The Final Grade

VCUBeatsduke · Mar 25, 2010

The exams have been taken. All the papers were turned in and projects have been graded.

Coach Shaka Smart - A

Comments

You have done a masterful job in your first year at VCU. You have indeed begun to build an awesome program. The recruits you have signed are ACC caliber. You are working with the alumni, the media, and you have gotten the students more involved. You are energetic and tireless and you will not give up. Congrats on an awesome year!

Areas to improve:

More sideline coaching experience will only make you a better coach.

Future: Norwood better find some big dollar alumni if we are going to keep you.

vcubanana · Mar 25, 2010

Uhhh....we still have 2 or 3 more games. The jury is still out.

VCUFTW · Mar 25, 2010

vcubanana said:
Uhhh....we still have 2 or 3 more games. The jury is still out.

VCU doesnt give pluses or minuses so shaka's grade is as good as a lock

VCUBeatsduke · Mar 25, 2010

r4m said:
vcubanana said:

Uhhh....we still have 2 or 3 more games. The jury is still out.

Click to expand...

VCU doesnt give pluses or minuses so shaka's grade is as good as a lock

Very well said rm.

VCUBeatsduke

Superfan · Mar 25, 2010

VCUBeatsduke said:
Coach Shaka Smart - A

You're joking right?

I don't think Shaka would give himself an A. How many games did we blow 15 point leads in? Shaka is a first year head coach without a ton of experience (unlike Grant) so I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt this year. But you shouldn't finish fifth in the conference with a game-changing NBA first rounder on your team. I don't want to hear anyone say the coach can't make the players play becuase that is exactly what we are paying him for. I give his Xs and Os as well as his motivation and disciple a solid C. Overall: B and I look forward to us improving next year.

VCUBeatsduke · Mar 25, 2010

Superfan said:
VCUBeatsduke said:

Coach Shaka Smart - A

Click to expand...

You're joking right?

I don't think Shaka would give himself an A. How many games did we blow 15 point leads in? Shaka is a first year head coach without a ton of experience (unlike Grant) so I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt this year. But you shouldn't finish fifth in the conference with a game-changing NBA first rounder on your team. I don't want to hear anyone say the coach can't make the players play becuase that is exactly what we are paying him for. I give his Xs and Os as well as his motivation and disciple a solid C. Overall: B and I look forward to us improving next year.

Dude, we have won 25 games this season. We have beat 8 teams that had 20 or more wins. We beat JMU, ODU, Richmond, Mason, Oklahoma, Nevada, W&M, Rhode Island. We are in the finals of the CBI.

My mind is made up. An A it is.

VCUBeatsduke

BaNgMyPrOgRaM · Mar 25, 2010

If we dont beat St. Louis, it wont mean a thing.

DCDuck · Mar 25, 2010

Superfan said:
I give his Xs and Os as well as his motivation and disciple a solid C.

Because, you know, the guys we have on the team from when Grant was here would simply embrace Shaka with open arms, no questions asked.

It takes time to get guys to buy into a system, especially if some players are more focused on their plans for the NBA than their plans for the season in progress. I don't claim to know all the X's and O's, or all the details between coach and players, but there would be at least some degree of adjustment to be made when someone new takes the reins.

Things could have turned ugly more than once, and to have all that happened this year occur and still end up with a 20-win season says something about motivation and discipline.

VCUFTW · Mar 25, 2010

DCDuck said:
It takes time to get guys to buy into a system, especially if some players are more focused on their plans for the NBA than their plans for the season in progress.

Had Larry not played a half assed game @ODU or vs ODU @coliseum, we wouldve gone to a the NCAA tournament and Shaka would have been an unheralded A+

DCDuck · Mar 25, 2010

r4m said:
Had Larry not played a half assed game @ODU or vs ODU @coliseum, we wouldve gone to a the NCAA tournament and Shaka would have been an unheralded A+

And that's where I don't agree with the "motivation" argument. The coach can only do so much. Ultimately it's up to the players to hustle and put in the effort.

BaNgMyPrOgRaM · Mar 25, 2010

r4m said:
DCDuck said:

It takes time to get guys to buy into a system, especially if some players are more focused on their plans for the NBA than their plans for the season in progress.

Click to expand...

Had Larry not played a half assed game @ODU or vs ODU @coliseum, we wouldve gone to a the NCAA tournament and Shaka would have been an unheralded A+

Beating ODU at the coliseum wouldve been better for our chances. But I dont blame that game on Larry. Not by a long shot. I guess I have to put that one on Coach Smart, if I had to place blame.

DCDuck · Mar 25, 2010

BaNgMyPrOgRaM said:
Beating ODU at the coliseum wouldve been better for our chances. But I dont blame that game on Larry. Not by a long shot.

I don't "blame" anyone for that game. ODU played tremendous defense the last 10 minutes of regulation and in overtime. The same way they played tremendous defense the last 10 minutes against Notre Dame and held one of the best players in the country to just four points.

Why can't people credit the teams we play against?

BaNgMyPrOgRaM · Mar 25, 2010

I disagree DCDuck. A head or two needs to roll. :lol:

Mistachill · Mar 25, 2010

Because it would reduce the number of posts in this forum by 50%

DCDuck said:
Why can't people credit the teams we play against?

buckwheat · Mar 25, 2010

If we dont beat St. Louis, it wont mean a thing.

and if we do beat st. louis, it won't mean a thing.

play freshman and sophomores. all of 'em. cbi banner be damned.