holland to massive expectations, and Beard has limited history coaching 5-star prospects after largely relying on transfers and coaching up players at previous stops.
That said, if a player of Johnson's potential meshes well with a coach of Beard's history in development, the sky is the limit.
5-Star PF Ron Holland Commits to Texas over UCLA, Arkansas, More
Nov 5, 2022
The Texas Longhorns scored one of the biggest recruiting wins available in the 2023 cycle when forward Ron Holland joined their class.
Paul Biancardi of ESPN reported the news Saturday:
Breaking: Ron Holland tells ESPN he has committed to The University of Texas.
Holland is the No.1 prospect in Texas and the No.10 overall prospect in the ESPN 100.
“I have grown up in Texas and I want to be loyal to my home state. I can accomplish all my goals at home” pic.twitter.com/iM91HSj95c
Holland, who checks in at 6'8" and 195 pounds, is a 5-star prospect and the No. 10 overall player, No. 3 power forward and No. 1 player from the state of Texas in the 2023 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.
Teams such as Kentucky, Memphis, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma State, UCLA, Texas and Oregon were all interested at one point during the process, so the Longhorns certainly had plenty of competition along the way.
The first thing that jumps out about Holland's game is his versatility.
He can defend multiple positions with his length and athleticism, get out in transition, and score while attacking the basket. Yet Brandon Jenkins of 247Sports noted "his ability to crash the glass may be his biggest strength."
Holland has also made a point of improving his jump shot during his recruitment.
"I worked with my AAU coach and my high school coach on it all year," he said, per Rob Cassidy of Rivals. "I was just working on catch and shoot and shooting off the dribble—all of it. I worked on that and ball-handling."
If Holland can consistently hit from the outside while battling for boards and defending across the frontcourt and wing, he will establish an immediate role for Texas during his freshman season.
Texas vs. DePaul Women's CBB Exhibition Game to Help Fund New Uvalde School
Oct 27, 2022
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 27: Head coach Vic Schaefer of the Texas Longhorns consoles Joanne Allen-Taylor #11 after she fouls out during the fourth quarter against the Stanford Cardinal in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Elite 8 Round at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena on March 27, 2022 in Spokane, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
The University of Texas women's basketball team will host an exhibition against DePaul on Saturday with all ticket proceeds going to the Uvalde School District's efforts to build a new school in wake of May's mass shooting at Robb Elementary.
"Sometimes you feel helpless wanting to help somebody," Texas coach Vic Schaefer said, per Jim Vertuno of the Associated Press. "I felt like this might be an opportunity for us as a university, as an athletic department and my program, to really reach out."
Nineteen children and two teachers were killed when Salvador Ramos opened fire using an AR-15-style rifle at Robb Elementary. It was the third-deadliest school shooting in United States history.
Schaefer also plans to donate $1,000 for every 1,000 fans who attend the game. He said he's hoping for at least 10,000 tickets.
"I'm really begging and pleading for our community to come out, to do as much as we can to be a part of helping them rebuild and heal," Schaefer said.
City officials made the decision to permanently close Robb Elementary and demolish the school in the aftermath of the shooting. A memorial park is scheduled to be built in the school's place.
The current goal is to have a new school built and ready to open by October 2024.
Kevin Durant, Sam Acho Among Athletes Announced for Texas' 2022 Hall of Honor Class
Jul 21, 2022
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 25: Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets takes the ball during Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on April 25, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant is one of 11 people who have been chosen for the University of Texas' Hall of Honor class of 2022.
The university announced the class Wednesday and noted that an induction ceremony will take place Sept. 16. The inductees will also be recognized at the Longhorns' Sept. 17 football game against UTSA.
Among those joining Durant in the 2022 class are football player Sam Acho, men's basketball player Ovie Dotson and Olympic champion swimmer Barbara "B.J." Bedford.
Durant spent just one season at Texas, lighting up the college basketball world in 2006-07 with averages of 25.8 points and 11.1 rebounds per game, and leading the Longhorns to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
KD went on to be selected No. 2 overall in the 2007 NBA draft by the then-Seattle SuperSonics, and he would carve out a Hall of Fame career for himself.
The 33-year-old veteran is now a 12-time All-Star, four-time scoring champion, two-time NBA champion, two-time NBA Finals MVP and one-time NBA MVP.
He has been under contract with the Nets for the past few years, but Durant's business manager, Rich Kleiman, told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski (h/t ESPN's Tim Bontemps) last month that Durant had requested a trade.
Nothing has come of that request yet, and ESPN's Brian Windhorst said last week on Get Up (h/t RealGM)
that the Nets' preference is to keep Durant since trade offers have been underwhelming.
Although Durant is the headliner for Texas' Hall of Honor class, he is far from the only star athlete included.
Acho played defensive end for the Longhorns football team from 2007-2010, earning team MVP honors in 2010 and getting selected in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL draft before embarking on a nine-year NFL career.
Dotson was part of the 1977-78 Texas men's basketball team that won the NIT, and he later became a member of the legendary Harlem Globetrotters.
Bedford starred collegiately at Texas before going on to win a gold medal as part of the United States' women's 4x100-meter medley relay team at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
Texas Basketball Player Arterio Morris Charged with Misdemeanor Assault After Arrest
Jul 15, 2022
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Arterio Morris looks on during the Pangos All-American Camp on June 7, 2021 at the Tarkanian Basketball Academy in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Frisco, Texas police arrested and charged Texas men's basketball commit and 5-star guard Arterio Morris on June 2 with a Class A misdemeanor for assault causing bodily injury to a family member.
Per an arrest affidavit obtained by Brian Davis of the Austin-American Statesman, who reported the details Friday,Frisco police responded to a report of a domestic disturbance stemming from allegations that Morris had a physical altercation with his ex-girlfriend, Caden Barnes.
Davis provided more details from the affidavit.
"Morris told officers that he lived nearby and drove to Caden Barnes’ residence to have a face-to-face conversation as opposed to text messaging. Barnes' sister let Morris into the townhome. He then went upstairs to speak with Barnes, who was sleeping at the time, police said.
"Barnes told police that Morris 'grabbed her by the left forearm/wrist and pulled her up off the bed,' according to the affidavit. Barnes was wearing a sports bra at the time. Morris grabbed at Barnes’ sports bra near her chest and pulled, causing the strap to make what police described was a 3-inch-long abrasion on her neck."
Per the affidavit, Morris initially told authorities that there was no physical contact but he "altered his initial statement" to police when told of Barnes' allegations. Afterward, Morris was arrested and charged with a Class A misdemeanor, which can lead to a maximum one-year jail term and a $4,000 fine.
Morris reportedly posted a $3,500 bond and was released from Denton County Jail the following day.
Barnes told her side of the story on social media, as noted by Austin Massey of 247Sports and CBS Sports as well as Nick Moyle of the San Antonio Express-News and Houston Chronicle. She also claimed that family and high school coaches pressured her to drop charges.
Arterio Morris, a 5-star recruit and Texas signee, has been accused of physical abuse by his ex-gf.
According to her post, Morris was previously arrested for a physical dispute with her and his family/HS coaches pressured her to drop the charges due to Morris’ “NBA aspirations” pic.twitter.com/03LBIwHBDu
A woman has accused UT freshman Arterio Morris of physically assaulting and abusing her. She got a protective order against Morris + posted a photo of the order and several videos/pics to her IG account. It's disturbing. Reached out to UT for comment but still awaiting more info pic.twitter.com/AvWRkeKG7Q
Morris' attorney, Justin Moore, provided a statement to the American-Statesman:
“It's disturbing that this case is being tried on social media without any regard for the facts. We look forward to dispelling all rumors and defending any allegation against Arterio in a court of law. The right to due process is an important function in American society, and we applaud the University of Texas for not rushing to judgement before Arterio has had the ability to fully defend himself."
The university made a statement as well to the American-Statesman:
"We were made aware of the allegations involving Arterio Morris and provided all information we had regarding this situation that occurred outside of the city of Austin to our campus Title IX office. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and cooperate with the University and legal process, which remains ongoing."
Morris, a McDonald's All-American, is ranked 16th on 247Sports' composite rankings. He played high school ball at Kimball High School in Dallas.
Duke, UConn Headline 2022 Jimmy V Men's and Women's Classic Field
Jul 14, 2022
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 03: Paige Bueckers #5 of the UConn Huskies handles the ball against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the championship game of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at Target Center on April 3, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
The Duke Blue Devils men's squad and Connecticut Huskies women's team will headline the 2022 Jimmy V Classic in December.
Per ESPN's Jeff Borzello, the Blue Devils will play Iowa, and Texas will square off against Illinois in the men's doubleheader at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 6.
The women's games will feature the Huskies taking on Notre Dame at the Joyce Center and Tennessee hosting Virginia Tech on Dec. 4.
The UConn-Notre Dame contest is a clash between two of the best women's programs in the nation.
ESPN's Charlie Creme had both teams ranked in the top 10 in his early top-25 list, which dropped in May. The Huskies came in at No. 2, behind defending national champion South Carolina.
Connecticut is bringing back Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, Aaliyah Edwards and Dorka Juhasz.
Fighting Irish head coach Niele Ivey has had to replace a lot of talent from the 2021-22 squad. Sam Brunelle, Anaya Peoples, Abby Prohaska and Maya Dodson are all gone, though incoming transfers Lauren Ebo, Kylee Watson and Jenna Brown do help offset those losses.
Creme had Notre Dame ranked seventh in his top 25 coming off a Sweet 16 run in the NCAA tournament last season.
The Lady Volunteers came in just ahead of Notre Dame at No. 6 in Creme's ranking. Head coach Kellie Harper had her best season with the program in 2021-22 with a 25-9 record and a trip to the Sweet 16.
The Blue Devils figure to receive significant attention this season, especially early in the year. Jon Scheyer is taking over as head coach after Mike Krzyzewski retired at the end of last season.
Based on recruiting, there's no indication the Blue Devils will suffer without Coach K. They had the best recruiting class in the nation with seven commits, including four 5-stars, per 247Sports' composite rankings.
The class is headlined by three of the top four overall recruits, including top-ranked Dereck Lively II.
Iowa has won at least 20 games in each of the past four seasons under head coach Fran McCaffery.
Texas and Illinois are also coming off 20-win seasons in 2021-22. Both teams lost in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
The Jimmy V Classic was established in 1995 to raise money and awareness for cancer research. It's named after former college basketball head coach Jim Valvano, who died from complications from cancer in April 1993.
The UConn women's team has 10 wins in the Jimmy V Classic, most all-time among men's or women's programs.
Tyrese Hunter Announces Transfer to Texas from ISU; Nation's Top Available Transfer
May 27, 2022
CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 25: Tyrese Hunter #11 of the Iowa State Cyclones reacts against the Miami (Fl) Hurricanes take on the Miami (FL) Cyclones during the Sweet 16 round of the 2022 NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament held at United Center on March 25, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Tyrese Hunter, who won the Big 12 men's basketball Freshman of the Year award this past season, announced that he is transferring from Iowa State to Texas.
The 6'0" guard averaged 11.0 points, 4.9 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 35 starts for the Cyclones, who reached the Sweet 16 as a No. 11 seed after beating No. 6 LSU and No. 3 Wisconsin.
He was particularly sensational in the first round against LSU, posting 23 points and five steals in a 59-54 win. Hunter averaged 13.3 points and 3.7 steals per game during March Madness.
Hunter was the top remaining transfer available in ESPN's rankings, per ESPN's Jeff Borzello. He was No. 3 overall before Kendric Davis (SMU to Memphis) and Nijel Pack (Kansas State to Miami) made their decisions.
Borzello also painted a picture of what awaits Hunter at Texas.
At Texas, Hunter will step into Chris Beard's starting lineup immediately, playing alongside former Minnesota transfer Marcus Carr, who started 32 of 34 games for the Longhorns last season. Carr, a big-time scorer in the Big Ten, is capable of playing off the ball, which would allow Hunter to shoulder most of the ball-handling duties. Hunter is Texas' second transfer addition of the offseason, following New Mexico State guard Sir'Jabari Rice.
Under first-year Longhorns head coach Chris Beard, Texas finished 22-12 and reached the second round as a No. 6 seed before falling to No. 3 Purdue. Expectations would appear to be higher with Hunter in the mix.
Texas also has the No. 3 class of 2022 in the nation coming to Austin, per 247Sports. Of note, 5-star recruits Dillon Mitchell and Arterio Morris will be joining the team.
The Big 12 figures to be a tough conference to traverse as usual, but the Longhorns appear destined to be a Top 25 team all year at worst.
Jaden Ivey, No. 3 Purdue Defeat No. 6 Texas; Will Face Saint Peter's in Sweet 16
Mar 21, 2022
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 20: Jaden Ivey #23 of the Purdue Boilermakers dribbles the ball passed Brock Cunningham #30 of the Texas Longhorns during the first half in the second round of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Fiserv Forum on March 20, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The Purdue Boilermakers are going to the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in six years.
Purdue defeated the Texas Longhorns 81-71 in Sunday's round of 32 game of the 2022 NCAA men's basketball tournament. Jaden Ivey, Trevion Williams and Zach Edey led the way for the No. 3 seed in the East Region, which still has not lost outside of Big Ten play this season.
Impressive showings from Marcus Carr and Andrew Jones weren't enough for the sixth-seeded Longhorns, which have not made the Sweet 16 since 2008.
Notable Player Stats
Jaden Ivey, G, PUR: 18 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST
Trevion Williams, F, PUR: 22 PTS, 7 REB
Zach Edey, C, PUR: 11 PTS, 10 REB
Marcus Carr, G, TEX: 23 PTS, 6 AST, 4-of-8 3PT
Andrew Jones, G, TEX: 17 PTS, 2 STL, 2 BLK
Trevion Williams Starts, Jaden Ivey Finishes for Purdue
To say Sunday was not a banner day for the Big Ten would be quite the understatement after Illinois lost to Houston, Ohio State lost to Villanova, Michigan State lost to Duke and Wisconsin lost to Iowa State.
If Purdue was going to be the conference's savior, Ivey and Edey needed to lead the way. Instead, Ivey didn't attempt a single field goal in the first half as Texas swarmed to cut off his driving lanes and outside shots.
Enter Williams, who came off the bench and put on a clinic of footwork and baby hooks in the post while staking the Boilermakers to a 36-30 halftime lead. His 14 points by intermission were even more important given Ivey's lack of production, but it felt as if the stars would need to be bigger factors in the second half if Purdue was going to advance.
That felt especially true with Carr and Jones dialed in on the other end for Texas, as the Big 12 representative battled back to take the lead.
Enter Edey controlling the boards and consistently getting to the free-throw line en route to a double-double and Ivey throwing down a dunk and assisting on three-pointers from Eric Hunter Jr. and Ethan Morton all while Williams continued to play well.
Ivey also mixed in a clutch three-pointer as Purdue built a double-digit lead in the final three minutes and appeared to put the game away, but the Longhorns put the pressure back on with one more run to cut the deficit to three.
There was no question where the ball would go in those final moments, and Ivey hit the biggest shot of the game with a triple from the top of the key. The East bracket is wide open for the Boilermakers thanks to a Cinderella run from Saint Peter's, and if the Boilermakers continue to get what Williams and Ivey provided on Sunday, they're strong enough to reach the Final Four.
Free-Throw Disparity, Lack of Balanced Scoring End Texas' Tourney
Consistency was the issue for Texas this season, with up-and-down stretches throughout and three straight losses heading into the tournament.
But the NCAA tournament offers a blank slate, and Texas opened with a win over a red-hot Virginia Tech team that won the ACC tournament. Sunday, though, brought a more daunting task.
The Longhorns appeared to be up to the challenge when they jumped out to a 14-8 lead over the Boilermakers in the first five minutes, but the inconsistency that defined their season came back in a big way.
They went ice cold and didn't score a single point for more than nine minutes while Purdue went on a 20-0 run. However, Texas responded with a 10-2 run to stay within striking distance heading into the second half.
Carr and Jones were the only Texas players with more than three points deep into the second half. Yet they were effective enough to give the Longhorns the lead when Jones drilled a triple with less than 15 minutes remaining.
However, relying on two outside playmakers to generate much of the offense also left Texas at a severe disadvantage at the free-throw line. Purdue shot 46 free throws to Texas' 12, which is a daunting formula to overcome against any team, let alone one filled with a number of difference-makers like the Boilermakers.
The Longhorns finally got some secondary scoring from Courtney Ramey and Christian Bishop, plus a four-point play from Jase Febres, as they stayed close all the way to the final minutes.
Still, 40 combined points from Carr and Jones and 31 from the rest of the team was ultimately too much for Texas to overcome with Ivey taking over in crunch time.
What's Next?
Purdue will try to play Cinderella spoiler in the Sweet 16 when it faces the 15th-seeded Saint Peter's Peacocks on Friday.
