"Within a week" is interesting. I honestly don't have much regard for Steve Patterson at this point. I hope he doesn't muck this up (like he did last year by giving Barnes an extension).
Texas has endless amounts of money. Extensions are irrelevant if there's a buyout clause and as long as it doesn't affect decision making - and here, it didn't. The buyout goes down on Wednesday and they didn't wait, so money is clearly not a factor at all.
Two coaches interested in the Texas opening and will be in the mix to replace Barnes are Wichita State's Gregg Marshall and VCU's Shaka Smart, according to sources. http://espn.go.com/mens-college-bas...s-coach-texas-longhorns?ex_cid=sportscenterFB
I would be thrilled to get Gregg Marshall. I think he's a great tactician, and he is well-respected by his players. Shaka is a little overrated but still an upgrade.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Serious now: a source with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texas?src=hash">#Texas</a> tells <a href="https://twitter.com/8NEWS">@8NEWS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Kerri8News">@Kerri8News</a> that Shaka Smart is #1 on UT's list; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VCU?src=hash">#VCU</a> trying hard to counter <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShakaWatch2015?src=hash">#ShakaWatch2015</a></p>— Mitch Carr (@mitchcarrtv) <a href="https://twitter.com/mitchcarrtv/status/582215168626728960">March 29, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/longhornnation?src=hash">#longhornnation</a> it's been real! <a href="https://t.co/s9ltQhtXvv">https://t.co/s9ltQhtXvv</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hookemforever?src=hash">#hookemforever</a></p>— Myles Turner (@Original_Turner) <a href="https://twitter.com/Original_Turner/status/582528510645813248">March 30, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
ESPN reporting sources are saying UT is "zeroing in" on Shaka Smart. ::EDIT:: Oops. My breaking news is two days old
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Texas officials are hopeful that they can introduce Shaka Smart as new head basketball coach Friday.</p>— Kirk Bohls (@kbohls) <a href="https://twitter.com/kbohls/status/583437580143726592">April 2, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>BREAKING: VCU's Shaka Smart has accepted the head coaching vacancy at Texas, sources told <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSports">@CBSSports</a>.com. Story coming.</p>— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/583819330619486208">April 3, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Home run hire for Texas. Shaka will put UT in a better position to win a national championship than Barnes ever did. Shaka can flat out coach. Barnes could recruit with the best of them but could never develop or coach up that talent enough to win it all.
I don't really understand comments like these. The year after Durant left, Barnes got the team a #2 seed and took them to the Elite Eight before losing to that crazy Derrick Rose Memphis team. A few years later, UT got to #3 in the country fairly late in the season before a bit of a free fall (that ended them #8 in the country and a controversial loss to Arizona in the NCAA Tournament). The last 3 years have been a major step backwards and it's a good time for new blood - and Smart is a great hire - but Barnes did some great things with his teams before that.
Yes. He is very good. It'll be interesting to see how he does at a big time school now, but all signs point to him being a very good coach who can recruit well. Congrats, Longhorns fans.
Thank you. Barnes is a great coach and a great guy. Time for change, sure, but the vitriol thrown his way is ridiculous.
