AUSTIN (KXAN) — Brock Cunningham wants to trade Austin for Australia once his playing days for the Texas Longhorns are over.
On Thursday, the sixth-year forward shared some of his post-Texas plans ahead of senior night at the Moody Center, and they involve getting paid to play basketball while enjoying sunsets and campfires down under.
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Baylor’s RayJ Dennis (10) collects a rebound against Texas’s Chendall Weaver, left, Brock Cunningham (30) and Dylan Disu (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, March 4, 2024, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) -
Texas’s Dylan Disu (1) reacts after being called for a technical foul after scoring a three-point basket against Baylor during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, March 4, 2024, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) -
Texas’s Max Abmas reacts after scoring a basket against Baylor during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, March 4, 2024, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) -
Baylor’s Jalen Bridges (11) goes up for a basket against Texas’s Chendall Weaver (2) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, March 4, 2024, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) -
Texas head coach Rodney Terry talks to his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Baylor, Monday, March 4, 2024, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) -
Texas guard Max Abmas scores between Baylor guard Jayden Nunn, left, and guard Ja’Kobe Walter, right, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, March 4, 2024, in Waco, Texas. (Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald via AP) -
Baylor forward Jalen Bridges reacts to his three-point play against Texas in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, March 4, 2024, in Waco, Texas. (Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald via AP) -
Baylor’s Miro Little, right, dribbles past Texas’s Chendall Weaver (2) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, March 4, 2024, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
“Fingers crossed, we’ll see what happens,” Cunningham said about playing professionally in Australia’s National Basketball League. “It’s more of a gut feeling than anything. I was thinking about my future and what would make sense, and Australia jumped into my head. After the season, I’m going to look into it more.”
Cunningham has always wanted to go there, he said, and he’s done a little legwork and asked some Australian players for their advice. The plan is still in its infancy, and obviously, he’s got some work to do before he can throw some shrimp on the barbie. He has to face Oklahoma one more time on his home floor, and that’s something he’s pumped up for.
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“I think it’ll be fun with an awesome environment in the Moody Center. The students and fans have been great supporting us,” he said. “For the last one, I’ve got so many emotions. It’s been six years, but it hasn’t quite hit me yet because there’s so much more left on the table and things we want to get done.”
A win would secure an even record in Big 12 play at 9-9 and give the Longhorns their 20th win of the season. Texas beat the Sooners 75-60 on Jan. 23 in Norman when they were playing six consecutive ranked opponents in Big 12 play, and now they’re jockeying for seeding in the conference tournament. The Longhorns are firmly in the middle of the pack and would stay above the Sooners in the standings with a win.
Texas has been up and down in Big 12 play as their record would suggest, but when the Longhorns needed a win, Cunningham said they were able to do it with their defense.
“That’s been how we’ve won our big games this season,” he said. “We’ve come out and played very aggressively on defense, and then the offense takes care of itself. We score in transition of the turnovers we get from that.”
Cunningham said emotions will hit him eventually. He doesn’t know if they’ll get to him before the game Saturday or sometime after the season, but as far as he’s concerned, the end of the season is still pretty far away.
“I’m focused on getting better right now and helping the team out, I haven’t had a lot of time to think about that,” he said.
As for his dreams down under, once he’s done taking in a Gold Coast sunset next to a beach bonfire, he said he’d like to do some crocodile hunting.
“I’d do that, absolutely,” he said. “If I can find an Australian that’s crazy enough to take me.”