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Posted (edited)
On 3/22/2025 at 7:13 PM, boilerhorn said:

We have the "luxury" of Texas and Marquette history of Shaka to help guide us to understand how subpar he is.  Even with that, it still does not really make sense that Shaka was hired in the first place.

He was hired 4 years after the Final 4 run, where they went 5-1 (with play-in).  After that, his teams we a combined 2-4 in the tournament.  The final 2 years, he lost in the first round to a lower seed.

I spent a couple of minutes looking at VCU's 2010-2011 run, and it was a glimpse into VCU's peak performance during the regular season.  Looking at info from Sports Reference, VCU was #2 in 3pt attempts and makes, #58 in percentage.  They averaged 9/23.8 in games they won and 6.5/21.4 in games they lost.  They lived and died by the 3 - and opponent turnovers.  That was abundantly clear in the tourney.  By my quick count, they had 12 regular season games with 10+ 3s made.  However, they had zero in the final 8 games, where they went 3-5.

In the conference tournament (2-1), VCU averaged 8-20.7 from 3.  In the NCAA tourney, they averaged 10.2/23.8 from 3 and 13 opponent turnovers.  They got really hot while others got cold.  In 4 of the 5 wins, their 3pt %-age was higher than the total FG percentage.

For the subsequent 3 years at VCU, their 3-point shooting was significantly worse.  Shaka leveraged that outlier into a higher national profile and ultimately a better job.

Even after that f4 run, 2011 KenPom has VCU as the #53 team.  Not that it matters...

What do you mean it doesn't make sense?

Both he and Charlie Strong were hired because they were considered the best black coaches available and the person most invested in the hiring process made it a central part of the criteria that he wanted the first black head coach in both sports on his watch. I don't really care what the criteria is if it works. I'm not someone who is against DEI just because. But I have to admit I'd prefer Texas go after the best candidate available, whoever that is, and that wasn't done on those coaching searches, because that wasn't the criteria. 

Edited by SL Xpress
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Posted
What do you mean it doesn't make sense?
Both he and Charlie Strong were hired because they were considered the best black coaches available and the person most invested in the hiring process made it a central part of the criteria that he wanted the first black head coach in both sports on his watch. I don't really care what the criteria is if it works. I'm not someone who is against DEI just because. But I have to admit I'd prefer Texas go after the best candidate available, whoever that is, and that wasn't done on those coaching searches, because that wasn't the criteria. 

Who were the “best available coaches” that we missed out on, who would agree to work with [checks notes] Steve Patterson. If Smart and Strong were DEI hires, what was Steve Patterson? That was the foundational mistake which begot other mistakes.
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Posted
Just now, Eskimohorn said:


Who were the “best available coaches” that we missed out on, who would agree to work with [checks notes] Steve Patterson. If Smart and Strong were DEI hires, what was Steve Patterson? That was the foundational mistake which begot other mistakes.

No disagreement there. 

Heck, the baseball search was a real debacle, and that was with interim athletic director Mike Perrin, post Patterson. We ended up with David Pierce, who while not good enough to keep his job, wasn't a complete disaster. But that hiring process was a big oof. Raises for sitting coaches everywhere. You get a raise! And you get a raise! And you get a raise! And who could forget the university president flying up to Tulsa to make assurances to the offensive coordinator up there so he'd take the job at Texas?

Thankfully, it's a distant memory, because Del Conte handles these things like a champ. 

I'm just saying it makes complete sense they were hired as the head coaches. 

Posted
51 minutes ago, SL Xpress said:

What do you mean it doesn't make sense?

Both he and Charlie Strong were hired because they were considered the best black coaches available and the person most invested in the hiring process made it a central part of the criteria that he wanted the first black head coach in both sports on his watch. I don't really care what the criteria is if it works. I'm not someone who is against DEI just because. But I have to admit I'd prefer Texas go after the best candidate available, whoever that is, and that wasn't done on those coaching searches, because that wasn't the criteria. 

UCLA and some other solid programs courted Shaka at VCU and were rebuffed. Or so it was reported. In that scenario, it's easy to see an image guy like Patterson pulling out all the stops to be the successful suitor and then thinking he'd indeed snagged the homecoming queen. The Smarts checking out Austin and quickly proclaiming it culturally enlightened enough for them meshed well with our former AD's focus on appearances over coaching ability.

It's just a shame Shaka didn't take one of those other gigs before Texas hired him. I don't know if he'd have been better off, but there's a good chance we would have. 

Posted
1 hour ago, SL Xpress said:

Both he and Charlie Strong were hired because they were considered the best black coaches available and the person most invested in the hiring process made it a central part of the criteria that he wanted the first black head coach in both sports on his watch. I don't really care what the criteria is if it works. I'm not someone who is against DEI just because. But I have to admit I'd prefer Texas go after the best candidate available, whoever that is, and that wasn't done on those coaching searches, because that wasn't the criteria. 

What? They were each widely considered to be the best coach not leading a nationally elite program at that moment and prior to Texas hiring them it was anticipated that each would be offered the next top flight jobs that opened. 
 

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Posted
3 minutes ago, Gut Wagon said:

UCLA and some other solid programs courted Shaka at VCU and were rebuffed. Or so it was reported. In that scenario, it's easy to see an image guy like Patterson pulling out all the stops to be the successful suitor and then thinking he'd indeed snagged the homecoming queen. The Smarts checking out Austin and quickly proclaiming it culturally enlightened enough for them meshed well with our former AD's focus on appearances over coaching ability.

It's just a shame Shaka didn't take one of those other gigs before Texas hired him. I don't know if he'd have been better off, but there's a good chance we would have. 

I just know I wish all kinds of career ruin on that man. 6 years of that horse shit. Like ctj suggested, I hope Marquette keeps him for the next 20 years.

I think one of my favorite moments in following college basketball not involving Texas or Phi Slamma Jamma was watching the last timeout for Tom Izzo's Michigan State and Smart's Marquette team in the Sweet 16. Tom Izzo is over there designing a play while challenging his players' collective manhood, while Smart is drawing his team into a huddle for a quick tai chi session. "Breathe" he softly implores his players. Watching the Spartans give his team a smooth buttfucking over the final deciding moments of the game was extraordinarily satisfying. 

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Posted
2 minutes ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

What? They were each widely considered to be the best coach not leading a nationally elite program at that moment and prior to Texas hiring them it was anticipated that each would be offered the next top flight jobs that opened. 
 

What does it gain me to argue with you?

I'm telling you what part of the criteria was, and part of why they were hired. If they had done well I'd be ecstatic. They didn't and now they're gone. I only wish it didn't take so long for Smart to depart. I don't really give a shit about their race. I only care if they win. They didn't. But their race was absolutely a critical part of the criteria for their hiring. 

Del Conte has primarily hired white men, even for the women's sports. Do I care? Do I cry in exultation? I do not. I don't give a shit. I'm glad Floreal has done well. I do not care that he happens to not be a white man. I love how successful our athletic program is right now regardless of what the demographics of our coaches are. If we happen to show a little more diversity at the head coaching position within the athletic department, so be it, but it's not a personal priority. Or at least not the most important priority. If someone told me all we were going to do is hire white men for head coaching positions from here on out, that would actually bother me. But I don't believe that's the case. 

Posted
I just know I wish all kinds of career ruin on that man. 6 years of that horse shit. Like ctj suggested, I hope Marquette keeps him for the next 20 years.
I think one of my favorite moments in following college basketball not involving Texas or Phi Slamma Jamma was watching the last timeout for Tom Izzo's Michigan State and Smart's Marquette team in the Sweet 16. Tom Izzo is over there designing a play while challenging his players' collective manhood, while Smart is drawing his team into a huddle for a quick tai chi session. "Breathe" he softly implores his players. Watching the Spartans give his team a smooth buttfucking over the final deciding moments of the game was extraordinarily satisfying. 

Once UNM had an answer for Kam Jones, the game was over. When Marquette had Kolek as well, they were tough.
Posted
14 hours ago, SL Xpress said:

What does it gain me to argue with you?

I'm telling you what part of the criteria was, and part of why they were hired. If they had done well I'd be ecstatic. They didn't and now they're gone. I only wish it didn't take so long for Smart to depart. I don't really give a shit about their race. I only care if they win. They didn't. But their race was absolutely a critical part of the criteria for their hiring. 

Del Conte has primarily hired white men, even for the women's sports. Do I care? Do I cry in exultation? I do not. I don't give a shit. I'm glad Floreal has done well. I do not care that he happens to not be a white man. I love how successful our athletic program is right now regardless of what the demographics of our coaches are. If we happen to show a little more diversity at the head coaching position within the athletic department, so be it, but it's not a personal priority. Or at least not the most important priority. If someone told me all we were going to do is hire white men for head coaching positions from here on out, that would actually bother me. But I don't believe that's the case. 

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Posted

shakablah was a fraud, because the way he turned away what worked for him(for a few years).  and it appears he is a just a slightly above average coach

Charlie was not a fraud.  I am sure he did exactly what he did at Louisville.  the difference was he had NFL number 2/backup caliber QB on his team and the step up in competition exposed him.

anyway, it is going to be funny watching Marquette fans riding the Shakacoaster.

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Posted
16 hours ago, SL Xpress said:

I just know I wish all kinds of career ruin on that man. 6 years of that horse shit. Like ctj suggested, I hope Marquette keeps him for the next 20 years.

I think one of my favorite moments in following college basketball not involving Texas or Phi Slamma Jamma was watching the last timeout for Tom Izzo's Michigan State and Smart's Marquette team in the Sweet 16. Tom Izzo is over there designing a play while challenging his players' collective manhood, while Smart is drawing his team into a huddle for a quick tai chi session. "Breathe" he softly implores his players. Watching the Spartans give his team a smooth buttfucking over the final deciding moments of the game was extraordinarily satisfying. 

and yet and still, the prevailing sentiment about shaka is somehow this:

IMG_8036.thumb.jpeg.43444c82276b252e0d0363c72d1f6d20.jpeg

IMG_8037.thumb.jpeg.6b28e84af4f581442eae7b08532f4787.jpeg

 

IMG_8038.thumb.jpeg.ebe250d0e344d8314794b83595db9672.jpeg

 

this guy is more full of shit and out of touch than any coach in america. unfortunately, americans are so goddamn stupid that a bunch of them actually buy this horseshit. i mean, imagine composing a 26 goddamn page document about culture and sending it to HS kids who already don’t/can’t read and thinking that that’s going to be some huge draw for them. never mind that your actual, empirical culture is one of empty platitudes and embarrassing, early round upset losses in the tourney. who in the hell would even want to play for this egomaniacal snake oil salesman?

 

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Posted
18 hours ago, SL Xpress said:

What do you mean it doesn't make sense?

Both he and Charlie Strong were hired because they were considered the best black coaches available and the person most invested in the hiring process made it a central part of the criteria that he wanted the first black head coach in both sports on his watch. I don't really care what the criteria is if it works. I'm not someone who is against DEI just because. But I have to admit I'd prefer Texas go after the best candidate available, whoever that is, and that wasn't done on those coaching searches, because that wasn't the criteria. 

Wasnt Strong like our 5th choice or some shit? I admit PTSD from that era has probably resulted in me blocking a lot of shit about that era out of mind, but were we gonna make Saban coach in blackface? 

Posted
1 minute ago, Blotto said:

Wasnt Strong like our 5th choice or some shit? I admit PTSD from that era has probably resulted in me blocking a lot of shit about that era out of mind, but were we gonna make Saban coach in blackface? 

Yeah, people forget we turned down by errbody befor we landed on Smart 

 

Posted
47 minutes ago, Derka said:

and yet and still, the prevailing sentiment about shaka is somehow this:

IMG_8036.thumb.jpeg.43444c82276b252e0d0363c72d1f6d20.jpeg

IMG_8037.thumb.jpeg.6b28e84af4f581442eae7b08532f4787.jpeg

 

IMG_8038.thumb.jpeg.ebe250d0e344d8314794b83595db9672.jpeg

 

this guy is more full of shit and out of touch than any coach in america. unfortunately, americans are so goddamn stupid that a bunch of them actually buy this horseshit. i mean, imagine composing a 26 goddamn page document about culture and sending it to HS kids who already don’t/can’t read and thinking that that’s going to be some huge draw for them. never mind that your actual, empirical culture is one of empty platitudes and embarrassing, early round upset losses in the tourney. who in the hell would even want to play for this egomaniacal snake oil salesman?

 

"Not a better culture builder in the world"

Spit Take GIF

Without even getting into the NBA guys like Kerr and Spo that make Smart look like a toddler trying to jam star-shaped blocks into circular holes I'm guessing I could go 20 deep across men's and women's college ball and even a couple WNBA names without missing a beat. 

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Posted
1 hour ago, Derka said:

and yet and still, the prevailing sentiment about shaka is somehow this:

IMG_8036.thumb.jpeg.43444c82276b252e0d0363c72d1f6d20.jpeg

IMG_8037.thumb.jpeg.6b28e84af4f581442eae7b08532f4787.jpeg

 

IMG_8038.thumb.jpeg.ebe250d0e344d8314794b83595db9672.jpeg

 

this guy is more full of shit and out of touch than any coach in america. unfortunately, americans are so goddamn stupid that a bunch of them actually buy this horseshit. i mean, imagine composing a 26 goddamn page document about culture and sending it to HS kids who already don’t/can’t read and thinking that that’s going to be some huge draw for them. never mind that your actual, empirical culture is one of empty platitudes and embarrassing, early round upset losses in the tourney. who in the hell would even want to play for this egomaniacal snake oil salesman?

 

What page is breathing exercises?

 

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Posted
1 hour ago, Blotto said:

Wasnt Strong like our 5th choice or some shit? I admit PTSD from that era has probably resulted in me blocking a lot of shit about that era out of mind, but were we gonna make Saban coach in blackface? 

That's a left hand/right hand sort of thing. One group of people were trying to bring Saban in. They lost. The whole process disgusted Saban so much he counseled Sarkisian not to take the job. 

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