When I say 'success' I mean 6-11 the rest of the way.
Nigel
Stevens
Chase
Parham
Ben
Those are the starters, and only Stevens is up for debate on being out of a 28-36 minute range per 40 minute game. I want those guys out on the court together a ton. Anything else is completely f*cked and I'm worried the staff is in debt and has a huge bet on under X wins for MU this year. I don't care to hear any of the 'it doesn't matter who starts' bullsh1t - it does and this staff has been nutzo. This isn't even a new criticism - lots of us have been saying it since the beginning of the season.
Zaide being gone makes things a bit more dicey, but thoughts are:
Damarius - 8-18 minutes as a normal target; as we look to the future, his ceiling is much higher than most. Plenty of worthy criticisms at this point, but he can offer what most can't. Get him work and let's hope he grows (pause).
Sean - 4 to 14 minutes; change of pace guy, if it's going well, great run it
Caedin/Clark - 6-18 minutes combined; depends on match ups and play (but not look in the eyes)
MP - 0-8 minutes; when teams go zone, try him out as a zone breaker. I think he'll continue to get worked when on defense, but if he's hitting shots wth
Tre - 0-8 minutes; let's see what Sean's doing.. if we need a steady guy, or if we can bully ball a team (lol) get him some run
Rest of bench: I don't give af if we 'waste' a year of eligibility. If someone feels they can gain more by playing this year, and our staff (eeeek) also does, play 'em. If in 4 years I'm whining because I wish we had f*cking Sheek or Nash one more year, then so be it.
Last night was not horrendous as far as minutes except for a couple of things and the timing of them. I still can't understand what the hell is going on with player rotation and time, but it makes me ill. The roster we came into the year with is better than we have performed - not world beaters, but better. A fair amount of this is on in-game decisions and strategy. Those have been f*cked -- it's not just roster construction.
#Pray
Sorry for being blunt. But ****!!!!!!!!!
Most of us agree with the bluntness (IMO).
6 - 11? are you high?
Start playing for next year.
The idea of pulling redshirts in a lost season is and continues to be extremely dumb.
Stop it.
Quote from: Vander Blue Man Group on December 31, 2025, 05:58:38 PMThe idea of pulling redshirts in a lost season is and continues to be extremely dumb.
Stop it.
Desperate times call for Desperate ideas. 8-)
Quote from: Vander Blue Man Group on December 31, 2025, 05:58:38 PMThe idea of pulling redshirts in a lost season is and continues to be extremely dumb.
Stop it.
Yes, they're so happy watching crappy bball and well so miss their fifth year with us. Get a grip, bub. There are many angles to it and I have zero problems with playing any of them if the angles all add up full circle.
No more self inflicted RGV but Yes transfer portal use!
There is no way Shaka doesn't use the portal moving forward?? I'd like to see them target more "sure things" after their freshmen year like they did with Kolek, O-Max, etc...
Sean, *Zaide, Trey, Damarius, Royce and Caiden as our upper classmen next year doesn't work.
My faith in Shaka remains strong. He'll figure it out, but it seems like he needs to use the method that immediately made him successful at MU. His recruiting classes look awful.
I defended him not using the portal, but I don't see how playing 2 freshmen a ton of minutes is any different than using the portal in relation to the other players on the team.
Quote from: Vander Blue Man Group on December 31, 2025, 05:58:38 PMThe idea of pulling redshirts in a lost season is and continues to be extremely dumb.
The idea of NOT pulling redshirts is extremely dumb if those players have a higher ceiling. Shaka's players that could have had a fifth year have either transferred, or left for the NBA.
Jay Bee,
Couldn't have said it any better. That rotation simply gives the team a better chance to win. Full stop.
A caveat:
Play the seniors less and less as the end of the season approaches and give those minutes to those bench players who have earned more time.
This season is about game experience for next year.
But that assumes growth within the bench.
Quote from: avid1010 on December 31, 2025, 07:46:11 PMThere is no way Shaka doesn't use the portal moving forward?? I'd like to see them target more "sure things" after their freshmen year like they did with Kolek, O-Max, etc...
Sean, *Zaide, Trey, Damarius, Royce and Caiden as our upper classmen next year doesn't work.
My faith in Shaka remains strong. He'll figure it out, but it seems like he needs to use the method that immediately made him successful at MU. His recruiting classes look awful.
I defended him not using the portal, but I don't see how playing 2 freshmen a ton of minutes is any different than using the portal in relation to the other players on the team.
This continues to be said here now and then and it's astounding. If someone was brought in here with the express intent to ruin this program, they couldn't have done better. Because anyone can see things are not looking up for future seasons because we've got players sitting out with major injuries or have 2 or 3 or whatever top 30 recruits coming on board.
No competent coach does what Shaka's done to bring us where we sit today. And that place is one of, if not THE worst team in modern program history. There's no excuse for what he's done. It's not just an off season or rebuilding year, it's egregiously bad and negligent handling of a major college program.
Chase Ross is having a terrible season. Shooting percentages are way down, zero leadership. I'd have no problem giving his minutes to someone who can help win in 26 and beyond. If you're getting blown out with him playing, what's the harm in playing others?
Quote from: HutchwasClutch on January 01, 2026, 09:26:13 AMThis continues to be said here now and then and it's astounding. If someone was brought in here with the express intent to ruin this program, they couldn't have done better. Because anyone can see things are not looking up for future seasons because we've got players sitting out with major injuries or have 2 or 3 or whatever top 30 recruits coming on board.
No competent coach does what Shaka's done to bring us where we sit today. And that place is one of, if not THE worst team in modern program history. There's no excuse for what he's done. It's not just an off season or rebuilding year, it's egregiously bad and negligent handling of a major college program.
So the program Shaka is "ruining" is the one that he built into being something that became a Top 10 program under his watch/building. Inherited a program that was 83rd in Ken Pom.
Look, Shaka got burned by pretty much this whole returning team underperforming reasonable expectations of growth. Zaide didn't take the next step despite seemingly getting it done in practice/but not able to translate to gamedays. Sean largely has been a difference maker in the wrong direction. Ben Gold's shooting has regressed. Royce started the year very slowly. Damarious hasn't taken much of a step forward. Chase started the year looking like he'd made improvement but he's fizzled as Royce and Nigel have started to really improve.
The in game coaching has not been great, yet I also feel the crappy performance of pretty much every player (poor shooting, careless turnovers, missed layups), put Shaka into the spin cycle of wholesale substitutions, grasping for straws.
Assuming MU provides the $$$ resources to be very competitive in the portal, there is no reason to think after getting burned this badly by RGV Shaka wouldn't go to the portal and rebuild the program just as he did when he got to MU Year 1. That is assuming he decides he wants to continue coaching in this day and age.
Quote from: Elonsmusk on January 01, 2026, 09:44:23 AMSo the program Shaka is "ruining" is the one that he built into being something that became a Top 10 program under his watch/building. Inherited a program that was 83rd in Ken Pom.
Look, Shaka got burned by pretty much this whole returning team underperforming reasonable expectations of growth. Zaide didn't take the next step despite seemingly getting it done in practice/but not able to translate to gamedays. Sean largely has been a difference maker in the wrong direction. Ben Gold's shooting has regressed. Royce started the year very slowly. Damarious hasn't taken much of a step forward. Chase started the year looking like he'd made improvement but he's fizzled as Royce and Nigel have started to really improve.
The in game coaching has not been great, yet I also feel the crappy performance of pretty much every player (poor shooting, careless turnovers, missed layups), put Shaka into the spin cycle of wholesale substitutions, grasping for straws.
Assuming MU provides the $$$ resources to be very competitive in the portal, there is no reason to think after getting burned this badly by RGV Shaka wouldn't go to the portal and rebuild the program just as he did when he got to MU Year 1. That is assuming he decides he wants to continue coaching in this day and age.
Right, it's 💯 on every player their underperformance. Shaka got "burned" by each and every one of them. Do you hear yourself and how nonsensical that is?? He's the one after all that came up with RGV. The G part of that is most certainly his to impact. Some kids won't live up to expectations. That's the reality of college sports. But when everyone falls short, sort of indicative of a much deeper problem, right?
That and his and his staff evaluations of a few guys were completely off base. Which Shaka owns completely. It's not the kids fault if they were brought in and have no business playing at this level (Tre Norman).
Quote from: HutchwasClutch on January 01, 2026, 09:57:37 AMRight, it's 💯 on every player their underperformance. Shaka got "burned" by each and every one of them. Do you hear yourself and how nonsensical that is?? He's the one after all that came up with RGV. The G part of that is most certainly his to impact. Some kids won't live up to expectations. That's the reality of college sports. But when everyone falls short, sort of indicative of a much deeper problem, right?
That and his and his staff evaluations of a few guys were completely off base. Which Shaka owns completely. It's not the kids fault if they were brought in and have no business playing at this level (Tre Norman).
I don't think my feelings that the players haven't grown/taken the next step being on the players, is anymore nonsensical than thinking the guy who built MU back into a Top 10 program from the 10 year drought of NCAA tournament wins is the problem.
Quote from: Elonsmusk on January 01, 2026, 11:08:56 AMI don't think my feelings that the players haven't grown/taken the next step being on the players, is anymore nonsensical than thinking the guy who built MU back into a Top 10 program from the 10 year drought of NCAA tournament wins is the problem.
This "10 year drought" is just purposefully misleading context for anyone such as yourself that knows and follows this program's history. Just prior to that 10 year drought, they had a threepeat of 2nd weekend NCAA appearances, with an Elite Eight included. We were a 5 seed when we lost in 2019 to Murray St. Wojo left Shaka with guys like Lewis, Oso, Kam, and Stevie. This program has all the resources and support any major college coach could ask for to be successful. Let's stop acting like Shaka took this underdog to success.
He had a good first three years, including excellent 2nd and 3rd seasons. Last year they were at best mediocre after early December. They had what, one top 100 win in the 2025 calendar year. The signs were already apparent there was a problem. And now the wheels come off completely, where we're staring at a 20 loss season and likely less than 5 conference wins, which may be a generous projection.
Shaka had at most one more year at Texas before being fired unless some dramatic NCAAT success happened. It's no secret that's how he landed here. And now egregiously bad roster building and lack of growth. As I said previously, this is not some hard luck season with really good players being injured, ineligibility not expected, etc. Year 5 and we haven't just regressed, we've fallen off a cliff by any objective measure. Dead last in the conference is not only possible, but likely. So forgive us that some like me are just not all that taken as you are with the totality of Shaka's work.
Look, it really doesn't matter if Scoop has faith in Shaka. He is very likely going to be back next season. Hopefully he will figure it out.
I'm not sure redshirting and playing in practice vs. our current squad is going to improve them much anyway
Quote from: HutchwasClutch on January 01, 2026, 12:10:55 PMThis "10 year drought" is just purposefully misleading context for anyone such as yourself that knows and follows this program's history. Just prior to that 10 year drought, they had a threepeat of 2nd weekend NCAA appearances, with an Elite Eight included. We were a 5 seed when we lost in 2019 to Murray St. Wojo left Shaka with guys like Lewis, Oso, Kam, and Stevie. This program has all the resources and support any major college coach could ask for to be successful. Let's stop acting like Shaka took this underdog to success.
He had a good first three years, including excellent 2nd and 3rd seasons. Last year they were at best mediocre after early December. They had what, one top 100 win in the 2025 calendar year. The signs were already apparent there was a problem. And now the wheels come off completely, where we're staring at a 20 loss season and likely less than 5 conference wins, which may be a generous projection.
Shaka had at most one more year at Texas before being fired unless some dramatic NCAAT success happened. It's no secret that's how he landed here. And now egregiously bad roster building and lack of growth. As I said previously, this is not some hard luck season with really good players being injured, ineligibility not expected, etc. Year 5 and we haven't just regressed, we've fallen off a cliff by any objective measure. Dead last in the conference is not only possible, but likely. So forgive us that some like me are just not all that taken as you are with the totality of Shaka's work.
You're right. Shaka walked into a dream program. College basketball landscape is exactly the same now is it was when Buzz was coach. Current Big East conference (marquee/prestige/attractivness to recruits) is the exact same as the one Buzz coached in (not.)
What's your solution? Like right now (or the last month), since you and so many other former Shaka fans have turned on Shaka - what would you do? Who's on your short list of better coaching candidates than Shaka that realistically is going to take the MU job?
Quote from: Elonsmusk on January 01, 2026, 01:39:01 PMYou're right. Shaka walked into a dream program. College basketball landscape is exactly the same now is it was when Buzz was coach. Current Big East conference (marquee/prestige/attractivness to recruits) is the exact same as the one Buzz coached in (not.)
What's your solution? Like right now (or the last month), since you and so many other former Shaka fans have turned on Shaka - what would you do? Who's on your short list of better coaching candidates than Shaka that realistically is going to take the MU job?
TROLL.
Quote from: HutchwasClutch on January 01, 2026, 12:10:55 PMThis "10 year drought" is just purposefully misleading context for anyone such as yourself that knows and follows this program's history. Just prior to that 10 year drought, they had a threepeat of 2nd weekend NCAA appearances, with an Elite Eight included. We were a 5 seed when we lost in 2019 to Murray St. Wojo left Shaka with guys like Lewis, Oso, Kam, and Stevie. This program has all the resources and support any major college coach could ask for to be successful. Let's stop acting like Shaka took this underdog to success.
It also ignores that 2020 didn't have a tournament. It ignores that, given his reaction to Shaka deserving this down year, he should have been ok with the 2014 year. It also ignores that Shaka himself is a data point during that "0/10" it gives him kudos without acknowledging his own contribution to a frustrating decade.
Quote from: Elonsmusk on January 01, 2026, 01:39:01 PMCurrent Big East conference (marquee/prestige/attractivness to recruits) is the exact same as the one Buzz coached in (not.)
can you actually point to data that shows the average recruiting rankings dropping at MU, Nova, SJU, SHU, PC, GU, and DPU after the NBE was formed? Can you do a comparison of UConn now vs UConn then?
Because I'm thinking Georgetown is likely the only one that had a significant drop and that's mostly due to Ewing not the conference.
are we sure Elonmusk is not Dodd's alter ego? Go read the Dodd's defense of Shaka not calling timeouts - it's quite comical. If Elon starts adding in shooting backgrounds, tired legs, freshman walls, or diffuclty of beating teams on Senior night, we will know...
Quote from: Elonsmusk on January 01, 2026, 09:44:23 AMSo the program Shaka is "ruining" is the one that he built into being something that became a Top 10 program under his watch/building. Inherited a program that was 83rd in Ken Pom.
Look, Shaka got burned by pretty much this whole returning team underperforming reasonable expectations of growth. Zaide didn't take the next step despite seemingly getting it done in practice/but not able to translate to gamedays. Sean largely has been a difference maker in the wrong direction. Ben Gold's shooting has regressed. Royce started the year very slowly. Damarious hasn't taken much of a step forward. Chase started the year looking like he'd made improvement but he's fizzled as Royce and Nigel have started to really improve.
The in game coaching has not been great, yet I also feel the crappy performance of pretty much every player (poor shooting, careless turnovers, missed layups), put Shaka into the spin cycle of wholesale substitutions, grasping for straws.
Assuming MU provides the $$$ resources to be very competitive in the portal, there is no reason to think after getting burned this badly by RGV Shaka wouldn't go to the portal and rebuild the program just as he did when he got to MU Year 1. That is assuming he decides he wants to continue coaching in this day and age.
Quote from: Elonsmusk on January 01, 2026, 01:39:01 PMYou're right. Shaka walked into a dream program. College basketball landscape is exactly the same now is it was when Buzz was coach. Current Big East conference (marquee/prestige/attractivness to recruits) is the exact same as the one Buzz coached in (not.)
What's your solution? Like right now (or the last month), since you and so many other former Shaka fans have turned on Shaka - what would you do? Who's on your short list of better coaching candidates than Shaka that realistically is going to take the MU job?
I never said nor implied it's a "dream program". And you know that. I merely stated what reality is and that is it's a very good job with plenty of resources to win at consistently. Period. I feel confident that would be a widely held consensus opinion of our program for those that follow college basketball outside our program.
I would probably still give Shaka one more chance to start using the portal. But there's always coaches who are good but no longer feeling the love where they are or other circumstances going on and that largely is unknown until the coaching turnover cycle gets in full motion. Did Villanova fans really think they'd poach Willard out of Maryland last year at this time? Or did anyone predict Buzz would be ready to move on again from his home state already?
There's possibilities no one sees coming and we're more than of enough stature in the landscape to take advantage. It's the old COLE mindset that Shaka's the best we can ever do. Especially how badly he's managed things that have led to this season.
Quote from: HutchwasClutch on January 01, 2026, 09:26:13 AMThis continues to be said here now and then and it's astounding. If someone was brought in here with the express intent to ruin this program, they couldn't have done better. Because anyone can see things are not looking up for future seasons because we've got players sitting out with major injuries or have 2 or 3 or whatever top 30 recruits coming on board.
No competent coach does what Shaka's done to bring us where we sit today. And that place is one of, if not THE worst team in modern program history. There's no excuse for what he's done. It's not just an off season or rebuilding year, it's egregiously bad and negligent handling of a major college program.
well said
Quote from: HutchwasClutch on January 01, 2026, 09:57:37 AMRight, it's 💯 on every player their underperformance. Shaka got "burned" by each and every one of them. Do you hear yourself and how nonsensical that is?? He's the one after all that came up with RGV. The G part of that is most certainly his to impact. Some kids won't live up to expectations. That's the reality of college sports. But when everyone falls short, sort of indicative of a much deeper problem, right?
That and his and his staff evaluations of a few guys were completely off base. Which Shaka owns completely. It's not the kids fault if they were brought in and have no business playing at this level (Tre Norman).
also well said
Quote from: HutchwasClutch on January 01, 2026, 02:19:38 PMI never said nor implied it's a "dream program". And you know that. I merely stated what reality is and that is it's a very good job with plenty of resources to win at consistently. Period. I feel confident that would be a widely held consensus opinion of our program for those that follow college basketball outside our program.
I would probably still give Shaka one more chance to start using the portal. But there's always coaches who are good but no longer feeling the love where they are or other circumstances going on and that largely is unknown until the coaching turnover cycle gets in full motion. Did Villanova fans really think they'd poach Willard out of Maryland last year at this time? Or did anyone predict Buzz would be ready to move on again from his home state already?
There's possibilities no one sees coming and we're more than of enough stature in the landscape to take advantage. It's the old COLE mindset that Shaka's the best we can ever do. Especially how badly he's managed things that have led to this season.
hat trick!!!
Quote from: rocky_warrior on December 31, 2025, 08:59:56 PMThe idea of NOT pulling redshirts is extremely dumb if those players have a higher ceiling. Shaka's players that could have had a fifth year have either transferred, or left for the NBA.
No, it remains extremely dumb. There's a reason those guys are redshirting and it's because they were not ready to help this team win from a physical or skills perspective.
Even if the possibility of Miletic or Sheek being here for a 5th year is low they may want to play a 5th year elsewhere.
There's no benefit to wasting a year of eligibility in a lost season. None.
Quote from: rocky_warrior on December 31, 2025, 08:59:56 PMThe idea of NOT pulling redshirts is extremely dumb if those players have a higher ceiling. Shaka's players that could have had a fifth year have either transferred, or left for the NBA.
Don't bother, VBMG is the dumbest of the dumb.
Quote from: Vander Blue Man Group on January 01, 2026, 02:54:01 PMNo, it remains extremely dumb. There's a reason those guys are redshirting and it's because they were not ready to help this team win from a physical or skills perspective.
Even if the possibility of Miletic or Sheek being here for a 5th year is low they may want to play a 5th year elsewhere.
There's no benefit to wasting a year of eligibility in a lost season. None.
It seems extremely dumb to me, especially in this brave new world of college basketball, to recruit and pay guys who don't have the physicality or skills to help you right away. When has Marquette *ever* had three non-injured players redshirting during the same season? I mean, teams are signing NBA draft picks mid-season while we have three 18 year olds contributing nothing to the current roster other than "pouring into each other" and "getting lost in the fight" in practice, where it has been said the players are way ahead of where they are in games because they "fly around" or something. What genius thought redshirting three guys in a single year would be a good idea?
Quote from: Biggie Clausen on January 01, 2026, 04:58:01 PMIt seems extremely dumb to me, especially in this brave new world of college basketball, to recruit and pay guys who don't have the physicality or skills to help you right away. When has Marquette *ever* had three non-injured players redshirting during the same season? I mean, teams are signing NBA draft picks mid-season while we have three 18 year olds contributing nothing to the current roster other than "pouring into each other" and "getting lost in the fight" in practice, where it has been said the players are way ahead of where they are in games because they "fly around" or something. What genius thought redshirting three guys in a single year would be a good idea?
It's worth noting that roster limits increased from 13 to 15 for this season. That might help explain why a program might choose to have 3 redshirt players on their roster.
Quote from: Elonsmusk on January 01, 2026, 09:44:23 AMLook, Shaka got burned by pretty much this whole returning team underperforming reasonable expectations of growth. Zaide didn't take the next step despite seemingly getting it done in practice/but not able to translate to gamedays. Sean largely has been a difference maker in the wrong direction. Ben Gold's shooting has regressed. Royce started the year very slowly. Damarious hasn't taken much of a step forward. Chase started the year looking like he'd made improvement but he's fizzled as Royce and Nigel have started to really improve.
The in game coaching has not been great, yet I also feel the crappy performance of pretty much every player (poor shooting, careless turnovers, missed layups), put Shaka into the spin cycle of wholesale substitutions, grasping for straws.
Stop trying to make Shaka a victim. He's not the victim. He's the perp.
The players who can't make layups, who turn over the ball and play matador defense? Those are players he chose to bring into the program.
They haven't developed? It's the job of Shaka and his staff to develop them. The players' failure to develop is also a failure of coaching.
And justifying the haphazard rotations as grasping at straws makes me wonder what Shaka's been doing the past six months. Why are we now in the third month of the season and he still hasn't figured out what his players are capable of?
Quote from: mug644 on January 01, 2026, 06:25:18 PMIt's worth noting that roster limits increased from 13 to 15 for this season. That might help explain why a program might choose to have 3 redshirt players on their roster.
15 players allow for you to take flyers on projects. Nothing wrong with that. But when you over estimate those flyers ability to compete, that's a problem.
Quote from: SOSW on January 01, 2026, 06:46:38 PM15 players allow for you to take flyers on projects. Nothing wrong with that. But when you over estimate those flyers ability to compete, that's a problem.
Or recruiting 13 flyers, not 2 or 3?
Quote from: SOSW on January 01, 2026, 06:46:38 PM15 players allow for you to take flyers on projects. Nothing wrong with that. But when you over estimate those flyers ability to compete, that's a problem.
15 scholarship players, 5 of whom will never/rarely see the floor, is a wasteful thinning of NIL resources.
Quote from: Pakuni on January 01, 2026, 06:54:49 PM15 scholarship players, 5 of whom will never/rarely see the floor, is a wasteful thinning of NIL resources.
Taking projects means taking players who aren't going to demand much NIL. But I get your point.
Quote from: HutchwasClutch on January 01, 2026, 09:26:13 AMThis continues to be said here now and then and it's astounding. If someone was brought in here with the express intent to ruin this program, they couldn't have done better. Because anyone can see things are not looking up for future seasons because we've got players sitting out with major injuries or have 2 or 3 or whatever top 30 recruits coming on board.
No competent coach does what Shaka's done to bring us where we sit today. And that place is one of, if not THE worst team in modern program history. There's no excuse for what he's done. It's not just an off season or rebuilding year, it's egregiously bad and negligent handling of a major college program.
This is a brutal take.
If someone was brought in here in 2021 with the express intent to bring Marquette a Big East Championship, BET title, and multiple 2 seeds in his first 4 seasons we would all be laughing our asses off that it's a complete joke.
Shaka did that. There is likely no one else they could have brought in that would have done that. I know I know "you don't know that for a fact... there are plenty of capable hires..." blah blah.
What the man did to the basketball program as a new hire in his first 4 seasons was way beyond what we could have dreamed of.
How in Gods green Earth could you turn on that so quickly?
Quote from: DoctorV on January 01, 2026, 09:20:55 PMThis is a brutal take.
If someone was brought in here in 2021 with the express intent to bring Marquette a Big East Championship, BET title, and multiple 2 seeds in his first 4 seasons we would all be laughing our asses off that it's a complete joke.
Shaka did that. There is likely no one else they could have brought in that would have done that. I know I know "you don't know that for a fact... there are plenty of capable hires..." blah blah.
What the man did to the basketball program as a new hire in his first 4 seasons was way beyond what we could have dreamed of.
How in Gods green Earth could you turn on that so quickly?
Have you been paying attention the last year and a half?
Quote from: panda on January 01, 2026, 09:21:37 PMHave you been paying attention the last year and a half?
No I've been watching Murder she wrote
Quote from: DoctorV on January 01, 2026, 09:22:59 PMNo I've been watching Murder she wrote
Valid excuse. Can I recommend Barnaby Jones as your next watch?
Quote from: DoctorV on January 01, 2026, 09:20:55 PMThis is a brutal take.
If someone was brought in here in 2021 with the express intent to bring Marquette a Big East Championship, BET title, and multiple 2 seeds in his first 4 seasons we would all be laughing our asses off that it's a complete joke.
Shaka did that. There is likely no one else they could have brought in that would have done that. I know I know "you don't know that for a fact... there are plenty of capable hires..." blah blah.
What the man did to the basketball program as a new hire in his first 4 seasons was way beyond what we could have dreamed of.
How in Gods green Earth could you turn on that so quickly?
Sometimes, a coach will luck out with one player. Dwyane Wade made Tom Crean's whole career. That Big East Championship, BET title, and consecutive 2 seeds? Years from now, especially if he gets his chance to shine in the NBA, I think history will show that Tyler Kolek was the driving force for all of MU's success during those two seasons, not Shaka. For the sake of MU fans, hopefully that doesn't prove true.
Quote from: DoctorV on January 01, 2026, 09:20:55 PMThis is a brutal take.
If someone was brought in here in 2021 with the express intent to bring Marquette a Big East Championship, BET title, and multiple 2 seeds in his first 4 seasons we would all be laughing our asses off that it's a complete joke.
Shaka did that. There is likely no one else they could have brought in that would have done that. I know I know "you don't know that for a fact... there are plenty of capable hires..." blah blah.
What the man did to the basketball program as a new hire in his first 4 seasons was way beyond what we could have dreamed of.
How in Gods green Earth could you turn on that so quickly?
Not even the slightest acknowledgement about here and now that this year isn't just down, but is on the fast track to being historically bad for this program. Last year was good for the first month and then we basically couldn't beat anyone good. One win over a top 100 school all of calendar year 2025.
It is brutal...a brutal reality the state of this proud program.
Quote from: HutchwasClutch on January 01, 2026, 11:10:52 PMNot even the slightest acknowledgement about here and now that this year isn't just down, but is on the fast track to being historically bad for this program. Last year was good for the first month and then we basically couldn't beat anyone good. One win over a top 100 school all of calendar year 2025.
It is brutal...a brutal reality the state of this proud program.
Buddy wants to say we can't ignore what happened 11-14 years ago, but then wants to ignore what happened 18 months ago because we have an "incompetent" coach (who has coached in a Final Four and won a Big East regular season and Tournament title in the last 3 years).
From winning the Big East regular sesson and tourney titles to possibly winless in conference just 3 years later. That's even worse than one can imagine - thanks for pointing that out.
Quote from: wadesworld on January 01, 2026, 11:48:59 PMBuddy wants to say we can't ignore what happened 11-14 years ago, but then wants to ignore what happened 18 months ago because we have an "incompetent" coach (who has coached in a Final Four and won a Big East regular season and Tournament title in the last 3 years).
Quote from: Biggie Clausen on January 01, 2026, 10:29:27 PMSometimes, a coach will luck out with one player. Dwyane Wade made Tom Crean's whole career. That Big East Championship, BET title, and consecutive 2 seeds? Years from now, especially if he gets his chance to shine in the NBA, I think history will show that Tyler Kolek was the driving force for all of MU's success during those two seasons, not Shaka. For the sake of MU fans, hopefully that doesn't prove true.
Won two BET games without him and reached a final, which has only happened twice in 19 MU BETs. He was really good, the team around him was also really good.
Quote from: DoctorV on January 01, 2026, 09:20:55 PMHow in Gods green Earth could you turn on that so quickly?
You said potentially 2 more years of not making the tournament, this level of bad more than eats away at 2023's level of good, if next year's remotely the same it cancels out 2024. That levels him with two very pedestrian years on his resume neither of which were strong enough to warrant another chance.
Quote from: Vander Blue Man Group on January 01, 2026, 02:54:01 PMNo, it remains extremely dumb. There's a reason those guys are redshirting and it's because they were not ready to help this team win from a physical or skills perspective.
Even if the possibility of Miletic or Sheek being here for a 5th year is low they may want to play a 5th year elsewhere.
There's no benefit to wasting a year of eligibility in a lost season. None.
There actually is a benefit--you get to see how these guys perform against Big East level competition
now rather than waiting until next season.
If they aren't going to cut it in the Big East, I'd rather know now when there's still a chance to reuse those roster slots in the current recruiting cycle.
We need all the help we can get next season. Taking three chances to bring in game-changing talent off the table simply because the current redshirts might want to keep their options open in 2030 is not in MU's best interest.
Quote from: Galway Eagle on January 02, 2026, 11:00:10 AMYou said potentially 2 more years of not making the tournament, this level of bad more than eats away at 2023's level of good, if next year's remotely the same it cancels out 2024. That levels him with two very pedestrian years on his resume neither of which were strong enough to warrant another chance.
Excellent points!
Quote from: The Equalizer on January 02, 2026, 12:47:32 PMThere actually is a benefit--you get to see how these guys perform against Big East level competition now rather than waiting until next season.
If they aren't going to cut it in the Big East, I'd rather know now when there's still a chance to reuse those roster slots in the current recruiting cycle.
We need all the help we can get next season. Taking three chances to bring in game-changing talent off the table simply because the current redshirts might want to keep their options open in 2030 is not in MU's best interest.
Seeing whether they can cut it
now against Big East competition is only useful if:
1. You believe it's fair and useful to judge players who've played zero competitive minutes for nearly a year by throwing them in the deep end against older opponents who've been playing for 3+ months.
2. You believe Shaka believes that's a fair and useful way to judge players.
3. You believe Shaka would cut a player who fails to prove he can cut it against Big East competition by being inserted into the lineup midseason with no prior game experience.
If you believe any of the above, you haven't been paying attention.
Quote from: DoctorV on January 01, 2026, 09:20:55 PMThis is a brutal take.
If someone was brought in here in 2021 with the express intent to bring Marquette a Big East Championship, BET title, and multiple 2 seeds in his first 4 seasons we would all be laughing our asses off that it's a complete joke.
Shaka did that. There is likely no one else they could have brought in that would have done that. I know I know "you don't know that for a fact... there are plenty of capable hires..." blah blah.
What the man did to the basketball program as a new hire in his first 4 seasons was way beyond what we could have dreamed of.
How in Gods green Earth could you turn on that so quickly?
then what was Shaka brought in to do? Just make us competitive? Be Wojo II? Hasn't every MU coach been brought in to win titles and make the tourney? We're Marquette, basketball is as important to our school as any, especially in this new era of college sports.
In MLB arbitration hearings, salaries are determined by predicted future performance, not past performance. Shaka, and every coach, should be judged more on where the program is going (as was correctly done with Mike Deane, despite averaging 20 wins a year, 1 CUSA tourney title, two NCAA appearances, and a NIT finals appearance). Sorry, 2025-26 likely being the worst season in MU history does not get ignored because of 2022-23 and 2023-24. NC State fired Kerry Keats the year after beating us and going to the Final Four!
Are MU's leaders really going to say, "Don't worry about the 20+ losses and multiple 20-point blowout losses, you won a Big East title three years ago." If they do maybe MU isn't as serious about basketball as we thought.
Quote from: Pakuni on January 02, 2026, 01:11:47 PMSeeing whether they can cut it now against Big East competition is only useful if:
1. You believe it's fair and useful to judge players who've played zero competitive minutes for nearly a year by throwing them in the deep end against older opponents who've been playing for 3+ months.
2. You believe Shaka believes that's a fair and useful way to judge players.
3. You believe Shaka would cut a player who fails to prove he can cut it against Big East competition by being inserted into the lineup midseason with no prior game experience.
If you believe any of the above, you haven't been paying attention.
On the other hand, we knew almost instantly that Niv Berkowitz wasn't going to be a high-major D1 player--and not just the first year because he started playing mid-season against older and more experienced opponents.
I trust Shaka would be able to judge a player's future
in that context, just like Crean was able to judge Berkowitz (correctly, I believe).
Whether I think it's fair or if I believe Shaka would do so is irrelevant. The question was whether there is any value in playing these guys now, and if a coach can expose another Berkowitz, then yes, there is some value.
Quote from: Biggie Clausen on January 01, 2026, 04:58:01 PMIt seems extremely dumb to me, especially in this brave new world of college basketball, to recruit and pay guys who don't have the physicality or skills to help you right away. When has Marquette *ever* had three non-injured players redshirting during the same season? I mean, teams are signing NBA draft picks mid-season while we have three 18 year olds contributing nothing to the current roster other than "pouring into each other" and "getting lost in the fight" in practice, where it has been said the players are way ahead of where they are in games because they "fly around" or something. What genius thought redshirting three guys in a single year would be a good idea?
And, as someone already mentioned, it's extremely dumb not to recognize the new scholarship limit.
The issue is not the # of redshirts. The issue is that the senior class doesn't have an All Big-East level player or anyone able to carry the team and the junior class is a complete bust.
The problem is not having some guys that are redshirting.
Also, it would be extremely dumb to compare the redshirts of Miletic and Pearson to those of Clark and Hamilton as they were wanted by other high-major programs.
Quote from: The Equalizer on January 02, 2026, 12:47:32 PMThere actually is a benefit--you get to see how these guys perform against Big East level competition now rather than waiting until next season.
If they aren't going to cut it in the Big East, I'd rather know now when there's still a chance to reuse those roster slots in the current recruiting cycle.
We need all the help we can get next season. Taking three chances to bring in game-changing talent off the table simply because the current redshirts might want to keep their options open in 2030 is not in MU's best interest.
That's nonsensical. If they were ready to be productive against Big East-level competition they wouldn't be redshirting.
Yet you want to throw them out there on a horrendous team and into a situation where the likelihood of failure is high.
That's not productive and believing you'll be able to identify how they'll be able to perform at this level based on limited minutes over 17 more games is ludicrous.
We don't need 8 open scholarships to field a much better team next season.
This coming from a portion of the fanbase that would have been fine fine jettisoning Oso and TK early in their careers.
Some of you need to go back and take another round of Logic at Marquette.
Quote from: Billy Hoyle on January 02, 2026, 01:14:07 PMthen what was Shaka brought in to do? Just make us competitive? Be Wojo II? Hasn't every MU coach been brought in to win titles and make the tourney? We're Marquette, basketball is as important to our school as any, especially in this new era of college sports.
In MLB arbitration hearings, salaries are determined by predicted future performance, not past performance. Shaka, and every coach, should be judged more on where the program is going (as was correctly done with Mike Deane, despite averaging 20 wins a year, 1 CUSA tourney title, two NCAA appearances, and a NIT finals appearance). Sorry, 2025-26 likely being the worst season in MU history does not get ignored because of 2022-23 and 2023-24. NC State fired Kerry Keats the year after beating us and going to the Final Four!
Are MU's leaders really going to say, "Don't worry about the 20+ losses and multiple 20-point blowout losses, you won a Big East title three years ago." If they do maybe MU isn't as serious about basketball as we thought.
Kerry Keats was fired because, in spite of one miraculous run, he was Wojo-esque. 3 tourney appearances in 8 years with no other wins besides what was very obviously a complete outlier. It's bad comparison.
Quote from: The Equalizer on January 02, 2026, 12:47:32 PMThere actually is a benefit--you get to see how these guys perform against Big East level competition now rather than waiting until next season.
If they aren't going to cut it in the Big East, I'd rather know now when there's still a chance to reuse those roster slots in the current recruiting cycle.
We need all the help we can get next season. Taking three chances to bring in game-changing talent off the table simply because the current redshirts might want to keep their options open in 2030 is not in MU's best interest.
Throwing a guy who reclassed and a guy who got here two weeks ago into the heart of the big east season is not a strategy to set them up for success.