Jeff Goodman's ESPN Insider post on Marquette

[Aughnanure]

$ talks. and i strongly believe there is a reason why SS hasn't made an announcement dismissing any and all rumors that he would  leave VCU.

north of $3m...if that is true...is hard to turn down.

The only logical way he would turn it down is he is waiting for a Duke/Cuse/UNC job to open up.

UNC hires from within. Cuse and Duke both have their coaches-in-waiting. And regardless, still could easily be FIVE years away, if not more.

[Hards Alumni]

Lets just do it this way.

Stanford:  Johnny Dawkins :  Maybe?
Dayton:  Archie Miller : Just got extended... doubt it.
UCLA:  Steve Alford:  No way
Florida:  Billie Donovan:  No way
Baylor:  Scott Drew:  Lord have mercy.  No way.
Wisconsin:  Bo Ryan:  By far the funniest.  No way.
San Diego State University: Steve Fisher:  He is 69 years old.  No way.
Arizona:  Sean Miller:  No way
Tennesee:  Cuonzo Martin:  Reported we have interest
Michigan:  John Boelien:  No way
Kentucky:  John Calipari:  No way
Louisville:  Rick Pitino:  No way
UConn: Kevin Ollie:  Highly doubtful... he has been there only two years.
Iowa State:  Fred Hoiberg:  Uhhh maybe?  
Michigan State:  Tom Izzo:  No way.
Virginia:  Tony Bennett:  Maybe.

That gives us 4 possibilities:  Cuonzo Martin, Tony Bennett, Fred Hoiberg, and Johnny Dawkins (big time reach).

Anyone care to weigh in here?

[Avenue Commons]

Marquette Golden Eagles

Despite not having a permanent athletic director -- and finally hiring a full-time president earlier in the week -- the Golden Eagles took a swing at VCU's Shaka Smart.

Smart is a Wisconsin native and Marquette has deep pockets. Sources told ESPN that the program, which was slated to pay Williams $3 million this season, is tossing around a figure in excess of that number to try and lure Smart -- who has declined several high-major gigs in the last few years.

I mean, we are either going to have to believe Jeff Goodman that Marquette was in contact with Shaka Smart or the anonymous VCU posters that have come onto this board.

Obviously, a clear thinking individual will listen to the VCU posters. They have zero agenda or bias in this.

[NavinRJohnson]

As posted above, no question in my mind they're looking at Dawkins...I have thought that well before this Goodman thing.

[Atticus]

$ talks. and i strongly believe there is a reason why SS hasn't made an announcement dismissing any and all rumors that he would  leave VCU.

north of $3m...if that is true...is hard to turn down.

The only logical way he would turn it down is he is waiting for a Duke/Cuse/UNC job to open up.

I think Shaka has lost his mind. The longer he stays at VCU, the more AD's will realize his FF was more or less a product of parity and he really isnt the coach he's currently cracked up to be. The shine on his FF trophy is slowly losing its shine. If money matters to him (and maybe it doesnt), he should finally cash in the FF for a big contract. After another year or two, the high major offers might not be there.

[Rockmic87]

Dwayne Stephens of MSU!  Boom!!!!

[texaswarrior74]

$ talks. and i strongly believe there is a reason why SS hasn't made an announcement dismissing any and all rumors that he would  leave VCU.

north of $3m...if that is true...is hard to turn down.

The only logical way he would turn it down is he is waiting for a Duke/Cuse/UNC job to open up.

K makes that kind of money but Roy Williams is not making north of $3 million...not that they wouldn't pay it but he's a UNC grad, was on Dean's staff and doesn't see the need to break the bank.

No too many people out there who think they are being paid well enough when in reality are far below market value.

[Goose]

Hards

Bennett and Martin

[The Love House]

A "mystery" coach who's still in the tournament?

I can just see how that will turn out. We probably put out a feeler to Martin after Buzz left and he responded with "hell yeah, I'm interested - but I'm in the tourney now so get back to me when I'm done and we'll talk". Then, we drag our feet and Smart disappears, then Howland disappears, then Marshall disappears...then we contact Martin again after his team is out and it'll be - "oh yeah, that's right I did tell you guys that I was interested, didn't I? Well, you know what, my team had such a good run this year that I'm staying". And there we'll be - left out in the cold and desperately trying to convince Wardle that he was our guy all along...

Get Howland now!!!

[Wisco]

$ talks. and i strongly believe there is a reason why SS hasn't made an announcement dismissing any and all rumors that he would  leave VCU.

north of $3m...if that is true...is hard to turn down.

The only logical way he would turn it down is he is waiting for a Duke/Cuse/UNC job to open up.

Shaka has never addressed internet message board rumors and he has no reason to start now. The only times he has come out with official statements in the past has been when there was chatter amongst credible national sources about an imminent deal.

Talking =! Strong interest

[WadeATKBurton]

Weber and Martin. And im sticking to it

[WadeATKBurton]

Shaka has never addressed internet message board rumors and he has no reason to start now. The only times he has come out with official statements in the past has been when there was chatter amongst credible national sources about an imminent deal.

Shaka addressed his recruits

[GoldenWarrior11]

$ talks. and i strongly believe there is a reason why SS hasn't made an announcement dismissing any and all rumors that he would  leave VCU.

north of $3m...if that is true...is hard to turn down.

The only logical way he would turn it down is he is waiting for a Duke/Cuse/UNC job to open up.

There's no way he is guaranteed to be considered for either of these positions.  Duke will look at the Collins/Dawkins/Wojo tree.  Syracuse will probably stay with Hopkins (ala UCONN w/ Ollie).  Roy Williams doesn't even appear to be pondering retirement yet, but they will undoubtedly hire a UNC guy.

[The Lens]

I'm willing to bet Broeker & Goodman still talk a lot.

I also think that while Broeker may have told Goodman that Shaka was coming, Gooodman crossed checked that and it didn't add up.

We need to get off this Shaka train.   Let's grab Howland & go to work.

[RyanConroy]

He was on Chicago sportstalk radio Tuesday morning saying Shaka to MU would not happen.

This is his opinion, which he has always held, and not based on fact from new info

That's perfectly fine, but the fact that it's his opinion needs to be made clear if he's going to publish a piece re: the search on ESPN.com. Otherwise it can be mistaken that the big-time NCAAB reporter is privy to information that has informed what he's saying.

[humanlung]

A "mystery" coach who's still in the tournament?

I can just see how that will turn out. We probably put out a feeler to Martinafter Buzz left and he responded with "hell yeah, I'm interested - but I'm in the tourney now so get back to me when I'm done and we'll talk". Then, we drag our feet and Smart disappears, then Howland disappears, then Marshall disappears...then we contact Martin again after his team is out and it'll be - "oh yeah, that's right I did tell you guys that I was interested, didn't I? Well, you know what, my team had such a good run this year that I'm staying". And there we'll be - left out in the cold and desperately trying to convince Wardle that he was our guy all along...

Get Howland now!!!

I could not agree more.  I am trying hard to "respect the process" and I have faith in Cords but it will be IMPOSSIBLE to explain not hiring Howland when Martin, Wardle, etc... are the alternatives.  No matter the $$$$, pay the man.

[MUfan12]

I'm willing to bet Broeker & Goodman still talk a lot.

Not after last Friday.

[thekahoona]

Try to think like a Goodman would... most of sports writers aren't looking at getting a story right, they are telling you what they would like the story to be.

They see the world in storylines. If Marquette gets the Tennessee coach, there's a nifty little storyline about how we poached from the university that poached us. If it's Tony Bennett, we cock block our friends to the west - another nifty little storyline...

[denverMU]

Try to think like a Goodman would... most of sports writers aren't looking at getting story right, they are telling you what they would like the story to be.

They see the world in storylines. If Marquette gets the Tennessee coach, there's a nifty little storyline about how we poached from the university that poached us. If it's Tony Bennett, we cock block our friends to the west - another nifty little storyline...

Bennett reached out to MU

[NavinRJohnson]

It's funny, suddenly a ridiculous post last weekend asking if Marquette would consider a black candidate has come rushing back to me.

[mu03eng]

Bennett reached out to MU

Source?  I've heard nothing of the sort

[thekahoona]

Bennett reached out to MU

Which doesn't change my point.

[WadeATKBurton]

It's funny, suddenly a ridiculous post last weekend asking if Marquette would consider a black candidate has come rushing back to me.

Ummm I dont know if I should be offended or not...

[Goose]

ShakaforMU

I am with you on the Bennett call.

[mr.MUskie]

Weber and Martin. And im sticking to it

NO and NO!  Please, God, NO!