Okay, what makes a Shaka Smart successful (relative) at VCU - would he do it at VT?

[TomTurkey]

**

[chuckd4vt]

Um Luck. They shouldn't have been in the Tourney last yr. They got 5 losses, to Drexel and GA. St. Anyhow, they played their best game and the opponents played their worst. Nothing more nothing less. Guys sometimes hit shots, sometimes they don't.

[133743Hokie]

**

His guys play hard and within his system. Like SG has a system of tough D, generate turnovers, create points in transition, so does Smart. His pressure defense concepts are a change of pace (like Chaneys old zone D at Temple, etc) that teams aren't used too. The transition game created allows his players to score in the open court -- both going to the basket and pulling up for 3. Its an equalizer for lesser talent.

[VPI63]

Um Luck. .

Everything is luck with you, it seems.

SG/VT has bad luck. Everyone else has good luck.

I think VCU played extremely well in that run. To say they should not have been there is crazy talk.

What did they have to do to prove that they belonged? Win it all?

This sounds like a UVA fan commenting on our FB success. "The Chokies were sure lucky in that game."

[Hamburger]

They showed they belonged after the NCAA selection, not before. I'm pretty sure that's what Chuck means. Please tell us Gramps what they did before the NCAA's they showd they deserved a bid.

[VPI63]

I'm pretty sure that's what Chuck means.

Why don't you let Chuck respond for himself?

Please tell us Gramps......

LOL, that's all you got? You are pitiful.

[hokienole]

People want to throw "bad luck" on everything on this board apparently to exonerate the highly paid coaches. Make yah bat!@$%$ crazy to read that all the time.

[crooked road]

He has a point, though. VCU's record prior to the NCAA was not anything of note. Just because they made a run, and several people on here like their local team - VCU - does not mean they merited inclusion.

The original question was 'What makes Shaka Smart successful, and could he succeed at VT?'

[133743Hokie]

He has a point, though. VCU's record prior to the NCAA was not anything of note. Just because they made a run, and several people on here like their local team - VCU - does not mean they merited inclusion.

The original question was 'What makes Shaka Smart successful, and could he succeed at VT?'

And to that question, I think it's too early to tell.

[Chris Coleman]

He's done well there so far, but I wouldn't hire him. He's only been a head coach in two years. If he's still doing well in two years, when everyone on the team was recruited by him, then sure. But he did inherit Larry Sanders.