Notes on Shaka Smart, Ben Howland

[Jay Bee]

Shaka's team not so smart tonight....seen that a bit too much the last few years.

Yes. I think he would bring early excitement and it would be interesting to see how well he could recruit in the area ("area" including Chicago). Wins/losses/tourney success? Not sure.

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One thing for all to remember - the numbers you may have heard tonight and will hear in the near future are mostly wrong. When someone says, "MU spends double on its bball program compared to VT" and they're citing Knight Commission figures, understand the numbers are not comparable and subject to different allocation methods (and unallocated amounts). It's not a valid comparison and stupid to "report on".

Also, the $4MM is completely unfounded. His $2.8MM for the year ended 6/2012 included a one-time bonus. I am not going to speak on 6/2013 at this time, but I will say this: there isn't a meaningful change in comp for Buzz relative to this move. He's not taking some dramatic pay cut and he's not getting a big boost.

You will hear plenty of nonsense in the days and weeks to come. Beware.

[Wisco]

Also, a basketball practice facility is needed and has been long rumored at VCU. Still, there has been nothing built. At some point does this become a bigger issue? Perhaps.

I know this is nitpicking one part of your post but I wanted to make one point (I went into more depth about Shaka in the poll thread).

We just announced our $25 million practice facility a few weeks ago:
http://www.vcuramnation.com/2014/03/video-vcu-announces-25-million-practice-facility/

Shaka was pushing for this like hell. It's going to completely change things down here. I'm excited because I know what the Al did for Marquette.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Hey Chicos,

You are probably the closest one of us to the UCLA program. What do you think of Howland? I'm not a fan of snore ball, but he seems to know how to get recruits. I heard a lot of rumors about players not wanting to play his style.

Care to weigh in?

[keefe]

So was Tony Bennett.

I thought he's from SF?

[Jay Bee]

I know this is nitpicking one part of your post but I wanted to make one point (I went into more depth about Shaka in the poll thread).

We just announced our $25 million practice facility a few weeks ago:
http://www.vcuramnation.com/2014/03/video-vcu-announces-25-million-practice-facility/

Shaka was pushing for this like hell. It's going to completely change things down here. I'm excited because I know what the Al did for Marquette.

That's not nitpicking at all - thank you for that reminder; I've updated the orig post. Sounded like there was some of the typical complaining from a portion of the students due to the move away from "private funds only", but that shouldn't stop them.

[MU82]

Buzz 2011 - S16 ......................... Shaka 2011 - F4

Buzz 2012 - S16 ......................... Shaka 2012 - 2R loss to IU by 2 pts

Buzz 2013 - E8 ........................... Shaka 2013 - 2R loss to Mich by 25

Buzz 2014 - No tourney ................ Shaka 2014 - 1R loss to S.F. Austin


To Buzz, we say: Good riddance, loser!

To Shaka, we say: Please, come save us!

Interesting.

[Wisco]

To Buzz, we say: Good riddance, loser!

To Shaka, we say: Please, come save us!

Interesting.

The two situations are not comparable (I've been following both for years).

You must understand where we came from here at VCU. We epitomized mid-major. Win our conference tourney every few years, knock off a major program in the tourney, garner attention. We hit a grand slam with Shaka. Got very, very lucky.

I suppose Marquette was in a similar situation during certain years of the 80's/90's. The key difference, though, is that Marquette has a rich history and winning tradition. VCU had a few decent years in the early 80's; outside of that, nothing.

And I haven't even touched on endowment, alumni support, basketball funding, facilities, etc. My point is that what Shaka has done with the resources he was given to begin with is nothing short of a minor miracle.

[Windyplayer]

minor miracle.

Jumbo crab?

[buckchuckler]

Jumbo crab?

Jumbo shrimp?

[77ncaachamps]

Buzz 2011 - S16 ......................... Shaka 2011 - F4

Buzz 2012 - S16 ......................... Shaka 2012 - 2R loss to IU by 2 pts

Buzz 2013 - E8 ........................... Shaka 2013 - 2R loss to Mich by 25

Buzz 2014 - No tourney ................ Shaka 2014 - 1R loss to S.F. Austin


To Buzz, we say: Good riddance, loser!

To Shaka, we say: Please, come save us!

Interesting.

There's a difference: Buzz signed with VT. He didn't get fired though that's the speculation.

So, your position can only be true if MU pushed Buzz out.