OT: Shaka Smart to Marquette EDIT: Not so fast, my friend!
March 24th, 2014 at 10:58 PM ^
Small technicality, but Madison.
March 24th, 2014 at 11:04 PM ^
Marquette is a real good situation. They're now in a major-ish conference and their school is committed to their b-ball program. Apparently, Smart is from the area, so it makes a lot of sense why he'd go there instead of UCLA.
March 24th, 2014 at 11:07 PM ^
up four with three seconds left.
Of course, that can be said for kids from almost any state.
I graduated in '99!
March 24th, 2014 at 10:56 PM ^
Has he really done anything besides one final four appearance?
March 24th, 2014 at 11:01 PM ^
Turned VCU into a consistent and occasionally dangerous NCAA tournament team. Which I feel is pretty impressive at a school with to my knowledge no basketball history whatsoever. Is he as good a coach as everyone was saying he was after his Final Four run, no, but I am not sure you will find many more impressive coach resume's outside of the traditional basketball power.
March 24th, 2014 at 11:03 PM ^
Well he's the best coach VCU's ever had, and he's made the tourney the last four years, which is pretty damn good for VCU.
March 24th, 2014 at 11:24 PM ^
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TRY HIM WITH A SORRY JOB LIKE UCLA. THAT'S WHAT YOU GONNA GET
March 24th, 2014 at 11:04 PM ^
like making VCU a meaningful national program every year
edit: apparently a race to answer that one.
March 24th, 2014 at 11:42 PM ^
laid the foundation at VCU for Smart. Both Grant and Capel took VCU to the NCAA tournament before they moved onto jobs at bigger schools. VCU made the tournament in 2 of Grant's last 3 years there. Capel at Oklahoma and Grant at Alabama.
Smart definitely seems to have taken that foundation and built on it, but it's not like VCU was devoid of success before he took over.
March 24th, 2014 at 11:25 PM ^
http://kenpom.com/index.php?y=2014
| Year | Rank |
| 2011 | 42 |
| 2012 | 38 |
| 2013 | 20 |
| 2014 | 18 |
This year, VCU was a late collapse and a bone-headed four point play by a freshman away from the Round of 32. I called the blowout last year against us. It was 1990 UNLV vs Loyola Marymount, not 1990 Michigan vs LMU. So did Charles Barkley. (Although he only expressed his opinions in leading questions...I think he has a fondness/connection for VCU.) Turrible matchup for VCU. Havoc versus better athletes and the ball-handling of Trey & Spike. Who else could do that to VCU last year?
March 24th, 2014 at 11:01 PM ^
I could be wrong, but isn't this basically coming home for Smart? I remember reading that he is a Wisconsin native, so perhaps that was part of it. Still, Marquette lost a good coach to another job and got a good one in exchange,so they do have that.
March 24th, 2014 at 11:04 PM ^
March 24th, 2014 at 11:16 PM ^
If Bo Ryan retires in the next few years, would Smart be a candidate for the UW job? Or does this move, to their in-state rival, basically close the door on that?
Get it off my screen.
March 25th, 2014 at 12:43 AM ^
on what Smart does over the next 5 years.
March 24th, 2014 at 11:07 PM ^
I'm still trying to figure out Buzz Lightyear (or was it Killington) move to VT that created the opening in the first place. How in the Hell is that an upgrade? Virginia Tech doesnt give two shits about basketball at all.
March 24th, 2014 at 11:13 PM ^
Agree. I assume it was the appeal of the ACC. Milwaukee is an awesome city though and I would take that in a heartbeat over Blacksburg
March 24th, 2014 at 11:24 PM ^
Buzz got paid some serious, serious cash. Could be at least the new AD has started to give a shit or two.
March 24th, 2014 at 11:31 PM ^
March 24th, 2014 at 11:06 PM ^
Well he did turn VCU from a nobody school to a 25 win a season type of school. Then ofcourse there is the Final Four run he had back in 2011 when nobody knew who they were. I think Marquette could use a guy like him. But his stock has slipped the past 2 years after getting killed by our team last year and then a 1st round exit this year.
March 24th, 2014 at 11:18 PM ^
VCU actually was pretty good before Smart got there (although they'd never gone to the Final Four, obviously). Jeff Capel and Anthony Grant had success there previously.
March 24th, 2014 at 11:14 PM ^
Marquette just upgraded coaches.
March 24th, 2014 at 11:23 PM ^
Comes with a ton of strings attached. Agents are constantly hanging over everybody's shoulders. It's a high-pressure job and can be downright toxic for a younger coach.
Shaka Smart is talented but is still learning. Gradually working his way up is a smart move.
I may be criticized by this, but he's still a one-trick pony with regards to HAVOC and the full-court press. He does a great job, but he needs to build on it.
Last year, when he faced Michigan, the press failed because Michigan had too many skilled ballhandlers and passers. You have to be able to adapt and VCU was not able to do that. Contrast that with another devotee of the full court press, Rick Pitino, who was able to beat Michigan (yes, aided by the referees and the fact that he's a scumbag) even though his team was not able to force a bunch of turnovers.
Smart is still really young and has a brilliant mind. But he's not ready for UCLA yet. Marquette is a good spot for him. Beilein will see him in recruiting battles in Indiana and Chicago for sure
March 25th, 2014 at 11:03 AM ^
I think it's fairly safe to say that Rick Pitino and Big East Louisville had a little more to sell to recruits than did Shaka recruiting kids into the Colonial League.
NBA prospects versus hungry leftovers. All-around talent with kids that can shoot (damn you, Luke Hancock) versus raw athletes that can be made in something good.
What was Shaka to do? Go with what his team does well, or do the equivalent of transforming from a basketball-on-grass team into a wishbone team in two days?
March 24th, 2014 at 11:27 PM ^
Amazing how scared some guys are of big program pressure. This reminds me of when Chris Peterson turned down everyone for years and finally left for UW.
March 24th, 2014 at 11:32 PM ^
March 24th, 2014 at 11:40 PM ^
March 25th, 2014 at 12:20 AM ^
March 25th, 2014 at 10:45 PM ^
Uh, he turned down USC. Pretty sure if there's a place a Scientologist can be accepted, it's Los Angeles.
Hilarious movie and I love that dude.
"The phone is for you. I think it's the devil."
March 25th, 2014 at 11:08 AM ^
I happened to catch Bill Walton doing an NIT game while channel-surfing last night, and within a couple of minutes, I had to change the channel. He was going on-and-on about how the individual player of the year should go to someone other than Doug McDermott because of the supposedly superior team cultures and deeper tournament runs elsewhere.
The sanctimonious ass contridicted himself multiple times.
March 25th, 2014 at 12:17 AM ^
March 24th, 2014 at 11:39 PM ^
March 24th, 2014 at 11:59 PM ^
Doesn't look like this is a done deal yet.
March 25th, 2014 at 12:07 AM ^
I guess it's a step up, but the BE isn't what it used to be, and I can't imagine he wants to stay there forever. I don't blame him for not going after the UCLA job some years ago (though his defense would have been terrifying with the athletes the Bruins can get), but this doesn't feel like the greatest upgrade in terms of career trajectory. It's just a slightly more famous mid-major IME.
March 25th, 2014 at 12:31 AM ^
Wow VCU was set to add their best recruiting class and probably have their best team next year. This is definitely a shocker. I think he will do well at Marquette though.
March 25th, 2014 at 12:31 AM ^
of what's left of the Big East in the coming years, this is at best a stepping stone for Shaka. If nothing else just seems kind of like a lateral move. Atlantic10 ain't nothing to fuck with. Could, no, should, change their name to the Wu-Tang 10.
March 25th, 2014 at 11:12 AM ^
I'm in Richmond...living (in this arm pit)...better options...turned them down