Candid Coaches on Best Coaching Hire

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/candid-coaches-who-was-the-best-coaching-hire-in-college-basketball-in-2021/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Survey of 100 anonymous coaches picked Smart as the second best hire of the offseason (behind his replacement at Texas). A few good quotes in there about Shaka. This narrative of Shaka not being a cultural fit at Texas seems to have some legs.

[brewcity77]

Nice article. I do think this hire might end up better than had we landed Shaka in 2014. Beard is so clearly a home run that I think the coaches (who presumably only voted for one candidate) would've been even more favorable of our hire in an average year.

[fjm]

Damn Tamu. Some of those comments on both beard and Shaka.

Makes that trade look amazing and does probably explain some of why Shaka will be great here and beard will be great at Texas.

[Billy Hoyle]

I had to laugh at this one about Beard considering what led to Gillispie's ouster at Kentucky: "I don't think he lets his personal life [get in the way], he's more like a Billy Gillispie to where basketball is everything."

[Goose]

I could not be any more excited about Shaka being HC at MU. I believe that will end up being a very, very big hire for program. I cannot wait to see where Shaka takes the program over the next few years. That said, he gets no grace period from me. I am expecting a far better season than many on here.

[BrewCity83]

This was my favorite:

"Marquette is VCU with more resources … he will kill it there, as it's right in his wheelhouse. Urban school in a basketball league where he only has to focus on his team and players. He will win big at Marquette."

[McLintock]

I could not be any more excited about Shaka being HC at MU. I believe that will end up being a very, very big hire for program. I cannot wait to see where Shaka takes the program over the next few years. That said, he gets no grace period from me. I am expecting a far better season than many on here.

Agreed.  I will have patience and understanding but I am not going to couple that with low expectations.  Coaching matters and I think year 1 under Shaka will exemplify that.

[panda]

Agreed.  I will have patience and understanding but I am not going to couple that with low expectations.  Coaching matters and I think year 1 under Shaka will exemplify that.

I agree. I think the floor of this team is higher than some think and are ceiling is higher in my mind as well. Acquiring the B10 defensive player of the year, A10 freshman of the year, a legit shot blocker in Kuath, returning Lewis/Elliott, adding Joplin who after watching him in HS, will be ready to contribute this year and Ellis who by all accounts is an absolute gamer. I understand the question marks surrounding the newcomers as that is natural, but there is a lot of talent on the roster. Couple that with a very average middle to lower tier BE this season and it should be a fun season.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I think coaching matters very much. I also think talent and experience matter. We've improved on one, gotten worse in another, and jury is out on the third but on paper has gotten worse.

I'll put it this way. If Wojo was coaching the 21-22 roster instead of Shaka, my expectations would be much lower than they are now. If Shaka was coaching the 20-21 roster instead of the 21-22 roster, my expectations would much higher than they are now.

[MU82]

I love the optimism by many here, and I'm excited to get the season going!

[Goose]

TAMU

I think this team is going to provide a very entertaining season of basketball this year. I think the team is going to buy into building a foundation for long term success and far exceed expectations. I believe Shaka knows that he does not get a traditional grace period and he will be pushing the team hard. Based off the look of the BE, stealing a few wins should not be that difficult.

[MU82]

TAMU

I think this team is going to provide a very entertaining season of basketball this year. I think the team is going to buy into building a foundation for long term success and far exceed expectations. I believe Shaka knows that he does not get a traditional grace period and he will be pushing the team hard. Based off the look of the BE, stealing a few wins should not be that difficult.

Goose, I am SO hoping that come mid-March, I get to come back on here and say, "Damn if Goose wasn't right about us having a great season under Shaka."

I do hope you're not too disappointed if, like the vast majority of coaches who take over a struggling program - including Buzz Williams (at 2 different stops), Crean (at 3 different stops), Beard, Wright, etc etc etc - Shaka doesn't win big right away.

The only thing I'm willing to bet on is that I'll feel good about the direction of the program come March.

[Shooter McGavin]

I just hope Shaka knows ball. Aina?

[Shooter McGavin]

….and I don’t even care what kind of ball.  As long as he knows ball.

[tower912]

I am looking forward to seeing some basketball.   I love the length, the athleticism, the potential depth.   I think Coach Smart will do well at MU.   I think I will enjoy the brand of basketball he wants these guys to play.   

As far as expectations of the actual record, my expectations are the same as they would be for any team this young with this few proven scorers.   

Far more interested in the process than the results.

[Goose]

82

I always talk about the eye test and that is my barometer this season. It there is a clear style of play, athletes that are basketball players and the look of a program on the rise, I will be thrilled. Those three things will be winning big in my book. That said, I think we are playing in March.

[JakeBarnes]

82

I always talk about the eye test and that is my barometer this season. It there is a clear style of play, athletes that are basketball players and the look of a program on the rise, I will be thrilled. Those three things will be winning big in my book. That said, I think we are playing in March.

Goose,

While it isn't a game yet, I am excited to see that this won't just be a "high ball screen is the only play' from some of the videos and rumblings.

I agree that it will be refreshing to see a clearer style of play and see improvement across the players.

[Galway Eagle]

I don't wanna dampen this parade but this does seem worth posting before everybody pops a blue pill and starts thinking about Shaka:

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/candid-coaches-which-school-made-the-best-coaching-hire/

Marquette (Steve Wojciechowski) : 7 percent

"Marquette. It's a school that will do whatever is necessary to have a great basketball program. They spare no expense and take no shortcuts. It's a great hire. They hired a guy that gets it and has worked for and earned everything his entire life. It's the perfect match."

"Wojo at Marquette is going to be one to watch. He got some support here, but plenty are curious to see if he can keep Marquette rolling to the NCAAs like Buzz did. If he does, there's a good chance the Duke job is his whenever Mike Krzyzewski"

[bilsu]

In Shaka's interview with Dodds he said "freshmen do not know what they do not know". This might not be an exact quoted, but it is close. The expectations should recognize that freshmen have a big learning curve.

[rocky_warrior]

That said, I think we are playing in March.

100%  The Big East Tournament is in March 

[Billy Hoyle]

If he is indeed going back to the Havoc style then we need to ignore recruiting rankings. I'm more interested in getting guys who fit the system than 5 star guys looking to be one and done and have the offense built around them. I think that led to Shaka's struggles at UT; he had pressure to get 5 stars and get publicity for recruiting rankings.

[Hards Alumni]

If he is indeed going back to the Havoc style then we need to ignore recruiting rankings. I'm more interested in getting guys who fit the system than 5 star guys looking to be one and done and have the offense built around them. I think that led to Shaka's struggles at UT; he had pressure to get 5 stars and get publicity for recruiting rankings.

Havoc is dead.  Bury it after the rule changes.

[Uncle Rico]

It’ll be a very interesting season.  I think Shaka is fine as a coach but I’m not sure where he ranks amongst his peers. 

Did he overachieve at VCU?  I think so.  Did he underachieve at Texas?  I think so.  One could argue he was never a top 3 coach in the Big XII.

There could be a variety of reasons why his stop at Texas was “meh”.  I don’t dismiss fit as an issue.  It’s a legitimate thing as far as I’m concerned.  It feels like he’s a good fit at Marquette and in the Big East.  I also think his ceiling is pretty limited as a coach.  Perhaps this is the spot where everything clicks. 

The more I think about it, the more I’m with Goose and him not having a long leash for this season.  The league isn’t very good and I’m more interested in how they play in the Big East versus November/December.  I think it’s important the energy and excitement return and a bad year, even if expected in some quarters, really puts him behind the eight ball.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I'm not sure where the narrative that the Big East will not be very good this season is coming from. A lot of teams in our league have COVID super seniors who were the leaders of their squads last season. Over half the league brought in higher ranked freshman than our highest ranked freshman. Most of the league also did well on the transfer market. The Big East should be very solid this year. This actually makes more bullish on year 2. I think the COVID seniors will cause some balance issues on other teams that we won't have to deal with.

[Uncle Rico]

I'm not sure where the narrative that the Big East will not be very good this season is coming from. A lot of teams in our league have COVID super seniors who were the leaders of their squads last season. Over half the league brought in higher ranked freshman than our highest ranked freshman. Most of the league also did well on the transfer market. The Big East should be very solid this year. This actually makes more bullish on year 2. I think the COVID seniors will cause some balance issues on other teams that we won't have to deal with.

I think it’s going to be mediocre.  There isn’t an alpha.  Nova is the closest and indontbthink their defense is that good.  We’ll see but I see a league with some parity but no teams I’d call great