Can VCU keep Shaka Smart?

Virginia Commonwealth University’s men’s basketball team is in the national spotlight like never before. Never.

On Friday night in San Antonio the Rams from West Broad Street will face the Florida State Seminoles, which will be VCU’s fourth consecutive tournament match-up with a team from a so-called “power conference.” The Rams’ three previous opponents were from the Pac 10, the Big East and the Big 10; the Seminoles are members of the ACC.

Yet, upon the announcement that VCU had made the field of 68, the Rams were ridiculed by basketball pundits for being undeserving, well, perhaps like no team ever has before. ESPN’s Jay Bilas and Dick Vitale were particularly outspoken on the CBS Selection Sunday show.

Bilas blustered: “When I look at UAB and VCU at the expense of some of these other teams, I wonder if some people on the committee know whether the ball is round. That sounds harsh, but I’m wondering. These were bad decisions; they’re indefensible.”

Therefore, when VCU beat Southern Cal (59-46) in the play-in game, then crushed Georgetown (74-56), then humiliated Purdue (94-76), it made Mr. Bilas, et al, look rather foolish.

Thus, VCU, from the Colonial Athletic Association — not on the list of power conferences — has become the hobo who stumbled into the fancy party at the country club.

Five times in the past the Rams won their first NCAA tournament game, to make it to the round of 32. This year VCU is in the Sweet 16, meaning the Shaka Smart-coached Rams have now gone deeper into the NCAA tournament than any VCU team has before.

At this point, in the second year for Smart as VCU’s head coach, his NCAA record is 3-0. To appreciate that number, here’s some context — in his six years (1979-85) as head coach J.D. Barnett went 4-5. Sonny Smith (1989-98) went 0-1. Jeff Capel (2002-06) was 0-1. Anthony Grant (2006-09) was 1-2. No other VCU coach even has a NCAA record.

One of the problems this joyful success will surely bring to VCU’s door is that Smart is going to soon be getting some offers to make more money coaching at schools in those damn power conferences. His predecessor, Anthony Grant, left the Siegel Center after three years on the job. Grant does his coaching at Alabama these days.

Grant’s predecessor, Jeff Capel, left VCU to go to Oklahoma, after four years as coach of the Rams. Although Capel is currently without a coaching gig that won’t last long.

If VCU is going to hire talented young coaches on their way up, which it says here it should, no one should expect them to stay forever. It beats hiring old coaches on their way down. Which means when the right fit of an offer comes along, it’s always going to be time to bring in another sharp young guy. Some day one of them might fall in love with the Fan District and decide to stay, but wishing for it won’t make it happen.

So, once VCU’s NCAA run ends, however it does, will VCU President Michael Rao be ready to offer Smart the salary his new status dictates? When Rao’s predecessor, Eugene Trani, needed to find the dough to keep Grant here he did it, pronto. Grant was paid almost a cool million for his last year at VCU.

Now Smart has surpassed what Grant did. Should he work for less than what Grant was paid?

Will Rao be as prepared and decisive as was Trani? Will Rao’s athletic director, Norwood Teague, be ready to help make it happen? Will Teague also be ready to promptly name another superb young coach to replace Smart, if a rival school’s offer is too tempting for Smart to resist?

Or, might Teague be so busy shopping himself around for a new job, based on VCU’s sudden success, that replacing Smart won’t be his first priority? My hunch is neither Rao or Teague are men who mean to be Richmonders for any longer than they have to be.

Which suggests that VCU’s future, after the tournament, is getting increasingly difficult to predict. So, wise Rams fans will dwell on this rare moment’s magic and enjoy it to the max while it lasts.

That, while appreciating that standing on the shoulders of Capel’s and Grant’s contributions to the program, Smart’s confident Rams can win again. Offensively-challenged Florida St. will probably try to slow the game down. Maybe VCU won’t let it happen. If the Rams can play for 40 minutes as they did in the last two games, they will be hard to beat. From here on, anything is possible.

If the Rams do win, VCU will move on to the Elite Eight to meet the winner of the Richmond vs. Kansas game. If it’s VCU’s crosstown rival, the Spiders, well…

Longtime Richmond Times-Dispatch sportswriter John Packett said: “If Richmond and VCU play each other in the Elite Eight for a berth in the Final Four, it would be the biggest sporting event in the history of the city of Richmond. And that covers a lot of ground!”

Friday night’s twin bill on TBS: Spiders (29-7) vs. Jayhawks (34-2) at 7:15 p.m. Rams (26-11) vs. Seminoles (23-10) at 9:55 p.m.

Make sure you have enough beer on hand, and remember the Alamo!

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– Words and photo by F.T. Rea