<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Rick Barnes is finished as Texas’ coach, a source told @<a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSports">CBSSports</a>. Who will replace him? Story: <a href="http://t.co/Byj5mb1TgB" title="http://cbsprt.co/1F4ywwU">cbsprt.co/1F4ywwU</a></p>— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/GaryParrishCBS/status/581931490776342529" data-datetime="2015-03-28T21:30:53+00:00">March 28, 2015</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Gregg Marshall. Shaka Smart. Spoiler <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>I expect Wichita State's Gregg Marshall and VCU's Shaka Smart to be among the main candidates at Texas. Anyone else? Who knows ...</p>— Jason King (@JasonKingBR) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonKingBR/status/581928346445078528">March 28, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Top two candidates at Texas are Gregg Marshall and Shaka Smart. Different sources rank those two in different orders. But those are the two.</p>— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/GaryParrishCBS/status/581928808925782016">March 28, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Whenever the Rick Barnes news becomes official, would imagine that Gregg Marshall and Shaka Smart are the top two names on the list.</p>— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) <a href="https://twitter.com/jeffborzello/status/581928859337027584">March 28, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Texas top candidates are Gregg Marshall and Shaka Smart -- and both have heavy interest in the opening, sources told ESPN.</p>— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoodmanESPN/status/581934015072088064">March 28, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> ___________________________________________________________ <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Why is Texas attractive? Julius Randle, Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison, Myles Turner, Justise Winslow, etc. Tons of talent in the state.</p>— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/GaryParrishCBS/status/581933876018298881">March 28, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Since 2009, there have been 19 top-25 recruits from the state of Texas. The Longhorns landed just two of them (Cam Ridley, Myles Turner).</p>— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) <a href="https://twitter.com/jeffborzello/status/581936278884761600">March 28, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Either of these would be outstanding. VCU seems to be more uptempo and exciting. WSU seems to be more fundamentally sound. Both coaches have had an extended run of success rather than being a one-year wonder.
The fact that the Wichita State coach beats Kansas all the time has me excited. Making more with less.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>I learned a lot from this guy, was much more than a coach but a father figure! Love you, Thank you <a href="http://t.co/gN2ahkmLFP">pic.twitter.com/gN2ahkmLFP</a></p>— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) <a href="https://twitter.com/KDTrey5/status/582253399229345792">March 29, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
People tend to forget how much success he had because of the recent run of failure. In his first 10 years, he had 5 Sweet 16s, 3 Elite Eights, 1 Final Four. Outside of the Dukes of the world, that's about as good as anyone. His last 7 years have certainly not gone so well, but we were ranked #1 in the country about 4 years back mid-season and I believe got to up to #2 or #3 in another year. There were certainly major problems in the program and it was time to try something new, but it's not like this was all just constant failure even during the latter years.
It was a long time coming. He did a great job for a while then did a mediocre job for the last several years. Either of the two coaches mentioned above would be solid replacements, IMO.
<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>
UT fans think they are entitled to a good basketball program when the only reason that's even a possibility is because of Barnes. It's not like with Mack when the program was already great before he came. If the next coach doesn't have to play in the cavernous Erwin Center then he'll already have a huge advantage that Barnes never had.
He was great until that Augustine team that got to the elite 8. Before that he was one of the best coaches in the country. But since then he has been terrible in the tourney, and that's all that matters.
A good dark-horse in case you don't get Shaka or Marshall would be Underwood at SFA. 61-8 in two years there.
Hopefully it was due to Kasper's recruits and he can work his magic at SWT. Not looking so great so far, though.