Actions Shakas taken after a bad team

[Galway Eagle]

The 2016-17 Texas Longhorns team (Shaka's second season at UT) finished 11-22.  I presume that this is the team that Shaka has indirectly referenced.  Six of the top eight players in minutes played from the previous season (NCAAT appearance) either graduated or left for the draft (I. Taylor went undrafted, had a cup of coffee in the NBA).  The 2016 recruiting class for Texas was a top-15 or so (ESPN was 11th, Scout was 6th and Rivals was 16th).  From that class, only Jarrett Allen was drafted, with the others having varying college careers.  None of that year's senior class were top-minute-getters on the team.  The team also very much had the bottom-fall-out; they were a preseason top-25 team, but they ended up losing thirteen of their last sixteen games to close out the regular season.  To date, it is the only losing season in Shaka's career, and it wasn't really even close to a .500 season. 

The following season, Allen declares for the NBA draft (top in minutes from that team) and and Tevin Mack (who was second in minutes) transferred.  Lots of turnover, but they made the NCAAT again.  Sims and Bamba were both on the roster as future NBA players,but Sims didn't play significantly that year, and its leading minutes-getter was a transfer (D.Osetkowski from Tulane).

Through 16 seasons as a head coach, Smart has only not made the NCAAT four times.  Once in his first year at VCU (CBI Champions), once as referenced above (11-22 year), once in 18-19 (as NIT Champions) and once during the COVID season (but they would have made the NCAAT that year).  He has never gone two straight seasons of not making the tournament, so the resume shows that he does, in fact, make necessary changes after a bad year. 

This is the kind of answer I was hoping for and too lazy to research myself.

[willie warrior]

The 2016-17 Texas Longhorns team (Shaka's second season at UT) finished 11-22.  I presume that this is the team that Shaka has indirectly referenced.  Six of the top eight players in minutes played from the previous season (NCAAT appearance) either graduated or left for the draft (I. Taylor went undrafted, had a cup of coffee in the NBA).  The 2016 recruiting class for Texas was a top-15 or so (ESPN was 11th, Scout was 6th and Rivals was 16th).  From that class, only Jarrett Allen was drafted, with the others having varying college careers.  None of that year's senior class were top-minute-getters on the team.  The team also very much had the bottom-fall-out; they were a preseason top-25 team, but they ended up losing thirteen of their last sixteen games to close out the regular season.  To date, it is the only losing season in Shaka's career, and it wasn't really even close to a .500 season. 

The following season, Allen declares for the NBA draft (top in minutes from that team) and and Tevin Mack (who was second in minutes) transferred.  Lots of turnover, but they made the NCAAT again.  Sims and Bamba were both on the roster as future NBA players,but Sims didn't play significantly that year, and its leading minutes-getter was a transfer (D.Osetkowski from Tulane).

Through 16 seasons as a head coach, Smart has only not made the NCAAT four times.  Once in his first year at VCU (CBI Champions), once as referenced above (11-22 year), once in 18-19 (as NIT Champions) and once during the COVID season (but they would have made the NCAAT that year).  He has never gone two straight seasons of not making the tournament, so the resume shows that he does, in fact, make necessary changes after a bad year. 

Then he better giddy up.

[ErickJD08]

The problem with Ben is that he is the same player since sophomore year. He should be the clear second best player and he's not. The real issue is the sophomore and juniors. Parham is worse than last year. Norman hasn't improved. Lowery hasn't improved. And their team defense blows. We give up so many layups due to blown assignments and late rotations. I don't see how this team turns it around.

Finally, Ross does not lead. The team had no energy and Ross was low energy too. They look like they are mailing it in so the seniors need lead. Oh well

[onepost]

You count having Ben Gold as having something?

GREAT to have you back, REALwrk. As usual, the guy is spot on.

[BM1090]

The problem with Ben is that he is the same player since sophomore year. He should be the clear second best player and he's not. The real issue is the sophomore and juniors. Parham is worse than last year. Norman hasn't improved. Lowery hasn't improved. And their team defense blows. We give up so many layups due to blown assignments and late rotations. I don't see how this team turns it around.

Finally, Ross does not lead. The team had no energy and Ross was low energy too. They look like they are mailing it in so the seniors need lead. Oh well

Ben is nowhere near the player he was his sophomore year. If you want to make the case that he's the same player on offense, I'd disagree but at least I can see that. He's gone from a bad defender to a good one. And he used to struggle with the connecting pieces of the game and now he does a lot of the little things right.

[ErickJD08]

Ben is nowhere near the player he was his sophomore year. If you want to make the case that he's the same player on offense, I'd disagree but at least I can see that. He's gone from a bad defender to a good one. And he used to struggle with the connecting pieces of the game and now he does a lot of the little things right.

2023: FG 45%, 3pt 36%
2025: FG 38%, 3pt 31%

Did you see him allow layups and dunks down the stretch? He is not meaningfully better from sophomore year

[wadesworld]

Yeah Ben is far from this team's problem.

[BM1090]

2023: FG 45%, 3pt 36%
2025: FG 38%, 3pt 31%

Did you see him allow layups and dunks down the stretch? He is not meaningfully better from sophomore year

He starts every year shooting poorly and shoots better in BE play. 9 game shooting sample.

I don't even know how to argue this because there are so many ways he's better on defense. Plus, I have eyes.