Shaka Smart Rumor

[CTMike]

Shaka is a proven head coach with tons of upside. Any program will be lucky to have him. KO is more of an unknown, but also with tons of upside I feel. I'm very, very comfortable with the decision makers in all this - JC, our new AD, and Herbst. If Calhoun feels that KO is the guy to step up and keep this program at the top... that's a guy's opinion who I'd be inclined to trust. Regardless, you have to imagine there are some feelers being put out there by the Smart camp to guage potential interest.

 

[tzznandrew]

KO is a great recruiter, and he has the respect of his players.

This is about 75% of the battle when it comes to college coaching, and it's great that he has that.

The other 25% that separates the Rick Barnes from the Calhouns and Ks is some combination of in-game coaching (20%?) and luck (5%) that leads to deep runs.

 

[suzyq]

https://twitter.com/#!/SwagAir/status/182248493501526016

Dan Poneman is really plugged in, out here in chicago. He discovered Anthony Davis. I dont know how accurate this is. He has also retweeted a couple other people saying the same thing.

My son and I were just discussing when Shaka would leave VCU and where he'd land. I had not heard this however.

 

[Matt (Chicago)]

People over rate the Illinois job all the time. It is a really really good job top 20 or so. But people think it is a top 10 job its not. The Chicago connection is overrated. Chicago is an open city and send their players all over. Also its long been known that the Chicago Public League has some dirty figures in it.

Illinois has ridiculous amounts of talent, U of I just has done a horrible job of fitting the pieces together.

couldn't agree more with this. the whole "chicago recruiting base" thing is entirely overdone for exactly the reason you said above - the good kids are recruited nationally and they go to schools all over the country...there is absolutely ZERO desire to stay home..aka play two hours from the city in Champaign.

 

[The Funster]

All things considered, *if* the job were open right now, I'd opt for Smart.

 

[zls44]

Because being in the middle of sanctions means you're a dirtbag?

It doesn't mean you're a dirtbag, but it means you can't be upset or shocked when anyone calls you that.

 

[Palatine]

couldn't agree more with this. the whole "chicago recruiting base" thing is entirely overdone for exactly the reason you said above - the good kids are recruited nationally and they go to schools all over the country...there is absolutely ZERO desire to stay home..aka play two hours from the city in Champaign.

When I lived in Chicago (a while back) going downstate, meant a lot to city kids. The phrase originally meant playing for a state championship which is held in Champaign. But it also means playing for the Illini. Back then, Bobby Knight owned Chicago but the Illini got their share of city kids. I'm sure they still do.

 

[nomar]

That forum is ticking me off, they keep calling Calhoun a dirtbag... Where do they get off?

I read 3 pages from the thread and there was literally one guy who said that. The rest (including an IU fan) were very complimentary.

 

[Hoophound]

I read 3 pages from the thread and there was literally one guy who said that. The rest (including an IU fan) were very complimentary.

Agreed. Most of them think the Illinois job is better because you aren't following a legend, the Big East is shaky and the NCAA issues exist. Fair enough.

In our defense, the NCAA issues are far more minor than average fans realize thanks to the initial hubbub from yahoo sports. I still think we'll be tourney eligible next year and although JC is a legend to follow, Shaka will succeed anywhere. He's a sure thing.

 

[nomar]

Agreed. Most of them think the Illinois job is better because you aren't following a legend, the Big East is shaky and the NCAA issues exist. Fair enough.

In our defense, the NCAA issues are for more minor than average fans realize thanks to the initial hubbub from yahoo sports, I still think we'll be tourney eligible next year and although JC is a legend to follow, Shaka will succeed anywhere. He's a sure thing

I largely agree with all of that. I think we have a better-than-50% shot of being eligible. I'm not sure anyone's a sure thing. Stan Heath? There are other Flavors of the Month that didn't pan out. I really like Smart, I think he would make a great hire for anyone, but there's always some luck involved.

 

[UofCT]

I read 3 pages from the thread and there was literally one guy who said that. The rest (including an IU fan) were very complimentary.

Yeah but still... Nobody corrected him.

 

[johnhuskies95]

Stan Heath is not even close to Shaka Smart.

 

[caw]

IF Calhoun were to retire and Smart wants to coach at UConn, I wouldn't be against it. I am also OK with Ollie

 

[Matt (Chicago)]

When I lived in Chicago (a while back) going downstate, meant a lot to city kids. The phrase originally meant playing for a state championship which is held in Champaign. But it also means playing for the Illini. Back then, Bobby Knight owned Chicago but the Illini got their share of city kids. I'm sure they still do.

Look at the big chicago area recruits over the last few years - Anthony Davis, Derrick Rose, Sherron Collins, Jon Scheyer to name a few. Even throw Boatright in there ... those kids barely even consider staying in state. Eric Gordon decommitted and went to IU. U of I gets the 2nd tier kids, if that.

Oh and shame on me for forgetting the real Chicago blue chipper who went out of state - Darius Smith.

 

[Prezidint]

I'm very, very comfortable with the decision makers in all this - JC, our new AD, and Herbst. If Calhoun feels that KO is the guy to step up and keep this program at the top... that's a guy's opinion who I'd be inclined to trust.

Not me. People don't necessarily choose successors for the right reason.
Calhoun is a great coach.
He's not an AD. He's not a coach screener. He's not a business manager.
Who knows why Calhoun likes Ollie?
It would be silly to think that Calhoun thinks that Ollie would make the best coach for UConn, really, given that he hasn't coached a game yet.
So Calhoun is either basing his opinion on potential or on something else, and I'd guess it's a combination of the two.

In the end, there's a reason that there is virtually no job in life that allows you to pick your successor - not CEOs, not Presidents, not NFL quarterbacks, not NBA coaches, not general managers, and so on. The reason is that it's humanly impossible to be unbiased in the selection.

Dead hand control should be eschewed.

I think the only input Calhoun should have in the process is his input to the AD regarding Ollie. I think it's a disservice to the school and the team to publicly hold out a candidate as his chosen one. Give the input, let the system work.

Let me put it this way - somebody should get JC to answer the question - who would be better for UConn - Smart or Ollie? If he can't answer that in 2 seconds or less, you have your answer.

For the Ollie supporters, does it not concern you that the guy is completely untested? He could be a great coach, but he could suck too. He could drag the program down for 5 years and then get turfed, but by then the luster of the UConn brand has been marred.

Get a proven commodity. No time to experiment. VERY delicate transition ahead.

 

[Palatine]

Look at the big chicago area recruits over the last few years - Anthony Davis, Derrick Rose, Sherron Collins, Jon Scheyer to name a few. Even throw Boatright in there ... those kids barely even consider staying in state. Eric Gordon decommitted and went to IU. U of I gets the 2nd tier kids, if that.

Oh and shame on me for forgetting the real Chicago blue chipper who went out of state - Darius Smith.

They pulled two four stars out of Chicago -city kids- last year.

And remember the recruits aren't just city kids. There is a high level of play in the suburbs. The wealth of talent is breathtaking. If DePaul ever got back to where it was in the 70's they would be an annual top ten contender.

 

[Inyatkin]

Honest question: How much of Shaka Smart's success has been based on his predecessor's players? Mike Jarvis looked pretty awesome at St. John's before he had his own recruits to work with.

 

[Matt (Chicago)]

I know it re: talent level...I live out here now and keep on eye on the HS teams (both Chi and Burbs), hence the Scheyer and Boat reference. I agree that IL still gets some of the guys, I was just pointing out that the really big name players don't stick around - losing Rose was like Drummond going to Kentucky. Ahh DePaul... you're right if they could ever get it together. I think one of the problems is the arena. I believe that I read somewhere their fieldhouse doesn't hold enough seats for BE play, so they play in Rosemont @ the Allstate. Place is like a morgue. Unfortunately there isn't an abundance of space in Lincoln Park for them to build a properly sized on campus arena...

 

[Walker11]

Honest question: How much of Shaka Smart's success has been based on his predecessor's players? Mike Jarvis looked pretty awesome at St. John's before he had his own recruits to work with.

This is a very good, and rarely asked question. Jeff Capel really was the guy to come in and get VCU rolling, and then another hot coaching prospect, Anthony Grant continued the school on their upward trend. Now, Smart has certainly had the most success but I think a lot of the players were from the old regime, at least last year. I believe he had 1 returning starter (Burgess). Skeen, Rodgriguez, etc. were Grant guys.

All this said, he has landed a couple of high profile mid major recruits (for mid major level) like Juvonte Reddic.

 

[aceboon]

Honest question: How much of Shaka Smart's success has been based on his predecessor's players? Mike Jarvis looked pretty awesome at St. John's before he had his own recruits to work with.

Same thing I was going to ask, I don't want him as our coach but in this thread Stan Heath was quickly dismissed as not being on Shaka's level. Why is that? Heath went to an Elite 8 with Kent State with Gary Waters's players, so Shaka is substantially better than him because he went one more game with Grant's players?

 

[UconnFanInNYC]

https://twitter.com/#!/SwagAir/status/182248493501526016

Dan Poneman is really plugged in, out here in chicago. He discovered Anthony Davis. I dont know how accurate this is. He has also retweeted a couple other people saying the same thing.

Heres the wallpaper from that Tweet. 1996 Draft Class. Best ever draft class. 3 Hall of famers in this picture. (Yes, Nash)

A bunch of guys who made over $100 million. Then of course you have John Wallace, 'Cuse grad.

 

[Burnsbros23]

When I lived in Chicago (a while back) going downstate, meant a lot to city kids. The phrase originally meant playing for a state championship which is held in Champaign. But it also means playing for the Illini. Back then, Bobby Knight owned Chicago but the Illini got their share of city kids. I'm sure they still do.

Illinois gets some kids from the city but they dont get many from the CPL. I believe Mike Henry is the only kid on their roster from the CPL. They recruit the suburbs well and the Chicago catholic league well with Mike Shaw, Egwu and Tracy Abrams all being from there. But as far as them getting the big public school kids it just hasnt happened the last 5 years or so.

 

[UCweCONN]

Not me. People don't necessarily choose successors for the right reason.
Calhoun is a great coach.
He's not an AD. He's not a coach screener. He's not a business manager.
Who knows why Calhoun likes Ollie?
It would be silly to think that Calhoun thinks that Ollie would make the best coach for UConn, really, given that he hasn't coached a game yet.
So Calhoun is either basing his opinion on potential or on something else, and I'd guess it's a combination of the two.

In the end, there's a reason that there is virtually no job in life that allows you to pick your successor - not CEOs, not Presidents, not NFL quarterbacks, not NBA coaches, not general managers, and so on. The reason is that it's humanly impossible to be unbiased in the selection.

Dead hand control should be eschewed.

I think the only input Calhoun should have in the process is his input to the AD regarding Ollie. I think it's a disservice to the school and the team to publicly hold out a candidate as his chosen one. Give the input, let the system work.

Let me put it this way - somebody should get JC to answer the question - who would be better for UConn - Smart or Ollie? If he can't answer that in 2 seconds or less, you have your answer.

For the Ollie supporters, does it not concern you that the guy is completely untested? He could be a great coach, but he could suck too. He could drag the program down for 5 years and then get turfed, but by then the luster of the UConn brand has been marred.

Get a proven commodity. No time to experiment. VERY delicate transition ahead.

I'm not a big fan of any coach naming their successor. There is an inclination for a coach to push for giving the job to a friend or former player out of blind loyalty or wanting to do them a 'solid' rather than because the person is the best candidate for the job. It happens in life and it happens in sports. If Blaney is an indication of Calhoun's approach, I tend to think there's a risk he would allow friendship to blind his decision making. Legendary coach or not, at the crossroads moment, we need to choose the best coach available. I'm all for Calhoun being very involved with the program after he retires, getting involved in fundraising and recruiting (if allowed), but I don't want him handpicking a successor. How many times has that worked out?

 

[caw]

This is a very good, and rarely asked question. Jeff Capel really was the guy to come in and get VCU rolling, and then another hot coaching prospect, Anthony Grant continued the school on their upward trend. Now, Smart has certainly had the most success but I think a lot of the players were from the old regime, at least last year. I believe he had 1 returning starter (Burgess). Skeen, Rodgriguez, etc. were Grant guys.

All this said, he has landed a couple of high profile mid major recruits (for mid major level) like Juvonte Reddic.

To add on:

VCU has won 24+ games every year for the past 7 years.
Shaka Smart has been there for the past 3 years which include a CBI championship, a final four and this year's second round NCAAT.

Last year's team was very senior dominant with 4 of the 5 leading scorers being seniors in: Skeen/Rozzell/Rodriguez/Nixon, Burgess was a Junior. Basically none of those players were Smart's recruits.


This year's team was mostly recruited by Smart (aside from leading scorer Burgess). They played 8 players over 10 minutes a game on average. No one outside these 8 averaged over a point a game.

Burgess was a senior
Daniels, Theus were juniors
Brandenberg, Reddic, Haley were sophomores
Graham, Weber were freshmen

So last year's final four run was based off of recruits Smart inherited, but he did coach them for 2 years. This year's NCAA appearance was based almost entirely on Smart's recruits.

Anthony Grant really set up Shaka well. He went 28-7, 24-8 and 24-10 at VCU, made the NCAAT twice and the NIT once. Grant is (obviously) now at Alabama and they have gone from 17-15 to 25-12 to 21-12. No postseason to NIT to NCAAT. They had previously made the NCAAT in 2006. The three years prior to Grant, Alabama was 20-12, 17-16, 18-14.

Before Grant, Jeff Capel was at VCU and led them to 18-10, 23-8, 19-13, 19-10 records and only one NCAAT. He didn't really succeed there but his recruits set up Grant.

If Smart stays at VCU, next year will be very telling as those will be 100% his guys. According to ESPN they have 1 top 100 guy committed for next year and two, 2 star guys. They also have one 3 star guy for 2013.

Interesting that VCU has made the tournament 4 times since 2006-2007, the same number as UConn.

 

[uconnsox23]

With Shaka Smart's coaching and Ollie's recruiting, we could have a bright future

 

[caw]

Heres the wallpaper from that Tweet. 1996 Draft Class. Best ever draft class. 3 Hall of famers in this picture. (Yes, Nash)

A bunch of guys who made over $100 million. Then of course you have John Wallace, 'Cuse grad.

View attachment 719

Jeez, doesn't even have Iverson. Someone should have pulled Wallace and put Iverson in instead.

 

[caw]

With Shaka Smart's coaching and Ollie's recruiting, we could have a bright future

I imagine Smart would want to build his own staff, though Ollie could still be on it.

 

[nomar]

Stan Heath is not even close to Shaka Smart.

Nothing better than hindsight, is there?

 

[UConnCat]

Neither Lon Kruger nor Bruce Weber were able to recruit Chicago area kids as well as Lou Henson did when he coached at UI. Henson's good teams at UI included the following Chicago area kids: Ken Norman, Nick Anderson, Kendall Gill, Kenny Battle and Marcus Liberty. Many thought Weber would be able to recruit pretty well in Chicago, particularly after the FF run in 2005, but it didn't happen. There was a Peoria to Champaign pipeline in the 1990s (Sergio McClain and Frank Williams) but I'm not sure there are as many good players coming out of the Peoria area as in the past.

 

[Richmondhsky]

To add on:

VCU has won 24+ games every year for the past 7 years.
Shaka Smart has been there for the past 3 years which include a CBI championship, a final four and this year's second round NCAAT.

Last year's team was very senior dominant with 4 of the 5 leading scorers being seniors in: Skeen/Rozzell/Rodriguez/Nixon, Burgess was a Junior. Basically none of those players were Smart's recruits.


This year's team was mostly recruited by Smart (aside from leading scorer Burgess). They played 8 players over 10 minutes a game on average. No one outside these 8 averaged over a point a game.

Burgess was a senior
Daniels, Theus were juniors
Brandenberg, Reddic, Haley were sophomores
Graham, Weber were freshmen

So last year's final four run was based off of recruits Smart inherited, but he did coach them for 2 years. This year's NCAA appearance was based almost entirely on Smart's recruits.

Anthony Grant really set up Shaka well. He went 28-7, 24-8 and 24-10 at VCU, made the NCAAT twice and the NIT once. Grant is (obviously) now at Alabama and they have gone from 17-15 to 25-12 to 21-12. No postseason to NIT to NCAAT. They had previously made the NCAAT in 2006. The three years prior to Grant, Alabama was 20-12, 17-16, 18-14.

Before Grant, Jeff Capel was at VCU and led them to 18-10, 23-8, 19-13, 19-10 records and only one NCAAT. He didn't really succeed there but his recruits set up Grant.

If Smart stays at VCU, next year will be very telling as those will be 100% his guys. According to ESPN they have 1 top 100 guy committed for next year and two, 2 star guys. They also have one 3 star guy for 2013.

Interesting that VCU has made the tournament 4 times since 2006-2007, the same number as UConn.

SS is a modern day version of Calhoun. Intense, preaches defense and gets the most out of his players. Our guys go on the Husky Run to start the season and then an allout session where it's common for freshman to puke (no pun intended). VCU started their season in the James River with a session run by a local Navy Seal personal trainer...everyone including SS, the assts, trainers and managers were involved. Have heard him speak a couple of times and he is a special guy...the AD plays at my club and they would hate to lose him...also, read earlier this week that VCU hadn't given permission to IL??

Your post is accurate that both Grant and SS benefited from the legacy program...if he would also benefit from the tradition and prior recruiting of a Hall of Fame coach.