Basketball

Waco, Texas, looked a lot like Austin early Saturday afternoon, with thunder and lightning pummeling the city.

Following Texas’ win over Colorado in the NIT quarterfinals, Kerwin Roach II let out a laugh in the locker room that echoed throughout the room. Leaning forward in his chair, the senior guard was rocking a big smile and talking with his teammates. He seemed genuinely happy. 

A legendary arena, a banner-raising opportunity and a rematch against a bitter rival. The Longhorns have won three straight games for the first time since Jan. 5, but Shaka Smart’s team has greater goals in mind.

The Frank Erwin Center closed its upper deck for the National Invitational Tournament, so the 3,982 fans in attendance all compacted into the lower bowl of the 42-year old venue. This crowd formation has been a staple of Texas’ three NIT games this March. A loud, riveting audience aligns the sidelines, but an empty, barren student section lies behind both baskets. This mass vacancy has paved way for another staple to enter the arena — a dancing, bucket hat-wearing superfan who goes by the name “NIT Stu.”