It took an elite job to lure Shaka Smart away from VCU.
Smart had always told those close to him that he wasn't going to bolt the program he'd built in Richmond for just any ordinary job. He turned down NC State, spurned Illinois and also said no thanks to UCLA. There was a list of about eight to 10 jobs that he was waiting for, and some of those might not have even given Smart a look if and when they opened (i.e. North Carolina, Louisville). Others may not become available for a few years.
So, Smart jumped at the opportunity to go to Texas -- and a program he feels he can take back to the Final Four. Let's look at whether those expectations match reality, in both the short- and long-term.
What Smart inherits
Texas reached the NCAA tournament in 16 of 17 seasons under Rick Barnes, so there is a strong tradition and winning culture in Austin. That said, the Longhorns have reached the Final Four just once since 1947 -- when T.J. Ford led the team there in 2003 -- so Smart's job will be to take the program from very good to elite.