All this article does is sway me to keeping Shaka, which I was already still leaning toward. I'm not going to convince others if they are out on him, as it is reasonable to be underwhelmed with the results. But man, when you start really looking at the realistic candidates, it's hard not to feel like there's a very very very good chance we end up with a lateral move at best.
With some more days to get away from the bummer of last weekend, I still think we can overreact to March wins/losses in both ways. I know you've said in the past that Shaka is here to win games in March, and I don't dispute that. But we were a UNI heave, a Nevada hitting stupid shots in a comeback to OT, and a 50-something% FT shooter hitting his FTs (obviously more factors to this game in both directions we can point to since it's fresh; I'm just using the last example) from having wins in each tourney. If even one of those games break differently are we having a different conversation? My point is that maybe, just maybe, we shouldn't.
And this goes both ways. Bruce Weber is a case on how we can overreact to March results. He has a worse win percentage than Shaka over the last 6 years, got bounced in the first round twice, but he had that Elite Eight run in 2018. As a 9 seed, they beat an 8, 16, and 5 seed to get there. Credit due, but also one of the "easiest" paths on paper you could take as a 9 seed to get there (it is worth noting as we see with Loyala Chicago this year that the NCAA does not always give teams appropriate seeds, but alas). Does this one tourney run make his last 6 year stretch more successful than Shaka's?
I probably have a point in here, but I'm not near as good of a writer as you. I'm not likely to convince anyone else who has their mind made up and that's fine. But I 100% echo that this is more than simply saying FIRE SHAKA. I'm mostly still processing the sadness as I focus my energy on the NBA. By the way, 100% of all Gary's in the NBA were traded yesterday. So we've got that.
It is one of the great inequities of the sport that the final tournament is such a small sample size but counts for a huge portion of the decisionmaking criteria on keeping or firing a coach. When a fanbase largely tunes in for 6-8 weeks of a 5+ month season and their aim is competing for a national title, the math gets tilted towards a single-elimination tournament above almost all else.
I've said before that I think a lot of Texas fans care more about winning than they do about sports, and it exacerbates a situation like this; where some other more basketball-centric fanbases might look at the season overall as more success than not, many Texas fans see the last game and say FAIL. Until (or if) that view changes, it's going to be a defining metric of Texas coaching success/failure.
While speculation is the coin of the realm I offer the name Fred Hoiberg, marooned currently in Lincoln, Nebraska, the B1G's hoops desert. Not much D, innovative offense, while at ISU.
#shakafiredus. Please not Beard.... Can't pay a guy to watch that kind of play. Plus a simple rule change or even an emphasis on flops and faking would make his contract almost worthless. I know he wins, but I'm ok with him winning somewhere else. If we are going to poach another team in our conference I would look at Boynton.
I am pretty sure you are wrong on Beard. It may not happen. But seeing through the grape vine that the wheels are already turning, even on Beard's side.
Are you able to use your voodoo writing magic to make me a billion dollar powerball winner? You foretold Kansas Big 12 tournament covid and now Shaka to Marquette, I am sure there are others as well.
All this article does is sway me to keeping Shaka, which I was already still leaning toward. I'm not going to convince others if they are out on him, as it is reasonable to be underwhelmed with the results. But man, when you start really looking at the realistic candidates, it's hard not to feel like there's a very very very good chance we end up with a lateral move at best.
With some more days to get away from the bummer of last weekend, I still think we can overreact to March wins/losses in both ways. I know you've said in the past that Shaka is here to win games in March, and I don't dispute that. But we were a UNI heave, a Nevada hitting stupid shots in a comeback to OT, and a 50-something% FT shooter hitting his FTs (obviously more factors to this game in both directions we can point to since it's fresh; I'm just using the last example) from having wins in each tourney. If even one of those games break differently are we having a different conversation? My point is that maybe, just maybe, we shouldn't.
And this goes both ways. Bruce Weber is a case on how we can overreact to March results. He has a worse win percentage than Shaka over the last 6 years, got bounced in the first round twice, but he had that Elite Eight run in 2018. As a 9 seed, they beat an 8, 16, and 5 seed to get there. Credit due, but also one of the "easiest" paths on paper you could take as a 9 seed to get there (it is worth noting as we see with Loyala Chicago this year that the NCAA does not always give teams appropriate seeds, but alas). Does this one tourney run make his last 6 year stretch more successful than Shaka's?
I probably have a point in here, but I'm not near as good of a writer as you. I'm not likely to convince anyone else who has their mind made up and that's fine. But I 100% echo that this is more than simply saying FIRE SHAKA. I'm mostly still processing the sadness as I focus my energy on the NBA. By the way, 100% of all Gary's in the NBA were traded yesterday. So we've got that.
It is one of the great inequities of the sport that the final tournament is such a small sample size but counts for a huge portion of the decisionmaking criteria on keeping or firing a coach. When a fanbase largely tunes in for 6-8 weeks of a 5+ month season and their aim is competing for a national title, the math gets tilted towards a single-elimination tournament above almost all else.
I've said before that I think a lot of Texas fans care more about winning than they do about sports, and it exacerbates a situation like this; where some other more basketball-centric fanbases might look at the season overall as more success than not, many Texas fans see the last game and say FAIL. Until (or if) that view changes, it's going to be a defining metric of Texas coaching success/failure.
Brilliantly elucidated, as usual. You make sense, and you make me laugh—what more could a fan of yours ask for?
Hire Schaefer and appoint his apparently highly valued and sought after asst as Women's HC.
Saves a freaking fortune.
That was my first thought, as well. Great minds...
While speculation is the coin of the realm I offer the name Fred Hoiberg, marooned currently in Lincoln, Nebraska, the B1G's hoops desert. Not much D, innovative offense, while at ISU.
Dclaw15 min ago
#shakafiredus. Please not Beard.... Can't pay a guy to watch that kind of play. Plus a simple rule change or even an emphasis on flops and faking would make his contract almost worthless. I know he wins, but I'm ok with him winning somewhere else. If we are going to poach another team in our conference I would look at Boynton.
I am pretty sure you are wrong on Beard. It may not happen. But seeing through the grape vine that the wheels are already turning, even on Beard's side.
I hope it falls flat, I do not enjoy his brand of basketball.
Also, I just farted.
Amen.
Are you able to use your voodoo writing magic to make me a billion dollar powerball winner? You foretold Kansas Big 12 tournament covid and now Shaka to Marquette, I am sure there are others as well.
I only have this gift on things that are irrelevant, sorry.
Sounds like Marquette may be making this decision for us...
Wait... I is boomer?
We all become boomers eventually.
All of that and yet no list of who is viable/desirable?