Shaka Smart to Marquette

[koko2315]

https://www.cbssports.com/college-b...r-texas-coach-to-replace-steve-wojciechowski/

 

[bac2therac]

ouch

fit is everything and he underachieved there though I think Texas is unrealistic.

the big winner is Marquette

its clearly not a lateral move, its a step down but he will have less pressure to win and it will be easier for him to win in a Big East that did struggle this season.

also his last 5 ncaa appearances no wins...3 with Texas, 2 with VCU

 

[RUfan1027]

Cue the Brad Stevens to Texas for 15 million a year rumors lol.

 

[jordkap]

ouch

fit is everything and he underachived there though I think Texas is unrealistic.

the big winner is Marquette

its clearly not a lateral move, its a step down but he will have less pressure to win and it will be easier for him to win in a Big East that did struggle this season.

Call me crazy but I would much rather coach at a place like Marquette than Texas. Ultimately, he will be just as successful and he doesn’t have to be run out of town for only making the dance.

 

[gregkoko]

Buyout at Texas was $7M. Wonder if he negotiated a smaller buyout to leave. Can't imagine he just leaves that money on the table knowing he's on the hot seat

 

[bac2therac]

the numbers for Smart at Texas are pretty ugly..sub 500 conference mark

 

[RUPete]

Call me crazy but I would much rather coach at a place like Marquette than Texas. Ultimately, he will be just as successful and he doesn’t have to be run out of town for only making the dance.

Basketball-focused school and he'll get the bulk of their resources, so a good move for him. But that fanbase can be demanding too.

 

[HeavenUniv.]

Texas must have money to burn. They are tearing down a perfectly good 18,000 seat arena that opened the same year as The RAC. We just got air conditioning a few years ago.

 

[King of S]

Good get for Big East.

 

[rutger80]

This is almost like a Holgorson from WVA to Houston move. Admittedly Marquette is more of a basketball school than Texas is, but I can't imagine he'll have the same resources. Maybe he was quietly pushed out.

 

[RUPete]

This is almost like a Holgorson from WVA to Houston move. Admittedly Marquette is more of a basketball school than Texas is, but I can't imagine he'll have the same resources. Maybe he was quietly pushed out.

True, but I'd put Marquette in line with VCU. Probably grew tired of the Texas coaching rat race and this will be more in his comfort zone.

 

[MADHAT1]

This is almost like a Holgorson from WVA to Houston move. Admittedly Marquette is more of a basketball school than Texas is, but I can't imagine he'll have the same resources. Maybe he was quietly pushed out.

Wouldn't be surprised if Texas and Smart agreed to part ways and Texas was willing to pay the price.
Shaka wasn't close to what the Longhorn MBB fans expected and those fans were probably looking back on the Rick Barnes years more favorably after the years Shaka had there as his replacement.

 

[koko2315]

I always felt like it was a bad fit from the start. He was the hottest mid major coaching name I can remember in the last 15 years. He had a ton of jobs he turned down (NC State, UCLA, Wake Forest and a few more).

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

Bad coach, a program with lots of potential but no on campus arena

 

[RUsojo]

Shaka the world baby

 

[MADHAT1]

With the $338 million Moody Center being built on campus whee the Longhorns MBB team will play there home games in 2022. I wouldn't be surprised to hear Texas paid Chris Beards $5 million buyout from Texas Tech to have him replace Shaka.
Beard being a Texas grad and GA under Tom Penders might just leave TT for his Alma Mater

 

[lloyde dobler]

Marquette spends a ton of money on basketball

 

[bac2therac]

I always felt like it was a bad fit from the start. He was the hottest mid major coaching name I can remember in the last 15 years. He had a ton of jobs he turned down (NC State, UCLA, Wake Forest and a few more).

He should have seized on his initial momentum. Marquette isnt a bad job but...

 

[bac2therac]

Marquette spends a ton of money on basketball

And what did that get them the past coaching regime

 

[knight82]

Does Texas care about. basketball? I bet it's behind both football and baseball

 

[MADHAT1]

And what did that get them the past coaching regime

Buzz Williams and Tom Cream before Wojciechowski weren’t bad when they were bringing Marquette to the Tourney regularly.

 

[Mr. Magoo1]

Holy crap..so much for coaches trying to upgrade. Marquette is a stepping stone program.

 

[bac2therac]

Buzz Williams and Tom Cream before Wojciechowski weren’t bad when they were bringing Marquette to the Tourney regularly.

thats true...and that was the old Big East...now 7 years later after Wojo sputtered and burned out, they are paying big bucks for another guy. I have no doubt Smart will succeed at Marquette but perhaps Marquette needs a reality check on where their program stands

 

[bac2therac]

Does Texas care about. basketball? I bet it's behind both football and baseball

well they care enough to push out a guy who won the Big 12 tourney and made a few NCAAs

 

[mikeyoc]

Does Texas care about. basketball? I bet it's behind both football and baseball

The answer is NO, according to my son, who is a local sportswriter
in Austin

 

[Pancho1939_rivals]

Can you imagine paying a guy 3M and only going to 3 NCAA tournements in 6 years.

 

[bac2therac]

Can you imagine paying a guy 3M and only going to 3 NCAA tournements in 6 years.

well we play CVS big bucks for womens hoops and only 2 NCAA tourney wins in 12 seasons.

 

[MADHAT1]

thats true...and that was the old Big East...now 7 years later after Wojo sputtered and burned out, they are paying big bucks for another guy. I have no doubt Smart will succeed at Marquette but perhaps Marquette needs a reality check on where their program stands

We might differ there on Shaka, I wonder if he can get back to being like he was at VCU.
But Marquette might be a better situation for Smart and he'll be successful because of it's basketball environment.

As for relaity check, I think you might have something thinking that the old BE Marquette would be able to bring in top recruits better then this new version of the BE.

 

[RU72]

Marquette is not a good job. It is a great job. They spend the 10th most in the country on men's basketball. They have some very wealthy alumni. They play in a great facility and draw huge crowds. Off hand,it is better than at least 5 if not more Big Ten jobs. They are paying to start 3 million plus with escalators.Think about that.There is no football there.Great situation.

 

[Russ Wood]

Buyout at Texas was $7M. Wonder if he negotiated a smaller buyout to leave. Can't imagine he just leaves that money on the table knowing he's on the hot seat

Texas was waiting on Shaka Smart to jump to another job. Classic case of Texas not wanting to pay the buyout and Smart not wanting to be fired (looks bad on the resume).

Now we wait to see if Texas can convince Chris Beard to move 5 hours SE to Austin.

 

[knight82]

well we play CVS big bucks for womens hoops and only 2 NCAA tourney wins in 12 seasons.

she should have retired a while ago. It's sad how a once great coach has dropped off so much

 

[PiscatawayMike]

Smart grew up in Wisconsin. He's going home. Good for Shaka.

 

[Mr_Twister]

well we play CVS big bucks for womens hoops and only 2 NCAA tourney wins in 12 seasons.

Hall of Fame coach. You pay big bucks for Hall of Famers and folks with great resumes. When’s the last time a men’s program landed a Hall of Fame coach and sure fire winner who could land national recruits?

 

[King of S]

Hall of Fame coach. You pay big bucks for Hall of Famers and folks with great resumes. When’s the last time a men’s program landed a Hall of Fame coach and sure fire winner who could land national recruits?

What have you done lately should apply here. Would you still pay a hall of game player 10 years passed their prime?

 

[Caliknight]

Texas pushed Smart out to make room for Beard. There are fortunate coaches in the NCAA then very fortunate ones. Smart is one of the latter. Financially speaking.