OT: Shaka Smart

[CraigForth]

Currently in discussions with Texas per CBS sports

 

[Madbiker]

He talks with teams every year and never leaves. Greg Marshall better get his butt out of Alabama and off to Texas ASAP.

 

[jr4750]

he could definitely win there, and with football being the big boy, pressure is not crazy like at a NC, Duke, UK.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[Jasoncuse]

Poor Tennessee by the way

 

[jgeorge322]

I wouldnt go anywhere if im either of those guys. Do you really need to make more than a 1.5m per?

 

[CraigForth]

1. Seth Davis‏@SethDavisHoops 10s10 seconds ago
2. It is still a great job and Smart would be tempted to take it, but the longer it drags, the less likely it appears.

• Seth Davis‏@SethDavisHoops 33s33 seconds ago
  1. A knowledgeable source informs me that as of this morning there have been no direct talks b/t Texas and Shaka Smart. Not sensing momentum.

 

[CraigForth]

Seth Davis‏@SethDavisHoops 1m1 minute ago

If you want a sleeper for the job, it could be Avery Johnson. I'm also hearing some Brad Stevens chatter. This will be a fun one.

 

[Madbiker]

Seth Davis‏@SethDavisHoops 1m1 minute ago

If you want a sleeper for the job, it could be Avery Johnson. I'm also hearing some Brad Stevens chatter. This will be a fun one.

Stevens after cashing those BIG Celtics checks for 2 years needs to wise up and get back to college...like Rick Pitino. These guys like the NBA bucks then after losing, losing, and more losing they realize they have no control of their roster and the whole experience sucks. Get back to where YOU control your roster and talent and start winning and having fun again.

 

[skurey]

Stevens is doing fine in the NBA

 

[two3zone]

Stevens after cashing those BIG Celtics checks for 2 years needs to wise up and get back to college...like Rick Pitino. These guys like the NBA bucks then after losing, losing, and more losing they realize they have no control of their roster and the whole experience sucks. Get back to where YOU control your roster and talent and start winning and having fun again.

Right now the Celtics are in the playoffs, albeit a losing record but still in the playoffs. Second year young coach, young roster, 500 draft picks in the coming years. He'd be a fool to leave the NBA right now.

 

[MSOrange]

Stevens is doing fine in the NBA

Yes he is. In fact, I think Ainge has had to readjust some of his thinking because Stevens keeps doing better than he expected no matter who he trades away.

 

[CraigForth]

Seth Davis‏@SethDavisHoops 39s40 seconds ago

I've learned that Texas' search firm reached out to representatives of Jay Wright to gauge his interest. Was told thanks but no thanks.

 

[MSOrange]

Seth Davis‏@SethDavisHoops 39s40 seconds ago

I've learned that Texas' search firm reached out to representatives of Jay Wright to gauge his interest. Was told thanks but no thanks.

Not surprised. Jay doesn't seem like a great fit as a good ol' Texas guy.

 

[Full_Rebar]

Stevens is doing fine, but he's even commented about having no control over the roster, and in a Grantland piece today, Ainge said they have no "master plan". It's just about trying to get assets and ?? I won't claim to know what Stevens is hoping to do, so who knows if he wouldn't listen to a big college offer at this point.

Texas is going to open the vault to try and win and it's going to be very appealing to a lot of coaches. There is talent in-state, and a chance to win quickly and win big.

 

[elimunelson]

Stevens is doing fine, but he's even commented about having no control over the roster, and in a Grantland piece today, Ainge said they have no "master plan". It's just about trying to get assets and ?? I won't claim to know what Stevens is hoping to do, so who knows if he wouldn't listen to a big college offer at this point.

Texas is going to open the vault to try and win and it's going to be very appealing to a lot of coaches. There is talent in-state, and a chance to win quickly and win big.

Maybe but from all accounts his family loves Boston, he's making a ton of money there, and the team is improving. It would be very similar to Pitino leaving the Knicks after two years so who knows. I think he won't go back for Texas though. He's going to go back for something like Duke or back to his home state (Indiana). Absent that, he's staying put (i think)

 

[IthacaMatt]

Poor Tennessee by the way

The rest of the SEC is crap, and he has shown he can recruit. I think it's a pretty good fit for him, and that he will do well there. If you are only playing for 2nd or 3rd place, it's not that hard.

 

[Madbiker]

Poor Tennessee by the way

Barnes is a good recruiter. He will have Tenn in the NCAAT most years and a Sweet 16 every few years. Not so bad.

 

[CraigForth]

Seth Davis‏@SethDavisHoops 18m18 minutes ago

You can add Virginia's Tony Bennett to the list of people contacted by Texas' search firm. He probably could have had the job, but said no.

 

[CraigForth]

LOL at Texas, swinging and missing on everything

 

[MSOrange]

LOL at Texas, swinging and missing on everything

As I remember, Charlie Strong wasn't their first choice either so sounds like this search is going about the same as that one.

 

[Full_Rebar]

The AD at Texas, Patterson, doesn't have the best reputation, which probably factors in with some of these coaches.

 

[cuseattle]

I have heard great things about Austin. The school has tons of money... Must be the administration or crazy alums/backers that deter coaches.

 

[zeekay]

Smart is going to wait until something big opens up like Duke. He's a hot commodity, no need to risk it all on a tier 2 program.

 

[richmondcuse03]

I would be shocked if he went to Texas. Shaka can have his pick of much better jobs. Plus he is starting to recruit top 20 classes at VCU -- he can easily turn that into a small powerhouse...they are building a $25M practice facility and he got his assistants all more money last year and better perks for the players (chartered planes for away games, etc.). His wife apparently loves the Richmond area and he has made comments that he will do what's right for his family first. There's something to be said for having stability -- he can be a lifer and paid very well at a job like that -- why risk it to go to Texas where the AD has proven to be an ass to his last basketball coach?