The Texas Longhorns hired a new men’s basketball coach, Shaka Smart. He leaves Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) after six years. Is this a good move by Shaka Smart?
Texas fired Rick Barnes. Barnes coached Texas since 1998-99. During those 17 seasons, Barnes had a record of 402 wins and 180 losses. The most wins came in 2005-2006 when they went 30-7. Texas made the NCAA tournament 14 times under Barnes, including this year. They also reached the Final Four in 2002 but fell to Syracuse in the National Semifinal. Syracuse would go on to win the NCAA National title that year. Five times they lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
It was a successful tenure under Barnes. Most schools would keep a coach who went to the NCAA tournament 14 times in 17 seasons. Texas thought he didn’t do enough in the tournament. They only appeared in the Final Four one time and the Elite Eight three times. The Longhorns decided it was time to move on.
Shaka Smart is one of the most successful young coaches in NCAA Men’s Basketball. He put VCU basketball on the map, coaching for the last six seasons. He led them to a record of 163 wins and 56 losses. VCU made the NCAA Tournament five of his six seasons. The only year they didn’t make it was in 2010.
VCU had one of the most surprising runs in 2011. They were an 11 seed and won every game until the Final Four. They lost to Butler in the National Semifinal, 70-62.
This is an excellent move by Shaka Smart. VCU plays in a small conference, the Atlantic 10. There isn’t much television coverage of the Atlantic 10 conference until their Conference Championship. Texas is in a bigger conference, the Big 12. They have an easier time recruiting players because of the television exposure. This may help Smart recruit high profile high school athletes to join Texas.
This is a different challenge for Smart. The Big 12 has superior opponents. Smart will coach against Kansas, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Baylor, and West Virginia. These teams are usually ranked in the top 25. Shaka Smart seems ready for this job. Texas is hoping that the success he had at VCU will translate into wins for Texas.
Will Shaka Smart have the same success at Texas he did at VCU?
Texans like winning. Let’s hope this young coach can pull it off.