(from the other thread)
Of course I will point this all out now and VCU will get blasted by KU because of the athleticism mismatch.
If you watch/compare the styles of Buzz and Shaka Smart then you walk away instantly impressed with Smart. No offense to Buzz (who I am sure is a good coach) but Smart's style just smacks of hard work and preparation on both sides of the court.
His teams defensively remind you of what Billy Tubbs did in the past - pressing hard after made baskets and using the full court press often. He also changes up defenses often...basically using many different sets, presses, and traps to "wreak havoc on our opponent's psyche and their plan of attack."
Offensively they get the ball up the court quickly and spread (to use 2 man) or weave at the top of the key to take advantage of numerous downcuts. What has been very impressive is the way they move even quicker to combat tighter defenses and actually improve their fg% as a result. Florida State was the top defensive team in the country and VCU shot over 50% against them in the first half. What kept FSU in the game was all the offensive rebounds and second shot attempts.
IMO Smart's style is much more enticing for OU than Buzz's. The guy is highly intelligent (like the Mike Leach of basketball), dynamic, his players love him, and he's spent time as an assistant at Calif Univ of Pa, Dayton, Akron, Clemson, and Florida (each being a move up) so it's not like he hasn't been around.
He'd be a good hire.
