Shaka Smart will not be NC State's next head coach

VCU announced this afternoon that NC State did make him an offer. VCU made a counter-offer and Smart accepted. He'll be remaining at VCU.

The days of a hot mid-major coach automatically snapping up an offer from a power conference team are over. Mid-majors have more opportunities than ever before to make deep post-season runs. Big schools reel in the big talent, which then heads off to the NBA Draft in a year or two. Rinse. Lather. Repeat. Mid-majors get fewer of those ESPN Top 100 and McDonald's All-American players, but those guys aren't lured early to the NBA. So there is time for player development, continuity of system, etc. As those teams' success increases that makes it more likely that they might be able to sneak in an elite level of player or two. Strong veteran team plus perhaps 1 NBA level talent can make for extreme success. See Gonzaga the last 10 years. And Butler now.

Those teams have every bit the chance of going to the NCAA Tournament and making a decent run that NC State has. Maybe even more given the presence of Duke, UNC, and the meatgrinder nature of the ACC.