Shaka smart leaves vcu, headed to texas.

[Fozzy]

I think he could have a lot of success there if he's able to run his style of basketball. The first year or two may be a little rough on him until he can bring in his own recruits, but if he can play 'havoc' then he may be a title contender. I think the boosters will give him a couple years of leeway as well and the pressure will be more on the AD and his overall hiring vs just basketball the next couple years if football and basketball are both mediocre.

The two main problems to come out of this hire though could be 1) he gets Big 12 teams used to playing non-Big 12 type basketball and they all do better in the NCAA tournament, and 2) we have to endure slogans like 'Hook em with Havoc', 'Havoc Horns,' or they rename it to 'Texas Tornadoes' or something else :)

[ShoxRoxMySox]

Too bad, not really a Shaka fan but I wished he had stayed simply because I hate it when a power 5 "saves" a really good coach from the drabs of college basketball.

I'm secretly waiting to see 3G's contract worth more than Shaka's at Texas. Please, please, let this happen.

[OregonShocker]

I think he could have a lot of success there if he's able to run his style of basketball. The first year or two may be a little rough on him until he can bring in his own recruits, but if he can play 'havoc' then he may be a title contender. I think the boosters will give him a couple years of leeway as well and the pressure will be more on the AD and his overall hiring vs just basketball the next couple years if football and basketball are both mediocre.

The two main problems to come out of this hire though could be 1) he gets Big 12 teams used to playing non-Big 12 type basketball and they all do better in the NCAA tournament, and 2) we have to endure slogans like 'Hook em with Havoc', 'Havoc Horns,' or they rename it to 'Texas Tornadoes' or something else :)

I hope he's successful; I think Shaka's a great coach. But, I know how Patterson was with the Blazers; he wanted to micromanage everything, to the point of firing a number of folks, running off others, etc. I don't think that zebra's changed his stripes. I honestly don't think he was bluffing when he asked Barnes to change assistants; that's his style. I'm pretty sure he also likely mentioned a few people he'd want to see hired. I don't know how long it'll go before he starts messing with Shaka's control.

[Ricardo del Rio]

Texas Tee.

[1972Shocker]

Never a good day when a non P5 coach goes to the money kingdom

Aren't we part of the money kingdom now. Maybe when 3G retires a P5 coach will come to our little money kingdom.

[wufan]

I'm secretly waiting to see 3G's contract worth more than Shaka's at Texas. Please, please, let this happen.

I had read $14M for 5 years.

[KC Shox]

Shaka is in for a rude awakening, IMO. Yeah, he went to a Final Four, but he did so on the back's of Anthony Grants recruits. Since, yeah he's made the NCAA's every year, but hasn't made it past the first weekend.

I'm not convinced he's a great X and O's coach. His team generates a lot of scoring opportunities off the turnovers created by the 'Havoc D', but watch VCU in the half court, they're just an average Joe.

While he appears to be a great recruiter, and he'll no doubt secure more McDonald All Amercians and 5 star players at Texas, these types of players will all have the NBA on their mind and there is no team in the NBA that remotely plays defense, not to mention the 'Havoc' style of D. These players are all going to ask themselves, "why the hell am I learning this style of D when I won't be playing it at the next level". Will they give the effort night in and night out? Especially the one and done players.

His 'Havoc' D works well against the athletes in the A10, but he'll come to find that there are better ones in the Big 12 who may be better suited to adapt and adjust to this style of D. Along with better coaches too.

This is an intriguing hire and look forward how successful Shaka will be.

[Rlh04d]

The "Smart. Strong. Texas." gimmick is actually decent.

[myopicraiderfan]

I'm secretly waiting to see 3G's contract worth more than Shaka's at Texas. Please, please, let this happen.

Tim Pearreall of the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that VCU offered Smart $2.5 million to stay.
@ChipBrownHD AD Steve Patterson just said Shaka Smart got a 7-year contract with 6 years fully guaranteed at roughly $3 million per year.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...s-and-reaction

[ShockTalk]

Tim Pearreall of the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that VCU offered Smart $2.5 million to stay.
@ChipBrownHD AD Steve Patterson just said Shaka Smart got a 7-year contract with 6 years fully guaranteed at roughly $3 million per year.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...s-and-reaction

Wow. Fully guaranteed for 6 years. I wonder if there is a hidden clause "Unless you piss Steve Patterson off". This could be a real interesting soap opera.

[Rlh04d]

Tim Pearreall of the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that VCU offered Smart $2.5 million to stay.
@ChipBrownHD AD Steve Patterson just said Shaka Smart got a 7-year contract with 6 years fully guaranteed at roughly $3 million per year.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...s-and-reaction

Wow. Texas really didn't outbid them by much.

Six years guaranteed is absolutely critical in that snake pit, though.

[Shocker-maniac]

So WSU will be paying Marshall more than Texas is paying Smart?

[Keyser Soze]

Never a good day when a non P5 coach goes to the money kingdom

Why?

[another shocker]

I'm torn. I hate to see a fellow non-P5 lose its coach (even if it's VCU), but I SO want to see Texas stick its foot in KU's ass--and with Shaka they can do it.

i don't see shaka getting the best of self. ku is still the king of that overrated conference.

[WuDrWu]

I listened to Jason King yesterday on 810 (KC); he didn't think Shaka was a good fit at Texas and mentioned AD Patterson and his NBA track record. He was surprised that Patterson didn't visit with coach Marshall; he said Marshall would have likely taken the job, however he then backed-peddled and said maybe he wouldn't have after seeing Marshall’s 3mm plus deal. He didn't think Shaka's style would fit well at Texas; he mentioned 5-star players are looking for their ticket to the 'NBA' and they won't want to play 'HAVOC' defense.

I don't think Shaka will fail, however I'll be surprised if he does much better than Barnes. I'm also not sure coach Marshall and his family (Lynn) would have been a good fit in Austin? I have nothing against the state of Texas and Texans; they're a different breed of cat. :)

All very good points. I will add that, while Gregg may very have been interested in the Texas position, I can promise Jason King one thing for sure.....He wasn't about to go to Texas for less money than he was going to get at WSU.