Shaka Smart Rumor

[johnhuskies95]

Nothing better than hindsight, is there?

Heath was 51-41 after his first 3 years. Smart is 84-27 after three years. Not comparable.

 

[nomar]

Heath was 51-41 after his first 3 years. Smart is 84-27 after three years. Not comparable.

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.

 

[Inyatkin]

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.

 

[caw]

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).

 

[Burnsbros23]

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.

 

[MattMang23]

The Illinois board mentioned odds on the next coach. Grant was the leader at 10-1.

 

[NOTaDIME]

John Groce is one of the top candidates for Nebraska right now. It's probably not going to happen however.

 

[caw]

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.

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.

 

[johnhuskies95]

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.

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.

 

[Burnsbros23]

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.

 

[caw]

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.

I had forgotten, Parkers brother is somehow connected to UW also, right? Still not a fan of Romar.

 

[junglehusky]

ESPN report with video

 

[NHUConnfan]

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.

 

[huskyhal]

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.

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.

 

[Waquoit]

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

See adjustments above

 

[Vuce]

and gives him a year to bring in his own recruits too.

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.