Ketch's 10 Thoughts From the Weekend (Shaka is a damn good coach)
- Thread starter Ketchum
- Start date
Shaka had success in the past and has struggled here, and those are the facts.
All I know is that I hope he succeeds here because I like Shaka, and because I want our team to be good and win. It's that simple for me.
To answer one of Ketch's questions, I think AJ would have been worth 2-3 more wins, but I also don't think we beat TCU the first time because we were actually riding the emotion of his diagnosis that night. So that would put us at 17-18 wins right now.
This conference is brutal. The standings show how evenly matched the teams are. One more win would have us tied for 5th, and two more would have us tied for 3rd.
Here's to hoping we have a strong enough finish to make the tournament. If we do, I have a strange feeling that this will be a battle-tested team that might just make it to the second weekend.
Hook 'em!
All I know is that I hope he succeeds here because I like Shaka, and because I want our team to be good and win. It's that simple for me.
To answer one of Ketch's questions, I think AJ would have been worth 2-3 more wins, but I also don't think we beat TCU the first time because we were actually riding the emotion of his diagnosis that night. So that would put us at 17-18 wins right now.
This conference is brutal. The standings show how evenly matched the teams are. One more win would have us tied for 5th, and two more would have us tied for 3rd.
Here's to hoping we have a strong enough finish to make the tournament. If we do, I have a strange feeling that this will be a battle-tested team that might just make it to the second weekend.
Hook 'em!
Good stuff Ketch. I like your first part on Coach Smart. I think sometimes we expect too much from a coach and forget about the team he has and who they have to play. He's working with a lot of 1st year kids and having to play a schedule of top team in the country. Not just top teams in the Big 12 but in the country. I think he has done a hell of a job. If the NCAA would ever get their crap straight about how long a kid has to stay in school, if he chooses to go to school, then the college game would be a lot more fun for the fans. This one and done crap isn't beneficial for the basketball programs at the universities and it certainly isn't beneficial for a lot of the kids who mistakenly leave early and think they will make big money. It's time for a change.
I articulated his failures and hangups in the article.
He hasn't proven to be better than damn good. Damn good at Texas isn't damn good enough.
Rick Barnes was damn good.
You're side stepping the argument that winning in a tournament is different from winning in a full season at a power 5 program. They picked someone that is good for winning short run tournaments with a product that is relatively unknown like Shaka.
Now you aren't making a bad argument. You are being intentionally obtuse, which is annoying.
One of those coaches is not like the other; at least based on performance at Texas.
you’ve screamed over and over in this thread about what you have and haven’t called Smart.
Pointing out that you’ve suddenly changed that isn’t “splitting hairs”.
There’s no SJW slant to that.
It depends on the starting and finishing line. The Barnes at the end wasn't the Barnes in the beginning or middle.
Gotta give it to Ketch on this thread and previous ones like it such as the Taylor Doyle thread. He crafts his arguments well and there’s a business reason behind it that I haven’t figured out yet. Boosts average pin thread response to entice sponsors? Idk but I like it
Ahead of your time on why the internet is good for recruiting. That's awesome.
Funny picture too. Not sure why they had to show up for a photo shoot.
Per basketballreference.com at VCU Shaka Smart coached against 16 teams that were ranked when they played and went 8-8.
VS P5 ranked teams he was 4-6 (2 wins came in the FF run).
VS P5 ranked teams he was 4-6 (2 wins came in the FF run).
Last edited:
At Texas, Shaka has yet to prove he is even “Barnes at the end.”
Rick had a 16-18 season towards the end. Didn't win in the Tournament. Didn't win a conference title. Fell apart late annually.
He's at least there, which isn't good enough.
It would be a clinic if he actually addressed any specific part of the column.
Instead, he spoke in generalities with zero supporting commentary.
But, yeah... clinic.
This I agree with. If the results for UT hoops the last 3 years were being produced by a white guy Trump supporter, I suspect your fawning support would be missing.
He is the definition of an average power 5 coach.
His record at a power 5 school is 47-46, which statistically is an almost perfectly average record.
He is the 5th best coach in a 10 team league.
When ranking all coaches from power 5 schools, he falls somewhere in the 20-30 area. Out of 65 schools, that sounds pretty average.
So what tangible evidence are you using that justifies him being an above average power 5 coach? You obviously do not want to discuss his X's and O's to prove your point, so lets compare him with his peers.
