Shaka Smart to Marquette

[joelbc1]

Texas has been very inconsistent under Shaka at Texas, and the Orangebloods always have high expectations. BB isn't as unrealistic as FB, but they let go a really good coach before Shaka.

With all the success of college basketball (Tech, A&M, Baylor, Houston, North Texas St...and even a finalist in the D-2 championship) in the State of Texas and the UTexas not being part of the conversation, is very difficult for Longhorn supporters. Of course, the coach will be replaced.
Still think Shaka is a good coach.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

Texas gonna be Texas.

Rick Barnes was a very accomplished coach. This is who they let go for Shaka Smart

• 1 Final Four (2003) • 3 Elite Eights (2003, 2006, 2008) • 5 Sweet Sixteens (2002–04, 2006, 2008) • 16 NCAA Tournament appearances (1999–2012, 2014, 2015) • Highest NCAA seed (1) in program history (2003) • 3 Big 12 Conference championships (1999, 2006, 2008) • 2 seasons with 30 wins or more (2006, 2008) • 7 seasons with 25 wins or more (2001, 2003, 2004, 2006–2008, 2011) • 15 seasons with 20 wins or more (2000–2012, 2014, 2015) • School-record 13 consecutive 20-win seasons (2000–2012) • Most wins (31) in one season in program history (2008) • Most wins for any 2-year period (56) in program history (2007–08) • Most wins for any 3-year period (86) in program history (2006–08) • Most wins for any 4-year period (109) in program history (2006–09) • Most wins (254) for any 10-year period in program history (2002–11) • Highest win % (.734) for any 10-year period in program history (2002–11) during Tournament era • No. 10 nationally in win % for decade of 2000–09 (.732) • 2 top-five poll finishes (2003, 2008) • 5 top-ten poll finishes (2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011) • 4-time Big 12 Coach of the Year (1999, 2003, 2008, 2014) • 5-time NABC District 9 Coach of the Year (1999, 2001, 2003, 2008, 2014) • 4-time USBWA District VII Coach of the Year (1999, 2001, 2003, 2011) • John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award recipient (2009) • Most wins in program history (402)

 

[BubsFinn]

Texas has so much talent in state it's unsurprising they have high expectations. Austin is an interesting city. Mild winters. Massive athletic department budget. So many advantages.

But no one on campus gives two s#*@s about basketball.

 

[HoustonREDHawk]

But no one on campus gives two s#*@s about basketball.

With the mediocre performance of UT football over the past decade, which is the main passion, more Orangebloods also care about UT basketball and had really high expectations under Shaka. I thought they would be a perennial top 15 team under Shaka, but they just haven't been able to perform consistently under him.

 

[Obviously Oblivious]

Chris Beard it is then from the rumor mill. He’ll instantly become the most hated man in Lubbock if he scuttles off to Austin.

 

[Rustys Dad]

Wow, this is a bit of a head-scratcher, but that fan base is psycho and I can’t blame a coach for getting out of that craziness.

I think he pulled an Alford... knowing his days at Texas were numbered and getting out on his terms before Hook ‘em Horns nation fired him.

 

[HawkRugged17]

 

[fezzador]

Going from Texas Tech to Texas would be kind of a dirtbag move IMHO. It's an in-conference rival (albeit one with more resources), but to me that screams that Beard is about the money - I doubt he'd do appreciably better in Austin than he would in Lubbock. He wouldn't be much of an upgrade over Barnes or Smart to be honest.

If Texas fans want to be the next Florida, then get Billy Donovan. There aren't many dead-end jobs in professional sports, but the Bulls make the short list. Texas has the funds to snag him from Chicago.

 

[EastIowaHawk]

Smart has relatives in the Milwaukee area, and it's a recruiting hotbed, as Marquette gets so many kids from the Chicago area. And it's a good academic school- tied in the US News and World Report's ranking of top national universities with Iowa- both tied for the 88th spot.

 

[Rambler Hawk]

View embedded media

If Fran were to ever leave Iowa, would love to have this guy come to IC. I seem to recall IL was keen on trying to lure him to Champaign...

 

[Raptorpeeps]

If Fran were to ever leave Iowa, would love to have this guy come to IC. I seem to recall IL was keen on trying to lure him to Champaign...

Fran to Chapel Hill; Smart to Iowa City.

Stephens to Chapel Hill; Fran to Boston; Smart to Iowa City.

Either way, it’s practically a lock.

 

[K OKeefe]

Will win a Natty?!