I’m not even sure what would motivate Smart to leave Texas for Michigan. Unless perhaps he’s afraid of being fired and would like a new guaranteed deal? Texas would seem to have a lot going for it.
1 Like
Money. Smart will be easier to entice away than coaches from other prominent schools because there’s less chance Texas would match it. He’s also not like Wright or Gregg Marshall who have been at their schools a long time and enjoyed a lot of success there.
1 Like
I don’t really have any evidence I just think the change of scenery would be nice for him. I think a lot of things haven’t gone his way. He is still only 42 years old and seems to be adaptive as a coach. I mean look at Rick Barnes. Things weren’t going smoothly for him at Texas but the change of scenery at Tennessee has obviously helped him. Michigan athletics in general seem like they are more stable than Texas.
Why in God’s name we are talking about Shaka Smart? He would be a HORRIBLE choice.
5 Likes
It’s true, Smart hasn’t been at Texas long and hasn’t had much success there. Sounds like we’ve found our man.
4 Likes
I don’t quite see how he has a bad record of developing talent. I think 2 or 3 players from his VCU days ended up being on NBA rosters for a time when obviously they weren’t recruited as potential pros. He has had like 3 one and done centers at Texas and really only Mo Bamba was expected to be so I wouldn’t say his stint at Texas reflects negatively on his player development but I would also agree that there isn’t much that says he is great at developing players.
Three-Dimensional Chess. The entire basketball world expects us to make an intelligent choice. This is where we fool them and make them look silly!
I’m not saying Smart would be my 1st, 2nd, or even 3rd choice but I think he would do a fine job and be far from the disaster people are making him out to be. He is a young coach at his first stint at a power 5 job. Is it supposed to go smoothly?
VCU was already a strong mid-major when Smart arrived. Jeff Capel and Anthony Grant had had success there before him. Granted, neither went to a Final Four, but Smart hasn’t come close since then either. That run feels like a fluke.
3 Likes
Smart will recruit well, but I am not sure if he does a lot with it.
The state of Texas is usually loaded with talent.
I feel like his results should be much better.
I don’t think Michigan hires him in the end.
Is Nate Oats really worth throwing $4M at? I don’t mind him, but he hasn’t really built anything of his own. Rather stay with Yaklich for roster continuity if we are going with young/semi-unproven.
1 Like
I’d worry if he gets an interview. I’d expect him to come across as a better fit than some others who are probably better coaches.
I wouldn’t be furious at it, but I just don’t think the team will max out the talent with him. Though he is intriguing in that he has the strong recruiting.
I personally like the guy at the beginning arguing vehemently that Tony Bennett is 100% incapable of postseason success due to style of play.
11 Likes
If I’m AD, I am looking to hire a top candidate on the following condition: Yak stays. Yak is a unique coaching talent. He can recruit. To me, losing him at this point simply cannot happen.
Frankly, I’m willing to take a flyer if top names don’t work out and promote Yak. Just to keep him–I think he’s that unique. He can pull an inverse Beilein and add an up and coming offensive minded assistant…keep Saddi, keep recruits. Take a flyer. The timing isn’t great, and there’s a large risk involved here… but I think the floor will always be fairly high if he continues to produce elite defense.
3 Likes
“Until this year”
2 Likes
Is he worth $4M on the open market? I don’t think so. Especially not if you also have to buy his hefty buyout.
The real question is whether Michigan wants him. I doubt he’s high on their wish list, but if they do, they might rather pay him $4M than the $2.5M.Bama signed him for. That would make it look like the program is taking a step back. I think the only acceptable cheap hires from a PR standpoint are Yaklich or Washington.
2 Likes
Dude. Tony Bennett is one of the best coaches in basketball. The tourney is like half luck. Lots of good teams playing for high stakes. Stuff happens. He’s sooooo good.
5 Likes
He is. It wasn’t my opinion. Definitely odd that he didn’t do better sooner.
1 Like
The issue is a lot (all?) of top candidates would view that as a major red flag, even if it was the right thing to do. They want allllllll the power.
1 Like