Iffff we were to look for a coach who would be realistic targets?

Yeah Yak is a gem. The new guy has to see his defensive numbers and be impressed.

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Oh, I completely agree. Management here is in a tough spot. I have no illusions that the will do whatever it takes to keep Yak. I would. Manuel won’t. I just think talent and certain intangibles of ā€œdoing things the right wayā€ all make Yak a can’t lose. He’s an educator too. Indispensable to me.

I agree with you, and to that point, Bennett had to win 3 games that were absolute coin tosses at the end (maybe even worse odds than that) to win the championship…Purdue, Auburn, TT.

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Yak is a strong recruiter too. Smart feels like settling for a good fit. A high floor, but I don’t like his ceiling. I guess Smart is uninspiring enough that I’d rather gamble with Juwan or Yak. I’m not that worried about their floors.

Would a couple of bad years really be worse than a string of bubble teams? Smart could hang around a long time with so-so results. It would be a lot easier for the AD to admit hiring Yak or Juwan was a mistake and move on.

Yeah man. I’m with you. His title run is just as much due to luck as all the defeats. It’s easy to get overvalue tournament wins when evaluating coaches. That’s all I really meant.

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I would be OK with giving Yak a shot. Yes, it’s a gamble to promote a guy who’s never been a HC before. But he’s delivered two top 5 national defenses. He did the unthinkable - he made Beilein-coached teams be more known for their D. The way the game has changed to be more centered on the three and spreading the court, playing elite D may be the way to differentiate yourself now. (Plus he has some familiarity with our offensive system, anyway.)

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I’d also take Yak and Juwan over Smart.

I think if Juwan is head coach, possibly Yak stays.

Yak head coach, probably retain Haynes.

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But Barnes has years of success at Texas to point to. Shaka has a single tourney run.

And I say he’s a bad developer of talent because the talent he gets doesn’t really get better while they’re there and aren’t used in an effective way. I don’t see a reason to expect us to be more than a bubble team with him in charge. That’s essentially what he’s done with teams his entire career

Smart news definitely sounds like people close to Smart trying to generate the buzz. He’s closer to the hot seat at Texas than he is getting the job at Michigan. I assume they’re trying to get him a raise or extension by making him seem like a possibility to Michigan.

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This would make total sense. I don’t Smart being a candidate at allllll. Yikes. He is close to being done at UT. I live in Texas and he isn’t particularly well liked by alumni or fans…

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Has Prohm gotten any mention?

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Shaka Smart would be the definition of someone falling upwards. Seems like a great guy, but that man is getting fired after this coming season unless something REALLY turns around.

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Take a look through Texas’ recruiting classes over the past 5 years. Now go look at their results. That should change some minds on Shaka.

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I just say Michigan go full send for Mike White and make it happen :slight_smile:

Shaka Smart grew up a Michigan fan I believe. Between that, if true, and the fact that his job at Texas is tenuous, I’m guessing he actually is interested in the job. A few years ago I recall Michigan fans praying Smart would be interested in Michigan after Beilein left. Fans everywhere for every college were praying he’d be available whenever they had a opening.

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Guys is Yaklich had his exact track record but at, like…Purdue - would there be a soul seriously suggesting him?

It’s a bad idea.

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He’d absolutely be suggested as a replacement for Painter.

When you have a strong program, continuity is a good thing.

He’s not a great idea, but he’s a better idea than some proven mediocre options.

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Continuity matters for 12 months, tops. Hiring the right coach matters for years.

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Choosing between him and Moser, fine. The idea that he’s better than White, Prohm, or, yes, Shaka Smart, seems crazy to me.