Shaka Smart=Stan Heath.

#76
#76
LawVol13 said:
If we base our coaching decision on three games, then everyone involved in the search should be immediately fired.
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Agree. Im just saying that I wouldnt run and jump off a building if he was hired like I would if it had been Parnell, or Billy Clyde. We might be able to do better than Smart, but we could also end up with a lot worse.
 
#77
#77
easleychuck said:
Nobody is sure. My knowledge of the kid comes from things like he was a point guard at a small college, very heady. Big time assist guy. He had enough that Billy Donovan hired him away from Clemson. He is an extremely smart guy. Have heard probably a dozen or so interviews of him on the radio here in Greenville and he handles himself very well. Had a child at a Clemson BB camp and saw him handle himself beyond well. He is polished beyond his years.

Obviously, nobody has any idea how any new coach will do. The UT job has been damaged. The right person needs to be willing to hit the road recruiting and a young guy like this could be the answer.

And he is not bringing his father to coach the defense and Al Davis did not call him a liar. So Smart does not = Kiffin.

For someone to just say Smart = Heath has no basis.
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Nice, well-reasoned response. Much appreciated here.

I was looking at possible replacements a month or so ago. My first thought was: I like the way Donovan's teams play. Let's look at Donovan assistants. I started tracking Smart from there. Watched the loss to ODU in the conference championship and was immediately sold. (That's right, "the loss".) I like what I see on the court (which is different from I like some theoretical something).
I'm happy for his run in the tourney just because it increases the chance that one of the four guys I like might get the job.

Anyhow, would take Stevens in a heart-beat, (though I don't think he's going to leave) but would be more than satisfied with Shaka.
 
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#78
#78
sonofUT62 said:
Agree. Im just saying that I wouldnt run and jump off a building if he was hired like I would if it had been Parnell, or Billy Clyde. We might be able to do better than Smart, but we could also end up with a lot worse.
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Hell, I'd probably take Gillespie over Smart.
 
#79
#79
StepCross said:
Agree.

Everyone asks hatvol for his top 5 or whatever...I'd be interested in yours, JZ. You've visited practices and worked with some of these guys.

No mentioning Jay Wright, though. He ain't coming.
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sonofUT62 said:
Lots of teams lose bad games during the regular season. This guy didnt win 3 tournament games by being a dummy. Maybe the bracket has played out in his favor a little bit, but hes getting the job done. We'll just have to see. Im just saying that I wouldnt see any reason to despair if he is the guy that we choose.
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I have no clue of my top 5 but given that UT is on the NCAA's radar and the names listed UT doesn't need a shooting star type like Smart (hiring him based on winning three games); he's going to be great or fail miserably.

Guys like Lon Kruger, Mark Turgeon will not be "sexy" hires but will steady things, are experienced and will have success at UT.

I was very impressed watching Chris Mack teach when I watched them but think he's happy at Xavier and doesn't view it as a stepping stone.
 
#81
#81
JZVOL said:
I have no clue of my top 5 but given that UT is on the NCAA's radar and the names listed UT doesn't need a shooting star type like Smart (hiring him based on winning three games); he's going to be great or fail miserably.

Guys like Lon Kruger, Mark Turgeon will not be "sexy" hires but will steady things, are experienced and will have success at UT.

I was very impressed watching Chris Mack teach when I watched them but think he's happy at Xavier and doesn't view it as a stepping stone.
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I dont really have a top 5 either, other than Frank, if he would stay for awhile. Honestly, out of all of the coaches that Ive seen in the tournament that are up and comers, I like Princetons the best. He might not be interested in going anywhere though.
 
#83
#83
hatvol96 said:
Both rode players recruited by someone else to a susprising NCAA run then cashed in on them. If VCU had played a healthy Georgetown or a full strength Purdue, nobody would be mentioning Shaka Smart for major jobs. He'd be hoping to snake an interview at the A-10/C-USA level. That's the ultimate caveat emptor situation for a BCS league school.
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Two years as a HC is simply not enough time to have a good idea of what you'd be getting. Way too risky. If he had built a program out of nothing (which he didn't), it would be a better situation.
 
#90
#90
papatomany said:
Nice, well-reasoned response. Much appreciated here.

I was looking at possible replacements a month or so ago. My first thought was: I like the way Donovan's teams play. Let's look at Donovan assistants. I started tracking Smart from there. Watched the loss to ODU in the conference championship and was immediately sold. (That's right, "the loss".) I like what I see on the court (which is different from I like some theoretical something).
I'm happy for his run in the tourney just because it increases the chance that one of the four guys I like might get the job.

Anyhow, would take Stevens in a heart-beat, (though I don't think he's going to leave) but would be more than satisfied with Shaka.
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Well I suppose you and I are going to have just be in the minority. Doesn't bother me any. I do love how folks just bow down to someone whose opinion has no more value or credence than anybody elses.

I don't care about anybody's top ten. We need one coach. I agree that I would prefer Brad Stevens but unfortunately, I don't think he would be interested.

Again I think that taking a guy with huge upside can't really hurt this program right now. It is not fair for folks to hate on Pearl but then act like the program is now at a higher level. Can't have it both ways.

Thanks again for your well thought out post.
 
#92
#92
JZVOL said:
I'm sure you wanted Shaka Smart to be UT's HC back at the start of this season, or two month's ago for that matter.
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What does that have to do with anything?

I wasn't keeping up with any other coaches before this fiasco hit. I base my opinion on Smart--which is just an opinion--on reading what his players, former employers and colleagues have had to say about him. He also happened to shred three teams in a high-pressure situation recently, which doesn't hurt. I think he has star potential, and even in the situation we're in, I'd rather take someone with huge upside than someone who's been plodding nicely along somewhere and doing three-and-a-half star work. There's a risk of failure with both kinds of coaches, and I'd rather have some excitement. That's what I watch sports for.
 
#95
#95
hatvol96 said:
He's certainly one of them. UT will have to get a few "No, thank you"s before they would get to Marshall.
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So we'd take Marshall (and he'd accept) over Mooney or Smart but still have better possibilities in the air? If that's the case, I really like the sound of that. Marshall is a damn good backup plan.
 
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#97
#97
hatvol96 said:
No, it hasn't. There are a bunch of teams in the NIT who could beat USC, Georgetown, and Purdue. Most of them also don't have losses to the Northeasterns and Georgia States of the world. VCU's resume was a joke. They were just fortunate that UAB's was even worse, so they didn't catch as much hell.
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I think it was the win against UCLA and pushing UT to the limit that impressed the committee.
 
#98
#98
Gator H8R said:
This. I dont know much about the guy, but what I do know and have read, Im not too sure. Just cause hes in the sweet 16 doesnt justify a hire.
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not like they beat a #1 seed to get there... didn't they beat a #13 seed to advance?
 
#99
#99
Big difference. Stan Heath had an established team that retained their key players. Smart had to develop go-to guys over the course of the season after losing Sanders the previous year and Maynor the year before.

This VCU team is a much different animal than the one that took the court in October. That is down to leadership and teaching. A front court expected to be a liability is now a force to be reckoned with. That is a credit to Smart and his staff.
 
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