I know we've been focused on the portal, but is Marquette going to go after the Euro "pros"?
Ranking the Big East's Top 10 International Recruits - Hoops HQ (https://www.hoopshq.com/conferences/ranking-the-big-easts-top-10-international-recruits)
Quote from: muwarrior69 on January 20, 2026, 01:49:17 PMI know we've been focused on the portal, but is Marquette going to go after the Euro "pros"?
Ranking the Big East's Top 10 International Recruits - Hoops HQ (https://www.hoopshq.com/conferences/ranking-the-big-easts-top-10-international-recruits)
Why not? Also, late second round NBA picks and undrafted FAs.
Illinois has 5 Croatians on this years team.All of them have played professionally in Europe and 1 is a 24 year old freshman.
With the Bediako stuff honestly it's make more sense to call Tyler, Omax, Oso and Justin lol. Heck call Henry or Vander and see what they're up to. I'm assuming Wade is too old but heck give it a go.
Quote from: Galway Eagle on January 21, 2026, 10:04:05 AMWith the Bediako stuff honestly it's make more sense to call Tyler, Omax, Oso and Justin lol. Heck call Henry or Vander and see what they're up to. I'm assuming Wade is too old but heck give it a go.
Never "too old".
I'm available. And I can shoot a tad over 50% on FTs. All Shaka has to do is make the call.
Quote from: illiniwarriors on January 20, 2026, 06:47:29 PMIllinois has 5 Croatians on this years team.All of them have played professionally in Europe and 1 is a 24 year old freshman.
That's because the university is all about education. As a school, that always comes first.
So if Kolek, Lewis, Ellenson, and OMax are in the G League come mid March and Marquette brings them in for the Big East Tournament, what seed does the NCAA Tournament give a 13-22 Marquette team that now has a lineup of Kolek, Chase, Omax, Lewis, and Ellenson with Nigel James, Ben Gold, Royce Parham, and Adrian Stevens off the bench?
Quote from: Jockey on January 21, 2026, 10:38:42 AMThat's because the university is all about education. As a school, that always comes first.
As it
should be. Basketball is merely an entertaining activity to be enjoyed after studying.
Quote from: wadesworld on January 21, 2026, 12:04:36 PMSo if Kolek, Lewis, Ellenson, and OMax are in the G League come mid March and Marquette brings them in for the Big East Tournament, what seed does the NCAA Tournament give a 13-22 Marquette team that now has a lineup of Kolek, Chase, Omax, Lewis, and Ellenson with Nigel James, Ben Gold, Royce Parham, and Adrian Stevens off the bench?
gotta have a spot for Vander Blue...and heck, DWade might want in too😆
Quote from: illiniwarriors on January 20, 2026, 06:47:29 PMIllinois has 5 Croatians on this years team.All of them have played professionally in Europe and 1 is a 24 year old freshman.
2 Croats
1 Serb
1 Montenegran
1 Greek
Oh, and 1 Puerto Rican dude named Lee whose dad used to play some ball, I hear.
He may get some run starting tonight against the Maryland Buzzards with Boswell out.
Quote from: Jockey on January 21, 2026, 10:38:42 AMThat's because the university is all about education. As a school, that always comes first.
Funny that in the past month, due to FB transfer crap, I've heard two or three radio personalities ask if the players were still required to go to classes.
They are idiots for asking, but the public impression of these young men are as of professional athletes more and more each day. Do they even reference a player's major anymore?
Quote from: wadesworld on January 21, 2026, 12:04:36 PMSo if Kolek, Lewis, Ellenson, and OMax are in the G League come mid March and Marquette brings them in for the Big East Tournament, what seed does the NCAA Tournament give a 13-22 Marquette team that now has a lineup of Kolek, Chase, Omax, Lewis, and Ellenson with Nigel James, Ben Gold, Royce Parham, and Adrian Stevens off the bench?
Could be a 16 seed and still dominate. Would be nuts.
Quote from: WhiteTrash on January 21, 2026, 04:08:01 PMFunny that in the past month, due to FB transfer crap, I've heard two or three radio personalities ask if the players were still required to go to classes.
They are idiots for asking, but the public impression of these young men are as of professional athletes more and more each day. Do they even reference a player's major anymore?
They major in football (or baseball, basketball, hockey, golf, etc.)
Young elite athletes everywhere else in the world just go to a club academy where the focus is on turning them into a professional athlete, but here we have this ruse in which becoming a professional athlete is secondary to "real" education.
Quote from: Pakuni on January 21, 2026, 06:01:15 PMThey major in football (or baseball, basketball, hockey, golf, etc.)
Young elite athletes everywhere else in the world just go to a club academy where the focus is on turning them into a professional athlete, but here we have this ruse in which becoming a professional athlete is secondary to "real" education.
Down here Beltran, Yadier and others have baseball HSs. They play & practice early morning and go to school in the afternoon. They are required to complete curriculum and maintain a GPA
While RGV sounds very righteous. It producing a winner seems like a pipe dream with all these quick ways to get highly talented players on the court to play for you.
Quote from: WhiteTrash on January 21, 2026, 04:08:01 PMFunny that in the past month, due to FB transfer crap, I've heard two or three radio personalities ask if the players were still required to go to classes.
They are idiots for asking, but the public impression of these young men are as of professional athletes more and more each day. Do they even reference a player's major anymore?
I had that question and still am not 100% convinced. With BS majors, independent study, remote attendance and other such things who knows how much of an education these players are getting. The encroaching professionalism of college basketball and other intercollegiate sports damages the attractiveness of the product. They used to be student-athletes; more and more they're athlete-students. Time will tell if college basketball can retain the cachet that made it so fun to follow but I'm not encouraged.
(https://media.tenor.com/QXVGCUTvoYgAAAAM/its-not-going-well-matty-matheson.gif)
College basketball is as good as it's ever been. So is college football. Can anyone tell me what their favorite player from the 2003 Final Four studied? Or what they're currently doing with the degree they got (or didn't get)?
Back on Al's day, all that mattered were grades and classes and studies. Basketball was just a pleasant diversion.
Actually, attending Marquette was just a prerequisite to getting basketball tickets. We still had to be first in line by camping outside for a week.
Quote from: Scoop Snoop on January 21, 2026, 10:28:48 AMNever "too old".
I'm available. And I can shoot a tad over 50% on FTs. All Shaka has to do is make the call.
I'll give you 40%+ on three pointers and 80% plus on free throws.
I'm also just over 5'7, 35 years old, and have no left hand. But bring me in as a situational shooter.
Quote from: BM1090 on January 22, 2026, 01:16:53 PMI'll give you 40%+ on three pointers and 80% plus on free throws.
I'm also just over 5'7, 35 years old, and have no left hand. But bring me in as a situational shooter.
OK.
I'm out.
You're in. Muggsy will be thrilled.
Quote from: NCMUFan on January 22, 2026, 06:44:24 AMActually, attending Marquette was just a prerequisite to getting basketball tickets. We still had to be first in line by camping outside for a week.
Gosh I thought attending Marquette was a prerequisite to going to Medical school. But I was much more older then, I'm younger then that now.
Which of you is Brigid S.? From The Athletic mailbag.
Do you think Marquette's Shaka Smart is going to have to abandon his no-portal philosophy after this year? There are signs of hope as the season progresses (admittedly dim) but do you see this as unsustainable in the current climate of college basketball? — Brigid S.
This is something I've been thinking about a lot this season. I thought Marquette's strategy was especially interesting because the most notable coach in college football who's turned his nose up at the portal, Clemson's Dabo Sweeney, has been roundly — and in my opinion, fairly — roasted for it. But in hoops, there was a general feeling of "Good for Shaka for developing guys and wanting program lifers. What a leader!"
Football, of course, is a different beast, purely because of roster numbers. You can't lose a lot of production to the portal and not replenish via the portal. And while it's true a lot wasn't expected of Marquette this year — the Eagles were predicted to finish fifth in the Big East preseason poll — sitting in ninth place at 2-7 isn't going to fly for long. Being No. 123 in KenPom isn't encouraging either.
So yeah, I think Smart is going to have to adapt. That doesn't mean he has to change his entire philosophy, though. Michigan State is a good example of a program that mostly wants to develop its own players — and recruits players willing to stick around through adversity — but will selectively add from the portal. Four of the Spartans' starters played for Michigan State last year: Jaxon Kohler, Jeremy Fears, Jr., Coen Carr and Carson Cooper; the other, Divine Ugochukwu, is a transfer from Miami. Surely Smart and Marquette can find a similar happy medium.
Quote from: Spaniel with a Short Tail on January 23, 2026, 01:01:11 PMWhich of you is Brigid S.? From The Athletic mailbag.
Do you think Marquette's Shaka Smart is going to have to abandon his no-portal philosophy after this year? There are signs of hope as the season progresses (admittedly dim) but do you see this as unsustainable in the current climate of college basketball? — Brigid S.
This is something I've been thinking about a lot this season. I thought Marquette's strategy was especially interesting because the most notable coach in college football who's turned his nose up at the portal, Clemson's Dabo Sweeney, has been roundly — and in my opinion, fairly — roasted for it. But in hoops, there was a general feeling of "Good for Shaka for developing guys and wanting program lifers. What a leader!"
Football, of course, is a different beast, purely because of roster numbers. You can't lose a lot of production to the portal and not replenish via the portal. And while it's true a lot wasn't expected of Marquette this year — the Eagles were predicted to finish fifth in the Big East preseason poll — sitting in ninth place at 2-7 isn't going to fly for long. Being No. 123 in KenPom isn't encouraging either.
So yeah, I think Smart is going to have to adapt. That doesn't mean he has to change his entire philosophy, though. Michigan State is a good example of a program that mostly wants to develop its own players — and recruits players willing to stick around through adversity — but will selectively add from the portal. Four of the Spartans' starters played for Michigan State last year: Jaxon Kohler, Jeremy Fears, Jr., Coen Carr and Carson Cooper; the other, Divine Ugochukwu, is a transfer from Miami. Surely Smart and Marquette can find a similar happy medium.
Agree with all that ... but don't call our coach Shirley.
MU hoops... admittedly dim!
Quote from: muwarrior69 on January 20, 2026, 01:49:17 PMI know we've been focused on the portal, but is Marquette going to go after the Euro "pros"?
Ranking the Big East's Top 10 International Recruits - Hoops HQ (https://www.hoopshq.com/conferences/ranking-the-big-easts-top-10-international-recruits)
You mean Shaka? Nope.
It is very difficult for a team to fail with a strong program behind it. Feel Shaka has accomplished the almost impossible by self inflicting or self sabotaging this year.