Bear Down Wildcats

Wait...didn't UCLA want Shaka?

Heh.

azcat34 wrote:If they get Shaka, I obviously was completely wrong. I visited Austin for the first time last year and believe me I know it's awesome.

The only wild card in this is Texas leaks a ton of stuff to the media (Saban last year), and I wouldn't be surprised in the least if this falls through. Shaka would be a fool to not even listen to them, considering he can probably get another huge raise and extend his contract to like 2030. It's already to 2023 or 2024 presently.

I've always thought Shaka would be the ideal fit for Louisville once Pitino leaves and not performing well at Texas could damage that. On top of the great job security at VCU, he can lose in the first or second round for a few years in a row and still be a hot commodity.

Once he goes to Texas with expectations the game totally changes.

I hope this happens, he would be my number one choice if Miller ever left Arizona and him in the Big 12 at a major school would be interesting to watch.

Sounds like Texas offered him a 5 year deal.

From Orangebloods:

A high-ranking UT source with knowledge of the process indicated a positive outlook on Smart and Texas happening, but also indicated that nothing was finished.

"The ball is in his court," the source said.

From what we've gathered, there isn't any sort of contractual issue and it's a matter of Smart pulling the trigger.

Why the love affair with Shaka again?

Olsondogg wrote:Why the love affair with Shaka again?

He's a good coach. He's going to kill it recruiting-wise in Texas.

Olsondogg wrote:Why the love affair with Shaka again?

He's a good, young, charismatic coach with a unique style who turned a midmajor into a top 25 fixture. Add in the amount of talent Texas produces and he can be scary there.

Ok cool. So he's going from where he couldn't win a conference title to a conference that Kansas has won for 11 years in a row.

Good luck with that.

I like Shaka. He would be near the top of my list if not at the top if we were in need of a coach. He produces, he's young and charismatic, he's a hot name right now. I too think he is going to be scary at Texas.

Marshall stays.
Smart move.
Alabama not worth it.
Getting $3+ million/year from Wichita State

Olsondogg wrote:Ok cool. So he's going from where he couldn't win a conference title to a conference that Kansas has won for 11 years in a row.

Good luck with that.

I agree with this. He is certainly a good coach, but I do not think he deserves the insane amount of adulation that he gets. If he was going to make a move, now is the time - because a year from now he likely would not even be the hottest young coaching name in his own conference.

His Final 4 was a terrific accomplishment. So was Rollie Massimino's national championship.

Lots of people expect tremendous things from him. Just like they did Jeff Capel and Anthony Grant when they left VCU for big time schools.

Or Koetter, Hawkins, and Peterson when they left BSU football.

Looks like the UNC job might open up in the next few minutes.

Chicat wrote:Looks like the UNC job might open up in the next few minutes.

huh, what? link?

I couldn't find anything on the web.

Chicat wrote:Looks like the UNC job might open up in the next few minutes.

???

Meltdown mode if true..........

Salty wrote:

Chicat wrote:Looks like the UNC job might open up in the next few minutes.

???

Meltdown mode if true..........

CalStateTempe wrote:

Chicat wrote:Looks like the UNC job might open up in the next few minutes.

huh, what? link?

I couldn't find anything on the web.

Suckered in by the last minute April Fools shenanigans. Gonna have to remember that strategy for next year.

its 4/2/15 in EST...

yeah, I should get to bed.

Chicat wrote:Looks like the UNC job might open up in the next few minutes.

Why just a few minutes? April Fool's Day won't over in Chicago for over an hour from when you made this post.

I sure hope that is what this is... There is nothing on the web.

Chicat wrote:Looks like the UNC job might open up in the next few minutes.

You sent that 6 minutes before midnight in your time zone.

Longhorned wrote:

Chicat wrote:Looks like the UNC job might open up in the next few minutes.

You sent that 6 minutes before midnight in your time zone.

I'm on Central Time, but wanted to get it in before midnight in the land of green grass and tar heels.

Chicat wrote:

Longhorned wrote:

Chicat wrote:Looks like the UNC job might open up in the next few minutes.

You sent that 6 minutes before midnight in your time zone.

I'm on Central Time, but wanted to get it in before midnight in the land of green grass and tar heels.

I heard it's good for people with allergies.

So... as A$$U hired Bill Self yet?

Olsondogg wrote:Why the love affair with Shaka again?

this seems like a pretty fair write-up:

Strengths:

• One of the youngest coaches in D1 (37 years old)

• Spent time with Billy Donovan as an assistant and has recruited to high major programs

• Plays an uptempo, fun style which would strongly utilize some of the systematic realities of the Houston area

• Charismatic leader whose players love him

• Teams have averaged 73.3 points per game since his arrival at VCU

• Is a big name who could possibly galvanize the Texas fan base in preparation for the opening of a new arena

Weaknesses:

• Teams haven’t reached the second weekend of the tournament since their magical run in 2011

• Has lost two years in a row in the opening round as the higher seed

• Plays a very unique style that may not attract “NBA type” talent considering it’s essential difference to pro-style offenses

My Take:
With the understanding that he’s said no to every suitor over the last three years as he’s stayed true to his commitment to VCU, Smart remains an exciting candidate as a head coach at Texas.

Personality wise, some of the realities of Smart (African-American, educated, excellent with fans/recruits, media darling) make him a slam dunk for the job.

Doubts remain, however, about how much Smart is simply riding the coattails of the Final Four run and whether his coaching style is as high-level as his profile suggests.

I don’t expect him to be the first choice of a guy like Patterson as his system is about as non-NBA as it gets, but should he end up getting the position, Smart could be the highest upside candidate of the bunch.

http://insidetexas.com/report-shaka-smart-to-texas/

Olsondogg wrote:Ok cool. So he's going from where he couldn't win a conference title to a conference that Kansas has won for 11 years in a row.

Good luck with that.

You don't see any value in a coach that has experience recruiting under Billy Donovan at Florida when they won back-to-back titles and has taken VCU to five straight NCAA Tournaments after the same program only made it 9 times in the 41 years as a program before he took over?

And oh yea he's still 38 years old.

You have high standards for a coach, who should Texas be going for over Shaka?

azcat34 wrote:

Is a guy who went 18-14 (10-8) in a crappy conference really a step up from a guy who went 19-15 (8-10) in a top-5 conference? If you're going to fire your coach, and overpay for his replacement, at least get someone who on paper can do a better job and invigorates your fanbase. Otherwise you're just following in UCLA's muddy footprints.

Had a feeling Marshall was just using Bama to get that raise. Someone is going to jump at that money though, someone like a Pastner.

rgdeuce wrote:Had a feeling Marshall was just using Bama to get that raise. Someone is going to jump at that money though, someone like a Pastner.

If he were to be offered and take that job, my guess is that he would be out of coaching for good within 5 years.

Billy Donovan to the NBA?

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... on-sources

Coop Cat wrote:

It is amazing how every little detail of all Texas coaching searches is leaked to the media.

I take back everything I said, incredible hire:

Salty wrote:

azcat34 wrote:

the real dill wrote:

azcat34 wrote:

the real dill wrote:Who replaces Barnes?

My early wish list:

Shaka Smart
Gregg Marshall
Jay Wright
Larry Krystkowiak
Archie Miller

No one on this list will even consider the Texas job.

http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/64621444/

Texas has resources, but basketball guys don't like to be the afterthought to football.

Shaka is a pipe dream, waiting for LVille/UF/perhaps UNC.

Wright is beloved at Nova, turned down tons of great jobs -- no chance he punts it all for Texas.

Larry K could potentially listen I guess, but Utah has actually had a decent basketball past and now that they are in the Pac-12 they are on pretty stable ground. Don't think Texas is the job that pulls him away.

Archie no way, will be able to go pretty much anywhere after what he's done at Dayton. Don't see him at a football-first school.

Gregg Marshall is tough to figure, he could take the jump with a lot of his team leaving after this year. I would say out of this list this is by far Texas' best shot. Could be time for him to take the jump.

Overall though it is very hard to pry coaches away anymore, I don't think anyone on this list is Texas' next coach and wouldn't even surprise me if Barnes is back. Texas is pretty apathetic to basketball, so I don't see them urgent to replace Barnes.

Texas could easily get almost anyone they want...

There's no expectations there, tons of money and resources, and it's in one of the best cities in the country.

For sure Salty, I'll eat it. I guess Texas boosters have made a commitment to basketball.

Now you just need to pray that Pitino doesn't retire in the next few years.

Either way, I am very anxious to see how this works. Shaka is my favorite coach besides Miller.

azcat34 wrote:For sure Salty, I'll eat it. I guess Texas boosters have made a commitment to basketball.

Now you just need to pray that Pitino doesn't retire in the next few years.

Either way, I am very anxious to see how this works. Shaka is my favorite coach besides Miller.

I'm not a fan of Texas, I just see a lot of potential for their basketball program.

Would Smart really leave for Louisville? He turned down UCLA, Maryland, and Illinois.

With Strong and Shaka, Texas has some solid hires recently.

azcat34 wrote:

Coop Cat wrote:

It is amazing how every little detail of all Texas coaching searches is leaked to the media.

Patterson is a clown. His (rumored) handling of Barnes is a prime example. Very disappointed that he's not still at ASU.

the real dill wrote:Who replaces Barnes?

My early wish list:

Shaka Smart
...

Nicely played Dill.

the real dill wrote:Who replaces Barnes?

My early wish list:

Shaka Smart
Gregg Marshall
Jay Wright
Larry Krystkowiak
Archie Miller

Pumped.

Reydituto wrote:

the real dill wrote:Who replaces Barnes?

My early wish list:

Shaka Smart
...

Nicely played Dill.

Regardless of what everyone says I think Marshall was Pattersons first choice. Personality difference was cited, which I find hilarious as both are considered by most as absolute pompous dicks.

Congrats to the Horns on a great hire.

I wonder how Shaka will feel if the Florida job opens up this summer because Billy D heads to the NBA... Regardless, he can try to re-create Donovan's template in Austin.

Texas lured the guy that UCLA could not... Pretty amazing.

Could be a great hire. We'll see. Probably can recruit well, but prior to 2015 he had only ever signed 2 4 star recruits. Never won a conference title in the colonial or a10. 4 straight first and second round exits since the miracle run 4 years ago. I've honestly never understood the hype over the guy.

ASUHATER! wrote:Could be a great hire. We'll see. Probably can recruit well, but prior to 2015 he had only ever signed 2 4 star recruits. Never won a conference title in the colonial or a10. 4 straight first and second round exits since the miracle run 4 years ago. I've honestly never understood the hype over the guy.

Five straight tournament appearances is no small feat at a school like VCU.

And two 4 star recruits isn't anything to knock either.

In 6 years of recruiting it's not that impressive if he's such a dynamo on the recruiting trail. Just never understood the love affair with the guy. Doesn't win mediocre conferences or win in the tournament except for one run.

Salty wrote:

ASUHATER! wrote:Could be a great hire. We'll see. Probably can recruit well, but prior to 2015 he had only ever signed 2 4 star recruits. Never won a conference title in the colonial or a10. 4 straight first and second round exits since the miracle run 4 years ago. I've honestly never understood the hype over the guy.

Five straight tournament appearances is no small feat at a school like VCU.

And two 4 star recruits isn't anything to knock either.

It is a great hire, considering he has been one of the 2 hottest young names in CBB coaching for most of the last 5 years and had been courted by some of the biggest programs in D1. His resume is not perfect, but it is quite good. Those with near-perfect resumes are already at big-time programs and are not moving.

So while it is a great hire, it is not the home run- sure thing that some will act like it is - for some of the reasons ASUHATER! mentions. His progress will be interesting to monitor; Capel and Grant were also hot young names who fizzled after varying levels of success upon moving on from VCU.

If he fails, VCU will be the Boise St. of CBB... A great mid-major to coach at, but not the place you want to go looking for the guy to coach your major D1 conference program.

I can tell you with certainty from direct conversations with Josh that he is definitely and seriously considering the ASU job. He is torn about it of course, most in the Wildcat family are discouraging him from doing it, not because of the recruiting competition he would put up against Miller, though that is part of it mostly unspoken, but mostly because they think it is a big step down and would hurt his career in the long run. But Josh is in a precarious situation being on the hot seat in Memphis, not wanting to leave necessarily but also feeling he should leave before he gets fired. He is really torn about it and did express some interest in Texas but it appears they are going all in for Shaka. Right now it looks like Capel might be out but not entirely and Pastner and Amaker from Harvard may be the top two candidates, but that is just from second hand reports I have no insider information on that other than knowing Josh has and likely still is mulling it over with his family and others whose opinion he respects. I dont think it would go over well with Lute as I cant see Lute showing up to ASU games to watch and support his former student like he has in Memphis and does for Murph at NAU, it is an awkward situation but Josh, being ambitious as he is, could go for it, though probably unlikely.

Marshal is not leaving WSU, he just turned down 4 million from Bama to accept a new deal at WSU for less money, something around 3.5/ he has said he wont leave until a top ten job opens and offers him something serious with job security like he has at WSU. He is also bringing in a nice class at WSU, is currently the king of Kansas and has a lot of good players returning, not a good time to move for him.

Shaka is going to Texas I believe that is a done deal, he scheduled a player meeting this evening at VCU likely to break the news.

ButtonSalmon wrote:I can tell you with certainty from direct conversations with Josh that he is definitely and seriously considering the ASU job. He is torn about it of course, most in the Wildcat family are discouraging him from doing it, not because of the recruiting competition he would put up against Miller, though that is part of it mostly unspoken, but mostly because they think it is a big step down and would hurt his career in the long run. But Josh is in a precarious situation being on the hot seat in Memphis, not wanting to leave necessarily but also feeling he should leave before he gets fired. He is really torn about it and did express some interest in Texas but it appears they are going all in for Shaka. Right now it looks like Capel might be out but not entirely and Pastner and Amaker from Harvard may be the top two candidates, but that is just from second hand reports I have no insider information on that other than knowing Josh has and likely still is mulling it over with his family and others whose opinion he respects. I dont think it would go over well with Lute as I cant see Lute showing up to ASU games to watch and support his former student like he has in Memphis and does for Murph at NAU, it is an awkward situation but Josh, being ambitious as he is, could go for it, though probably unlikely.

How did I almost miss this. Hopefully Kerr and Co. can show up to Josh's office in their U of A gear and talk him out of it.

ButtonSalmon wrote:I can tell you with certainty from direct conversations with Josh that he is definitely and seriously considering the ASU job. He is torn about it of course, most in the Wildcat family are discouraging him from doing it, not because of the recruiting competition he would put up against Miller, though that is part of it mostly unspoken, but mostly because they think it is a big step down and would hurt his career in the long run. But Josh is in a precarious situation being on the hot seat in Memphis, not wanting to leave necessarily but also feeling he should leave before he gets fired. He is really torn about it and did express some interest in Texas but it appears they are going all in for Shaka. Right now it looks like Capel might be out but not entirely and Pastner and Amaker from Harvard may be the top two candidates, but that is just from second hand reports I have no insider information on that other than knowing Josh has and likely still is mulling it over with his family and others whose opinion he respects. I dont think it would go over well with Lute as I cant see Lute showing up to ASU games to watch and support his former student like he has in Memphis and does for Murph at NAU, it is an awkward situation but Josh, being ambitious as he is, could go for it, though probably unlikely.

Thanks for the post... Not too surprising, except that I do not see how ASU can match what he is currently getting paid at Memphis. If he has 4 years remaining at 100% guarantee as reported - it does not make sense to accept a pay cut when the worst case scenario is doing nothing for more money.

As for the part in bold... I think he should be more concerned with going up against Miller and Arizona than any UA fan should be about him putting a dent in our recruiting. He would certainly get some good kids to play for him, but I doubt the ones he would pull are the same ones likely to play for Miller at Arizona, anyway.

Steve Kerr: Memphis' Josh Pastner can't coach at ASU

Memphis coach Josh Pastner has been among the rumored candidates to replace Herb Sendek at Arizona State.

Pastner is 148-58 with four NCAA Tournament appearances in his six seasons since taking over for John Calipari at Memphis.

But he also played basketball at Arizona.

According to Golden State Warriors head coach and UA product Steve Kerr, those colors don't mix. Kerr, during a media session, told Local 24 News in Memphis just how he felt about a Wildcat potentially coaching the Sun Devils.

"Josh Pastner is not allowed to take the ASU job," Kerr said. "Let's make that clear."

OK, Kerr was joking. Maybe.

Former Arizona stars Luke Walton and Richard Jefferson echoed what Kerr said, wanting Pastner to stay at Memphis rather than leading the ASU basketball program in Tempe.

College coaches commonly have to face their alma maters, but to have an Arizona grad coach ASU? That would be interesting for both sides.



http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/h ... /70822340/