Shaka

[Cooby Snacks]

Never been to NorCal but am heading there in a month and am excited for it.  Have heard great things.

It's nice, but be warned that San Francisco is the O'Donnell of cities. Lotta dudes.

[PJDunn]

There are pricks everywhere, no doubt about that.  But every time I'm out in SoCal I find that it's about 85% pricks, whereas in Milwaukee (and other Midwest cities) it's about 15% pricks.

Never been to NorCal but am heading there in a month and am excited for it.  Have heard great things.

The ratio of pricks is still probably higher than the Midwest, but it is a very cool place to live (and visit)... and I would have probably been quite happy staying in Milwaukee after graduation, but that just wasn't in the cards.

[muarmy81]

#donedeal?

Local news here in central/south Texas is reporting that UT is making an offer in the $4 million/year range.   Shaka is their top target after reaching out to brad steven's people and Rick pitino's people.

[ChicosBailBonds]

It's nice, but be warned that San Francisco is the O'Donnell of cities. Lotta dudes.

This is so wrong to me....when I was at MU, O'Donnell was all chicks and for whatever reason, the better looking ones.

[GGGG]

This is so wrong to me....when I was at MU, O'Donnell was all chicks and for whatever reason, the better looking ones.

Ah yes...The kitten Palace. 

[Desert_warrior]

Local news here in central/south Texas is reporting that UT is making an offer in the $4 million/year range.   Shaka is their top target after reaching out to brad steven's people and Rick pitino's people.

That surprises me they would pay that much. More than Sean Miller who made the Elite 8 three times, Billy Donovan and Tom Izzo. Shaka hasn't been past the round of 32 since the Final Four run.

[VegasWarrior77]

Jerry Meyer retweeted
Horns247 ‏@Horns247  13m13 minutes ago
Sources tell @jerrymeyer247 Texas is expected to close deal with Shaka Smart tomorrow: http://texas.247sports.com/Article/Texas-Longhorns-expected-close-deal-with-Shaka-Smart-on-Thursday-36554326 ...

Texas expected to close deal with Shaka Smart on Thursday
Horns247 Staff - 29 minutes ago
Texas Newsletter

The Longhorns and Virginia Commonwealth University's Shaka Smart are expected to finalize a deal for Smart to be Texas' next head coach Thursday, sources have told to 247Sports' Jerry Meyer.

If he signs as expected, Smart would replace Rick Barnes, who parted ways with Texas after 17 seasons last week. The 37-year-old Smart comes to Texas after a very successful six-year run with the Rams that included a CBI Championship and a run to the Final Four in 2011.

Smart made a $1.57 million base salary with additional bonuses and incentives worth up to $695,750 last year at VCU, according to USA Today. In his final year at Texas, Barnes made a $2.625 base salary with up to $790,000 in incentives.

Smart arrived at VCU in 2009 and instilled his unique style of coaching right away. The Rams played "Havoc" basketball, an up-tempo brand of basketball highlighted by full-court pressure and transition offense.

This style, coupled with his fiery vigor, helped elevate VCU to national prominence in 2011, when the Rams shocked and made a run to the 2011 Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. VCU averaged 27 wins a year over Smart's six seasons as head coach.

In addition to the Rams' run to the Final Four, Smart led VCU to a CBI Championship in his first season as head coach. The Rams have reached the NCAA tournament the last five years under Smart, compiling a 7-5 record over that stretch. In the program's history before Smart's arrival, VCU had won just five NCAA Tournament games.

Former players are bullish about Smart's impact on their lives in addition to his coaching abilities.

"If (Texas) got him, it would be the best hire you've ever had," former VCU guard Joey Rodriguez said. "He's awesome. You will be very, very, very lucky to have him."

Before VCU, Smart served in stints as an assistant coach at Dayton, Akron, Clemson and Florida. A Madison, Wisconsin native, Smart played college basketball at Kenyon College, where he graduated magna cum laude.

[VegasWarrior77]

Kirk Bohls ‏@kbohls  36m36 minutes ago
Statesman can confirm report by @gketch that Texas AD Steve Patterson flying to Richmond, bringing VCU's Shaka Smart to Austin.

[4everwarriors]

Anyone checkin' flight tracker?

[LAZER]

That surprises me they would pay that much. More than Sean Miller who made the Elite 8 three times, Billy Donovan and Tom Izzo. Shaka hasn't been past the round of 32 since the Final Four run.

Was there ever a rumor of how much MU was gonna give Shaka?

[4everwarriors]

Therein lies the story of where our program sits compared to the big fish. Money talks and bullchit walks, hey?

[MU Buff]

It all sounds very familiar to me. I wouldn't be surprised if Patterson came back without him.

[dgies9156]

Kirk Bohls ‏@kbohls  36m36 minutes ago
Statesman can confirm report by @gketch that Texas AD Steve Patterson flying to Richmond, bringing VCU's Shaka Smart to Austin.

Wasn't Bill Cords on a plane to Richmond to being him back a year ago?

Just wondering.....

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

Therein lies the story of where our program sits compared to the big fish. Money talks and bullchit walks, hey?

Different year different circumstances. Apples and oranges.

[4everwarriors]

Nope, perception is really.

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

Nope, perception is really.

and you can speak to your perception... And your reality


Hey?

[VegasWarrior77]

Brian Davis ‏@BDavisAAS  3m3 minutes ago
Wow. The Richmond Times-Dispatch says Smart's contract says new employer must play VCU in a home-and-home. Or get out of it for $250k.

[Groin_pull]

It's nice, but be warned that San Francisco is the O'Donnell of cities. Lotta dudes.

[brewcity77]

Brian Davis ‏@BDavisAAS  3m3 minutes ago
Wow. The Richmond Times-Dispatch says Smart's contract says new employer must play VCU in a home-and-home. Or get out of it for $250k.

Laughable. Texas paid Barnes a $1.75M buyout. Had they waited until today, 4 more days, the buyout would have dropped to $1.5M. Safe to say $250k won't dissuade them.

[79Warrior]

Therein lies the story of where our program sits compared to the big fish. Money talks and bullchit walks, hey?

True dat.

[Spotcheck Billy]

Local news here in central/south Texas is reporting that UT is making an offer in the $4 million/year range.   Shaka is their top target after reaching out to brad steven's people and Rick pitino's people.

After reports of Texas' interest in Smart, a VCU athletic director Ed McLaughlin said, ''Nothing is a done deal. He is still our coach.''

Sounds familiar...

[4everwarriors]

Someone ring up VCU Insider and ax 'em how it feels to drop back inta mediocrity, never to be heard from again?

[Tugg Speedman]

Jerry Meyer retweeted
Horns247 ‏@Horns247  13m13 minutes ago
Sources tell @jerrymeyer247 Texas is expected to close deal with Shaka Smart tomorrow: http://texas.247sports.com/Article/Texas-Longhorns-expected-close-deal-with-Shaka-Smart-on-Thursday-36554326 ...

Anyone remember this ...

@jerrymeyer247 Hearing from multiple sources that Shaka Smart to Marquette is after all very likely to happen and happen soon.  1:13 PM - 24 Mar 2014

Hopefully Jerry is not using the same sources he used last year.

#donedeal!

[Tugg Speedman]

Therein lies the story of where our program sits compared to the big fish. Money talks and bullchit walks, hey?

The only people that think this are a handful of posters here with inferiority complexes.  No one else does.

[4everwarriors]

Disagree. I think this is how we're looked at on a national level, not only by the public and media, but also by coaches.