Sources: Shaka Smart’s Departure Likely

[weR138]

Getting rid of Barnes was stupid

I assume that this has been covered by others but for UT it wasn't stupid. UT has aggressive expectations. Many people (like me) consider them to be unrealistic. But Barnes wasn't getting them to the EE and FF with the regularity UT requires.

I was always a big fan of Barnes and continue to be one. But what he'll do for Tenn or what he could do for us, while outstanding, won't be exceptional. And UT needs exceptional. So they'll spend years and millions upon millions of dollars to get it...if it ever comes.

It'll be the same for Herman. I figure his window is about three more years (provided he's in the big 12 championship game all of those years). No NC after that and he's probably gone or on a very hot seat.

 

[randomfan44]

Although I agree with BillBrasky4Cy's take above about Shaka's style limiting his performance at Texas, I'm not at all sure that applies to every coach. Coach K wins with nothing but blue chips. Knight himself recruited and won with talented kids at IU. In Shaka's case, he hasn't been able to adjust to his talent and thus has been an abject failure by Texas standards. Beard would win there just as Herman has in football, at least in my opinion today. I will say, Beard is very early in his career at this level.

Shaka didn't win because he is a crappy coach.

Beard would win at Texas because he is an excellent coach.

Whether he could shmooze enough to keep wealthy boosters appeased is another conversation. THAT is the part of that job he has never had to deal with before and it is a big part of the Texas job.

 

[randomfan44]

I assume that this has been covered by others but for UT it wasn't stupid. UT has aggressive expectations. Many people (like me) consider them to be unrealistic. But Barnes wasn't getting them to the EE and FF with the regularity UT requires.

I was always a big fan of Barnes and continue to be one. But what he'll do for Tenn or what he could do for us, while outstanding, won't be exceptional. And UT needs exceptional. So they'll spend years and millions upon millions of dollars to get it...if it ever comes.

It'll be the same for Herman. I figure his window is about three more years (provided he's in the big 12 championship game all of those years). No NC after that and he's probably gone or on a very hot seat.

I do not believe those are the expectations for the Texas basketball job. You may be projecting your personal beliefs about Texas into that.

Barnes was burnt outat Texas. He has said it himself. It took a job change and a tough message from his family for him to reprioritize his life and the results have been very good so far.

 

[weR138]

I do not believe those are the expectations for the Texas basketball job. You may be projecting your personal beliefs about Texas into that.

Barnes was burnt out at Texas. He has said it himself. It took a job change and a tough message from his family for him to reprioritize his life and the results have been very good so far.

Fair enough. But I think you'd agree that even if it were a situation where Barnes was fired by UT for lack of performance they'd be justified (in UT terms). I'm not going to look it up but if memory serves; Barnes's teams lost games in the NCAA tournament to lower seeds often if not a majority of the time.

At the beginning of Barnes's tenure at Texas I'd agree with you about UT's expectations for BBall. But now I think there truly is a more football attitude toward it. Especially with the existence of the LHN.

And his fatigue you describe could've been a symptom of UT's new attitude, right?

 

[1UNI2ISU]

I think Shaka is a really good coach but he needs guys where he can play the 'nobody wanted you and nobody thinks you're any good' card.

He obviously can't do that at Texas when he's recruiting Top 100 kids.

He'll go back to an Upper Mid-Major on the east coast and have success again and get back to his roots. Texas was always a weird fit but Shaka didn't offer himself a job there.

 

[nfrine]

He had more than one good year at VCU. He wasn’t quite a flash in the pan.

You are correct. Shaka ain't no Keno Davis.

 

[Cybone]

I know Texas likes to think they can print their own money, but Shaka’s buyout is $13 million.

That is a lot of money by all accounts. Is it possible that they wait and let that number drop some?

 

[surly]

I know Texas likes to think they can print their own money, but Shaka’s buyout is $13 million.

That is a lot of money by all accounts. Is it possible that they wait and let that number drop some?

There's an interesting rumor that Texas is trying to find him a job in exchange for lowering his buyout. Wake Forest has been mentioned. But I can't see John Currie hiring Shaka.

 

[randomfan44]

He had more than one good year at VCU. He wasn’t quite a flash in the pan.

He made the NCAA tourney in 6 other seasons and only won a single game in the tourney in just 2 of those 6.

 

[IASTATE07]

He made the NCAA tourney in 6 other seasons and only won a single game in the tourney in just 2 of those 6.

That seems pretty good for a mid major.

 

[jsb]

He made the NCAA tourney in 6 other seasons and only won a single game in the tourney in just 2 of those 6.

Such is the life of a low major school who always had a low seed. Not surprising he would only win 2 out of 6.

 

[surly]

Don't believe Smart has ever won a conference championship.

 

[Cardinal2001]

Fred would be a good fit at Texa$. Lots of money, reduced recruiting responsibilities, abilities to handle one and dones and transfers. Hope it doesn't come true.

 

[ricochet]

Austin>Lubbock. Been to Lubbock many times on business you can go from downtown to the middle of the sticks in 10 minutes. If Beard were offered, he'd be an idiot for not taking it.

I'm not sure if it is true, but I've heard his kids live with his ex-wife in Lubbock. I can't blame a guy for wanting to live near his kids.

 

[jdoggivjc]

What is their level of attraction? Could they pull a Beilien or Jay Wright?

Beilein isn't leaving Michigan for Texas. Beilein is extremely happy at Michigan, the Michigan fans that actually care about basketball are happy with him, and Michigan is one of the few schools that can match Texas dollar for dollar, and Beilein is one of the few basketball coaches they'd do that for. Not to mention the guy is 66 and is putting out the "last stop" vibes.

My initial reaction on Wright leaving Villanova was no, but the more I think about it I think there's at least a chance with Wright, although I think it's a very low chance. Villanova is a major basketball program, but Texas is a completely different world and they could write a check that Villanova couldn't match. But the reason why it's extremely unlikely is Wright is from southeast Pennsylvania, so that's home for him, not to mention Wright has spent almost 20 years making that program his own and has won 2 of the last 3 titles there. Texas may have near unlimited resources that Wright can use to turn Texas into a powerhouse, but Wright may not want to leave home for it.

 

[randomfan44]

Such is the life of a low major school who always had a low seed. Not surprising he would only win 2 out of 6.

VCU was in the A10, which is most definitely not a "low major" conference.

 

[randomfan44]

Beilein isn't leaving Michigan for Texas. Beilein is extremely happy at Michigan, the Michigan fans that actually care about basketball are happy with him, and Michigan is one of the few schools that can match Texas dollar for dollar, and Beilein is one of the few basketball coaches they'd do that for. Not to mention the guy is 66 and is putting out the "last stop" vibes.

My initial reaction on Wright leaving Villanova was no, but the more I think about it I think there's at least a chance with Wright, although I think it's a very low chance. Villanova is a major basketball program, but Texas is a completely different world and they could write a check that Villanova couldn't match. But the reason why it's extremely unlikely is Wright is from southeast Pennsylvania, so that's home for him, not to mention Wright has spent almost 20 years making that program his own and has won 2 of the last 3 titles there. Texas may have near unlimited resources that Wright can use to turn Texas into a powerhouse, but Wright may not want to leave home for it.

The only jobs that Wright leaves Nova for are a blue blood a la Duke, Kansas, Carolina, or Kentucky or an east coast NBA gig like the Sixers.

 

[IASTATE07]

They were in the A10, not the MEAC or some dinky league.

So he took a mid major team from the Colonial into a tougher conference and still led them to the NCAA Tournament?

 

[heitclone]

VCU had a run of two really good coaches before Shaka , he won there but he didn't build that program. He is just in over his head at UT. That said, they would have to bring a really big name to replace him. It's doubtful Tech could match what UT would pay but if they missed on him, I'm not sure where they go that would really be a GREAT hire.

 

[JP4CY]

The only jobs that Wright leaves Nova for are a blue blood a la Duke, Kansas, Carolina, or Kentucky or an east coast NBA gig like the Sixers.

Man, I normally would say that but he’s got such a good thing going there.
He’s got to be paid very, very well.