MUScoop

Is there anything to be said for another poll? [If you dont know Father Ted it's my Xmas gift to you - watch it instead of MU games]

At this point I'm starting to get concerned that we'll have too many guys transferring out than not enough. Do Nigel and Adrien stay if they get offered cash money to play on a team with a pulse? What about sheek? What are the rules on decommitting in this day in age? Do we get stuck with a roster of guys that no one would be willing to take off our hands because we pay them too much?

Or is there such a thing? Will Shaka be forced into a complete portal rebuild? Does he walk in that case?

What just a complete unmitigated disaster clusterf*ck dumpster fire. And  ow even Chase sucks too? What is honestly happening?

Most guys will be back. Half the roster ain't transferring.. will Shaka "grow" them idk

Quote from: Johnny B on December 20, 2025, 10:54:12 PMMost guys will be back. Half the roster ain't transferring.. will Shaka "grow" them idk

Have any of our returning players gotten better?

Shaka being back next year is the real question.  It's going to get real ugly the next 2 months.

Quote from: Johnny B on December 20, 2025, 10:54:12 PMMost guys will be back. Half the roster ain't transferring.. will Shaka "grow" them idk

Idk, is Nigel staying if Repole writes him a check with 7 figures on it? If our guys with mkt value don't leave after this sh*tshow I guess it would at least be a testament to the R. I wouldn't blame them tho.

I'm ready for Shaka to bounce. Hopefully any nudging to actually change makes him leave like he left Texas.

If you don't wanna do your fuccking job, just do us all a favor and leave. At least Bennett, Williams, and Wright had the courtesy to leave in the offseason when the NIL era chased them off rather than quit during a season.

Quote from: onepost on December 20, 2025, 11:27:12 PMI'm ready for Shaka to bounce. Hopefully any nudging to actually change makes him leave like he left Texas.

If you don't wanna do your fuccking job, just do us all a favor and leave. At least Bennett, Williams, and Wright had the courtesy to leave in the offseason when the NIL era chased them off rather than quit during a season.

Get a life

Quote from: 79Warrior on December 20, 2025, 11:29:48 PMGet a life

The guy turned Marquette into DePaul in a year's time, is as defiant as ever, all due to his own hubris and I'M the unreasonable one? Hahaha alright.

Quote from: onepost on December 20, 2025, 11:35:08 PMThe guy turned Marquette into DePaul in a year's time, is as defiant as ever, all due to his own hubris and I'M the unreasonable one? Hahaha alright.

One horrendous season doesn't make a program "DePaul", genius.

Quote from: Vander Blue Man Group on December 20, 2025, 11:39:04 PMOne horrendous season doesn't make a program "DePaul", genius.

It does when we're not even competitive to average teams and there are zero indications he's willing to change course at all.

Quote from: Johnny B on December 20, 2025, 10:54:12 PMMost guys will be back. Half the roster ain't transferring.. will Shaka "grow" them idk

That's the answer. And my other question is, if they leave, are they not leaving money on the table? And if they suck, why would they want to leave?

If Shaka is willing to chase off guys who have no business playing here (Sean, Caedin, Tre) or aren't invested (Zaide), while replacing them with legit talent from the portal, then great. Let's keep it going.

I have zero faith he's willing to do that. By all accounts he's gonna double down by "growing" these guys. If you think that's gonna yield a competitive team next season then pass me some of that good stuff. He's notorious for not liking to be pushed to do things not his way, and Mike Broeker is nothing more than a yes man who caters to Shaka.

Quote from: onepost on December 20, 2025, 11:42:51 PMIt does when we're not even competitive to average teams and there are zero indications he's willing to change course at all.

No, it doesn't. But definitely double down on such an insane post.

Food for thought

Last year Seton Hall was 7-25.

They got TEN new players from the portal.

They are 11 - 1 so far this year.

Always 1 year away with the Portal

Quote from: Vander Blue Man Group on December 21, 2025, 12:04:45 AMNo, it doesn't. But definitely double down on such an insane post.

Jesus man, I'm not being literal. I know you, wades, elonsmusk have to get off on semantics so no we didn't become actual DePaul. To spell it out, for Marquette to be as bad as a DePaul team should never happen, and that's our current reality.

They all stay. I've been told here that they make too much money at MU to leave.

Quote from: onepost on December 20, 2025, 11:42:51 PMIt does when we're not even competitive to average teams and there are zero indications he's willing to change course at all.

You're not going to know the big indications of him being willing to change. Shaka, regardless of how much he is or isn't learning, isn't going to come out and say "half these players will be gone next year". He's not going to publicly come after his players no matter how bad they are, this is true of most coaches and certainly true of the RGV guy.

Quote from: Zog from Margo on December 21, 2025, 12:46:54 AMThey all stay. I've been told here that they make too much money at MU to leave.

FACT!

The guy who enlightened me to the fake moon landing told me the same thing.

I think the only guy who might depart on his own without being "cut" is Parham.  Could see him making a lateral move to a lesser P5 school where he would make the same money he does at Marquette while getting the chance to play a bigger role on the team.  He's shown enough flashes for someone to take a flyer.

Quote from: 79Warrior on December 20, 2025, 11:29:48 PMGet a life

what? If Shaka is dug-in on this RGV shiit, he's gotta go. You want another +20 L season where every game is a 30pt embarrassment because, well, our HC has been good in the past, he'll figure it out?

Quote from: Vander Blue Man Group on December 20, 2025, 11:39:04 PMOne horrendous season doesn't make a program "DePaul", genius.

last season, January forward was not good, genius. And those deep March runs...oh, that's right, we haven't had those. So yeah, we're in DePaulville. You have a love fest for Shaka, fine. I don't give a rip who the coach is, just stack-up some wins in March. The current guy hasn't. With Shaka Smart's RGV, MU basketball is nothing more than an embarrassing curiosity.

The amount of losing this season will inevitably have will absolutely bring about departures that we are not yet expecting.  Given Lowery's status, and Shaka's frustrations last night in post-game toward front court players by name, I think it's sadly a matter of time before the locker room gets lost. 

Some of these young guys may see, or have already seen, that there are other opportunities out there that is not beinh a part of a train wreck.

Quote from: GoldenWarrior11 on December 21, 2025, 08:07:55 AMThe amount of losing this season will inevitably have will absolutely bring about departures that we are not yet expecting.  Given Lowery's status, and Shaka's frustrations last night in post-game toward front court players by name, I think it's sadly a matter of time before the locker room gets lost. 

Some of these young guys may see, or have already seen, that there are other opportunities out there that is not beinh a part of a train wreck.

Hard to see how this team could get any more lost.

I think it is highly likely that one or two players leave after this year - one or two you would like to have stay. Other coaches are going to view good MU players as ripe transfer prospects and players like James, Parham, and Stevens are going to have some very tempting opportunities.

Quote from: rgoode57 on December 21, 2025, 09:26:36 AMI think it is highly likely that one or two players leave after this year - one or two you would like to have stay. Other coaches are going to view good MU players as ripe transfer prospects and players like James, Parham, and Stevens are going to have some very tempting opportunities.

The guy you don't want to see leave is Nigel.

The coach should play every player he wants to keep and bench those he doesn't. This includes not playing seniors much.

Quote from: Badgerhater on December 21, 2025, 09:34:08 AMThe coach should play every player he wants to keep and bench those he doesn't. This includes not playing seniors much.

But we could end up not winning any BE games instead of winning........ zero BE games.

What an absolute collapse of the program. The team is exhibiting a complete lack of confidence on both sides of the court. I feel sorry for our guys.

Quote from: Heisenberg on December 21, 2025, 12:05:56 AMFood for thought

Last year Seton Hall was 7-25.

They got TEN new players from the portal.

They are 11 - 1 so far this year.

Always 1 year away with the Portal

...and the Hall supposedly has no money.

Quote from: Viper on December 21, 2025, 07:50:13 AMlast season, January forward was not good, genius. And those deep March runs...oh, that's right, we haven't had those. So yeah, we're in DePaulville. You have a love fest for Shaka, fine. I don't give a rip who the coach is, just stack-up some wins in March. The current guy hasn't. With Shaka Smart's RGV, MU basketball is nothing more than an embarrassing curiosity.

I truly admire your consistency when it comes to low IQ posts. It's impressive.

For the record, I've been plenty critical of Shaka this season.

Quote from: Vander Blue Man Group on December 21, 2025, 01:03:32 PMI truly admire your consistency when it comes to low IQ posts. It's impressive.

For the record, I've been plenty critical of Shaka this season.

I'm low IQ and you post from a studio apartment wall covered in Shaka pics. No need to tell us of your Shaka infatuation. We know.

Quote from: Viper on December 21, 2025, 04:09:19 PMI'm low IQ and you post from a studio apartment wall covered in Shaka pics. No need to tell us of your Shaka infatuation. We know.

There's that consistency I'm referring to.  Keep it up!

Let me try to explain this to you like you're 5 years old...

One DePaul-like season after 4 years of success does not make us DePaul.  It's an illogical, ludicrous, stupid statement considering DePaul's results over the last 20+ years.

So because you have no substantive argument, I "live in a studio apartment with a wall covered in Shaka pics".  Truly brilliant, high-level stuff here.  Even your attempts to insult are lazy and uninspired. 

FYI, it's possible to like Shaka while being critical of the results this season, which are not acceptable.  They are not mutually exclusive. 

I've been plenty critical of him as this season has unfolded, including a thread I started after the Georgetown game.   

Here's the link to that thread, in case you want to take a peak:  https://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=67507.0

But I have a Shaka "infatuation", right?

Like I said, LOW IQ nonsense. 
   

Zero

Here's how I breakdown the 15 players that are currently projected to be on the roster.

Group 1: I hope they stay

Royce Parham
Nigel James
Adrien Stevens

These players all have a positive BPR, so at the very least you want to keep the little talent they have.

Group 2: On the fence
Zaide Lowery
Michael Phillips II
Josh Clark

These three players also have positive BPR, but there are a whole lot of questions in this group. 

Phillips and Clark have small sample sizes.  Clark is barely positive and very easily could end up with a negative BPR, while Phillips is boosted by a couple short stints when he has been hot from downtown.

Considering Phillips reclassified and should still be in HS, and has flashes of shot making, I'd like him to stay.  And Clark has rare height and length, so of all the Shaka projects, he's probably the most worthwhile gamble. (But I think Shaka has spent too much time chasing projects overall.)

Things don't look to be in a great spot with Lowery.  There's always a chance things get rectified, but I'm not holding my breath.

Group 3 incoming freshman and redshirts:

Ian Miletic
Sheek Pearson
Nash Walker
Alex Egbuonu
Ethan Johnston

Sheek and Nash aren't your typical redshirts since both arrived early.  They will join Alex and Ethan in their expected class.

But Ian is your typical redshirt.  From watching his HS games, I knew his defense was far from Big East ready. Hopefully he's having a productive developmental year, but it's kind of concerning he had to redshirt on a team this bad.

Group 4: An inconvenient truth

Sean Jones
Tre Norman
Caedin Hamilton
Damarius Owens

These players all have negative BPR. Shaka's RGV model cannot survive with players being negatives in year 2/3/4. This is the group Shaka needs to have a difficult conversation with each player.  College basketball is basically semi-pro at this point, and along with the upsides that brings, players need to recognize the downsides.

Overall outlook:

Hopefully, Shaka has some serious introspection about how this season went so wrong, several scholarships become available in the off-season, and Shaka returns to the roster building strategy he had when he was hired.  A couple veterans like Morsell and Kuath, a couple transfers with multiple years like Kolek and O-Max, and retaining some young talents and recruits.

If not, his seat will be scorching hot next year (and he may even deserve to be fired if he's unwilling to change this off-season). I really hope things work out with Shaka because he's the rare coach that actually wants to stick around at Marquette for the long haul.  But ultimately, he needs to be judged on his results. And people, whether they are players, coaches, or the AD, need to be held accountable for those results.

Look to the BOT (Board of Trustees) and admission standards.
The coach does not set University policy, he coaches with the team he has.
Junkyard dogs need not apply. 
Marquette likes prep-school student athletes.
Marquette does not deal with "agents", yet.

Quote from: Juan Anderson's Mixtape on December 22, 2025, 11:15:36 AMHere's how I breakdown the 15 players that are currently projected to be on the roster.

Group 1: I hope they stay

Royce Parham
Nigel James
Adrien Stevens

These players all have a positive BPR, so at the very least you want to keep the little talent they have.

Group 2: On the fence
Zaide Lowery
Michael Phillips II
Josh Clark

These three players also have positive BPR, but there are a whole lot of questions in this group. 

Phillips and Clark have small sample sizes.  Clark is barely positive and very easily could end up with a negative BPR, while Phillips is boosted by a couple short stints when he has been hot from downtown.

Considering Phillips reclassified and should still be in HS, and has flashes of shot making, I'd like him to stay.  And Clark has rare height and length, so of all the Shaka projects, he's probably the most worthwhile gamble. (But I think Shaka has spent too much time chasing projects overall.)

Things don't look to be in a great spot with Lowery.  There's always a chance things get rectified, but I'm not holding my breath.

Group 3 incoming freshman and redshirts:

Ian Miletic
Sheek Pearson
Nash Walker
Alex Egbuonu
Ethan Johnston

Sheek and Nash aren't your typical redshirts since both arrived early.  They will join Alex and Ethan in their expected class.

But Ian is your typical redshirt.  From watching his HS games, I knew his defense was far from Big East ready. Hopefully he's having a productive developmental year, but it's kind of concerning he had to redshirt on a team this bad.

Group 4: An inconvenient truth

Sean Jones
Tre Norman
Caedin Hamilton
Damarius Owens

These players all have negative BPR. Shaka's RGV model cannot survive with players being negatives in year 2/3/4. This is the group Shaka needs to have a difficult conversation with each player.  College basketball is basically semi-pro at this point, and along with the upsides that brings, players need to recognize the downsides.

Overall outlook:

Hopefully, Shaka has some serious introspection about how this season went so wrong, several scholarships become available in the off-season, and Shaka returns to the roster building strategy he had when he was hired.  A couple veterans like Morsell and Kuath, a couple transfers with multiple years like Kolek and O-Max, and retaining some young talents and recruits.

If not, his seat will be scorching hot next year (and he may even deserve to be fired if he's unwilling to change this off-season). I really hope things work out with Shaka because he's the rare coach that actually wants to stick around at Marquette for the long haul.  But ultimately, he needs to be judged on his results. And people, whether they are players, coaches, or the AD, need to be held accountable for those results.

I actually like Royce and Zaide quite a bit but if we think Shaka is going to use the portal without drastic turnover, we are only kidding ourselves and for that I'd drop Royce and Zaide down to tier 4. We need Shaka to be absolutely blindsided so he feels that pressure of needing to use the portal.

Bring back Nigel James, Michael Phillips and Adrien Stevens. Commit to the other Freshman and red shirts.

Restart the Junior and Senior classes of next year through the portal. That's how I see it.

Quote from: Juan Anderson's Mixtape on December 22, 2025, 11:15:36 AMHere's how I breakdown the 15 players that are currently projected to be on the roster.

Group 1: I hope they stay

Royce Parham
Nigel James
Adrien Stevens

These players all have a positive BPR, so at the very least you want to keep the little talent they have.

Group 2: On the fence
Zaide Lowery
Michael Phillips II
Josh Clark

These three players also have positive BPR, but there are a whole lot of questions in this group. 

Phillips and Clark have small sample sizes.  Clark is barely positive and very easily could end up with a negative BPR, while Phillips is boosted by a couple short stints when he has been hot from downtown.

Considering Phillips reclassified and should still be in HS, and has flashes of shot making, I'd like him to stay.  And Clark has rare height and length, so of all the Shaka projects, he's probably the most worthwhile gamble. (But I think Shaka has spent too much time chasing projects overall.)

Things don't look to be in a great spot with Lowery.  There's always a chance things get rectified, but I'm not holding my breath.

Group 3 incoming freshman and redshirts:

Ian Miletic
Sheek Pearson
Nash Walker
Alex Egbuonu
Ethan Johnston

Sheek and Nash aren't your typical redshirts since both arrived early.  They will join Alex and Ethan in their expected class.

But Ian is your typical redshirt.  From watching his HS games, I knew his defense was far from Big East ready. Hopefully he's having a productive developmental year, but it's kind of concerning he had to redshirt on a team this bad.

Group 4: An inconvenient truth

Sean Jones
Tre Norman
Caedin Hamilton
Damarius Owens

These players all have negative BPR. Shaka's RGV model cannot survive with players being negatives in year 2/3/4. This is the group Shaka needs to have a difficult conversation with each player.  College basketball is basically semi-pro at this point, and along with the upsides that brings, players need to recognize the downsides.

Overall outlook:

Hopefully, Shaka has some serious introspection about how this season went so wrong, several scholarships become available in the off-season, and Shaka returns to the roster building strategy he had when he was hired.  A couple veterans like Morsell and Kuath, a couple transfers with multiple years like Kolek and O-Max, and retaining some young talents and recruits.

If not, his seat will be scorching hot next year (and he may even deserve to be fired if he's unwilling to change this off-season). I really hope things work out with Shaka because he's the rare coach that actually wants to stick around at Marquette for the long haul.  But ultimately, he needs to be judged on his results. And people, whether they are players, coaches, or the AD, need to be held accountable for those results.

I don't know one way or the other, but Josh Clark has the familiar symptoms of backup quarterback syndrome. "This starter stinks so let's give someone else a try." I have a really hard time getting excited about him given his lack of playing time behind CH. If he had anything whatsoever to offer, he would be playing more on a team like this.

Quote from: vogue65 on December 22, 2025, 11:22:08 AMLook to the BOT (Board of Trustees) and admission standards.
The coach does not set University policy, he coaches with the team he has.
Junkyard dogs need not apply. 
Marquette likes prep-school student athletes.
Marquette does not deal with "agents", yet.

Wut???

Quote from: Juan Anderson's Mixtape on December 22, 2025, 11:15:36 AMHere's how I breakdown the 15 players that are currently projected to be on the roster.

Group 1: I hope they stay

Royce Parham
Nigel James
Adrien Stevens

These players all have a positive BPR, so at the very least you want to keep the little talent they have.

Group 2: On the fence
Zaide Lowery
Michael Phillips II
Josh Clark

These three players also have positive BPR, but there are a whole lot of questions in this group. 

Phillips and Clark have small sample sizes.  Clark is barely positive and very easily could end up with a negative BPR, while Phillips is boosted by a couple short stints when he has been hot from downtown.

Considering Phillips reclassified and should still be in HS, and has flashes of shot making, I'd like him to stay.  And Clark has rare height and length, so of all the Shaka projects, he's probably the most worthwhile gamble. (But I think Shaka has spent too much time chasing projects overall.)

Things don't look to be in a great spot with Lowery.  There's always a chance things get rectified, but I'm not holding my breath.

Group 3 incoming freshman and redshirts:

Ian Miletic
Sheek Pearson
Nash Walker
Alex Egbuonu
Ethan Johnston

Sheek and Nash aren't your typical redshirts since both arrived early.  They will join Alex and Ethan in their expected class.

But Ian is your typical redshirt.  From watching his HS games, I knew his defense was far from Big East ready. Hopefully he's having a productive developmental year, but it's kind of concerning he had to redshirt on a team this bad.

Group 4: An inconvenient truth

Sean Jones
Tre Norman
Caedin Hamilton
Damarius Owens

These players all have negative BPR. Shaka's RGV model cannot survive with players being negatives in year 2/3/4. This is the group Shaka needs to have a difficult conversation with each player.  College basketball is basically semi-pro at this point, and along with the upsides that brings, players need to recognize the downsides.

Overall outlook:

Hopefully, Shaka has some serious introspection about how this season went so wrong, several scholarships become available in the off-season, and Shaka returns to the roster building strategy he had when he was hired.  A couple veterans like Morsell and Kuath, a couple transfers with multiple years like Kolek and O-Max, and retaining some young talents and recruits.

If not, his seat will be scorching hot next year (and he may even deserve to be fired if he's unwilling to change this off-season). I really hope things work out with Shaka because he's the rare coach that actually wants to stick around at Marquette for the long haul.  But ultimately, he needs to be judged on his results. And people, whether they are players, coaches, or the AD, need to be held accountable for those results.

Zaide is gowne

The nightmare is the guys you want to stay leave, and worse, the guys you want to leave stay.

Quote from: mileskishnish72 on December 23, 2025, 02:32:05 PMThe nightmare is the guys you want to stay leave, and worse, the guys you want to leave stay.

Yep that's the fast track to DePaul level bad.

Quote from: mileskishnish72 on December 23, 2025, 02:32:05 PMThe nightmare is the guys you want to stay leave, and worse, the guys you want to leave stay.

At the end of the day, the buck stops with Shaka regarding which players are on our roster next year. If some guys want to leave, there's only so much he can do. But there are multiple players that NEED to go, and he HAS to be on top of that.