It's official, Smart accepted the UT position. Longhorn should be happy! Will be interesting to see what happens to VCU.

Nice. Hopefully VCU can find someone to do for them what Sherman Dillard did for us.

Multiple reports of Shaka to Texas. Same people reporting VCU going after Bobby Hurley up at Buffalo. Never thought he'd actually leave especially for Texas.

(04-02-2015 09:52 PM)CISDuke2014 Wrote:  Multiple reports of Shaka to Texas. Same people reporting VCU going after Bobby Hurley up at Buffalo. Never thought he'd actually leave especially for Texas.

Hurley is a good coach

(04-02-2015 10:00 PM)jmusuperfan Wrote:  

(04-02-2015 09:52 PM)CISDuke2014 Wrote:  Multiple reports of Shaka to Texas. Same people reporting VCU going after Bobby Hurley up at Buffalo. Never thought he'd actually leave especially for Texas.

Hurley is a good coach

Not arguing that at all. By all accounts and what I've seen with my own eyes he is a great coach. Just saying if that's who VCU is targeting the idea/hope of a Dillard level hire to throw their program into the gutter will be very short lived.

It did happen at mason though

(04-02-2015 10:13 PM)jmusuperfan Wrote:  It did happen at mason though

And I couldn't be happier

It was only a matter of time. It will be interesting to see if there is any fallout with their commits this year. Also, will his staff go with him as well as maybe some players. Couldn't happen to a better school.

(04-03-2015 01:35 AM)jmad1son Wrote:  It was only a matter of time. It will be interesting to see if there is any fallout with their commits this year. Also, will his staff go with him as well as maybe some players. Couldn't happen to a better school.

Apparently their top commit Tevin Mack (#66 in the country) has already removed all references to him being a VCU commit from social media.

So far Kenny Williams (#82 in country) is still holding onto his VCU status, but he's from Richmond so wouldn't be surprised if he stays committed.

I can't blame Shaka for moving on before any more of his coaching stock fell even more. They've been slowly losing more regular season games and he probably wanted to go ahead and get the big job before they started losing even more.
I think he'll do well at Texas. What an underachieving program they are.

With Shaka, I think VCU was in a position as a mainstay atop the A10, at least top 4 year in, year out. That means dancing at least 50% of the time, and he had VCU in the NCAA Tourney since 2011. That's a great track record, especially the unbelievable run to the Final 4 in 2011. He built consistency and elevated VCU to a national brand "Havoc" that is recognizable in households across the country - an AMAZING feat for a school previously unknown outside of the Commonwealth of VA.

I believe that VCU is going to continue to be a decent team, it has all the support that can be mustered from a university of its size, and we at JMU all know how powerful that can be to keeping alumni happy. The urban nature of VCU will always be a good draw for talent, and the foundation has been strong for over 15 years now. As CISDuke mentions, some top national commits may be gone, but talent is still in full force compared to other schools around the state not in the ACC.

Shaka is making a smart move, no pun intended. Though I disagree with Potomac that his coaching stock was falling. They suffered a career-ending injury to their major stud who was headed to the NBA and still managed to win the A10 without him. That's a hell of a coaching effort to keep those kids on track. Ohio St. was a tough draw for the first round of the NCAAs this year. Prior to the injury bug, VCU was on pace for a 4 or 5 seed.

The resources he will have at Texas are unlike anything he has experienced in Richmond. The only challenge, and it's a big one, is the pressure of success there. Even though it is not football, it is still a major sport and Texas fans have no reason to not believe they will contend for national titles every year. That is insane pressure. I wish him luck, he has shown to be nothing short of a the next great coaching legend at such a young age. I think the Longhorns will be dancing deep in the tourney most years. It should be fun to watch as a college basketball fan.

RIP Havoc - it just won't be the same in Austin.

Could Brady be in the conversation for the VCU job?

(04-03-2015 07:40 AM)Dukeman Wrote:  Could Brady be in the conversation for the VCU job?

What?!? ... Oh, I get it ... Dukeman is just pulling a late April Fools' Day joke!

LOL

(04-02-2015 10:00 PM)jmusuperfan Wrote:  

(04-02-2015 09:52 PM)CISDuke2014 Wrote:  Multiple reports of Shaka to Texas. Same people reporting VCU going after Bobby Hurley up at Buffalo. Never thought he'd actually leave especially for Texas.

Hurley is a good coach

Don't see the Hurley connection- much like the Mannings not wanting Eli and Peyton to be i nthe same conference I would think that Danny and Bobby wouldn't want to coach in the same conference for the same auto bid if they could avoid it. Hearing Will Wade former assistant now with Chatanoooga.

Looks like the Longhorns will be playing VCU in a home and home. Or they have to pay VCU $250,000. Interesting clause in Smart's buyout which was $500,000. Chump change to Texas.

The one thing Shaka has going for him at UT is following in Barnes' footsteps. He'll look like John Wooden in comparison if he can recruit even half as well.

(04-03-2015 06:00 AM)Potomac Wrote:  I can't blame Shaka for moving on before any more of his coaching stock fell even more. They've been slowly losing more regular season games and he probably wanted to go ahead and get the big job before that started losing even more.
I think he'll do well at Texas. What an underachieving program they are.

I don't see how his stock was falling. They've won at least 26 games every year. That's a bunch of wins. If anything, he's proven he can sustain success. Even though they haven't won many tourney games since the Final Four run, they are a perennial Top 25 team now.

(04-03-2015 07:40 AM)Dukeman Wrote:  Could Brady be in the conversation for the VCU job?

VCU is sly, I expect a two for one strategic move, Bourne and Brady as a package deal to lock VCU as the state's athletic alpha male.

Here's a good summary of possible candidates to replace Smart and it does include a couple of CAA coaches not named Brady:

http://www.midmajormadness.com/atlantic-...next-coach

(04-03-2015 08:32 AM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  Looks like the Longhorns will be playing VCU in a home and home. Or they have to pay VCU $250,000. Interesting clause in Smart's buyout which was $500,000. Chump change to Texas.

Yeah I was actually shocked to see such a low buyout considering his contract ran through 2028 I believe. I also think texas may think paying 250k to avoid going to vcu is also chump change.