Shaka Smart in talks with Texas | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Shaka Smart in talks with Texas

Status
Not open for further replies.
Stairmaster said:
Who else can though?
Expand ...
So right you are but not the point - 1 final four does not make a program a dynasty or a coach a genius. sometimes there is "right place right time and a little luck". If he led his team to a couple of elite eights after the final four - yes then he has real proven success.
 
VCU's final four berth is on par with any "two" UCONN national titles. UCONN played its way up into national prominence in the Big East, who collectively kicked the door down to become a super power in the mens basketball. I'm not trying to denigrate UCONN's accomplishments, but damn people, get some perspective. It's a lot harder to become a FF quality team when your schedule consists of Colonial Athletic Association competition, and a November "pre season NIT" game at Wake Forest. They guy can coach, period.
 
tcf15 said:
Shaka's a good coach, no doubt, but all sorts of wrong in this sentence.
Expand ...

Not really at all, so long as you realize that good conferences beget good programs, and good programs beget strong scheduling. Good programs, conferences and scheduling allow you to schedule top tier programs, which attracts a stream of top talent.

THAT was all stacked up against guys like Shaka Smart at VCU. I mean, college football is irrevocably broken, but let's not pretend mens basketball is some "eden of level play"..
 
CallMeBruce said:
In particular, putting two in quotation marks.
Expand ...

Agreed. I meant to quote "any", so the reader can pick and choose. Point still stands though. There's a reason why Shaka Smart is wanted up the coaching ranks, and this is why.
 
.-.
UConnWingman said:
Not really at all, so long as you realize that good conferences beget good programs, and good programs beget strong scheduling. Good programs, conferences and scheduling allow you to schedule top tier programs, which attracts a stream of top talent.

THAT was all stacked up against guys like Shaka Smart at VCU. I mean, college football is irrevocably broken, but let's not pretend mens basketball is some "eden of level play"..
Expand ...
OK, so shouldn't more major conference schools have at least two recent national titles? Very few do.
 
UConnWingman said:
Agreed. I meant to quote "any", so the reader can pick and choose. Point still stands though. There's a reason why Shaka Smart is wanted up the coaching ranks, and this is why.
Expand ...

Still not how quotation marks work, but whatever. Do your thing, I guess.
 
Inyatkin said:
OK, so shouldn't more major conference schools have at least two recent national titles? Very few do.
Expand ...

Of course very few do. My point isn't, as I said to denigrate what UCONN has accomplished. I'm just trying to point out what Shake Smart accomplished at VCU is along those lines. He hasn't turned VCU into a perennial elite-level program, but what he did was incredible, just the same.
 
One way to think about it is that 5 times mid majors made the f4 since 2004. VCU, Butler 2x, GMU, Memphis.

In that period 7 different teams won the NC.
 
Texas would be a good landing spot for him. Plenty of money, support and more appealing than VCU. They also have patience considering how long they lived with Barnes.
 
upstater said:
One way to think about it is that 5 times mid majors made the f4 since 2004. VCU, Butler 2x, GMU, Memphis.

In that period 7 different teams won the NC.
Expand ...
I wouldn't consider Memphis to be a mid-major. I would consider WSU to be a mid-major though, so the total of 5 to have made the FF in the last decade is still intact.
 
.-.
Matrim55 said:
I wouldn't consider Memphis to be a mid-major. I would consider WSU to be a mid-major though, so the total of 5 to have made the FF in the last decade is still intact.
Expand ...

Yup, if you're going to consider Memphis a mid-major, 2005 Louisville and 2014 UConn would have to be considered one too.
 
azescobar said:
Although Texas may transform into a power under Shaka (at least one that doesn't choke as often in the tournament), I hope this helps us with our recruitment of Mario Kegler.

Yes, it's twitter, but I was not a big fan of his post the other day:


Mario Kegler3 ‏@3Kegler Mar 30

If John Lucas gets the Texas job, I know where I'm going !!! #Hookemforever #Longhornnation
Expand ...
Either way our chances with Kegler will be hurt by his favorite team hiring a promising coach.
 
.-.
There had been rumors of some mutual interest between Lucas and Texas, apparently he has some connection with the AD. I know Lucas is active in grass roots basketball (also in player rehab).

Kegler's tweet struck me as odd, but it seemed legit. Then again, the next day he retweeted this, which made me feel better (and yes, we all need to relax w/the Twitter, but it's really the best insight we have sometimes on recruiting):
@UConn4X:

Husky History repeats itself: #Uconn in pursuit of elite 6'8" 2016 top-target Mario Kegler of MS. 4X Champs

(with pictures of Kegler side by side w/Rudy Gay)
 
azescobar said:
Although Texas may transform into a power under Shaka (at least one that doesn't choke as often in the tournament), I hope this helps us with our recruitment of Mario Kegler.

Yes, it's twitter, but I was not a big fan of his post the other day:


Mario Kegler3 ‏@3Kegler Mar 30

If John Lucas gets the Texas job, I know where I'm going !!! #Hookemforever #Longhornnation
Expand ...
What's Kegler's relationship with John Lucas?
 
Not sure about the direct connection, but he participated last year at John Lucas's summer camp. Presumably, he got to know and like Lucas.

I hope he's gotten to know and like KO better.
 
azescobar said:
Not sure about the direct connection, but he participated last year at John Lucas's summer camp. Presumably, he got to know and like Lucas.

I hope he's gotten to know and like KO better.
Expand ...
His tweet seemed very definitive. I know he has an offer from Texas but I didn't think they were in the picture at all.
 
hopefully tevin mack doesnt stay at vcu or go to texas and comes here... also with bruce brown and and big
 
.-.
also this is off topic, but why is greg marshall making more money than kevin ollie? like 500k more a year more.
 
UConnWingman said:
VCU's final four berth is on par with any "two" UCONN national titles. UCONN played its way up into national prominence in the Big East, who collectively kicked the door down to become a super power in the mens basketball. I'm not trying to denigrate UCONN's accomplishments, but damn people, get some perspective. It's a lot harder to become a FF quality team when your schedule consists of Colonial Athletic Association competition, and a November "pre season NIT" game at Wake Forest. They guy can coach, period.
Expand ...
coach what? junk defense? the past two uconn coaches could succeed at any level of basketball ( nba ,euroleague, anywhere)
 
James said:
also this is off topic, but why is greg marshall making more money than kevin ollie? like 500k more a year more.
Expand ...

Because WSU has invested a ton of money into the basketball program and Marshall has been coveted by high major schools. The men's bball team is probably the 1 team that matters for the shockers athletic program.

They have to pay Marshall handsomely to keep him from bolting.

Uconn has football and women's basketball to worry about along with the other Olympic sports. Ollie wouldn't coach somewhere else in the college game. Marshall doesn't have that connection to WSU although he enjoys it there
 
.-.
Status
Not open for further replies.

Forum statistics

Threads
168,193
Messages
4,556,281
Members
10,441
Latest member
Virginiafan


Top Bottom