+1.
I am starting to feel better about Craig Smith. There are signs that he knew how to overachieve at a small, out of the way mid-major. A low mid-major at that. He failed in the big dance because he simply didnāt have the talent to move forward, it seems to me. Maybe in a P6, PAC-12 job he can work a few small wonders. Iāll bet that is why he is probably celebrating this morning, thatās all that knowledgeable Ute fans really hope for, when you think about it.
Nice. We now have two reasons to regard Harlan as very competent. This has been my wish for a year, since Utah State beat San Diego State last game of 2019. I doubted it was possible because bigger programs would want him. Now my only concern is that Groucho Marx quote that goes something like, Why us?
Swish! hire. Basketballās first since Majerus.
1 Like
I thought of you and the āswishā that you would say this is. I think it is indeed a swish. I also think that back in the day, many of us thought Larry was a swish as well, especially after the Wright/Poeltl seasons. College basketball is such an interesting and unpredictable creature.
This is interestingāand encouraging.
Utah ā Craig Smith
Grade: A+
Larry Krystkowiak rebuilt the Utes into a stable program in annual contention for Pac-12 titles and NCAA Tournament bids but never got over the hump. He went 45-42 (26-29, Pac-12) over the last three years.
A disciple of Tim Miles, Craig Smith is a former lower-division coach who rebuilt South Dakota and went 74-23 in three seasons at Utah State. Heās done well identifying lower-ranked recruits and built one of the nationās best defensive teams. Rumored to be a potential candidate Minnesota, the 48-year-old Minnesota native signed an extension at Utah State just four weeks ago.
Prediction: Smith will win a Pac-12 Championship and reach (at least) the Elite Eight within five years at Utah. This will prove to be one of the best hires in college basketball this decade.
I hope this happens, and I look forward to dealing with an insufferable @SeattleUte in that event.
2 Likes
I appreciate how Harlan was able to get this wrapped up quickly.
Definitely wasnāt looking forward to a few more days of feeling crappy about having a couple of valued alumni say āno thanksā.
The narrative changed quickly, for the positive.
3 Likes
10 posts were merged into an existing topic: The Craig Smith era begins
Sweet. Iām pumped. Not Eric Musselman pumped, but still pumped!
2 Likes
couple of random thoughts:
-
I interact with many USU fans, I feel bad for them today
-
Judkins would have been the natural replacement for Majerus had he stayed. I think Utahās history post Big Rick would have been different in that circumstance.
-
the influence of having a successful NBA program within a few miles of your program doorstep isnāt ideal
-
hard not to be disappointed in Jensen and Bryant
-
I donāt know thing one about Craig Smith, but he has my 100% support. Iāll be at NWTHRU and many games next season
5 Likes
Absolutely. Yesterday I was wondering where the program was headedā¦
LOL. So was I. Isnāt being a sports fan hilarious? Really, weāre all pretty amusing to watch.
I hope youāre right but I donāt see him being any better than Larry K.
Iāve never fully understood this one. It is oft-repeated and I get the logic, but it was never an apparent issue for decades in SLCā¦ nor is it with others in the same situation. I think the moral is ājust winā.
I didnāt quote Ute twitter at all. I actually donāt following anyone in Ute twitter, and I havenāt seen any Ute twitter takes on this hire.
I also donāt care that Smith was not our top guy. Heās our guy now, and weāre all Craig Smith fans.
2 Likes
the Jazz take basketball fans, money and eyeballs away from the Utes program, byu too but not to the same degree. There are probably half a dozen games ever year where both the Jazz and Utes are at home playing at the same time.
2 Likes
I was in college when the Jazz came to SLC. I remember being unhappy about it for these reasons. I was diehard college hoops fan and not much of an NBA fan. Still the same today.
4 Likes
Irrespective of whom Harlan hires, I care about only one thingā¦results. Get good results without cheating and Iām all good.
Iām a U and a sports fan, not a fanatic.
3 Likes
after watching two and half episodes of last chance U basketball- we should have got that guy.
Man, I leave to officiate a race on Friday afternoon, come home Saturday nite and the board blows up on the speculation thread (145 new from last time I logged in). We have a new coach.
Wild 48 hours I suppose.
1 Like
If this is true, and he knew he was interviewing, then it would be very disappointing to me. I have very little tolerance to lying and hypocrisy. I donāt care if everyone else is doing it.
āAlthough, it is notable that just a few days ago, Smith told his players not to have any concerns, no way, no how, about their coach leaving. He was staying right where he was, sure as sure could be.ā