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Shaka Smart Rumor

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I'd be happy to roll the dice with Smart, who seems like less of a risk than Ollie. We're heading into uncharted waters either way. I think Ollie has the ability to be a great coach, but he hasn't done it. Shaka has been sucessful.

Honestly, I don't see the APR ban as a negative to a new coach. It could be a buffer year of automatically reduced expectations. If you're following a HOF legend, who built the program, it's nice to know that nothing you do can screw up the first season. I expect JC to come back because he's got a lot of pride and is stubborn as a mule, but if a coach like Smart is willing to take the job, I'm not sure that he should. He's given us enough of himself.
 
I wouldn't be concerned about Smart recruiting. Look at the guy -- he's a superstar. He's young, he's black, his players seem to love him.

At a major program, it's less about identifying talent and more about closing the deal.
 
According to Gary Parrish..."I can report that Shaka Smart has turned down Illinois for a final time and will stay at VCU."
 
Richmondhsky said:
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.
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The more I see of the guy (Smart) the more I like him. He would be great if he wants UConn and UConn can get him. I still like Ollie, but I don't think UConn would be wrong in trying to get Smart. I am less sold on Steven's.

I really wish the NCAA would clear up next year's tournament situation, one way or the other. I also hope Calhoun makes a statement about his intentions for next season soon*.

I wonder what would happen if the NCAA clears UConn for next year and Smart or Ollie take over as head coach (the only way I see Calhoun calling it a day is if his health forces him to do so, or if all the NCAA stuff is in the rear view mirror).

Dream scenario (highly unlikely):
  • NCAA OK's UConn for next year's NCAAT by shifting the years used.
  • The NCAA then gives UConn 2 scholarships back, so UConn is back to 12.
  • Drummond/Lamb/Giffey/Oriakhi come back for another run.
  • Calhoun or Smart/Ollie is the head coach.
  • Calipari leaves for the Knicks/(enter NBA team here).
  • Boeheim retires amid further scandal.
  • The shift in years used by the NCAA in conjunction with Fab Melo's latest makes Cuse ineligible for next year's NCAAT.
  • Noel looks at his two frontrunners (UK and Cuse), sees they are doomed, and decides to look at UConn again.
  • UConn wins the NCAAT again with the frontline of Oriakhi/Drummond (walkon)/Noel/Olander/Bradley/Wolf, the swingmen of Giffey/Roscoe/Daniels and the guards of Calhoun/Boatright/Lamb/Napier/Allen (walkon).

Worst case scenario (also highly unlikely):
  • NCAA nixes changing the years and declines both UConn appeals.
  • The NCAA further decides to not allow UConn any scholarships back, sticking UConn at 10.
  • Drummond/Lamb go NBA.
  • Giffey goes pro in Europe.
  • Daniels transfers to be closer to home.
  • Oriakhi transfers to UMass/BC.
  • Calhoun retires due to health.
  • Ollie goes to the NBA to coach, Smart to Illinois. Stevens stays at Butler.
  • Calhoun retiring and Ollie leaving makes Omar Calhoun reconsider and UConn allows his release, he goes to SJU.
  • All this leaves UConn with the following players:
  1. Roscoe Smith,
  2. Shabazz Napier,
  3. Michael Bradley,
  4. Ryan Boatright,
  5. Tyler Olander, and
  6. Enosh Wolf.
  • UConn takes to long talking to Smart/Stevens/Ollie and ends up with Blaney as the head coach for the entire season.
  • Boatright's mother's ex-boyfriend leaks some other stuff that ends up not being true but the NCAA looks into it for the first 6-9 games of the season making Ryan sit.
  • To further annoy UConn fans the NCAA decides to adjust the years used after next year, effectively allowing teams to be skipped in punishment.
  • BC or UMass makes the NCAA tournament with Oriakhi, as well as PC, their fans come crowing about the end of UConn.
  • Noel ends up at UK/Cuse and one of those teams wins the NCAAT.



*By soon I mean before the NBA draft deadline.
 
HuskyBballFan said:
According to Gary Parrish..."I can report that Shaka Smart has turned down Illinois for a final time and will stay at VCU."
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Just heard on ESPN as well...
 
My predictions:
Good
- Calhoun comes back
- Omar is steadfast in his commitment
- No one unexpectedly leaves (Daniels, Giffey, etc.)
Neutral
- AO transfers
Bad
- We aren't allowed in the Tournament
- We don't get scholarships back
- Lamb and Drummond go pro
- Noel never considers us
- Blaney ends up coaching at least one game next year
- Our long-term coaching situation is still nebulous and unresolved
 
.-.
Tenspro2002 said:
My predictions:
Good
- Calhoun comes back
- Omar is steadfast in his commitment
- No one unexpectedly leaves (Daniels, Giffey, etc.)
Neutral
- AO transfers
Bad
- We aren't allowed in the Tournament
- We don't get scholarships back
- Lamb and Drummond go pro
- Noel never considers us
- Blaney ends up coaching at least one game next year
- Our long-term coaching situation is still nebulous and unresolved
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Your point about Noel no longer falls under "predictions." That ship has sailed.
 
caw said:
Jeez, doesn't even have Iverson. Someone should have pulled Wallace and put Iverson in instead.
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Maybe it was a Nike promo picture. I think Iverson signed with Reebok out of college. (I could be completely wrong)

So 4 potential HOF's from the 1996 class. (Kobe, Ray, Nash, Iverson) Also had the following....Peja S. , Derek Fisher, Walter Macarthy, Zadruna Ilgaskus, Eric Dampier, and dont forget Travis Knight.
 
Espn radio just reported Illinois offered job to Shaka and he reportedly turned it down.
 
johnhuskies95 said:
Heath was 51-41 after his first 3 years. Smart is 84-27 after three years. Not comparable.
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Have you read the rest of the thread? Not to take away anything from Smart but he inherited some talent. To paraphrase Samuel Clemons: lies, damned lies and initial won-loss records.

And Heath was just a name off the top of my head. Every couple years there's a new young coach taking a mid-major deep into the Tourny. Heck, VCU has churned out 2 in a row (and sent Capel to OU).

It's all projection. And that's a fact.
 
.-.
What we should really do is hire whoever is in charge of choosing coaches at Xavier. They are on an incredible run of producing top coaches for other teams, and their current guy won't last long, either.
 
I wonder how soon the Ohio U. coach becomes the new flavor if he can manage a win against UNC.

John Groce is only 40, has two NCAA appearances in 4 years at Ohio U. Both times he won his first game in the NCAAT. He is now 3-1 (game against UNC to come) with wins over USF, Georgetown and Michigan.

They hadn't been to the tournament since 2005 and hadn't won a game since 1983. He might be a good pickup for Illinois considering he was an assistant at Butler, Xavier, OSU with Thad Matta (who is very successful in the Big10).
 
John Groce already is a hot name. I have heard Leornard Hamilton wants the Illinois job. Lorenzo Romar has been mentioned. Anthony Grant Chris Collins and Gregg Marshall are all being mentioned they should get a good coach.
 
The Illinois board mentioned odds on the next coach. Grant was the leader at 10-1.
 
John Groce is one of the top candidates for Nebraska right now. It's probably not going to happen however.
 
Burnsbros23 said:
John Groce already is a hot name. I have heard Leornard Hamilton wants the Illinois job. Lorenzo Romar has been mentioned. Anthony Grant Chris Collins and Gregg Marshall are all being mentioned they should get a good coach.
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I am not a fan of Romar.
Hamilton is a bit old.
Chris Collins has as much head coaching experience as Ollie (though obviously he has more time as an assistant).
I like Grant and Marshall.
 
.-.
nomar said:
Have you read the rest of the thread? Not to take away anything from Smart but he inherited some talent. To paraphrase Samuel Clemons: lies, damned lies and initial won-loss records.

And Heath was just a name off the top of my head. Every couple years there's a new young coach taking a mid-major deep into the Tourny. Heck, VCU has churned out 2 in a row (and sent Capel to OU).

It's all projection. And that's a fact.
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The point is that it's unfair to compare Smart to Heath. Smart has accomplished more in his first three years of coaching than most guys in the business have in their entire careers. He's been to more final fours than Mark Few, Jamie Dixon, Sean Miller, and Leonard Hamilton.

He recruited Patric Young and Kenny Boynton at Florida. The guy can flat out coach.
 
Romar has a connection too Jabari Parker who is the number 1 player in the country for 2013 who is from Chicago believe that is why he is being mentioned.
 
Burnsbros23 said:
Romar has a connection too Jabari Parker who is the number 1 player in the country for 2013 who is from Chicago believe that is why he is being mentioned.
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I had forgotten, Parkers brother is somehow connected to UW also, right? Still not a fan of Romar.
 
Shaka is going to stay at VCU until the job he wants opens. Basically, he's going to have his choice of a job once it opens. He's the hottest thing out there.

I will have to say though, if Calhoun were to leave this year, next year gives Shaka a mulligan year (if we don't have the tournament) and gives him a year to bring in his own recruits too.
 
NHUConnfan said:
Shaka is going to stay at VCU until the job he wants opens. Basically, he's going to have his choice of a job once it opens. He's the hottest thing out there.

I will have to say though, if Calhoun were to leave this year, next year gives Shaka a mulligan year (if we don't have the tournament) and gives him a year to bring in his own recruits too.
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I was thinking the same thing: No way do I want JC to leave if he thinks he can still coach at his typical effectiveness, but, if he's on the fence, next year (assuming the NCAA remains their stubborn, dysfunctional selves) might be a good way of alleviating some of the pressure of 'following a legend'. There would be less pressure on the new coach next year if it's essentially a 'throw-away' year anyway.
 
.-.
Tenspro2002 said:
My predictions:
Good
- Calhoun comes back
- Omar is steadfast in his commitment
- No one unexpectedly leaves (Daniels, Giffey, etc.)

Neutral

Bad
- We aren't allowed in the Tournament
- We don't get scholarships back
- Lamb and Drummond and others go pro
- Noel never considers us
- Blaney ends up coaching at least one game next year
- Our long-term coaching situation is still nebulous and unresolved
- AO and other(s) transfer
Expand ...

See adjustments above
 
NHUConnfan said:
and gives him a year to bring in his own recruits too.
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And probably a decent size class - maybe anywhere from 3 to 5 kids and more the next year. He'd have a roster of his "own kids" in no time.
 
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