Auburn Hires, what else has opened up that wasn't earlier?

[ShockerMas]

Shaka Smart at Marquette and Bo Ryan at UW-Madison would certainly be an interesting in-state contrast of styles

[jwshox]

The VCU fan forum is in full meltdown now.

[Shock Top]

I guess it's official now

[SHOCKvalue]

The VCU fan forum is in full meltdown now.

I feel bad for them.

They'll be alright though in the long run one would assume, because just like us they are a well-funded non-power conference program. They're not a UNI type who catches lightning in a bottle every few years.

[jwshox]

I feel bad for them.

They'll be alright though in the long run one would assume, because just like us they are a well-funded non-power conference program. They're not a UNI type who catches lightning in a bottle every few years.

I do too. It stinks to have to go through that as a fan and it's tough to witness from a distance via a message board.

[shoxlax]

VCU will be able to hire a good up and comer. Lots of them out there.

[RoyalShock]

Now it's being said it's not a done deal, but the two sides are in talks.

[ripemupshocks]

Wow.

I think Illinois would have been better for him IMHO.

Marquette is a basketball school, and has a much larger basketball budget than Illinois. Buzz Williams was making about $3 mill a season at Marquette, and within a few seasons was going to be at about $4 mill according to Sports Illistrated. Groce makes about $1.2 mill a season at Illinois, that's a wage cut for Smart. Plus no football to compete with at Marquette, and just as good of a basketball history and attendance as Illinois. If I was a basketball coach, I'd probably take Marquette.

[SHOCKvalue]

After having a quick look-see at the VCU forum, I'm not sold on the validity of the Smart to Marquette report. It may very well end up happening, but the VCU board sure gives a vibe like that off-the-wall K-State forum (goemaw?). As in a circle jerk of hoax-ters seeing how much viral traction they can get out of BS. If it is true, then the VCU forum is sure full of some interesting characters.

[jwshox]

After having a quick look-see at the VCU forum, I'm not sold on the validity of the Smart to Marquette report. It may very well end up happening, but the VCU board sure gives a vibe like that off-the-wall K-State forum (goemaw?). As in a circle jerk of hoax-ters seeing how much viral traction they can get out of BS. If it is true, then the VCU forum is sure full of some interesting characters.

I agree, it seems like a few people got the story going and then someone smacked the beehive with a baseball bat. Like you said, it could end up happening, and sometimes this is exactly how the coaching moves play out, at least amongst the fans. Either way there are a lot of VCU fans freaking out right now.

[pogo]

OK you can color me stoopid but I just don't get the Shaka Smart love fest. Granted he took his team to a final four and his teams are good but everytime someone wants to go ga ga over a non bcs coach it is Shaka. He had one very good year but I just don't see every non bcs school getting compared to Shaka and VCU. I think he is a short fused kind of guy who is gracious in winning but a total butt in defeat. First game when they won he was willing to talk and shake hands but the next year after the loss we all know how that turned out. Me, I'm not a fan and he would probably really fit in with the rest of the big priest coaches.

[Shock Top]

OK you can color me stoopid but I just don't get the Shaka Smart love fest. Granted he took his team to a final four and his teams are good but everytime someone wants to go ga ga over a non bcs coach it is Shaka. He had one very good year but I just don't see every non bcs school getting compared to Shaka and VCU. I think he is a short fused kind of guy who is gracious in winning but a total butt in defeat. First game when they won he was willing to talk and shake hands but the next year after the loss we all know how that turned out. Me, I'm not a fan and he would probably really fit in with the rest of the big priest coaches.

My guess, it is because he is young; 36.

Schools probably think they can lock him up for a very long time.

[wsushox1]

My guess, it is because he is young; 36.

Schools probably think they can lock him up for a very long time.

Also because he's shown to be a pretty good recruiter. IE he's been able to sign fairly highly touted recruits to VCU. However, that obviously does not mean that one will be successful with those recruits because he hasn't been able to reproduce his 2011 FF run. That's not a knock on him by any means - FF are hard to get too. But the passion and energy he brings seems to help

[1972Shocker]

If I were a VCU fan I probably wouldn't be losing much sleep over the Smart to Marquette rumors. Marquette currently has an interim AD and have a vacancy to fill in the Presidents office. It's that time of the year when Coaches are looking to get more perks and bucks for their programs and their coaching staffs. What better way than to crank up the coaching change rumor mill. AFAIK Shaka himself may have put someone up to starting the Shaka to Marquette rumor.

[1972Shocker]

I'm just not seeing Shaka Smart to Marquette. They have vacancies in both the Athletic Department and University President positions. I don't see Shaka walking into a blind situation, especially since he has great support from his administration at VCU.

I'm wondering if Buzz Williams' move to VaTech perhaps to be followed Chris Mack moving from Xavier to Wake Forest. I'm wondering how much a factor upgrading conferences is behind these moves being made or considered..

If Mack follows Williams out the Big East door then that league is looking pretty questionable outside of Villanova, Georgetown and perhaps Providence.