MUScoop
MUScoop => Hangin' at the Al => Topic started by: VegasWarrior77 on April 02, 2015, 09:36:08 PM
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Jon Rothstein @JonRothstein 3m3 minutes ago
BREAKING: VCU's Shaka Smart has accepted the head coaching vacancy at Texas, sources told @CBSSports.com. Story coming.
Mark Strotman @markstrot 3m3 minutes ago
So the guy Marquette wanted to replace Buzz, got the job Buzz wanted. Whacky.
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Done deal.
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(http://media0.giphy.com/media/rl0FOxdz7CcxO/giphy.gif)
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(http://gifsec.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/HAHA-GIF.gif)
I LOVE THE SCHADENFREUDE!!!
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Let's steal Larrier. Though Mullin will probably be camping outside his dorm come morning.
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Done deal.
Respect the Process.
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I LOVE THE SCHADENFREUDE!!!
Their site crashed awhile ago:
http://forums.vcuramnation.com/threads/shaka-watch.14928/
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So all of that stuff about not leaving his team because his father left him....
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Paint Touches @PaintTouches 2m2 minutes ago
Hot off the press from @JoeMcCann3 productions. pic.twitter.com/aRcK4Yen
Very creative Joe! Thanks for sharing Paint Touches!
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michael phillips @michaelpRTD
Last VCU players are leaving now. Visibly distraught.
7:30 PM - 2 Apr 2015
It sucks to lose your coach.
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http://wtvr.com/2014/12/05/shaka-smarts-staying-at-vcu/ (http://wtvr.com/2014/12/05/shaka-smarts-staying-at-vcu/)
This week Smart opened up to CBS Sports college basketball insider Gary Parrish. He explained one of the big reasons why he has decided to stay at VCU, despite offers for more money at larger basketball programs, was because of something that happened to him as a child.
Smart’s father left his family. Then, as a college basketball player at Kenyon College, Smart’s head coach left after Smart’s first season on the team.
I remember just crying for like three days. – Shaka Smart“I remember just crying for like three days,” Smart told Parrish. “I was 19 and lost because this guy [basketball coach Bill Brown] , my father figure, just left. And, honestly, that’s one of the reasons I’ve stayed at VCU. It factors into my mind. It really does. What happened to me is a factor.”
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Their site crashed awhile ago:
http://forums.vcuramnation.com/threads/shaka-watch.14928/
I'm sure they have a plan B lined up better than Wojo...
... Wardle to VCU?
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Paint Touches @PaintTouches 2m2 minutes ago
Hot off the press from @JoeMcCann3 productions. pic.twitter.com/aRcK4Yen
Very creative Joe! Thanks for sharing Paint Touches!
(http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view/555409/shawn-kemp-dunk-o.gif)
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Am I the only one who thinks Shaka is overhyped?
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So all of that stuff about not leaving his team because his father left him....
Nobody should ever believe anything any coach ever says at any point. I learned this lesson years ago. The vast majority of them are hucksters of the extreme variety
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I'm sure they have a plan B lined up better than Wojo...
... Wardle to VCU?
Yes, Dave Leitao comes to mind!
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Am I the only one who thinks Shaka is overhyped?
Nope. Let's see if he can disrupt Self and KU. They've had a stranglehold on the conference for over a decade.
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Where is that VCU Ram's fan at?
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(http://gifsec.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/HAHA-GIF.gif)
I LOVE THE SCHADENFREUDE!!!
Where did you find this?
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Let's steal Larrier. Though Mullin will probably be camping outside his dorm come morning.
Why would Larrier leave for anywhere except Texas?
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Anyone notice the breaking news call out on sports center has been taken down? The depressing "it's over" article on vcu's forum has been deleted as well.
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Anyone notice the breaking news call out on sports center has been taken down? The depressing "it's over" article on vcu's forum has been deleted as well.
VCU sports information director Scott Day confirmed to reporters gathered at the campus Thursday night that Smart was making the move. Smart met with VCU players earlier in the evening at the Siegel Center, the team's home arena, and at least one player was seen crying when he left.
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VCU sports information director Scott Day confirmed to reporters gathered at the campus Thursday night that Smart was making the move. Smart met with VCU players earlier in the evening at the Siegel Center, the team's home arena, and at least one player was seen crying when he left.
Not saying it ain't a #donedeal. Just felt that SC pulling the breaking news was odd. Although yasiel puig apparently got hurt tonight...i'm glad espn is constantly informing me of that.
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Things happen fast...!
Report: Will Wade top target for VCU
Jerry Meyer - 8 minutes ago
http://247sports.com/Bolt/Report-Will-Wade-top-target-for-VCU-36577951
Sources are telling 247Sports that Will Wade will be the top target for VCU to replace Shaka Smart.
Even prior to the departure of Smart, 247Sports was told "Wade to VCU is the next step."
Wade was an assistant at VCU for four years under Smart, including the Final Four season. Wade has been the head coach for the past two seasons at Chattanooga and led the Moccasins to a 22-10 record this past season.
Wade also was reported to have rejected the Charlotte head coaching job this spring.
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Where is that VCU Ram's fan at?
Still here, cheering on both teams.
It's a sad day in Richmond.
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Either no one is posting at ram nation since the announcement or the mods there have basically made it viewing only
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Either no one is posting at ram nation since the announcement or the mods there have basically made it viewing only
Their site crashed as the decision leaked out...
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Their site crashed as the decision leaked out...
Appears to be back up. Still basically no posts
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Before all hell broke loose people were posting pics that weren't showing up. It's fried!
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Trust me, It can be hard to get these sites to stay available during peak traffic times. We're lucky to have an overpowered server.
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Scoop is definitely one of the blue bloods of CBB boards! Thanks to all you guys!
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Nobody should ever believe anything any coach ever says at any point. I learned this lesson years ago. The vast majority of them are hucksters of the extreme variety
Except for [insert name of current MU coach]!
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Read page 1, read page 263.
I laughed so hard.
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Their site crashed as the decision leaked out...
Shaka Smart literally broke the internet at VCU.
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You know, I wanted to feel bad for them but I dont. After their smugness last year and this year as well all the way up to the decision it makes me happy to knock them down a peg. Also, they should know any successful program should be bigger than a coach. But whatever, peace Shaka, good luck in Austin, but glad we got Wojo.
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Karma's a bitch, ai na? Did they real believe Smart wasn't ever gonna bolt for a better gig? C'mon man, get real.
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Karma's a bitch, ai na? Did they real believe Smart wasn't ever gonna bolt for a better gig? C'mon man, get real.
Attribution bias creeps in when there was another saint in Brad Stevens always in play at the same era.
If I were them I would actually be a little annoyed by it being Texas -- then again looks like Shaka wants to build a new legacy somewhere that can support big time bball -- maybe that's why we even had his ear for a brief moment.
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Trust me, It can be hard to get these sites to stay available during peak traffic times. We're lucky to have an overpowered server.
Don't you mean over-served power?
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Am I the only one who thinks Shaka is overhyped?
No I share your thoughts. I think his havoc style may not play well in a "Power 5" conference.
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Oh man. VCUInsider. I could have gone a long time without being reminded of the outrage he brought upon us.
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VCU will be fine. Capel and Grant didn't turn out so hot at their next locations while VCU kept plugging along. If they get Wade back, they won't miss much of a beat IMO.
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No I share your thoughts. I think his havoc style may not play well in a "Power 5" conference.
I was wildly excited at the prospect of him here, but I agree with this. The style works great when it is either a shock to the system (no one expected it in 2011) or you have the best athletes on the court (VCU usually does in the CAA/A-10). But when you are playing teams with similarly talented athletes and know it's coming, it loses its ability to disrupt.
The wildcard will be recruiting. Texas has four top-40 2016 recruits, including three in the top-20. If Shaka can land those kids (and he certainly has the venue and name recognition to do so) then Texas has the ability to become elite. It wouldn't surprise me to see him play a more conventional style in the Big 12. Very surprised that his first offer was to Bruce Brown, a 2016 SG from Vermont. Seems now would be the time to lock down that recruiting base, and I don't think long-term the Northeast will be it.
He'll certainly be interesting to watch. This first year will be crucial. Shaka has a lot of talent that Rick Barnes left for him. Holmes and Turner are gone, but everyone else returns. If he can make a big first year, he could be set in Austin for 15 years. It worked for Rick Barnes.
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Am I the only one who thinks Shaka is overhyped?
I'm right there with ya. Other than the final four he hasn't done sh!t.
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No I share your thoughts. I think his havoc style may not play well in a "Power 5" conference.
Agreed. I think he is a good coach, but I don't think he's worth the $4 million/year or the big time ego that he seemingly has if he honestly wanted to provide a list of acceptable AD's for Marquette to select from in order to get him to coach at Marquette. He will have some success at Texas, but in my mind it's more because Texas has the money and the recruits in state to be successful than because of Shaka and his style (but to his credit, recruits seem to like his style and want to play in it, so that's half the battle).
If we're looking at actual results Shaka's team got hot at the right time and made a Final Four run in a year that, quite honestly, they didn't even deserve to be in the NCAA Tournament (they were 12-6 and finished 4th in the CAA that year with an overall record of 24-11 heading into the Tournament, losing to ODU in the Conference Tournament championship). Outside of that he has 2 NCAA Tournament wins and has never won a conference title while coaching in the CAA and A-10.
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I was wildly excited at the prospect of him here, but I agree with this. The style works great when it is either a shock to the system (no one expected it in 2011) or you have the best athletes on the court (VCU usually does in the CAA/A-10). But when you are playing teams with similarly talented athletes and know it's coming, it loses its ability to disrupt.
The wildcard will be recruiting. Texas has four top-40 2016 recruits, including three in the top-20. If Shaka can land those kids (and he certainly has the venue and name recognition to do so) then Texas has the ability to become elite. It wouldn't surprise me to see him play a more conventional style in the Big 12. Very surprised that his first offer was to Bruce Brown, a 2016 SG from Vermont. Seems now would be the time to lock down that recruiting base, and I don't think long-term the Northeast will be it.
He'll certainly be interesting to watch. This first year will be crucial. Shaka has a lot of talent that Rick Barnes left for him. Holmes and Turner are gone, but everyone else returns. If he can make a big first year, he could be set in Austin for 15 years. It worked for Rick Barnes.
I absolutely believe he will change styles and play more conventional in Austin. I don't think he was going to go full Havoc in Milwaukee if he had been a #donedeal. I think he is a tremendous coach and will be successful in Austin. He can recruit pretty well...combined with UT's money and appeal, he will get players. I assume he'll coach'em up but that will be the thing to determine in the next 3-5 years.
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Overall interesting thing to note this year....maybe cause we aren't on it....but I feel like the coaching carousel is not spinning hard this year.
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Overall interesting thing to note this year....maybe cause we aren't on it....but I feel like the coaching carousel is not spinning hard this year.
Wait a few weeks... it'll get going once Calipari and Hoiberg go to the NBA and Bo retires. ;)
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So the players found out on the news before he had a chance to tell them personally? I am shocked at this....
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Wait a few weeks... it'll get going once Calipari and Hoiberg go to the NBA and Bo retires. ;)
God forbid, but if Madison wins the whole damn thing, Bo retires right? If so, who the hell is taking over in Madison and could we possibly hate him more than the Grinch?
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God forbid, but if Madison wins the whole damn thing, Bo retires right? If so, who the hell is taking over in Madison and could we possibly hate him more than the Grinch?
Greg Gard. I have no doubt in my mind about this.
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Overall interesting thing to note this year....maybe cause we aren't on it....but I feel like the coaching carousel is not spinning hard this year.
I think it's been spinning just as hard this year, it's just been kind of bizarre. St. John's is a big opening, I'd argue as big or bigger than Marquette despite the recent mediocre success. DePaul should be a big opening, but they think small. Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Arizona State are all big money jobs, though they offer varied opportunities for success. At the mid and low major levels, Bucknell, George Mason, Bradley, Green Bay, and Charlotte are all jobs that could be pretty good.
I'm just glad that we should be out of the carousel mix for at least a few more years. If we're back in the NCAAs the next two years, especially if Henry is on both of those teams, I'm sure we'll start hearing those "Wojo to..." murmurs. The real positive for us, I believe, is that Lovell, Scholl, and Wojo all came in at the same time. They should be on the same page and at least have the opportunity to stay here for quite awhile. We suffered a lot of instability in the last regime.
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He ain't retirin' no how. Bo knows, hey?
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I think it's been spinning just as hard this year, it's just been kind of bizarre. St. John's is a big opening, I'd argue as big or bigger than Marquette despite the recent mediocre success.
This surprises me. Given the difference in spending on bball alone, I'd put MU above STJ. Didn't see any interest from Shaka in taking their opening.
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God forbid, but if Madison wins the whole damn thing, Bo retires right? If so, who the hell is taking over in Madison and could we possibly hate him more than the Grinch?
I'm curious about this too. UW's success during the Bo era has been despite the mediocre recruiting. This speak's to Bo's ability to develop players in a system that gets the most out of them.
However, if you're a hot upcoming coach, you're probably hoping for a significant upgrade in terms of recruiting base or some evidence that high-level recruits love playing for that school (see I4). UW simply doesn't have this "built-in." Not to mention the effort to change from Bo's system to something resembling 21st century basketball.
I think it'll be inside hires (like Chryst for FB) for the forseeable future at UW. Maybe they'll find another winner, but I'm guessing not.
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This surprises me. Given the difference in spending on bball alone, I'd put MU above STJ. Didn't see any interest from Shaka in taking their opening.
Don't get me wrong, I think Marquette is a better opening. The budget is immense, clear dedication to basketball, and a track record of success. But in terms of profile, it's Madison Square Garden and New York City. It's a rock star type gig. As we've seen in recent years, rock star gigs don't come close to guaranteeing rock star results (UCLA, Indiana, UNLV) but in terms of sheer size and what you see when looking at the surface, St. John's is pretty huge.
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I'm curious about this too. UW's success during the Bo era has been despite the mediocre recruiting. This speak's to Bo's ability to develop players in a system that gets the most out of them.
However, if you're a hot upcoming coach, you're probably hoping for a significant upgrade in terms of recruiting base or some evidence that high-level recruits love playing for that school (see I4). UW simply doesn't have this "built-in." Not to mention the effort to change from Bo's system to something resembling 21st century basketball.
I think it'll be inside hires (like Chryst for FB) for the forseeable future at UW. Maybe they'll find another winner, but I'm guessing not.
I would expect Barry to go with Greg Gard. He's been Bo's right hand man for ages and would be the guy that would probably keep the recruits, players, and system intact. I think the whole Gary Anderson thing with the football program has made them wary of outside hires that don't view Wisconsin as a "dream job".
EDIT: That said, I think there's a very real chance that in addition to Kaminsky leaving, we also see Bo retire and both Dekker and Hayes declare for the draft.
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God forbid, but if Madison wins the whole damn thing, Bo retires right? If so, who the hell is taking over in Madison and could we possibly hate him more than the Grinch?
I would rather have Bo stay if it meant they don't win the N.C. Best case scenario they get trounced by UK and Bo hangs it up, Dekker goes pro, Koenig transfers, Pretzel de-commits.
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I think Bo retire after this year no matter what. He's 67, reached two Final Fours, and probably never will have a team this good again. A National Championship is the only thing he hasn't accomplished (at the D-1 level anyways) but if not this year, when? Does Bo want to coach until he's 80?
My gut: Bo retires, Dekker, who I think already was leaning this way, turns pro after his huge tourney run cements his draft stock, and Greg Gard is the next Wisconsin coach. It won't be Shaka now that he took Texas and I don't think Tony Bennett views it as a dream job. He didn't play at UW-Madison, his wife is from Charlotte IIRC, and he' s already having success at an equal or better job at UVa.
I think it's 50/50 for Nigel Hayes to turn pro but Bo retiring may tip the scales. Again, this is all my gut instinct.
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Wait a few weeks... it'll get going once Calipari and Hoiberg go to the NBA and Bo retires. ;)
A few days ago Pitino was saying Donovan was ready to try the NBA.
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I think Bo retire after this year no matter what. He's 67, reached two Final Fours, and probably never will have a team this good again. A National Championship is the only thing he hasn't accomplished (at the D-1 level anyways) but if not this year, when? Does Bo want to coach until he's 80?
He may not want to coach until he is 80, but that's 13 years from now!
He may want to coach until he is 72 for instance. That's what Jim Boeheim will be when he retires. Larry Brown is 74. It really depends what he wants to do and how he feels.
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My gut: Bo retires, Dekker, who I think already was leaning this way, turns pro after his huge tourney run cements his draft stock, and Greg Gard is the next Wisconsin coach. It won't be Shaka now that he took Texas and I don't think Tony Bennett views it as a dream job. He didn't play at UW-Madison, his wife is from Charlotte IIRC, and he' s already having success at an equal or better job at UVa.
I think it's 50/50 for Nigel Hayes to turn pro but Bo retiring may tip the scales. Again, this is all my gut instinct.
It was never going to be Shaka or Bennett. Most Badger fans may disagree, but none of those two would have ever shown interest in the Wisconsin job unless they found a way to move it out of (in Shaka's case) Madison or (in Tony's case) Wisconsin all together.
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I would rather have Bo stay if it meant they don't win the N.C. Best case scenario they get trounced by UK and Bo hangs it up, Dekker goes pro, Koenig transfers, Pretzel de-commits.
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So the players found out on the news before he had a chance to tell them personally? I am shocked at this....
I read they had a team meeting before the announcement.
Part of his buyout is TX must have a home and home with VCU, that could be awkward for Shaka
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I read they had a team meeting before the announcement.
Part of his buyout is TX must have a home and home with VCU, that could be awkward for Shaka
TX can get out of the home/home by paying VCU $250k.
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I read they had a team meeting before the announcement.
Part of his buyout is TX must have a home and home with VCU, that could be awkward for Shaka
Or Shaka owes VCU $250k. Texas will give him $250 to give to VCU to avoid this.
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I read they had a team meeting before the announcement.
Part of his buyout is TX must have a home and home with VCU, that could be awkward for Shaka
There's a $250k buyout clause to avoid the home and home. That's the same amount Texas would have saved if they'd had waited 4 more days to fire Barnes. Something tells me they'll have no problem paying to skip the home and home.
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So the players found out on the news before he had a chance to tell them personally? I am shocked at this....
No Chicos, Shaka acted like a professional and held a meeting with his players before jumping on a plane. He can't stop rumors on Twitter, but he could pay his players the courtesy of discussing his move with them before holding a press conference.
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No Chicos, Shaka acted like a professional and held a meeting with his players before jumping on a plane. He can't stop rumors on Twitter, but he could pay his players the courtesy of discussing his move with them before holding a press conference.
It's not like Wesley was watching ESPN with pictures of Crean sticking his head out of a Cadillac or anything when he found out.
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He may not want to coach until he is 80, but that's 13 years from now!
He may want to coach until he is 72 for instance. That's what Jim Boeheim will be when he retires. Larry Brown is 74. It really depends what he wants to do and how he feels.
This.
I mean, maybe Bo actually enjoys coaching? Isn't that possible? 67 is no longer really "old."
I also like those who keep knocking Bo's recruiting. Was Kaminsky a "great" recruit? Was Gasser a "great" recruit? Even Trevon Hughes and Alando Tucker weren't top-50 material. Bo gets lots of good players who perform well in his system, and he has landed enough highly regarded talent (Dekker, Hughes, Butch, Koenig, etc) to build quality rosters. He tends to get players who are just good enough to become nice college basketball players but aren't so over-the-top great that they bolt after 1 or 2 years -- and that's a pretty good "happy place" for recruiting these days, if you ask me.
It definitely will be interesting to see what happens in Buckyland after this weekend. Dekker probably "should" go pro (just as many thought Kaminsky "should" have gone pro last year). Based on mock drafts I've seen, Hayes should stay in school, but Vander should have, too. And Bo? Has he even hinted about when he might hang 'em up? Until I hear otherwise, I have no reason to assume he won't be back -- for next season and many more after that.
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It's amazing to me that, if Buzz had just stayed one more season here at Marquette, he probably would have been the favorite (if not lock) for the Texas job.
We can only speculate what the roster would have looked like had he stayed. Mayo probably stays, with JJJ and Steve transferring last year - and we keep Hill, Shayok, Pierce and Cohen. I would also imagine we would have added Shane Henry, instead of Matt Carlino. While Buzz's alternate reality 2014-15 Marquette team probably places better than Wojo's 2014-15 Marquette team, I think it is widely accepted that the future is much brighter today with our current leadership than a year ago.
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It's not like Wesley was watching ESPN with pictures of Crean sticking his head out of a Cadillac or anything when he found out.
That's the real way a man of integrity should let his players know. I mean, it doesn't get much classier than a Cadillac, right? Well, maybe a Hummer.
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It's amazing to me that, if Buzz had just stayed one more season here at Marquette, he probably would have been the favorite (if not lock) for the Texas job.
We can only speculate what the roster would have looked like had he stayed. Mayo probably stays, with JJJ and Steve transferring last year - and we keep Hill, Shayok, Pierce and Cohen. I would also imagine we would have added Shane Henry, instead of Matt Carlino. While Buzz's alternate reality 2014-15 Marquette team probably places better than Wojo's 2014-15 Marquette team, I think it is widely accepted that the future is much brighter today with our current leadership than a year ago.
I've written the same thing as this post. But let's not forget the first line ... who said Buzz could have stayed? It has been suggested that he was subtly told/suggested to find another home?
You believe this to be the case?
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So since a year has passed and we were in the same Shaka circus at that time I just want to get people's pulse on where we are now. Are you guys happy, both at the time and now, that we ended up with Wojo or do some people still wish Shaka had ended up at Marquette? Do you think we would be in a better position now if Shaka was the head coach or where we are right now with Wojo? Personally, while this past season was just depressing, I don't think we could be in a much better position with anyone else.
Wojo did the two most important things that needed to be done IMO: 1. completely change the culture of MUBB to something more similar to the Duke standard he knows, and 2. bring in "his type of player ASAP" while not meddling around with Buzz's recruits that weren't going to work here. In those two regards, he's absolutely killed it. While Shaka would have been great here and would have been a huge splash Marquette hasn't had in a looonnngggg time, I think Wojo brings plenty more stability and if/when the success starts coming. There's only one job that I feel he would ever leave for (and that's the most highly coveted job in college hoops that he may not even be a serious candidate for for some time).
Obviously there are many more variables at play, and I know some on this board can't stand his coaching and aren't sold on Wojo whatsoever outside of one recruit signing, but I couldn't be more bullish on what's next across the board. Just wanted to get you guys' (and gal's) take on it.
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So since a year has passed and we were in the same Shaka circus at that time I just want to get people's pulse on where we are now. Are you guys happy, both at the time and now, that we ended up with Wojo or do some people still wish Shaka had ended up at Marquette? Do you think we would be in a better position now if Shaka was the head coach or where we are right now with Wojo? Personally, while this past season was just depressing, I don't think we could be in a much better position with anyone else.
Wojo did the two most important things that needed to be done IMO: 1. completely change the culture of MUBB to something more similar to the Duke standard he knows, and 2. bring in "his type of player ASAP" while not meddling around with Buzz's recruits that weren't going to work here. In those two regards, he's absolutely killed it. While Shaka would have been great here and would have been a huge splash Marquette hasn't had in a looonnngggg time, I think Wojo brings plenty more stability and if/when the success starts coming. There's only one job that I feel he would ever leave for (and that's the most highly coveted job in college hoops that he may not even be a serious candidate for for some time).
Obviously there are many more variables at play, and I know some on this board can't stand his coaching and aren't sold on Wojo whatsoever outside of one recruit signing, but I couldn't be more bullish on what's next across the board. Just wanted to get you guys' (and gal's) take on it.
I am fairly happy with how everything has turned out. I have my concerns, that hopefully will go away over the next year, but the future looks very bright and I'm an optimistic guy.
I'm not sure Shaka would have brought MU the splash that you think. He's a good coach that plays an entertaining style, so I would have been pleased from that point of view.
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So glad things worked out the way they did.
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I'm not sure Shaka would have brought MU the splash that you think. He's a good coach that plays an entertaining style, so I would have been pleased from that point of view.
Oh, I only meant "splash" in terms of splash hire. As opposed to going the assistant route, we would've landed one of the most successful head coaches on the market.
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So since a year has passed and we were in the same Shaka circus at that time I just want to get people's pulse on where we are now. Are you guys happy, both at the time and now, that we ended up with Wojo or do some people still wish Shaka had ended up at Marquette? Do you think we would be in a better position now if Shaka was the head coach or where we are right now with Wojo? Personally, while this past season was just depressing, I don't think we could be in a much better position with anyone else.
Wojo did the two most important things that needed to be done IMO: 1. completely change the culture of MUBB to something more similar to the Duke standard he knows, and 2. bring in "his type of player ASAP" while not meddling around with Buzz's recruits that weren't going to work here. In those two regards, he's absolutely killed it. While Shaka would have been great here and would have been a huge splash Marquette hasn't had in a looonnngggg time, I think Wojo brings plenty more stability and if/when the success starts coming. There's only one job that I feel he would ever leave for (and that's the most highly coveted job in college hoops that he may not even be a serious candidate for for some time).
Obviously there are many more variables at play, and I know some on this board can't stand his coaching and aren't sold on Wojo whatsoever outside of one recruit signing, but I couldn't be more bullish on what's next across the board. Just wanted to get you guys' (and gal's) take on it.
As someone who was wildly pro-Shaka, I have to admit I think things turned out for the better. While I have no illusion that Wojo is staying here forever or that he views MU as anything more than a stop to the "big job" I think Wojo is the real deal and will lead us to very consistent and high levels of performance. I believe in the process...not only that, I respect it.
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Don't get me wrong, I think Marquette is a better opening. The budget is immense, clear dedication to basketball, and a track record of success. But in terms of profile, it's Madison Square Garden and New York City. It's a rock star type gig. As we've seen in recent years, rock star gigs don't come close to guaranteeing rock star results (UCLA, Indiana, UNLV) but in terms of sheer size and what you see when looking at the surface, St. John's is pretty huge.
This. I grew up in NY. Brew is correct.
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As someone who was wildly pro-Shaka, I have to admit I think things turned out for the better. While I have no illusion that Wojo is staying here forever or that he views MU as anything more than a stop to the "big job" I think Wojo is the real deal and will lead us to very consistent and high levels of performance. I believe in the process...not only that, I respect it.
There is likely only 1 gig Wojo would leave for.
I can't imagine him jumping to another ACC school, and I'm not sure if the B10 is really a draw for him (I suppose if somebody backed up the Brinks truck, he might be interested, but doesn't seem likely).
Also, if in 5 years, Wojo does take the Duke job, I'm fine with that. That means he will have kicked ass at MU for 5 seasons, and we'll go find another guy.
EDIT: I'm agreeing with you BTW. I think Wojo was a terrific hire based upon what you said, as well as MU's ability to retain him.
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Greg Gard. I have no doubt in my mind about this.
+1.
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So since a year has passed and we were in the same Shaka circus at that time I just want to get people's pulse on where we are now. Are you guys happy, both at the time and now, that we ended up with Wojo or do some people still wish Shaka had ended up at Marquette? Do you think we would be in a better position now if Shaka was the head coach or where we are right now with Wojo? Personally, while this past season was just depressing, I don't think we could be in a much better position with anyone else.
Wojo did the two most important things that needed to be done IMO: 1. completely change the culture of MUBB to something more similar to the Duke standard he knows, and 2. bring in "his type of player ASAP" while not meddling around with Buzz's recruits that weren't going to work here. In those two regards, he's absolutely killed it. While Shaka would have been great here and would have been a huge splash Marquette hasn't had in a looonnngggg time, I think Wojo brings plenty more stability and if/when the success starts coming. There's only one job that I feel he would ever leave for (and that's the most highly coveted job in college hoops that he may not even be a serious candidate for for some time).
Obviously there are many more variables at play, and I know some on this board can't stand his coaching and aren't sold on Wojo whatsoever outside of one recruit signing, but I couldn't be more bullish on what's next across the board. Just wanted to get you guys' (and gal's) take on it.
I was very excited about the prospect of Smart, but at the same time I feel we're better off with how things worked out.
Wojo's first recruiting class helps with that a lot. First, I like that everyone coming in is regarded for defense and academics, but I'm very impressed with the level Marquette has recruited at. While I think Shaka will almost certainly have a top-5 recruiting class at Texas next year and would have here as well, that Wojo is able to recruit at that level alleviates what was one of my biggest concerns when Shaka changed his mind.
I also think that Wojo comes from a more fundamentally sound place that is more likely to pay off in the long run. Havoc is a ton of fun to watch, but I think it's a gimmick that gets stale once other teams figure you out. Here's the thing...Shaka has parlayed one great year into offers from some great basketball schools. VCU had no business being in that tournament, however. Great on him to make the most of one (undeserved) opportunity but I'm not convinced that style will work in high majors over the long haul. If Shaka adjusts, he may be successful, but I am more convinced that Wojo will ultimately get his style to result in winning high-major basketball than I am of Shaka's style.
As far as long-term...who knows? I don't know if Wojo will treat us as a destination, I don't know if Shaka would have. The last 3-4 years, there's been a circus around Shaka every March/April. Maybe that happens to every coach who isn't at Duke, UNC, Kansas, or Kentucky when they win. But we have seen time and time again Shaka seems to indulge the circus. I can't imagine being at Marquette would have changed that. Will Wojo? We won't know for at least a year or two. But there's better odds he eschews the circus than Shaka, who has proven time and time again that he is happy to feed off it.
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I would expect Barry to go with Greg Gard. He's been Bo's right hand man for ages and would be the guy that would probably keep the recruits, players, and system intact. I think the whole Gary Anderson thing with the football program has made them wary of outside hires that don't view Wisconsin as a "dream job".
EDIT: That said, I think there's a very real chance that in addition to Kaminsky leaving, we also see Bo retire and both Dekker and Hayes declare for the draft.
Kaminsky is obviously gone. Dekker I would be very surprised to see back. Hayes might ask around but I can't see him leaving, and even though I heard Bo was retiring, I won't believe it until I see it. They will still be good next year.
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Still disappointed that Shaka did not end up here. Love his style of play and feel he would have been a great fit. That said, life moves on and I still optimistic that Coach W wins here and represents the university well.
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This. I grew up in NY. Brew is correct.
I'm not arguing for which program is a better job but just curious. Does the St. Johns gig still hold up? Sure it's NYC and Madison Square Garden but does anyone in NYC give a sh!t about St. Johns anymore? The program certainly isn't what it used to be obviously, most Catholic bball programs aren't compared to the 70s and 80s. I work and live in the city and apart from the Big East Tournament, you wouldn't even know St. Johns still had a team.
NYC and Madison Square Garden are as good as it gets in terms of atmosphere and generating program attention, but if no one outside of the die hard fans care about the team, it doesn't mean a thing.
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Kaminsky is obviously gone. Dekker I would be very surprised to see back. Hayes might ask around but I can't see him leaving, and even though I heard Bo was retiring, I won't believe it until I see it. They will still be good next year.
Not as good by a long shot. What happened to them when Kaminsky missed a game? Freaking Rutgers beat them. The combination of Kaminsky and Dekker make them outstanding and makes other guys look better than they are. With Kaminsky and Dekker gone they are a bubble ncaa team, although who knows, the Grinch can coach the hell out of those guys.
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Kaminsky is obviously gone. Dekker I would be very surprised to see back. Hayes might ask around but I can't see him leaving, and even though I heard Bo was retiring, I won't believe it until I see it. They will still be good next year.
A lot hinges on who stays and goes. A week ago, the prospect of Koenig, Stone, Hayes, and Dekker looked like a top-10 team. If only one of those guys is in Madison next year, that would radically alter the outlook. Hayes has been looking into where he'd be drafted (that was openly reported last month) and right now it's sounding like he's probably in that dicey 30-35 range that could have him in the first or could have him in the second.
It'll be interesting, but with Stone out of the picture and Dekker likely heading on, I could see him wanting to jump while the getting is good.
Either way, if Bo's back, he'll find a way to squeeze 20 wins and a NCAA bid out of them. He could have me starting at center and he'd manage that. Must be a deal with the devil...how else does Kaminsky go from crap bench player to NPOY in 2 years?!?
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I read they had a team meeting before the announcement.
Part of his buyout is TX must have a home and home with VCU, that could be awkward for Shaka
Yup, but Chicos won't let that stop him from making stuff up to make Crean look better. It's funny, Chicos says he things Crean is a mega douche and he would know better because as everyone here is well aware (and if you aren't, trust me, Chicos will remind you as soon as he can) Chicos was attached to Creans hip for a few months while working in Marquette's athletic department...BUT he only defends Crean when somebody lies about Crean here, which he likens to saying "I've worked for many douches in my life but if somebody was spreading the rumor they were sleeping with someone else's wife and it wasn't true, I would back them up and say it wasn't true." YET here we are, nobody having said a word about Crean or how he left, and here is Chicos defending the heck out of Crean. It's quite odd and contradictory to Chicos's narrative. He calls everyone else out on here for still being oddly obsessed with a coach who left 7 years ago. Seems to me Chicos is just as obsessed with the man, but in an even more weird way.
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Still disappointed that Shaka did not end up here. Love his style of play and feel he would have been a great fit. That said, life moves on and I still optimistic that Coach W wins here and represents the university well.
While it would have been fun to have Shaka here, part of me is glad we don't have to go through the inevitable coaching carousel rumors annually, at least until Wojo has some major success.
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still being oddly obsessed with a coach who left 7 years ago. Seems to me Chicos is just as obsessed with the man, but in an even more weird way.
Is it wrong for a man to want to watch gladiator movies with another man?
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Is it wrong for a man to want to watch gladiator movies with another man?
Not if they are both lusting after Connie Nielsen. Still hot at about 60.
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Not as good by a long shot. What happened to them when Kaminsky missed a game? Freaking Rutgers beat them. The combination of Kaminsky and Dekker make them outstanding and makes other guys look better than they are. With Kaminsky and Dekker gone they are a bubble ncaa team, although who knows, the Grinch can coach the hell out of those guys.
IIRC, Trae Jackson broke his foot in that game also
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IIRC, Trae Jackson broke his foot in that game also
After they blew their 12 point halftime lead however.
UW will be fine next year, but will obviously be down. I would guess that Dekker leaves, but Hayes stays. (He didn't look good against either UNC or Arizona.) They also have Ethan Happ (6'9 forward) as a redshirt freshman.
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There is likely only 1 gig Wojo would leave for.
I can't imagine him jumping to another ACC school, and I'm not sure if the B10 is really a draw for him (I suppose if somebody backed up the Brinks truck, he might be interested, but doesn't seem likely).
Also, if in 5 years, Wojo does take the Duke job, I'm fine with that. That means he will have kicked ass at MU for 5 seasons, and we'll go find another guy.
EDIT: I'm agreeing with you BTW. I think Wojo was a terrific hire based upon what you said, as well as MU's ability to retain him.
Agree.
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There is likely only 1 gig Wojo would leave for.
I'm not sure about that. Duke is obvious, but I could also see a Kansas, Michigan State, or Arizona type program that has a strong tradition and deep pockets being of interest. I hope not, but until Wojo has that decision to make, we won't really know.
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I'm not sure about that. Duke is obvious, but I could also see a Kansas, Michigan State, or Arizona type program that has a strong tradition and deep pockets being of interest. I hope not, but until Wojo has that decision to make, we won't really know.
Wojo would first have to have Marquette playing at a high level to even put himself in the discussion for those jobs Brew.
Let's just say Michigan State had a coaching vacancy next season. One would have to think there'd be quite a few coaches higher up the food chain just based on head coaching experience and results than Wojo.
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I'm not sure about that. Duke is obvious, but I could also see a Kansas, Michigan State, or Arizona type program that has a strong tradition and deep pockets being of interest. I hope not, but until Wojo has that decision to make, we won't really know.
None of those schools would give Wojo a sniff if they had the vacancy now, based on his current track record. Five years from now? Only if there is significant improvement in the next 4 years.
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Wojo would first have to have Marquette playing at a high level to even put himself in the discussion for those jobs Brew.
Let's just say Michigan State had a coaching vacancy next season. One would have to think there'd be quite a few coaches higher up the food chain just based on head coaching experience and results than Wojo.
None of those schools would give Wojo a sniff if they had the vacancy now, based on his current track record. Five years from now? Only if there is significant improvement in the next 4 years.
Brew was simply countering Canned's opinion that Duke would be the only school Wojo would leave for. Not that any of those schools would be interested right now.
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NM
What Sultan said.
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Wojo was at Duke for 17 years (player and coach) and his mentor has been at the same job for 35 years.
Do you put any stock in the idea that he is one that would like to keep the movements to a minimum which is why he waited so long before he jumped to his first HC position.
In other words, he is not here to get to the second week of the tourney ASAP so he can leave. If he leaves it is going to take a lot, like a clear upgrade (read not a Tenn, VT or maybe even an IU. Something that he thinks is "better")
You buying any of this?
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Am I the only one who thinks Shaka is overhyped?
I'm completely on board with you on that!!!
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Shaka's vaunted Havoc defense was actually the brainchild of and implemented by his then assistant Wil Wade who is now a HC at Chattanooga......
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Wojo was at Duke for 17 years (player and coach) and his mentor has been at the same job for 35 years.
Do you put any stock in the idea that he is one that would like to keep the movements to a minimum which is why he waited so long before he jumped to his first HC position.
In other words, he is not here to get to the second week of the tourney ASAP so he can leave. If he leaves it is going to take a lot, like a clear upgrade (read not a Tenn, VT or maybe even an IU. Something that he thinks is "better")
You buying any of this?
I don't buy it....not because of Wojo, but because of the profession. Maybe he is the exception to the rule and if so I'd be absolutely giddy because it means Wojo can and is building Marquette into a blue blood. I just don't think that likely.
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Wojo was at Duke for 17 years (player and coach) and his mentor has been at the same job for 35 years.
Do you put any stock in the idea that he is one that would like to keep the movements to a minimum which is why he waited so long before he jumped to his first HC position.
In other words, he is not here to get to the second week of the tourney ASAP so he can leave. If he leaves it is going to take a lot, like a clear upgrade (read not a Tenn, VT or maybe even an IU. Something that he thinks is "better")
You buying any of this?
Tommy Amaker was an assistant at Duke for 11 years - and left Seton Hall for Michigan after four years and one NCAA tournament appearance.
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Duke is about a third larger than MU student-wise I think. And they have been a powerhouse for decades. The powerhouses generally have coaches who have been there a while. No reason to think that Wojo can't build Marquette into a regular top 25 team and better.
Will he? We will see. But I think it's possible he stays for a long time. Why not if he can build MU into consistent success? Possible.
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Duke is about a third larger than MU student-wise I think. And they have been a powerhouse for decades. The powerhouses generally have coaches who have been there a while. No reason to think that Wojo can't build Marquette into a regular top 25 team and better.
Will he? We will see. But I think it's possible he stays for a long time. Why not if he can build MU into consistent success? Possible.
Marquette has been a regular top 25 team for the better part of the last decade under Crean and Buzz. Keeping the program at that level would be holding serve.
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Marquette has been a regular top 25 team for the better part of the last decade under Crean and Buzz. Keeping the program at that level would be holding serve.
Yes. Ok. I think he can do better. Good start in recruiting. Second class will tell a lot.
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Wojo was at Duke for 17 years (player and coach) and his mentor has been at the same job for 35 years.
Do you put any stock in the idea that he is one that would like to keep the movements to a minimum which is why he waited so long before he jumped to his first HC position.
In other words, he is not here to get to the second week of the tourney ASAP so he can leave. If he leaves it is going to take a lot, like a clear upgrade (read not a Tenn, VT or maybe even an IU. Something that he thinks is "better")
You buying any of this?
Nope. He is only 37. Absolutely no way to know what he will do, but my guess is he will not stay. In fact, how many guys really stay? If he gets it going at MU, well past history tells you all you need to know.
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I'm not sure about that. Duke is obvious, but I could also see a Kansas, Michigan State, or Arizona type program that has a strong tradition and deep pockets being of interest. I hope not, but until Wojo has that decision to make, we won't really know.
Agree with those schools ... and I also don't see why Wojo wouldn't go to an ACC school other than Duke if a great opportunity presented itself -- especially if K retired and somebody else took the Duke job.
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Agree with those schools ... and I also don't see why Wojo wouldn't go to an ACC school other than Duke if a great opportunity presented itself -- especially if K retired and somebody else took the Duke job.
The reality is very few have ever seen Marquette as a destination job. Al didn't -- he wanted to leave to coach the Bucks. Rick Majerus may have, but we shipped him before he had the chance. Maybe Wardle does, seems the most likely name now.
Circumstance could make this a destination for Wojo. Lovell and Scholl will be here for awhile, so he could have a long term comfortable relationship with his bosses. If Duke goes elsewhere, both Arizona and Kansas may not be hiring soon, who knows, maybe comfort and opportunity keep him here. But I doubt he grew up dreaming of Milwaukee.
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The reality is very few have ever seen Marquette as a destination job. Al didn't -- he wanted to leave to coach the Bucks. Rick Majerus may have, but we shipped him before he had the chance. Maybe Wardle does, seems the most likely name now.
Circumstance could make this a destination for Wojo. Lovell and Scholl will be here for awhile, so he could have a long term comfortable relationship with his bosses. If Duke goes elsewhere, both Arizona and Kansas may not be hiring soon, who knows, maybe comfort and opportunity keep him here. But I doubt he grew up dreaming of Milwaukee.
I agree with all of this, too.
I just disagree with those who believe Wojo would never take a non-Duke ACC job.
It would be like saying Pitino, who coached at Kentucky, would never take the Louisville job. Of course he would ... and he did. You go where the best opportunities are.
Hopefully, for Wojo, he builds Marquette into a super-power and he believes the best opportunity always is at our alma mater. But I'm realistic enough to know how college sports work.
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I don't think he would take UNC. Of course, they'd never offer to a Dookie. Maybe the other Tobacco Road jobs, but still less likely. The rest of the ACC, if K was retired and that job appeared not to be an option (say Stevens was there and won a quick title), I don't see why not.
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He also reportedly received offers from Southern California, North Carolina State, Maryland, Marquette, Illinois and Wake Forest over the years.
Smart, 37, said this job was different.
''To me, it was a no brainer,'' said Smart, wearing a burnt orange tie to his first news conference at Texas. ''I don't want to take away from any other program, but there is only one University of Texas. There is unbelievable potential here.''
But the Longhorns have the wealthiest athletic department in the country and easy access to some of the nation's biggest recruiting grounds in Dallas and Houston.
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Destination job is what you make it.
Boeheim decided Syracuse was a destination job for him, he stayed.
Colhoun at Uconn
K at Duke
Few at Gonzaga
Bo at Bucky
Izzo at MSU
JT3 at G-town
Wright at Nova
Dixon at Pitt
Self at Kansas
Pitino at Louisville
Donovan at Fla
Some of these programs were not destination jobs before these names arrived.
All of the above passed on better opportunities (NBA) and potentially more money.
If Wojo can (1)recruit, (2) do well and (3) his family likes Milwaukee, no reason to leave. But first, these three things have to happen and show they can continue to happen.
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Don't worry. We will all love everything about Wojo and proclaim him as the greatest coach ever until he leaves. Then we will call him scumbag, total fake, etc. and hate him forever.
I've seen this movie before.
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Don't worry. We will all love everything about Wojo and proclaim him as the greatest coach ever until he leaves. Then we will call him scumbag, total fake, etc. and hate him forever.
I've seen this movie before.
You mean like the what's happening at VCU tonight?
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(https://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8DWs7jRzvac4oeUf4g0GoGeK3KQ=/0x4:600x404/709x473/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46043220/smart_and_strong.0.0.jpg)
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That photo is the middle finger to VCU fans that Buzz's VT lapel pin was to us a year ago.
Interesting story by John Feinstein. He was among the first to hint at Buzz to VPI last March.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2015/04/03/after-a-fairy-tale-run-for-vcu-the-shaka-clock-strikes-midnight/
If it's accurate, a lot of the public knew Shaka was leaving for Texas 15 minutes before his AD did.
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Tamu has the #3 class coming in next year. They recruited extremely well in Texas with this class.
It looks like Shaka will have tough competition for Texas recruits. He will likely get some good recruits simply because of the size of the talent pool in state.
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He also reportedly received offers from Southern California, North Carolina State, Maryland, Marquette, Illinois and Wake Forest over the years.
Smart, 37, said this job was different.
''To me, it was a no brainer,'' said Smart, wearing a burnt orange tie to his first news conference at Texas. ''I don't want to take away from any other program, but there is only one University of Texas. There is unbelievable potential here.''
But the Longhorns have the wealthiest athletic department in the country and easy access to some of the nation's biggest recruiting grounds in Dallas and Houston.
Barf!!! Sounds like somebody gushing over No Dick. BTW, the main reason Nebraska bolted for the Big 10-13 was because of the arrogance of Texas. Sounds like Mr. Smart will help to continue that arrogance. Hope good things happen for him down there--like getting beat for conference titles annually by Kansas and the Mayor.
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Tamu has the #3 class coming in next year. They recruited extremely well in Texas with this class.
It looks like Shaka will have tough competition for Texas recruits. He will likely get some good recruits simply because of the size of the talent pool in state.
It surprises me that thus far, Shaka is mostly reaching out to recruits he wanted at VCU. Not that he didn't recruit well there, but TAMU has the #3 class because they did a great job recruiting in-state. All four of their 2015 recruits are from Texas. Three top-40 kids, and one more in the top-100. The Longhorns have 2 recruits, one of which is from Texas.
His easiest path to recruiting is to secure in-state recruits. The state has 3 top-20 kids for 2016. Were I Shaka, I'd be focusing on getting those three committed ASAP.
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It's amazing what a few good years of football can do for a basketball program. TAMU is slowly becoming the cool university to cheer for. Haven't been able to say that ever before. This baketball recruiting class probably doesn't happen without Johnny Football.
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It's amazing what a few good years of football can do for a basketball program. TAMU is slowly becoming the cool university to cheer for. Haven't been able to say that ever before. This baketball recruiting class probably doesn't happen without Johnny Football.
You didn't like them when they were kicking ass under Gillispie?
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Don't worry. We will all love everything about Wojo and proclaim him as the greatest coach ever until he leaves. Then we will call him scumbag, total fake, etc. and hate him forever.
I've seen this movie before.
This is probably about right. That's one reason I feel coaches should be careful making those "stay as long as they'll have me" or "I'd rather be at a non football school" type comments. Easier to understanding a guy leaving when they didn't give the impression they'd stay forever.
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You didn't like them when they were kicking ass under Gillispie?
TAMU is tough to like because it is a university that closes minds, as opposed to opening them. They belong in the SEC with Miss, AL, Auburn, etc... UT is public Ivy in the only cool town in Texas. I hope Shaka does well. It would be nice to see the Kansas applecart get overturned a bit by beevo. Rick Barnes was never going to be that guy.
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TAMU is tough to like because it is a university that closes minds, as opposed to opening them. They belong in the SEC with Miss, AL, Auburn, etc... UT is public Ivy in the only cool town in Texas. I hope Shaka does well. It would be nice to see the Kansas applecart get overturned a bit by beevo. Rick Barnes was never going to be that guy.
Idiotic statement on several levels and that's giving it credit. Spew your politics on the politics board
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You mean like the what's happening at VCU tonight?
...and what has happened to Crean and Buzz here. Seven years later we still love to hate Crean. Pathetic and yet, maybe a symptom of how the sports system is broken. Fans want loyalty and it just does not exist. Easy to criticize the fans, but then maybe the real problem is the system which rewards coaches, players, etc for not being loyal.
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Destination job is what you make it.
Boeheim decided Syracuse was a destination job for him, he stayed.
Colhoun at Uconn
K at Duke
Few at Gonzaga
Bo at Bucky
Izzo at MSU
JT3 at G-town
Wright at Nova
Dixon at Pitt
Self at Kansas
Pitino at Louisville
Donovan at Fla
Some of these programs were not destination jobs before these names arrived.
All of the above passed on better opportunities (NBA) and potentially more money.
If Wojo can (1)recruit, (2) do well and (3) his family likes Milwaukee, no reason to leave. But first, these three things have to happen and show they can continue to happen.
I agree. Interesting that UCLA or Indiana is not on that list as a "destination" program. The most important aspect to me is that the school administration must have a commitment to the "program" and hire a coach that will lead that program to success on the court as well in the classroom. I believe MU has done that and will continue to be a high major player in college basketball. Will Wojo be that coach? I don''t know but he is heading us in the right direction. In the next few seasons will know.
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Here is an interesting take on the Shaka hire (written shortly before it was announced) by the Oregonian's sports editor.
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/john_canzano/index.ssf/2015/04/canzano_shaka_smart_has_no_ide.html
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TAMU is tough to like because it is a university that closes minds, as opposed to opening them. They belong in the SEC with Miss, AL, Auburn, etc... UT is public Ivy in the only cool town in Texas. I hope Shaka does well. It would be nice to see the Kansas applecart get overturned a bit by beevo. Rick Barnes was never going to be that guy.
Care to elaborate? I would love to hear more about how my coworkers and I are bad at our jobs :)
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...and what has happened to Crean and Buzz here. Seven years later we still love to hate Crean. Pathetic and yet, maybe a symptom of how the sports system is broken. Fans want loyalty and it just does not exist. Easy to criticize the fans, but then maybe the real problem is the system which rewards coaches, players, etc for not being loyal.
Although most I have talked to in Richmond seem to be supportive of Shaka's decision, the sentiment on the VCU forums is completely different. I anticipate the long-term reaction to be similar to the Buzz/Crean debacles (although I'd argue that Shaka's departure was more amicable). My feelings are mixed.
One of the VCU bloggers put it well: Shaka's charisma and outstanding recruiting ability covered up for his average to slightly above average X & O skills. Havoc is not a "gimmick" and I'm sure he will adjust his system for the B12 but his recent tourney results and inability to win a reg. season championship in six years left many fans yearning for more.
It was silly of me to think that Shaka was not talking to Marquette a year ago. You live and you learn though, I suppose. Hope VCU makes the right hire, both programs can succeed moving forward, and Marquette supporters can forgive a small portion of the VCU fan-base for their hubris last year. It's better to build a program around the program itself, not a cult figure.
Shaka did more for VCU athletics and the city of Richmond than any other coach in program history and those of us who live here will always remember that. Time to move on though.
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TAMU is tough to like because it is a university that closes minds, as opposed to opening them. They belong in the SEC with Miss, AL, Auburn, etc... UT is public Ivy in the only cool town in Texas. I hope Shaka does well. It would be nice to see the Kansas applecart get overturned a bit by beevo. Rick Barnes was never going to be that guy.
TAMU is a great university. Yeah College Station sucks, but A&M is very very good.
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Superbar
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Superbar
Crap, here comes Wades, ranking officer of the Superbar police
(http://lupusuva1phototherapy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Police-in-Rearview-Mirror80.jpg)
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Crap, here comes Wades, ranking officer of the Superbar police
(http://lupusuva1phototherapy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Police-in-Rearview-Mirror80.jpg)
Yeah I look something like that.
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Back to Shaka and Texas:
Evan Daniels @EvanDaniels
Former head coach Darrin Horn will join Shaka Smart's staff at Texas as an assistant coach, a source tells Scout.
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There is likely only 1 gig Wojo would leave for.
I can't imagine him jumping to another ACC school, and I'm not sure if the B10 is really a draw for him (I suppose if somebody backed up the Brinks truck, he might be interested, but doesn't seem likely).
Also, if in 5 years, Wojo does take the Duke job, I'm fine with that. That means he will have kicked ass at MU for 5 seasons, and we'll go find another guy.
EDIT: I'm agreeing with you BTW. I think Wojo was a terrific hire based upon what you said, as well as MU's ability to retain him.
Just to circle back to this... I guess I've thought about it some more.
I'm not predicting the Wojo is some sort of MU lifer, but he also isn't the professional nomad that MU's previous coach was. Wojo likely could have had a head gig a long time ago, but waited until he had an opportunity he really wanted.
Wojo's track record doesn't indicate that he's on a mission for fame and fortune like some other coaches.
Now, in 5 years, if Maryland offers him an unGodly amount of money, maybe he'll leave. I don't know.
Any school that comes hard after Wojo will have to prove that it's really a better opportunity for his long term goals. I don't think he's going to be attracted because "it's Indiana, it's Indiana" or because it's the ACC and they have a better television deal. It will have to legitimately be a better opportunity for him and his family. I don't think he's just going to leave for a perceived "upgrade".
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Back to Shaka and Texas:
Evan Daniels @EvanDaniels
Former head coach Darrin Horn will join Shaka Smart's staff at Texas as an assistant coach, a source tells Scout.
He's been with the SEC Network and ESPN pravda prior to that these last few years. To get back into the coaching world at Texas is a pretty good gig for Darrin.
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I for one can't wait until the day our head coach is back being mentioned with every job opening. You're doing well if you're in that position.
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I for one can't wait until the day our head coach is back being mentioned with every job opening. You're doing well if you're in that position.
It will be interesting to see how much of that we get.
Crean allegedly was the one leaking his name (let's not have that argument, guys), and Buzz is a world class networker, so we know he was always up to hear from other schools.
Not sure if Wojo's name will be out there as much... but I guess we'll see how he and/or his agent operate.
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Just to circle back to this... I guess I've thought about it some more.
I'm not predicting the Wojo is some sort of MU lifer, but he also isn't the professional nomad that MU's previous coach was. Wojo likely could have had a head gig a long time ago, but waited until he had an opportunity he really wanted.
Wojo's track record doesn't indicate that he's on a mission for fame and fortune like some other coaches.
Now, in 5 years, if Maryland offers him an unGodly amount of money, maybe he'll leave. I don't know.
Any school that comes hard after Wojo will have to prove that it's really a better opportunity for his long term goals. I don't think he's going to be attracted because "it's Indiana, it's Indiana" or because it's the ACC and they have a better television deal. It will have to legitimately be a better opportunity for him and his family. I don't think he's just going to leave for a perceived "upgrade".
Right now, today, my thoughts are that MU is probably not Wojo's dream destination. But it happens to be a great job for him/his family and the opening coincided with a time in his life where he felt ready to jump to a HC job. My guess is that he leaves for whatever he thinks his dream jobs is (if he's ever offered - my guess is blue blood) or when he either accomplishes all he set out to do at MU or accomplishes all he thinks he can at MU.