VCU’s Iron Man Drill

ACC & Other Coaching Carousel46

Link to video.

The 33-year-old coach participated in what VCU calls the “iron man drill,” stepping up to take a charge on 6-foot-7 Reco McCarter, diving to save a loose ball that was going out of bounds and then sprinting to the other end of the court to corral another loose ball. He punctuated the sequence by jumping around in the middle of all his players, getting them excited for Saturday’s game

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46 Responses to VCU’s Iron Man Drill

  1. anthonygrundle 04/03/2011 at 9:49 AM #

    We would never want a coach to show his emotions and pump up players before games. He has only 2 years of HC experience, blah blah blah. If any of us complain about a Smart hire, you need to stop watchIng college basketball because you’re an idiot.

  2. ADVENTUROO 04/03/2011 at 9:55 AM #

    I saw that last night…..my wife and I BOTH said that we LOVED this guy. I’ll bet he HAS read Jimmy V’s book….

    One of the Tweeters (Brooks) is reporting that the Mizzou coaching search is taking a decidedly different turn. The Richmond guy amd maybe Marshall were supposedly in the hunt (or were being hunted by the Mizzou AD).

    And, there are some sites that are suggesting that Mike Alden (SP – Mizzou) is totally inept and is following Debbie Yow around trying to see who she is courting….

    I guess we will see…but Shaka looks better and better every day….

  3. BJD95 04/03/2011 at 10:08 AM #

    That video clip tipped me over the edge from ambivalence to excitement about the guy. Still not my first choice, but he would definitely be a B+ hire that we could all get behind.

    That drill would do our guys a lot of good, as long as it didn’t kill two or three the first time they run it (shades of Marco Harrison?).

  4. Boyd 04/03/2011 at 10:21 AM #

    Haha, Imagine Richard Howell trying to play Smart’s defense…He would have to drop at least 30.

  5. tcthdi-tgsf-twhwtnc 04/03/2011 at 10:23 AM #

    Congratulations to Archie for getting the Dayton job. I read the Dayton AD was concerned his search was going to go into week two and the players needed a coach.

    I have to think Smart is Yow’s choice. If she was to hire anyone else the hire would be done. These are not things you sit on once completed. Too much money at stake, the other school needs to start their search.

    Nothing would make NC State look worse than to have a deal done and the new coach is having brunch today with his old AD acting like everything is all good.

    When a deal is done, the deal is announced within a day.

    My guess is that Yow has been told that Smart would listen to an offer after the season. Yow has probably told her other choices, all of which have been available for days, if not weeks that interviews will begin April 5.

    If Yow hires Smart today or tomorrow the other candidates have never officially interviewed and the process has played out. If Smart takes another job or stays at VCU, Yow will call up the next coach she wants for the official interview/offer. That will probably happen the second she hears from Smart.

    Just speculation but if anyone other than Smart is hired, it means Yow missed on him. Again, if she wanted another coach AND that coach wanted to come it would of already happened. These negotiations don’t take weeks. Yow wouldn’t leave the players, recruits and staff waiting, and allow the reputation of the university continue to take a beating just for the helluvit.

    My fear is that other choices may not wait and Yow announces a return to Miami (of Ohio) University to hire a Herb’s replacement Charlie Coles. Despite being nearly 70, his ’97-98 Sweet 16 appearance, with Herb’s players, shows some potential.

  6. TomCat 04/03/2011 at 10:41 AM #

    Only an idiot… would watch one video of a rah rah drill and proclaim all others idiots, for not falling immediately in love with a particular young candidate. Smart may ultimately get the hire here but by no means represents the total package. He represents an intelligent young guy with a great three week run — with potential. God help us in thus endeavor — that we all aren’t proven idiots… again.

  7. Packfan28 04/03/2011 at 10:51 AM #

    I saw that video, I watched the game, and the whole time I was wondering how our guys would fit Smart’s style. Obviously guys like Leslie, Brown, and Harrow would have no problem with it,but our bigs will definitely have to re-shape their bodies and improve their conditioning significantly to survive. JV might need special shoes with jet bossters built in them or something.

    But regarding the video, that was super esciting to watch. The last coach at State who did something like that was Les Robinson. Unfortunately he was sprinting to his hotel room because it was past his bed time.

  8. Lunatic Fringe 04/03/2011 at 10:51 AM #

    The crazy thing is that I think Dayton may be better off than they were last season. The more I see on GTs latest the more I think are they better off?

  9. Packfan28 04/03/2011 at 10:52 AM #

    And I really need the edit function to correct my typos.

  10. Wolfman 9806 04/03/2011 at 10:59 AM #

    WOW, he dove on the floor! Quick give him 2-3 million a year! Really? I’ve never seen K or Roy roll around on the floor and they have actually won national championships. I really hope that this guy isn’t who DY is focusing on based on one tournament run and a mediocre Colonial record.

  11. Lunatic Fringe 04/03/2011 at 11:02 AM #

    I may be in the minority, but I thought our guys looked more confused than lazy. The key is our next coach needs to get the guys buy into the system, whatever it is, and I think the will be fine.

    The key to Smart’s system is give me all you have for as long as you can, take a break, and get back at it. We may see decrease in minutes of players, but more effective minutes on the court.

  12. projectwentynine 04/03/2011 at 11:04 AM #

    Studied “race-consciousness in the south side of Chicago”.

    “(Completed) an honors project in history on the Great Migration and the City of Chicago. The Great Migration refers to the movement of African-Americans from the South to cities in the North.”

    Quoted as saying,”Diversity is a really big issue in higher education today, and that’s something that we need to strive to achieve on several levels. More students of color, more faculty of color…”

    Gag.

  13. ushum 04/03/2011 at 11:18 AM #

    our coach at high point did the same drill circa 2003 and we sucked…

  14. JeremyH 04/03/2011 at 11:18 AM #

    I’m not sure where his heart is now, but an NC State-Smart marriage would be somewhat risky for both sides, with high potential reward for both.

  15. packalum44 04/03/2011 at 11:21 AM #

    We’ve been rejected AGAIN by the A names. But that is okay, because I think Shaka is as good as any coach we courted. It doesn’t take a 20 year resume to spot talent.

  16. packalum44 04/03/2011 at 11:23 AM #

    Those that bash the drill miss the point. Point is this guy is cool and passionate and the kids display this spirit when they play. Tell me what other team played defense harder than VCU. Those kids have the heart of a lion. They made me like college basketball again.

  17. BJD95 04/03/2011 at 11:31 AM #

    FWIW, I haven’t given up on Sean Miller just yet. But I do hope that Smart is the backup. He certainly showed me a lot last night, and has a good connection with his players.

    CJL would have no problem with that drill? Really?

  18. albunde6 04/03/2011 at 11:41 AM #

    Are we sure our A list is gone. My “wish list” is gone, but my A list remains. Not sure that Smart is on DY’s A list. This week will determine if we create vacancies in Big 12, SEC, or Big East. I personally feel that we will not cause VCU any harm.

  19. MA Wolfpack 04/03/2011 at 11:43 AM #

    I would think Archie leaving might make SM a little more likely to consider something else. He can get back east, still make a ton of money and he’s not that established at UA. I’m happy for him if he decides to stay at UA, but it is not a situation that would be “crazy to leave” like BD at UF.

  20. eas 04/03/2011 at 11:45 AM #

    I am so confused at this point. I love Shaka’s enthusiasm and he had a good run. The thought of putting all our cards (and money) in the basket of a coach with 2 years experience as a HC in the CAA is scary.

    If we get Shaka it will either be the greatest gamble for success or a failure that will stick with us for many years.

    I still prefer some others but who knows anymore.

  21. newt 04/03/2011 at 11:49 AM #

    I could be optimistic about any of the names I’ve heard. Don’t get too concerned/worked up folks. All we need is a solid coach to be a top-20 team (not a ceiling).

  22. 61Packer 04/03/2011 at 11:55 AM #

    The A list is long gone; now it appears the B list is gone too.

    How about Ric Flair? WOOOOOOO WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  23. Pack1998 04/03/2011 at 11:56 AM #

    No one knows anything . . . Shaka is one of MANY that are interested in the job. No coach as been offered . . . I posted more detail on the forums . . . money matters, and you combine money with great facilities and a strong support base, and with an AD committed to success in basketball, and with Nike / Addidas competing for our contract — this is an awesome job.

    Guys in the business want this job.

    There is no reason for any coach to stay in their current job unless they are getting paid more or they are already in one of the top 5 best situations. There is no such a thing as job security in this business as all coaches are 2 years away from the hot seat, so you just make as much as you can when you can . . . . There is still a long list. The last search didn’t use a search firm, so they never had a long list and could not conduct the search effectively.

  24. ykuntz 04/03/2011 at 12:13 PM #

    I am not sure how many of our players could fit into his system.They play hard on Defense Harrow,Leslie were always overmatched on Defense and were beat down the floor always .

  25. ADVENTUROO 04/03/2011 at 12:17 PM #

    I may be old, but not to biblical standards. I have also spent a lot of time studying NCSU BB and reading quite a bit. I do NOT think that you could find a coach that would “match” or be comparable to Jimmy V’s personality better than Shaka. Now that is MY opinion and during my 38 year work career I was a pretty good judge of talent…a bit too SOFT to be a corporate warrior (like I think that Debbie Yow is), but all-in-all, I feel that I have good instincts.

    I know that one “gymn rat” dive, as Jimmy V used to say does NOT make a coach. But if you watch him and then reflect back on the various specials that WRAL put together (Jay Jennings – Jason’s Dad did the editing of the video), then you saw all his energy. Jimmy V had the same on-court enthusiasm and demeanor as Shaka. Sid, as much as I STILL love and respect him, had more of that as a player. I guess it got bundled up and put away in the pro’s….and it would have been great if it had come out more while he was our coach. Just look at the 1983 clip of Valvano and compare Shaka….they HAVE PASSION….and it shows in their players.

    I am getting my hopes up too much, I know, but I HOPE that we see him in a Red polo or blazer or whatever standing beside Ms. Yow. I will personally attend his welcoming and bring my Grandchildren with me…

    Good Luck, Debbie….may the Valvano and Sloan and Case Angels be with you…

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