Shaka Smart turns down Illinois

[TJ]

Biggest question for me is why did Shaka Smart turn down Illinois? He's at Virginia Commonwealth, for God's sake. Maybe his relationship with the Illinois AD (from their time at Akron) is less than ideal, or maybe the Illinois job isn't what many (myself included) thought it was.

Maybe he likes it at VCU.  Is that such an unreasonable thought?  He's not making top dollar, but is certainly doing well for himself there.  Maybe he thinks that $1.2+ million a year for 20 years from VCU is better than potentially getting $2 million a year for 5 years and being driven out of town in Champaign.

[GGGG]

Because Illinois is a toxic school to be at in the B1G.

My guess is that when Bo Ryan retires that Shaka comes home to Wisconsin.

I can almost guaranty you they will hire Greg Gard for that job if Barry Alvarez is still the AD when Bo retires.

[TJ]

agreed - not nearly as worried this year as last....   the kaplan statement is likely BS...

I wasn't worried at all last year.  This year I have just the smallest possible amount of worry only because he's dealt with a lot in the last year and might be tired or unhappy with it all.  Maybe I'm naive...

[Lennys Tap]

Because Illinois is a toxic school to be at in the B1G.

Well, it was for Bruce Weber, but it worked out OK for Bill Self.

[mwbauer7]

Unless I missed something, I suspect an element of insulation (Dick Strong) exists between any relationship displeasure Buzz might have with the current MU administration (Pilarz and LWill)...

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Because Illinois is a toxic school to be at in the B1G.

My guess is that when Bo Ryan retires that Shaka comes home to Wisconsin.

Does Shaka really have strong ties to Wisco and/or UW specifically?

I mean, I know he's from Wisco, but a lot of people are from a lot of places, ya know?

[jesmu84]

Roy Schmidt @prepsbullseye

"Have reason to believe there IS a high profile HC who's quite interested in the IL job--don't mean Buzz Williams. Hope to have more tonight."

[MerrittsMustache]

Maybe he likes it at VCU.  Is that such an unreasonable thought?  He's not making top dollar, but is certainly doing well for himself there.  Maybe he thinks that $1.2+ million a year for 20 years from VCU is better than potentially getting $2 million a year for 5 years and being driven out of town in Champaign.

+1

Maybe he doesn't want to mess with happy.

[BM1090]

Just to put an end to all of this complete speculation, this was tweeted by Bullseye and retweeted by Mark Miller

Roy Schmidt ‏ @prepbullseye

Have reason to believe there IS a high profile HC who's quite interested in the IL job--don't mean Buzz Williams. Hope to have more tonight.
Retweeted by Mark Miller

Just stop. Damn it can we just talk about basketball

[TJ]

Does Shaka really have strong ties to Wisco and/or UW specifically?

I mean, I know he's from Wisco, but a lot of people are from a lot of places, ya know?

Shaka to UW and Buzz to SMU!

[hairy worthen]

The "average insight" of this entire board has more basketball knowledge than b&b.

i don't know if I would go that far. There are some posters on here that bring the curve way down.

[Hards Alumni]

Does Shaka really have strong ties to Wisco and/or UW specifically?

I mean, I know he's from Wisco, but a lot of people are from a lot of places, ya know?

Mostly, it was wild speculation. 

[RJax55]

Roy Schmidt @prepsbullseye

"Have reason to believe there IS a high profile HC who's quite interested in the IL job--don't mean Buzz Williams. Hope to have more tonight."

I wonder what they consider to be high profile... I think Kevin Stallings maybe interested in that job, but is Stallings high profile?

[Lennys Tap]

Maybe he likes it at VCU.  Is that such an unreasonable thought?  He's not making top dollar, but is certainly doing well for himself there.  Maybe he thinks that $1.2+ million a year for 20 years from VCU is better than potentially getting $2 million a year for 5 years and being driven out of town in Champaign.

I hope you're right. It would be refreshing, even awesome, to see a young, successful mid major coach turn down the money, prestige, etc. of an Illinois.

[Hards Alumni]

I hope you're right. It would be refreshing, even awesome, to see a young, successful mid major coach turn down the money, prestige, etc. of an Illinois.

[ZiggysChestHair]

I hope you're right. It would be refreshing, even awesome, to see a young, successful mid major coach turn down the money, prestige, etc. of an Illinois.

You mean refreshing until the day comes (hopefully many years from now) when Marquette needs to poach a young successful coach, right?

[TJ]

I hope you're right. It would be refreshing, even awesome, to see a young, successful mid major coach turn down the money, prestige, etc. of an Illinois.

Me too.  Buzz has been a great story, but Shaka at VCU would be a bigger one on those terms.

I was thinking also, everyone at VCU, including students, really opened up the coffers when they restructured his deal last year.  Maybe he is staying for a while out of respect and appreciation for what they did last year.

I know, my ideas are all foreign concepts when discussing major-sports coaching ranks.

[🏀]

Perfection post on this situation.


Boers and Bernstein have all but said Buzz would be a home run hire, and Illinois will be lucky to hit a double at this point.

[Canadian Dimes]

Listening to B&B on the Score in Chicago and they mentioned that there is interest in the Ill. job from a white coach from one of the nation's top 10 teams that is "unhappy" with his AD. Sorry to quote "sources" but I found it a little interesting.

we are ranked #11

[mr.MUskie]

"(Mike) Thomas (AD) clearly is targeting African American coaches after two board members voted against the contract of new football coach Tim Beckman, who is white.  His choices after Smart include Alabama's Anthony Grant and Washington's Lorenzo Romar, according to a source."


And David Haugh of the Trib says, "More than anything, concerns over navigating the minefield that is our city's high school basketball landscape gave Shaka Smart pause when considering whether to take the Illinois job, according to a Division 1 coach familiar with the search...  Smart would stay at VC unless something drastic changes in the next 24 hours, reflecting the reservations the 34 year old coach expressed over recruiting Chicago.  

[Blackhat]

Honest question... Has Larry Williams been on the job long enough to have an ugly or poor relationship with Buzz? I mean, the guy been here less than 90 days.

It may be more that Buzz had loyalty and owed a debt to Cottingham.   Then C-ham gets run over by Pilarz and now this goofy dude from ND is taking slights at him in the paper. 

[warriorchick]

It may be more that Buzz had loyalty and owed a debt to Cottingham.   Then C-ham gets run over by Pilarz and now this goofy dude from ND is taking slights at him in the paper.  

Quitting a program over your loyalty to a past AD would be a dick move, and Buzz doesn't have that in him.  I doubt Buzz is more loyal to Steve Cottingham than he is to the players he would be leaving behind at Marquette.

[Golden Avalanche]

The Chicago Tribune is throwing out 3 names... not necessarily top 10, but at least somewhat high profiles.

Anthony Grant -  Alabama
Lorenzo Romar -  Washington
Leonard Hamilton -  Florida State.

All are men of color.


And David Haugh of the Trib says, "More than anything, concerns over navigating the minefield that is our city's high school basketball landscape gave Shaka Smart pause when considering whether to take the Illinois job, according to a Division 1 coach familiar with the search...  Smart would stay at VC unless something drastic changes in the next 24 hours, reflecting the reservations the 34 year old coach expressed over recruiting Chicago. 

And to show how crazy this crap is, there's a report from ESPN or CBS stating that Hamilton has no interest in the Illinois job and is buoyed by the ACC Tournament title and looking forward to building FSU.

It's a crap tossing society, keep propelling the poop and see what sticks.

[🏀]

It may be more that Buzz had loyalty and owed a debt to Cottingham.   Then C-ham gets run over by Pilarz and now this goofy dude from ND is taking slights at him in the paper. 

I believe Buzz feels more strongly that his players led to the end of Cottingham, then Pilarz getting rid of Cottingham.

[Blackhat]

Quitting a program over your loyalty to a past AD would be a dick move, and Buzz doesn't have that in him.  I doubt Buzz is more loyal to Steve Cottingham than he is to the players he would be leaving behind at Marquette.

That's probable, then again....