My instinct wanted to start a "what if" thread and ask what if our senior and jr class was actually playing good basketball?
The point of it is that, all things considered, Marquettes frosh of Nigel and Adrien are what we would want from a freshman class.
Royce is coming on strong too- you'd be surprised to find that he's played 35+ minutes in 3 of his last 4 BE games, and he's been pretty good.
Nigel showed stardom today, and even though he's not going to be THAT 3P shooter at Marquette, even if he's average from outside he's going to be a star at Marquette. I don't want to over-talk the kid so early so we will leave him at that, but he's got the heart of champion and I can't wait to see the twists/turns/rise of his 4 year career.
One of the silver linings of this putrid season is the above 3 getting heavy minutes and experience in meaningful BE play- 37/37/31 in minutes today.
So...
Question is- what type of Marquette career will Royce, Nigel, and Adrien have?
I don't know yet, but it gives us something exciting to follow during this dark stretch
Agree. The younger two classes are just fine (save maybe DO). If we were getting any offensive production from upperclassmen this team could be solid.
RGV IS BACK, baby!!
The trick with rgv is to recruit bad players, keep them around for a couple of years and then everyone coming into the program will look better than said players. GROWTH!
Quote from: panda on January 10, 2026, 05:09:39 PMThe trick with rgv is to recruit bad players, keep them around for a couple of years and then everyone coming into the program will look better than said players. GROWTH!
"Started from the bottom now we here! (6-11!!)"
Quote from: Jay Bee on January 10, 2026, 05:15:06 PM"Started from the bottom now we here! (6-11!!)"
Hang the banner
*competed, battled but ultimately lost to Villanova at home
Quote from: DoctorV on January 10, 2026, 04:42:15 PMMy instinct wanted to start a "what if" thread and ask what if our senior and jr class was actually playing good basketball?
The point of it is that, all things considered, Marquettes frosh of Nigel and Adrien are what we would want from a freshman class.
Royce is coming on strong too- you'd be surprised to find that he's played 35+ minutes in 3 of his last 4 BE games, and he's been pretty good.
Nigel showed stardom today, and even though he's not going to be THAT 3P shooter at Marquette, even if he's average from outside he's going to be a star at Marquette. I don't want to over-talk the kid so early so we will leave him at that, but he's got the heart of champion and I can't wait to see the twists/turns/rise of his 4 year career.
One of the silver linings of this putrid season is the above 3 getting heavy minutes and experience in meaningful BE play- 37/37/31 in minutes today.
So...
Question is- what type of Marquette career will Royce, Nigel, and Adrien have?
I don't know yet, but it gives us something exciting to follow during this dark stretch
Hopefully, they all stick around and we get to find out.
Quote from: tower912 on January 10, 2026, 05:27:08 PMHopefully, they all stick around and we get to find out.
Nice.
The first response on Royce, Nigel, and Adrien after several RGV attacks
It is scoop.
Quote from: tower912 on January 10, 2026, 05:27:08 PMHopefully, they all stick around and we get to find out.
That's the key. All will get good offers. All will need to be paid more than they would normally in the MU system. All parents will need to be reassured that Shaka will hit the portal.
Quote from: DoctorV on January 10, 2026, 05:37:22 PMNice.
The first response on Royce, Nigel, and Adrien after several RGV attacks
I hope Nigel sticks around. He played like a guy that thought he deserved SOTG.
Quote from: Shooter McGavin on January 10, 2026, 09:26:18 PMThat's the key. All will get good offers. All will need to be paid more than they would normally in the MU system. All parents will need to be reassured that Shaka will hit the portal.
You actually have no clue if any of this is true in regard to Stevens and Parham.
Quote from: Vander Blue Man Group on January 11, 2026, 02:34:22 AMYou actually have no clue if any of this is true in regard to Stevens and Parham.
Absolutely not. Huge assumption. But that is the natural progression of this. They just need to keep those three however they can with Nigel being the most important and then supplement the team.
If everything thing is still hunky dory in Marquette land and Nigel and the boys are under a magic Shaka spell, I'm ok with that too.
Quote from: Shooter McGavin on January 11, 2026, 09:53:52 AMAbsolutely not. Huge assumption. But that is the natural progression of this. They just need to keep those three however they can with Nigel being the most important and then supplement the team.
If everything thing is still hunky dory in Marquette land and Nigel and the boys are under a magic Shaka spell, I'm ok with that too.
Wow!
I am familiar with the bolded, being an admitted old fart, but some of the under 50, maybe even under 60, scoopers probably never heard that term. ;D
It's going to be
really interesting after this horrendous season is over and decisions are made.
Quote from: Scoop Snoop on January 11, 2026, 10:06:07 AMWow! I am familiar with the bolded, being an admitted old fart, but some of the under 50, maybe even under 60, scoopers probably never heard that term. ;D
It's going to be really interesting after this horrendous season is over and decisions are made.
I think that phrase is from Finding Nemo, correct?
Quote from: TSmith34, Inc. on January 11, 2026, 12:58:57 PMI think that phrase is from Finding Nemo, correct?
Nice! ;D
Like many old farts, I really enjoy annoying young'un's by deliberately using antiquated expressions and words. It's even better when they have
no idea what I am saying. Of course, sometimes
I have no idea what I am saying either...so there's
that!
Nigel is definitely a big east player who generates a competitive advantage for us. We will need to likely pay him more, very possible he receives a bag offer from another school. Really like him.
Stevens has potential but no way receiving any kind of big offer from a P5. Watch the top 25 teams and ask yourself if he would get any real minutes at those schools. Answer is probably not. He is showing well at Marquette because we are bereft of real talent. Note I think he has good potential.
As to Parnham, meh. Has played better lately but not a difference maker and doesn't project to be one w his lack of athleticism. Feel he is a solid rotational piece.
Hoping there is an NIL back account at Mu accumulating cash based on the low money value of this roster.
James is already a damn good offensive player (obvi) and he will be a star. He eventually will be a better defensive player, too, because he has the physical ability and he doesn't mail it in on that end; just needs more experience and hard work.
Stevens will become Stevie-esque - tough-nosed, better offensively, not quite as good defensively. The kind of solid player every program wants and needs.
Parham will be at worst a good role player, and I still think his ceiling is pretty high. He's played much better of late, he's been willing to mix it up and get on the floor, and he's even shooting 40% from 3 the last month. Those who were lumping him in with the other recruiting "misses" needed to chill; dozens of other P5 programs would be thrilled to have him.
If Shaka is still the coach for next season, my prediction is that all three will remain at Marquette. I have no evidence to back that up, it's just an opinion based on observed interactions with Shaka and their teammates. Shaka will use available $$$ to keep his best players IMHO.