Shaka Smart to Texas?

[mkleve44]

Chip Brown @ChipBrownHD · 37m37 minutes ago

Sources: #Texas hoping to finalize terms with #VCU's Shaka Smart as the #Longhorns' next basketball coach ($). http://texas.scout.com/forums/2441-horns-house/13775341-sources-texas-close-to-finalizing-terms-with-smart?s=110 …

 

[Gunnerclone]

Fantastic, I hope every team in the B12 starts running 40 minutes of press.

 

[The_Architect]

Wow, nice get for those 4,000 Texas fans who care about hoops.

 

[Cy$]

good hire for them if true. As long as Hoiberg is here ISU will do good against teams that press against them.

Seeing Ridley trying to press:twitcy:

 

[Wesley]

Burnt orange with the Big Bucks for the barnbuster press.

 

[chadly82]

Yeah id love to see the size of Texas for the next 2 years try to press our boys :twitcy:

 

[HFCS]

Surprised more teams don't look at trying to make Ben Jacobsen the next Bo Ryan.

 

[jbhtexas]

Yeah id love to see the size of Texas for the next 2 years try to press our boys :twitcy:

Well...there's the odd chance that Shaka is actually "Smart" enough to properly utilize the players on his roster...

 

[Jer]

Shaka is a pretty intense guy and knows how to utilize the talent he gets, I expect him to do big things if he takes over at Texas. I'm not sure his normal style of play really fits that well in the Big XII and his personality might clash with some of the Texas faithful, but I'm sure he'll adapt.

 

[MNCyGuy]

It'll be interesting to see what he does at Texas. I always figured the "Havoc" system was more about fitting the kind of guys he could get at VCU than being his be-all-end-all coaching philosophy.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

'Havoc' is way better than the WVU 'Mug you up and down the floor' press.

Shaka disguises it really well and there are actually about 6 different presses that he uses. He'll trap early, he'll trap late, he'll trap once the shot clock hits 10, he'll switch from man to a zone trap in the middle of a possession. It's crazy and his guys are incredibly well coached.

Offense is his weakness and he's not going to be able to have his guards play 1-on-5 a lot like he does now, but if he can steal 15-20 points a night off the press you don't have to be great offensively. His system will also be greatly helped if they reduce the shot clock. 10 seconds to break the full court press, run offense of 8-10 seconds and then have guys running and jumping at you while the clock ticks down. It'll work really well.

 

[BearDownAZ]

I don't see the Havoc approach working nearly as well in the Big 12, but still should be a solid hire

 

[Acylum]

Considering the source, this rules out Shaka to the Longhorns.

 

[Cydkar]

It works better in a conference with lesser athletes and as a new look to teams in the NCAA tournament. It won't have quite the affect on teams with athletes seeing it 2 times every year. Still a good hire though.

 

[kentkel]

I like Shaka Smart as a coach/individual -- so it bums me out if his hiring becomes a reality.

 

[jtdoyle1]

Considering the source, this rules out Shaka to the Longhorns.

Are you saying that Marty Tirrell's dentist is Chip Brown?

 

[greatshu]

Surprised more teams don't look at trying to make Ben Jacobsen the next Bo Ryan.

You mean next Greg McDermott?

 

[1UNI2ISU]

You mean next Greg McDermott?

Jake has been successful without Mac and is a totally different coach and guy.

Has Mac been successful without Jake or Dougie??

 

[somecyguy]

Schools like Texas that can't fill half their place don't deserve good basketball programs. Screw them.

 

[CyArob]

'Havoc' is way better than the WVU 'Mug you up and down the floor' press.

Shaka disguises it really well and there are actually about 6 different presses that he uses. He'll trap early, he'll trap late, he'll trap once the shot clock hits 10, he'll switch from man to a zone trap in the middle of a possession. It's crazy and his guys are incredibly well coached.

Offense is his weakness and he's not going to be able to have his guards play 1-on-5 a lot like he does now, but if he can steal 15-20 points a night off the press you don't have to be great offensively. His system will also be greatly helped if they reduce the shot clock. 10 seconds to break the full court press, run offense of 8-10 seconds and then have guys running and jumping at you while the clock ticks down. It'll work really well.

The numbers say otherwise.

RK	TEAM	GP	STL	STPG	TO	TOPG	PF	ST/TO	ST/PF
1	West Virginia	32	350	10.94	418	13.06	747	0.84	0.47
2	Eastern Kentucky	30	291	9.70	348	11.60	518	0.84	0.56
3	Virginia Commonwealth	35	338	9.66	372	10.63	674	0.91	0.50