While at Marquette Shakas given a few interviews where he's mentioned he's had "one bad team" and that the lack of connectivity and buy in to the culture is what he felt cratered that season and why he's so invested in what has now become the RGV model.
I'm curious if anyone has taken a look at that team's issues and what pivots Shaka made after that 2017 season? Perhaps that could help inform us as to what to expect after this year.
Shaka isn't wrong. The culture of this group is poor.
Now its poor because he allowed sophmores and juniors to fail upwards.
We have Gold and Ross and very little else
Quote from: Galway Eagle on Today at 10:14:57 AMWhile at Marquette Shakas given a few interviews where he's mentioned he's had "one bad team" and that the lack of connectivity and buy in to the culture is what he felt cratered that season and why he's so invested in what has now become the RGV model.
I'm curious if anyone has taken a look at that team's issues and what pivots Shaka made after that 2017 season? Perhaps that could help inform us as to what to expect after this year.
He brought in a top 10 recruiting class highlighted by Mo Bamba, Matt Coleman and Jericho Sims. Two of them were immediate starters and the other was starting by the end of the season.
They grew and built relationships quickly.
Quote from: jfp61 on Today at 10:22:50 AMShaka isn't wrong. The culture of this group is poor.
Now its poor because he allowed sophmores and juniors to fail upwards.
We have Gold and Ross and very little else
You count having Ben Gold as having something?
Quote from: TheREALwrk on Today at 10:27:08 AMYou count having Ben Gold as having something?
Somehow..... He is clearly the second best player on this team.
He is the best big on the team on a team with no serviceable bigs. Because of that his importance is inflated. Nijel James is the second best player overall.
Quote from: jfp61 on Today at 10:30:56 AMSomehow..... He is clearly the second best player on this team.
if I have Ross & James as 1 & 2, you'd place Gold ahead of...?
Quote from: Pakuni on Today at 10:25:11 AMHe brought in a top 10 recruiting class highlighted by Mo Bamba, Matt Coleman and Jericho Sims. Two of them were immediate starters and the other was starting by the end of the season.
They grew and built relationships quickly.
Didn't realize that class came after that year. Beyond recruiting he didn't make any adjustments? Staff, style, cut a bunch of returners?
Quote from: Viper on Today at 10:37:00 AMif I have Ross & James as 1 & 2, you'd place Gold ahead of...?
James.... because defense is fun
Quote from: jfp61 on Today at 10:48:51 AMJames.... because defense is fun
Forgot gold was some elite defender
He's the only big who can defend. So this will be a circular argument.
Quote from: Johnny B on Today at 10:53:30 AMForgot gold was some elite defender
COMPARED TO EVERYONE ELSE ON THIS TEAM HE SOMEHOW IS
Ben Gold gets more hate than deserved. Through 8 games, Evan Miya has him ranked 31st in the Big East based on Bayesian Performance Rating. (For comparison, Chase is ranked 7th and our third highest rated player is Royce at 48th.)
If senior year Ben Gold swapped places with junior year David Joplin, Gold would be just fine as a 4th/5th starter. If Gold could swap places with senior year Dwight Burke, he would have been a huge upgrade and thrived next to the Amigos and Hayward.
Unfortunately, this team needs a number 2 scoring option and Ben never developed into more than a complementary piece. Yes, it's somewhat disappointing, but that disappointment is exacerbated by the overall futility of the rest of the roster.
Quote from: Juan Anderson's Mixtape on Today at 11:19:46 AMBen Gold gets more hate than deserved. Through 8 games, Evan Miya has him ranked 31st in the Big East based on Bayesian Performance Rating. (For comparison, Chase is ranked 7th and our third highest rated player is Royce at 48th.)
This makes him a below average starter in the Big East. Which is exactly what he is.
Is that worthy of "hate?" No. He is who he is. But it's understandable for MU fans to be frustrated that their #2 guy is a below average starter in the entire conference.
And RGV can't work if your fourth-year players are below average starters.