Shaka Smart to Texas!

[brewcity77]

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.

[4everwarriors]

He ain't retirin' no how. Bo knows, hey?

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

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.

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

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.

[brewcity77]

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.

[brewcity77]

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.

[hairy worthen]

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.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

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.

[VegasWarrior77]

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.

[GGGG]

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.  

[brewcity77]

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.

[Johnny B]

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.

[Spotcheck Billy]

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

[VegasWarrior77]

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.

[Tugg Speedman]

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.

[brewcity77]

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.

[Ellenson Guerrero]

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.

[🏀]

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.

[MU82]

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.

[GoldenWarrior11]

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. 

[MDMU04]

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.

[Tugg Speedman]

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?

[onepost]

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.

[GGGG]

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.

[MUfan12]

So glad things worked out the way they did.