Ketch's 10 Thoughts From the Weekend (Shaka is a damn good coach)

[anon_v7x9c7xxmv5dr]

It takes a damn fine coaching job to be in position to need a miracle to make the tournament with a top 3 draft choice on the team.

 

[Ketchum]

“Four of the top seven are freshman.” Really, well let’s take another look you conveniently omitted, three of the top five, and the three getting the most minutes, are JUNIORS. Jeesh.

BUSTED!

 

[mcw1946]

I don't profess to know whether Smart is a great coach or not but I do like him so you could say I have a bias. Regardless, I believe he deserves at least another year to demonstrate what he can do here. Texas isn't Duke, North Carolina or Kentucky and those programs aren't dominating this year either. I also believe that any coach at Texas deserves the support of the fan base while he is here. I don't really understand how this bashing of a head coach can help the program. Smart will either succeed or fail on his own merit but bashing him online isn't a productive contribution to the process.

 

[Ketchum]

I think he's better than a lot of Texas fans think, and to act like he wasn't one of the top hires when he came to Texas is rewriting history based on his results at Texas. During his first year, many Texas fans on here posted they thought he'd reach Final Fours soon.

There are aspects I think he's good at (defense, individual player development, recruiting, long-term vision and program construction, connecting with people and players) and areas I think he needs to get much better in (offense, implementing more schematic influence > player freedom, generating consistent results).

I think he's a good coach that hasn't done, overall, a good job at Texas generating results so far for many reasons. Perhaps he will in the future. Perhaps he won't. The collection of three and four-year talent that will be on future rosters is good.

I don't know about votes because Chris Beard probably runs away with that, a guy that's 2-3 vs. Smart and should have been 1-4, but if Smart finished .500 in the league I bet he'd get a vote because .500 probably puts a team 5th, maybe in a tie for 4th in this league. Only OU and Iowa State are within 100 spots of Texas (337th out of 351) in team experience (youth).

I do think some Texas fans, for reasons I don't understand, have dismissed Jones being away from the program as something that shouldn't have significantly influenced the season. At one point, Notre Dame lost seven straight games after losing its best offensive player during that whole stretch, and its point guard for four of those games after being 13-3, and 3-0 in the ACC. Life on the hardwood in good leagues isn't easy when you subtract an offensive talent like Jones.

If Jones is healthy, Texas is probably something like 19-8 and we're not even having this discussion.

end of thread.

 

[Ketchum]

Against the team ranked 337th out of 351 in points allowed per game at 82 points per game. Context matters, correct? They rank dead last in points per game in the Big 12 conference, as they have the last two seasons. The offense is a downright disaster at Texas under Shaka Smart...saying anything other than that is just not being honest.

The offense needs to improve. No one has suggested otherwise that I am aware of.

 

[Ketchum]

This comment made me stop down before I read any farther, so if it was said somewhere in the following pages, I apologize in advance.

“This level” is the only level that matters around here. At “this level,” the coaches and players are better than at mid-majors. So, I guess, if you want to say that he and Charlie are damn good mid-major coaches, that’s fine. But I don’t care if Shaka or Charlie is a damn good coach at any level other than “this level.”

He still has a lot to prove. It might not happen.

 

[Ketchum]

Gander?

gan·der
ˈɡandər/
noun

1. 1.
   a male goose.
2. 2.
   informal
   a look or glance.
   "take a gander at that luggage"

verb
USinformal

1. 1.
   look or glance at something.
   "Paulie gandered at shelves full of coffee paraphernalia"

 

[UTRULZ]

You know they are 16 and 11 right now, right? Even if they lost all four remaining games (unlikely), and lost their opening Big 12 Tourney game (unlikely), they would still be 16 and 16, which is .500.

Do you actually pay attention to basketball or do you just like exercising your ability to be a under-informed/over-opinionated UT sports fan?

Do you actually read or jump to attacks? I said .500 after 3 seasons, not this year. Good grief

 

[Ketchum]

@Ketchum

Still waiting for you to respond to the post I posted where I ask you specific basketball questions as related to actual coaching decisions by Coach Smart. You were real quick to respond to the others.

re-post for me?

 

[Ketchum]

True, but I didn't claim my points were irrefutable and I'm at least conceding that there are legitimate arguments to be made about the job Shaka's been doing.

So am I.

 

[Ketchum]

It takes a damn fine coaching job to be in position to need a miracle to make the tournament with a top 3 draft choice on the team.

Miracle?

 

[Ketchum]

Do you actually read or jump to attacks? I said .500 after 3 seasons, not this year. Good grief

Don't steal my phrase, which I stole from Charlie Brown!

 

[TD TX TD VY]

gan·der
ˈɡandər/
noun

1. 1.
   a male goose.
2. 2.
   informal
   a look or glance.
   "take a gander at that luggage"

verb
USinformal

1. 1.
   look or glance at something.
   "Paulie gandered at shelves full of coffee paraphernalia"

I know what it means. So you're saying you'd "look he respects Shaka Smart." Wtf?

 

[jah4550]

which part was dumb? Quote it.

It was the facts Ketch; in this political climate we have learned to ignore facts in the face of preferred opinions. Why state something that will be ignored by those that don't like the conclusion it drives?

 

[styrbjorn]

Don't steal my phrase, which I stole from Charlie Brown!

Aaaauuuuggghhhh!

Sorry, couldn't help it. Well played, Ketch.

 

[Ketchum]

I know what it means. So you're saying you'd "look he respects Shaka Smart." Wtf?

Fair point.

 

[Ketchum]

It was the facts Ketch; in this political climate we have learned to ignore facts in the face of preferred opinions. Why state something that will be ignored by those that don't like the conclusion it drives?

fair enough.

 

[McLovin327]

There have been times when they have been coherent, Saturday, for example.

But that's just it. Any coach can produce a coherent offense at times. I think it's reasonable to have higher expectations than at times. Consistency matters.

I'll acknowledge this is a tough comparison for Shaka, but I attended grad school at Indiana when Bobby Knight was coaching. Every offensive player knew their role and moved with purpose. The Motion Offense is a coherent, effective offense. Coach K runs Bobby Knight's Motion Offense at Duke. Coach K runs a coherent, effective offense that is constantly adhered to. Sure there are times they aren't making shots, but they know who they are and they're a Motion Offense team. They have an offensive identity.

Shaka's offenses lack motion, they lack purpose, they lack spacing principles and far too often rely on 1-v-1's, isolations, drive and kick for a 3 late in the shot clock. That's not a coherent offense that carries you through an entire season and allows you to compete for a Big 12 title or a deep run in the NCAA's.

There's never been a moment when I've watched Shaka's team on offense and thought "wow, that's a well coached team." I've said that about some of his team's defensive performances but on offense I've mostly thought "WTF are they doing?"

I'm a huge Shaka fan. I was elated when we hired him and I thought it was a home run hire. But, in year 3 I'm scratching my head about what the heck he's doing on the court.

 

[TD TX TD VY]

Fair point.

Garner might be what you were going for.

 

[Ketchum]

But that's just it. Any coach can produce a coherent offense at times. I think it's reasonable to have higher expectations than at times. Consistency matters.

I'll acknowledge this is a tough comparison for Shaka, but I attended grad school at Indiana when Bobby Knight was coaching. Every offensive player knew their role and moved with purpose. The Motion Offense is a coherent, effective offense. Coach K runs Bobby Knight's Motion Offense at Duke. Coach K runs a coherent, effective offense that is constantly adhered to. Sure there are times they aren't making shots, but they know who they are and they're a Motion Offense team. They have an offensive identity.

Shaka's offenses lack motion, they lack purpose, they lack spacing principles and far too often rely on 1-v-1's, isolations, drive and kick for a 3 late in the shot clock. That's not a coherent offense that carries you through an entire season and allows you to compete for a Big 12 title or a deep run in the NCAA's.

There's never been a moment when I've watched Shaka's team on offense and thought "wow, that's a well coached team." I've said that about some of his team's defensive performances but on offense I've mostly thought "WTF are they doing?"

I'm a huge Shaka fan. I was elated when we hired him and I thought it was a home run hire. But, in year 3 I'm scratching my head about what the heck he's doing on the court.

I agree that he does do stuff that makes my head scratch, but all coaches do that. Shit, I questioned about 5 things Belichick did in the super bowl, from clock management at the end of the half to player personnel decisions to game strategy... and he's the GOAT.

 

[Ketchum]

Garner might be what you were going for.

Shit, who knows?

 

[Pho King Master]

One of those coaches is not like the other; at least based on performance at Texas.

It depends on the starting and finishing line. The Barnes at the end wasn't the Barnes in the beginning or middle.

The Barnes at the end sucked, nobody would dispute that and that's why he was fired. Shaka is currently worse than the shitty Barnes at the end. It seems everyone but you can see that.

Question: How many of the current coaches who have teams ranked in the top 25 would you say are inferior coaches to Smart?

 

[Ketchum]

The Barnes at the end sucked, nobody would dispute that and that's why he was fired. Shaka is currently worse than the shitty Barnes at the end. It seems everyone but you can see that.

Question: How many of the current coaches who have teams ranked in the top 25 would you say are inferior coaches to Smart?

That's a tough one to answer because I don't quite know how good I think Shaka is Good question, though. I don't know if I could answer it.

Give me a moment to think about it.

 

[Ketchum]

I don't know if I'd use the word inferior, but there are probably six or seven I'd prefer Smart over.

 

[TrevorLahey]

I think he's better than a lot of Texas fans think, and to act like he wasn't one of the top hires when he came to Texas is rewriting history based on his results at Texas. During his first year, many Texas fans on here posted they thought he'd reach Final Fours soon.

There are aspects I think he's good at (defense, individual player development, recruiting, long-term vision and program construction, connecting with people and players) and areas I think he needs to get much better in (offense, implementing more schematic influence > player freedom, generating consistent results).

I think he's a good coach that hasn't done, overall, a good job at Texas generating results so far for many reasons. Perhaps he will in the future. Perhaps he won't. The collection of three and four-year talent that will be on future rosters is good.

I don't know about votes because Chris Beard probably runs away with that, a guy that's 2-3 vs. Smart and should have been 1-4, but if Smart finished .500 in the league I bet he'd get a vote because .500 probably puts a team 5th, maybe in a tie for 4th in this league. Only OU and Iowa State are within 100 spots of Texas (337th out of 351) in team experience (youth).

I do think some Texas fans, for reasons I don't understand, have dismissed Jones being away from the program as something that shouldn't have significantly influenced the season. At one point, Notre Dame lost seven straight games after losing its best offensive player during that whole stretch, and its point guard for four of those games after being 13-3, and 3-0 in the ACC. Life on the hardwood in good leagues isn't easy when you subtract an offensive talent like Jones.

If Jones is healthy, Texas is probably something like 19-8 and we're not even having this discussion.

Now this makes sense to me. I also agree Shaka has been better than most people think and losing Jones has been brutal. However until he wins consistently I think that @Ketchum calling him a "damn good coach" sounds incredibly aggie-like when we are 8th in the conference and fighting for our tournament lives every game.

IMO, he doesn't even need to be a damn good coach for us to win if he can keep recruiting. All he really needs is an experienced roster and an assistant coach to implement an effective offense because he seems to have control over defense and can really develop talent. Again, not saying he is not a damn good coach, but calling him that before he wins consistently sounds like aggies chanting SEC when they can't even compete in their division of their conference. Let's wait for Shaka to win at least one tournament game before we get too carried away...

 

[WFHorn85]

I don't know if I'd use the word inferior, but there are probably six or seven I'd prefer Smart over.

How would you rank him in the Big 12?

 

[Ketchum]

Now this makes sense to me. I also agree Shaka has been better than most people think and losing Jones has been brutal. However until he wins consistently I think that @Ketchum calling him a "damn good coach" sounds incredibly aggie-like when we are 8th in the conference and fighting for our tournament lives every game.

IMO, he doesn't even need to be a damn good coach for us to win if he can keep recruiting. All he really needs is an experienced roster and an assistant coach to implement an effective offense because he seems to have control over defense and can really develop talent. Again, not saying he is not a damn good coach, but calling him that before he wins consistently sounds like aggies chanting SEC when they can't even compete in their division of their conference. Let's wait for Shaka to win at least one tournament game before we get too carried away...

Basically, Dustin agrees with me, which mean that you agree with me, even if you don't know it.

 

[davidkfan]

Funny watching some of you argue with a column you haven't read.

It speaks to something...

Some Horn fans are whiney bitches.

 

[Orbea]

@Ketchum can you please explain what Shaka Smart did at VCU that made him a better coach than other VCU coaches in the last 20 years? Please explain what other former VCU coaches have done in subsequent jobs and why Shaka Smart is different. He is .500 at TX in 3 seasons. Please tell us, why you are elevating him over other former VCU coach failures?

@scary jarbro

Interesting question. Here are the results from Kenpom, which only goes back to 2002, so it does not quite cover 20 years. In the 11 years where Shaka was not the coach at VCU their average Kenpom rank was 87.36. They made the NCAA Tournament 5 out 0f 10 years with a 2-4 record.

In the 6 seasons that Shaka was at VCU their average Kenpom rank was 38. They made the NCAA Tournament 5 out of 6 years with a 6-5 record. So, Shaka was pretty special at VCU

 

[TrevorLahey]

Basically, Dustin agrees with me, which mean that you agree with me, even if you don't know it.

I can agree with that. I certainly dont think he's not a damn good coach, just dont think he's shown that he is one yet. Just thought your title is a little premature. Fair?

 

[Ketchum]

How would you rank him in the Big 12?

Big 12 Coaches

Tier 1

Bill Self

Tier 2

Bob Huggins
Lon Kruger

Tier 3

Shaka Smart
Scott Drew
Jamie Dixon
Chris Beard

Tier 4

Bruce Weber

Tier 5

Mike Boynton
Steve Prohm

 

[Ketchum]

@scary jarbro

Interesting question. Here are the results from Kenpom, which only goes back to 2002, so it does not quite cover 20 years. In the 11 years where Shaka was not the coach at VCU their average Kenpom rank was 87.36. They made the NCAA Tournament 5 out 0f 10 years with a 2-4 record.

In the 6 seasons that Shaka was at VCU their average Kenpom rank was 38. They made the NCAA Tournament 5 out of 6 years with a 6-5 record. So, Shaka was pretty special at VCU

They had exactly one season with as many as he had in six straight years.

 

[Ketchum]

I can agree with that. I certainly dont think he's not a damn good coach, just dont think he's shown that he is one yet. Just thought your title is a little premature. Fair?

Well, the title was going for an affect. That's what headlines and good writing do.

 

[Orbea]

What happened 1 time? A disappointing tournament showing? I'm talking about the fact that out of 7 appearances / 1 Amazing tournament run happened... / otherwise not much

Getting completely blown out as a 5 seed against a 4 seed is absolutely a disappointing showing.

@o5prey

Of course what you forgot to mention was than 5 seed went to the finals that year and lost by 6 to Louisville and beat the number 2 seed Florida by 20. You did sort of forget to mention that.

 

[jessed50]

I think he's better than a lot of Texas fans think, and to act like he wasn't one of the top hires when he came to Texas is rewriting history based on his results at Texas. During his first year, many Texas fans on here posted they thought he'd reach Final Fours soon.

There are aspects I think he's good at (defense, individual player development, recruiting, long-term vision and program construction, connecting with people and players) and areas I think he needs to get much better in (offense, implementing more schematic influence > player freedom, generating consistent results).

I think he's a good coach that hasn't done, overall, a good job at Texas generating results so far for many reasons. Perhaps he will in the future. Perhaps he won't. The collection of three and four-year talent that will be on future rosters is good.

I don't know about votes because Chris Beard probably runs away with that, a guy that's 2-3 vs. Smart and should have been 1-4, but if Smart finished .500 in the league I bet he'd get a vote because .500 probably puts a team 5th, maybe in a tie for 4th in this league. Only OU and Iowa State are within 100 spots of Texas (337th out of 351) in team experience (youth).

I do think some Texas fans, for reasons I don't understand, have dismissed Jones being away from the program as something that shouldn't have significantly influenced the season. At one point, Notre Dame lost seven straight games after losing its best offensive player during that whole stretch, and its point guard for four of those games after being 13-3, and 3-0 in the ACC. Life on the hardwood in good leagues isn't easy when you subtract an offensive talent like Jones.

If Jones is healthy, Texas is probably something like 19-8 and we're not even having this discussion.

Great post. Would you mind delving a little deeper into the long term vision/program construction part of your post.