2011 NCAA Final Four: King Shaka and Shaka Smart Must Be Part of the Same Tribe

There are few things more important than technical fouls.

Simply put, most say that there is a time and place for a coach to get them. Yet when VCU's Shaka Smart got one with the Kansas Jayhawks knocking on the door after so many minutes in the lead, there was no spectator watching and no one on the benches or anywhere else that knew what was happening who thought the move was Smart (he had  no other technical fouls in the season) or smart (what in the world is he doing?).

The rest is now part of VCU and NCAA lore. And that Shaka Smart feels the best thing his dad did for him was to give him his name.

In 1816, Shaka became king of the Zulus. He was 30.

At the time, the Zulus were not the most powerful of the African tribes. Others, perhaps many others, were more powerful.

Yet over time, the Zulus brought every other tribe either under their tribe or annihilated them. One by one, they were defeated.

Shaka Smart has said the best thing his father ever did for him was to name him Shaka. Not clear why. Yet it does seem to lessen the impact of that last name.

Presumably, both Shakas were very smart. We know this for certain about Shaka Smart, a magna cum laude graduate of Kenyon College who could have gone to Harvard or Yale. Smart he definitely is.

Also, both Shakas are great leaders.

When the VCU players seemed to be letting the heat get to them, Shaka Smart made them relax with his own foul. "Wait a minute! If the coach thinks it is safe to get a two shot technical, surely we are not that badly off." One can imagine the thinking, but not the guts to execute it.

So it was with the Zulus, who followed their fearless leader into battles to the point that his name persists in worldwide lore.

The Zulus were fierce fighters, often fighting against incredible odds, but still winning.

So it is with the VCU Rams.

We may not see Shaka Smart in the championship game. And it is a shame that Butler meets VCU in the semifinals because one of these teams will be going home.

Yet, in order to be the best you have to beat the best. And now only Butler's Brad Stevens stands in Shaka Smart's way.

Who will take the next step?

Surely, with Shaka as their chief, we are as likely to see VCU as Butler.