The transfer portal was all fun and games when Sananda Fru and Nolan Minessale were bolstering Marquette's rotation. But with Sheek Pearson dipping into the portal just hours before it closed, Marquette finds themselves in need of rotation pieces in both the back court and front court with many of the most prominent names in the portal already committed.
Thankfully, building a bench isn't always about the most prominent names but rather the best fits. Today, Cracked Sidewalks looks at some options Marquette could select provided they have the credits to continue playing Portal Kombat.
Portal Kombat: Choose Your fighter (https://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2026/04/portal-kombat-choose-your-fighter.html)
Nice write-up. Hopefully we're not done yet.
I hope we can get Ben Gold in the portal
Excellent work. Good to know that there are still a few options available to add quality depth.
Quote from: brewcity77 on April 24, 2026, 03:19:52 PMThe transfer portal was all fun and games when Sananda Fru and Nolan Minessale were bolstering Marquette's rotation. But with Sheek Pearson dipping into the portal just hours before it closed, Marquette finds themselves in need of rotation pieces in both the back court and front court with many of the most prominent names in the portal already committed.
Thankfully, building a bench isn't always about the most prominent names but rather the best fits. Today, Cracked Sidewalks looks at some options Marquette could select provided they have the credits to continue playing Portal Kombat.
Portal Kombat: Choose Your fighter (https://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2026/04/portal-kombat-choose-your-fighter.html)
I don't believe any of this and am choosing to panic instead so if they're bad, I'll be able to link back to this post.
Marquette is toast next year. Bookmark it.
Quote from: Uncle Rico on April 24, 2026, 04:13:53 PMI don't believe any of this and am choosing to panic instead so if they're bad, I'll be able to link back to this post.
Marquette is toast next year. Bookmark it.
We should be fine at the 5 with Fru available off the bench. Backup PG is a need still.
No one's mentioned how good the title is? Honestly surprised I've never heard that one before.
I don't think the need is dire for MU. With Fru and Minessale booked the team looks pretty solid. If I'm looking for anybody it would be a senior mid-major point guard who wants some time on a bigger stage or a senior power forward of the same ilk to backup Parham. I am optoimistic about MU regardless. Parham,James and Stevens is as good a foundation as there is in the ncaa.
Quote from: hawk on April 24, 2026, 07:00:49 PMI don't think the need is dire for MU. With Fru and Minessale booked the team looks pretty solid. If I'm looking for anybody it would be a senior mid-major point guard who wants some time on a bigger stage or a senior power forward of the same ilk to backup Parham. I am optoimistic about MU regardless. Parham,James and Stevens is as good a foundation as there is in the ncaa.
Let's hope no one ever gets in foul trouble, injured or misses the bus.
Quote from: Uncle Rico on April 24, 2026, 04:13:53 PMI don't believe any of this and am choosing to panic instead so if they're bad, I'll be able to link back to this post.
Marquette is toast next year. Bookmark it.
Oh C'mon! Hamilton and Clark will be the #1 and # 2 NBA draft picks.
It's a nice write up. I don't think SS is going to add any other players. Hope I'm wrong...
Quote from: Mu8891 on April 25, 2026, 08:09:39 AMIt's a nice write up. I don't think SS is going to add any other players. Hope I'm wrong...
They will now. Had Sheek not taken the bag, I think you would have been correct (barring a late reclassify). They won't leave two spots open. Might be a bit before they do anything, waiting on the 5 in 5 decision
I see plenty of options. Ty, Brew.
I choose a guard.
Quote from: tower912 on April 25, 2026, 09:28:17 AMI choose a guard.
Really?
Never would have guessed it.......😎
No one can accuse me of inconsistency or moving goalposts.
The NCAA has done a lot of stupid and inexplicable things over the years, but if they adopt the 5 in 5 rule and make it applicable to players who have used up their eligibility under the current rules, that might top the list.
Clever title and good analysis of what's out there yet. I vote guard
Quote from: WellsstreetWanderer on April 25, 2026, 02:50:40 PMClever title and good analysis of what's out there yet. I vote guard
He always gets it done.
Quote from: Uncle Rico on April 24, 2026, 04:13:53 PMI don't believe any of this and am choosing to panic instead so if they're bad, I'll be able to link back to this post.
Marquette is toast next year. Bookmark it.
We can only hope you again disappear for the next indeterminate months.
Quote from: NCMUFan on April 25, 2026, 04:35:31 PMWe can only hope you again disappear for the next indeterminate months.
I believe in science, so I know that's a problem
Quote from: NCMUFan on April 25, 2026, 04:35:31 PMWe can only hope you again disappear for the next indeterminate months.
How about you take 6 months off and we'll see who is missed more?
Quote from: JakeBarnes on April 24, 2026, 03:31:28 PMI hope we can get Ben Gold in the portal
Oh you havent seen enough yet?
Quote from: willie warrior on April 26, 2026, 12:02:30 PMOh you havent seen enough yet?
Good point. I'd much rather have Hamilton and Clark as our back centers.
Quote from: Juan Anderson's Mixtape on April 26, 2026, 02:30:10 PMGood point. I'd much rather have Hamilton and Clark as our back centers.
Not to mention, Ben Gold as a 7th man backing up two positions is a pretty good player. Ben Gold starting and forced to play 30 minutes is different.
Quote from: Juan Anderson's Mixtape on April 26, 2026, 02:30:10 PMGood point. I'd much rather have Hamilton and Clark as our back centers.
How about none of that. Fru starts with Parham and Clark as backups, and or small ball.
Quote from: Uncle Rico on April 25, 2026, 05:55:42 PMI believe in science, so I know that's a problem
absolutely. In fact, science supports my nondenominational evangelical Christian faith.
Good stuff, brew.
I got a kick out of the assessment of Mack: "He made the court look like it was a slip 'n slide and spent as much time falling down as he did on his feet."
Hey, OMax did that for MU for two seasons, and he recently signed a nice NBA contract!
Gold would be a great addition to this roster, if there's some way that could happen.
The more they advertise Hamilton, the less interest I have in this team.
We need another big so badly.
https://x.com/i/status/2048506843983495284
Quote from: GoldenEagles03 on April 26, 2026, 08:25:59 PMThe more they advertise Hamilton, the less interest I have in this team.
We need another big so badly.
https://x.com/i/status/2048506843983495284
Agree since Sheek was a consensus Top 50 recruit and Caedin was near the bottom.
Feel Sheek understands how to play basketball better than Caedin. Caedin was a bottom 2% player according to the overall efficiency ratios I have seen and feel Sheek would be in the top half of these ratios.
Moot. Glad to see Caedin put in the work. I hope it finally pays off for him.
Quote from: GoldenEagles03 on April 26, 2026, 08:25:59 PMWe need another big so badly.
Need? No. Would be great to have? Absolutely.
Very few teams have been kept from greatness because of the quality of their backup center.
Quote from: TAMU, Knower of Ball on April 26, 2026, 08:52:22 PMNeed? No. Would be great to have? Absolutely.
Very few teams have been kept from greatness because of the quality of their backup center.
?
Quote from: TAMU, Knower of Ball on April 26, 2026, 08:52:22 PMNeed? No. Would be great to have? Absolutely.
Very few teams have been kept from greatness because of the quality of their backup center.
I'd agree with you if we had a quality backup at the 4, but right now our only viable option for bench minutes is to go small. And if Royce and Fru are in foul trouble or hurt, it's going to get ugly.
They need someone who can backup the 4, 5, or both. Doesn't need to be a great player, but it needs to be better than what's on the roster.
Quote from: GoldenEagles03 on April 26, 2026, 08:25:59 PMThe more they advertise Hamilton, the less interest I have in this team.
We need another big so badly.
https://x.com/i/status/2048506843983495284
Thoughts and prayers, snowflake.
Quote from: GoldenEagles03 on April 26, 2026, 09:31:04 PM?
I'm not sure what there's to be confused about. The roster on paper is good enough to make the tournament with a single digit seed. We don't need any additions. More additions are of course welcome.
Caedin and Josh were bad last season. I hope we find a better option to be our backup C. But thinking a team will be bad because of their backup C is like thinking an nfl offense will be bad because of the backup TE. Would it be nice to have a better one? Of course. If there's an injury to the starter will it be devastating? Yep. But acting like the whole season hinges on it is silly.
Quote from: BM1090 on April 26, 2026, 09:36:22 PMI'd agree with you if we had a quality backup at the 4, but right now our only viable option for bench minutes is to go small. And if Royce and Fru are in foul trouble or hurt, it's going to get ugly.
They need someone who can backup the 4, 5, or both. Doesn't need to be a great player, but it needs to be better than what's on the roster.
I believe you were part of the "playing like a bubble team since winter break" crowd. So who was our backup 4 last season? Did we lose them?
If last year's team could be a top 60 team after the great winter break recalibration, despite having Josh/Caedin as the only backups at the 5 and DO being the only backup at the 4, then why wouldn't next year's team be able to be even better when, on paper, we improved at literally every position?
1: SO Nigel > FR Nigel
2: SO Adrien > FR Adrien
3: Nolan >/= Chase
4: JR Royce > SO Royce
5: Fru >>> Ben
Backup 1 Nash ? Tre (Can't be much worse)
Backup 2/3 SO Phillips/Miletic > FR Phillips
Backup 3/4 JR Damarius/Egbuono > SO Damarius
Backup 5: JR Caedin/SO Clark / SO Caedin/FR Clark
Quote from: TAMU, Knower of Ball on April 27, 2026, 08:50:25 AMI'm not sure what there's to be confused about. The roster on paper is good enough to make the tournament with a single digit seed. We don't need any additions. More additions are of course welcome.
Caedin and Josh were bad last season. I hope we find a better option to be our backup C. But thinking a team will be bad because of their backup C is like thinking an nfl offense will be bad because of the backup TE. Would it be nice to have a better one? Of course. If there's an injury to the starter will it be devastating? Yep. But acting like the whole season hinges on it is silly.
Not many college basketball teams are equipped to handle season ending injuries to a player expected to be among the top 3 contributors.
Quote from: TAMU, Knower of Ball on April 26, 2026, 08:52:22 PMNeed? No. Would be great to have? Absolutely.
Very few teams have been kept from greatness because of the quality of their backup center.
Maybe historically, but this is a different era. You say greatness, and the Final Four was Illinois, the longest team in the country, UConn, who had length all over and a borderline 5-star as their backup, and the Michigan & Arizona teams whose frontcourt depth was the focus of the CBB world all season long.
A lack of quality bigs seems like exactly what is holding teams back from greatness.
Quote from: Uncle Rico on April 27, 2026, 09:09:23 AMNot many college basketball teams are equipped to handle season ending injuries to a player expected to be among the top 3 contributors.
Correct. An injury to a bench player or maybe a 4th or 5th starter can be overcome if you have some bench depth. If you lose a top 3 player, you are taking a big step back regardless of who is on your bench.
Quote from: TAMU, Knower of Ball on April 27, 2026, 08:50:25 AMI'm not sure what there's to be confused about. The roster on paper is good enough to make the tournament with a single digit seed. We don't need any additions. More additions are of course welcome.
Caedin and Josh were bad last season. I hope we find a better option to be our backup C. But thinking a team will be bad because of their backup C is like thinking an nfl offense will be bad because of the backup TE. Would it be nice to have a better one? Of course. If there's an injury to the starter will it be devastating? Yep. But acting like the whole season hinges on it is silly.
They'd need way too much to go right. They have no backup PG and no backup C. The starting lineup should be awesome and they did a great job grabbing Fru and Minessale but to not fill the last 2 roster spots with a true PG and C would be insane after what took place last year.
Hamilton and Clark should not see 1 single minute in a meaningful game ever again at Marquette.
Quote from: brewcity77 on April 27, 2026, 09:10:52 AMMaybe historically, but this is a different era. You say greatness, and the Final Four was Illinois, the longest team in the country, UConn, who had length all over and a borderline 5-star as their backup, and the Michigan & Arizona teams whose frontcourt depth was the focus of the CBB world all season long.
A lack of quality bigs seems like exactly what is holding teams back from greatness.
I don't think one year makes a "different era." Yes, Michigan won starting three bigs. The year before Florida won with three guys under 6'4" and a PF 15lbs lighter than Royce. UConn won two years in a row starting noted finesse big Karaban at the 4 and being backed up by two 6'6" wings. Before that Kansas won with one guy in the rotation taller than 6'8." Before that Baylor started 4 guys under 6'5". Before that Virginia won with a guy 2lbs lighter than Royce at the 5.
Yes a strong backup C would be great and can help. But if you miss the tournament, I promise you that you had much bigger issues than who your backup C was.
I am a long-time fan of MU basketball and follow the team closely. As much as I would like it to be true, I cannot believe that anyone thinks this team, as currently constructed, can be a single-digit seed for next year's tournament. Yes, the starting lineup will be better, but there is no depth, especially behind Fru, James, and Parham. All three of these guys have to get rest during games - not to mention foul trouble and possible injury or illness.
Quote from: rgoode57 on April 27, 2026, 09:36:12 AMI am a long-time fan of MU basketball and follow the team closely. As much as I would like it to be true, I cannot believe that anyone thinks this team, as currently constructed, can be a single-digit seed for next year's tournament. Yes, the starting lineup will be better, but there is no depth, especially behind Fru, James, and Parham. All three of these guys have to get rest during games - not to mention foul trouble and possible injury or illness.
There's plenty of depth. We will see how good it is. You only need an 8 man rotation. We have a clear starting 5. Then we have 8 other players. We need one of those 8 to turn into a legitimate 6th man and we need two others to not just be liabilities on the court. I think betting on 3/8 is not an unreasonable gamble.
Yes, if we have an injury to a top player we are going to be in trouble...like every other team in the country. Fortunately, those are rare in college basketball. IIRC, in the last two coaches, we've had one starter miss more than 3 games in a season due to injury (TKO missed 6 game in 2024), two if you believe Wrightsil was going to be a starter.
Post xmas break I think we went 7-12 playing in a weak BEast. The glorification of this time frame continues to be weird. :(
Quote from: GoldenEagles03 on April 27, 2026, 09:23:54 AMThey'd need way too much to go right. They have no backup PG and no backup C. The starting lineup should be awesome and they did a great job grabbing Fru and Minessale but to not fill the last 2 roster spots with a true PG and C would be insane after what took place last year.
Hamilton and Clark should not see 1 single minute in a meaningful game ever again at Marquette.
What kind of quality of player do you think is going to come here strictly as a backup PG to play 8-10 MPG?
Quote from: Jay Bee on April 27, 2026, 09:55:32 AMPost xmas break I think we went 7-12 playing in a weak BEast. The glorification of this time frame continues to be weird. :(
Right. I think people are getting excited because post-Christmas was clearly better than pre-Christmas, and of course we were lead by a nice young nucleus of players, but Marquette was still not a very good basketball team.
Quote from: Jay Bee on April 27, 2026, 09:55:32 AMPost xmas break I think we went 7-12 playing in a weak BEast. The glorification of this time frame continues to be weird. :(
You know your stats so I'm honestly curious, do you not buy into BartTorvik or is it being misapplied? To me underlying efficiency is more predictive than W/L record.
Quote from: Jay Bee on April 27, 2026, 09:55:32 AMPost xmas break I think we went 7-12 playing in a weak BEast. The glorification of this time frame continues to be weird. :(
No one is glorifying it.
Quote from: Vander Blue Man Group on April 27, 2026, 10:06:49 AMWhat kind of quality of player do you think is going to come here strictly as a backup PG to play 8-10 MPG?
A low to mid major guy looking to make a leap and play in front of 18,000 people in an NBA arena for High Major money.
Or
A combo guard with more PG skills than Minessale, that has minutes available at the 1 and 2 off the bench.
Or
A good player off of a bad team that is looking to play for a team that has the potential to win next season.
There's more than 1 scenario, but there are good players that would want to play at Marquette.
Quote from: GoldenEagles03 on April 27, 2026, 10:17:05 AMA low to mid major guy looking to make a leap and play in front of 18,000 people in an NBA arena for High Major money.
Or
A combo guard with more PG skills than Minessale, that has minutes available at the 1 and 2 off the bench.
Or
A good player off of a bad team that is looking to play for a team that has the potential to win next season.
There's more than 1 scenario, but there are good players that would want to play at Marquette.
A combo guard makes sense. A pure PG does not.
Quote from: Vander Blue Man Group on April 27, 2026, 10:32:49 AMA combo guard makes sense. A pure PG does not.
A pure PG absolutely makes sense, a combo guard with real PG skills might be more realistic.
Having 1 true PG on a roster isn't normal though, especially with 2 open roster spots. Maybe it is a reclass, maybe it is a an older guy looking to make a leap up, but you need someone else with true PG skills aside from Nigel.
Quote from: GoldenEagles03 on April 27, 2026, 10:35:48 AMA pure PG absolutely makes sense, a combo guard with real PG skills might be more realistic.
Having 1 true PG on a roster isn't normal though, especially with 2 open roster spots. Maybe it is a reclass, maybe it is a an older guy looking to make a leap up, but you need someone else with true PG skills aside from Nigel.
I think the scenarios you laid out regarding a pure backup PG are extremely unlikely. I don't think the quality of that hypothetical player is going to be any better than Stevens or Minessale handling the point while James gets a breather. There is more opportunity and minutes available for another combo guard.
Quote from: Vander Blue Man Group on April 27, 2026, 10:44:47 AMI think the scenarios you laid out regarding a pure backup PG are extremely unlikely. I don't think the quality of that hypothetical player is going to be any better than Stevens or Minessale handling the point while James gets a breather. There is more opportunity and minutes available for another combo guard.
I just think not preparing for "the worst" is risky for them.
We've seen Sean lose a season to an ACL, Kolek was injured 2 seasons in a row in March, Nigel was the only real PG on the roster last year with Sean hurt again.
You need to have someone else as an option at the very least.
If Nigel gets hurt and misses a material number of games, we are screwed. Period. There is no guard available in the portal who would mitigate that loss.
That said, I do hope we use one of our two openings to sign a combo guard, preferably one who can make a few 3s. There is playing time available for such a player, and he would provide insurance in case any of our guards get into foul trouble and/or suffer a short-term injury.
Quote from: MU82 on April 27, 2026, 11:13:41 AMIf Nigel gets hurt and misses a material number of games, we are screwed. Period. There is no guard available in the portal who would mitigate that loss.
That said, I do hope we use one of our two openings to sign a combo guard, preferably one who can make a few 3s. There is playing time available for such a player, and he would provide insurance in case any of our guards get into foul trouble and/or suffer a short-term injury.
But you can't think that way when building a roster.
There is a scenario where Nigel could miss time like Kolek in the middle of the season but be back for March, and you would need to stay afloat on that time he is out.
With 15 roster spots in the modern game there is no reason to not have another PG option. If that guy is a combo guard, fine, but you need another PG.
Quote from: GoldenEagles03 on April 27, 2026, 11:17:15 AMBut you can't think that way when building a roster.
There is a scenario where Nigel could miss time like Kolek in the middle of the season but be back for March, and you would need to stay afloat on that time he is out.
With 15 roster spots in the modern game there is no reason to not have another PG option. If that guy is a combo guard, fine, but you need another PG.
I think we actually agree.
Quote from: TAMU, Knower of Ball on April 27, 2026, 09:07:10 AMI believe you were part of the "playing like a bubble team since winter break" crowd. So who was our backup 4 last season? Did we lose them?
If last year's team could be a top 60 team after the great winter break recalibration, despite having Josh/Caedin as the only backups at the 5 and DO being the only backup at the 4, then why wouldn't next year's team be able to be even better when, on paper, we improved at literally every position?
1: SO Nigel > FR Nigel
2: SO Adrien > FR Adrien
3: Nolan >/= Chase
4: JR Royce > SO Royce
5: Fru >>> Ben
Backup 1 Nash ? Tre (Can't be much worse)
Backup 2/3 SO Phillips/Miletic > FR Phillips
Backup 3/4 JR Damarius/Egbuono > SO Damarius
Backup 5: JR Caedin/SO Clark / SO Caedin/FR Clark
I think they could be better and I'm sure we'll see improvement from the guys you mentioned. But I also think they're a proven backup 4/5 away from having a really good rotation, plus whatever surprises you get from the younger guys.
They went out and spent and got Fru and Minnesale. Not bringing in another transfer to replace Sheek and leaving that spot as a question mark seems really short sighted. Caedin and Josh have proven they can't be counted on for quality minutes. Could they improve? of course. But banking on that when you're a piece away from having a good top 8 seems dumb.
Quote from: GoldenEagles03 on April 27, 2026, 11:01:26 AMI just think not preparing for "the worst" is risky for them.
We've seen Sean lose a season to an ACL, Kolek was injured 2 seasons in a row in March, Nigel was the only real PG on the roster last year with Sean hurt again.
You need to have someone else as an option at the very least.
When you're building a roster, you don't make decisions based on the unlikely scenario of a season-ending injury.
Tyler was extremely durable. When he was hurt, Kam (not a pure point) played well in his absence. Sean had poor injury luck but you don't add a lesser player because you're worried that might happen again.
If Nigel misses significant time, this team is probably f*cked anyway. If you have a choice right now between a combo guard and a pure PG and the combo is the better player, that's who you take 100 out of 100 times.
And the reality is the better player is much more likely to be a combo guard because of the opportunity available.
Quote from: TAMU, Knower of Ball on April 27, 2026, 10:11:50 AMYou know your stats so I'm honestly curious, do you not buy into BartTorvik or is it being misapplied? To me underlying efficiency is more predictive than W/L record.
Oh, no -- I was more so pulling the W-L for affect. However, I'm also not wildly impressed by the post-xmas break adjusted efficiency numbers either and don't think our actual W-L is an awful proxy for our efficiency figures.
For example, we can look at the teams immediately above and below us for the same time period.. we were #57 in Torvik from 12/30/25 on... #56 is Minnesota, who went 7-13 (puke).. #58 Ole Miss was 7-15.
Early on in the year, our staff made criminally insane personnel choices. It got better, but in the latter half of the year it wasn't close to optimal either.
Our offense still stunk post-xmas... #90 in the nation. Really bad, tbh. The defense was much better and #34 is fine... but I do think luck played a part of getting us to that mark (e.g., opponents shooting just 31.4% from 3 against us). Our defensive rebounding ranked #361 in the country post-xmas and looking ahead, it's Shaka so it's not going to be good.. but further, Fru wasn't quite as good as Gold... Royce ain't a guy who's going to be be even mediocre on the d-boards without a significant transformation...
If we can maintain our defense, maybe get a slight improvement.. and we can improve our offense -- which MUST INCLUDE IMPROVED 3FG% -- we can get back to the tourney.. but I look at the post-xmas performance as a whole last year, and see a team that still was troubled and still a couple of cuts away from being a bubble team even when not looking at actual win-loss performance.
PS - I love the guys, but I'm a tad bit afraid that Nigel and Adrien were able to benefit from coming into the college (1) as guards and (2) physically ahead of some other frosh in college bball. That is, I'm hesitant to expect big jumps from them as sophomores. #COLE
OK.. one positive glimmer of hope.. I do think we could* show marked improvement in getting to the line next season, which would also help our putrid offense regardless of the % we shoot when we get there (#FTsNoMatta).
Quote from: Vander Blue Man Group on April 27, 2026, 10:32:49 AMA combo guard makes sense. A pure PG does not.
A combo is ideal, but this is 2026. Plenty of teams run extended minutes with dual PG sets. A pure PG could play alongside NJ & Stevens, Stevens & Minessale, or NJ & Minessale. Creative roster management could find 15-25 mpg for even a pure PG on this roster, especially if they have the length to defend 2s & 3s.
Quote from: brewcity77 on April 27, 2026, 02:15:26 PMA combo is ideal, but this is 2026. Plenty of teams run extended minutes with dual PG sets. A pure PG could play alongside NJ & Stevens, Stevens & Minessale, or NJ & Minessale. Creative roster management could find 15-25 mpg for even a pure PG on this roster, especially if they have the length to defend 2s & 3s.
Sure, if there is a 6'3 pure PG with a nice wingspan out there that can defend other positions sign me up. I just think that type of player is probably scarce.
Seems like most everyone agrees that adding guard/center depth would be beneficial. But comparing an injury-riddled season to having two open scholarships and choosing not to fill them doesn't make sense to me. One is bad luck, the other is a deliberate staff decision.
I expect we'll bring in at least one more contributor through the portal or 5-by-5 and I think failing to do so would be a mistake. Not knocking next year's team, I think we'll be solid even if the roster is already set. But adding some meaningful depth would really help and I haven't seen any good reason to leave spots open.
Quote from: Vander Blue Man Group on April 27, 2026, 02:22:20 PMSure, if there is a 6'3 pure PG with a nice wingspan out there that can defend other positions sign me up. I just think that type of player is probably scarce.
This is why you have a GM scouring the portal for potential adds. And why hard working programs are finding answers to these questions. West Virginia just added Martin Somerville, who fits this description perfectly and isn't expected to start. Same with Joel Foxwell at Arizona State.
There are players out there that fit profiles that would suit us, whether pure PGs or CGs. You just have to proactively get out there and pursue them.
MU was linked with Kennard Davis Jr. (https://247sports.com/player/kennard-davis-jr-46117943/college-345590/) in the early stages of Portal Kombat. Has there been any news one way or another regarding MU interest sine these early rumblings, or did that ship sale with Minessale? Internet seems quiet regarding KDJ, a would-be senior and a one-yr. rental that I would welcome... could fill in at multiple positions on the wing and front court. Sophomore numbers show he can score but some scrub freshman joined his squad at BYU last year and his Junior numbers dropped as a result... :P
Edit: He's from St. Louis... so a SLU lock! NM.
Second edit:.. as of April 13th... still MU interest: https://lawlessrepublic.com/byu-kennard-davis-has-an-impressive-list-of-landing-spots-in-transfer-portal
Quote from: BM1090 on April 27, 2026, 12:05:07 PMThey went out and spent and got Fru and Minnesale. Not bringing in another transfer to replace Sheek and leaving that spot as a question mark seems really short sighted. Caedin and Josh have proven they can't be counted on for quality minutes. Could they improve? of course. But banking on that when you're a piece away from having a good top 8 seems dumb.
Do you have any names? Cause I've combed through the portal...and at least of D1 bigs, the pickings are really slim. Maybe there's some D2 transfers or JUCOs, but most of the D1 transfer that are left are 200 lb sticks from low majors. They put up better numbers than Caedin, but I'm not sure they could replicate them against high major bigs.
Quote from: TAMU, Knower of Ball on April 27, 2026, 11:02:15 PMDo you have any names? Cause I've combed through the portal...and at least of D1 bigs, the pickings are really slim. Maybe there's some D2 transfers or JUCOs, but most of the D1 transfer that are left are 200 lb sticks from low majors. They put up better numbers than Caedin, but I'm not sure they could replicate them against high major bigs.
So there are "pickings". Do you mean talent wise or the "good ones" that are left are asking too much in compensation? Also if 5 in 5 is allowed this off season what seniors ( not necessarily a " big") look like possibilities?
Quote from: Vander Blue Man Group on April 27, 2026, 01:43:07 PMIf Nigel misses significant time, this team is probably f*cked anyway. If you have a choice right now between a combo guard and a pure PG and the combo is the better player, that's who you take.
Agree. And like Kevin used to say. If Tony Miller goes down this season is probably f*cked anyway.
It has been made pretty clear that when 5 for 5 is implemented, it will not be retroactive.
Quote from: tower912 on April 28, 2026, 08:13:18 AMIt has been made pretty clear that when 5 for 5 is implemented, it will not be retroactive.
I bet the NCAA gets sued.
https://x.com/i/status/2048875208254345232
They get sued for lots of things.
Quote from: muwarrior69 on April 28, 2026, 07:39:04 AMSo there are "pickings". Do you mean talent wise or the "good ones" that are left are asking too much in compensation?
Just re-read TAMU's post.
Quote from: MU82 on April 28, 2026, 11:38:45 AMJust re-read TAMU's post.
Nah. He'd rather just keep asking questions.
Quote from: willie warrior on April 26, 2026, 02:39:29 PMHow about none of that. Fru starts with Parham and Clark as backups, and or small ball.
I think it's settled then, for little willie's mental health, Shaka must bring back Ben Gold.
Quote from: willie warrior on April 26, 2026, 02:39:29 PMHow about none of that. Fru starts with Parham and Clark as backups, and or small ball.
Parham is a clear starter too next to Fru.
Quote from: BM1090 on April 30, 2026, 11:23:33 AMParham is a clear starter too next to Fru.
Of course Parham starts. He can get backup minutes at the 5 to spell Fru. Clark can pick up any remaining minutes at the 5.
Quote from: willie warrior on April 30, 2026, 11:37:04 AMOf course Parham starts. He can get backup minutes at the 5 to spell Fru. Clark can pick up any remaining minutes at the 5.
Shaka says, "NO!" :(
Quote from: brewcity77 on April 24, 2026, 03:19:52 PMThe transfer portal was all fun and games when Sananda Fru and Nolan Minessale were bolstering Marquette's rotation. But with Sheek Pearson dipping into the portal just hours before it closed, Marquette finds themselves in need of rotation pieces in both the back court and front court with many of the most prominent names in the portal already committed.
Thankfully, building a bench isn't always about the most prominent names but rather the best fits. Today, Cracked Sidewalks looks at some options Marquette could select provided they have the credits to continue playing Portal Kombat.
Portal Kombat: Choose Your fighter (https://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2026/04/portal-kombat-choose-your-fighter.html)
Great read/title. Thanks for doing this.
Quote from: Jay Bee on April 30, 2026, 11:54:31 AMShaka says, "NO!" :(
He only says No if he continues to play Hamilton.
Quote from: willie warrior on May 01, 2026, 12:14:24 PMHe only says No if he continues to play Hamilton.
Obviously he's going to. It's why Sheek wound up at SLU.
Quote from: Jay Bee on May 01, 2026, 12:15:02 PMObviously he's going to. It's why Sheek wound up at SLU.
Probably true. If so, how dense is Shaka? Off the charts!
Quote from: willie warrior on May 01, 2026, 12:20:50 PMProbably true. If so, how dense is Shaka? Off the charts!
The irony of this post is amazing.
Another day goes by and we're one more day closer to 18 playing a significant role in the rotation next season per well embedded moles.
Quote from: panda on May 01, 2026, 01:31:32 PMAnother day goes by and we're one more day closer to 18 playing a significant role in the rotation next season per well embedded moles.
Quote from: Hards Alumni on May 01, 2026, 01:42:41 PM
Precisely - without in addition moving forward, this would make it three off seasons in a row where Shaka completely missed the boat on bettering the roster.
Quote from: panda on May 01, 2026, 01:45:42 PMPrecisely - without in addition moving forward, this would make it three off seasons in a row where Shaka completely missed the boat on bettering the roster.
Be serious.
Quote from: panda on May 01, 2026, 01:45:42 PMPrecisely - without in addition moving forward, this would make it three off seasons in a row where Shaka completely missed the boat on bettering the roster.
(https://media.tenor.com/auIHDOEiIFoAAAAM/dumb-thats-dumb.gif)
I have no idea what to think of a staff that rolls out a Caedin Hamilton (now in his 4th year of college ball) for more than 5 minutes a night if he plays anywhere near the level he played last year. It's not unreasonable to expect SOME improvement from him and noticeable improvement from Josh.
Luckily, it was two steps forward and one step backward this offseason AT WORST. And I hope MU isn't done portaling.
Quote from: Vander Blue Man Group on May 01, 2026, 01:51:56 PM(https://media.tenor.com/auIHDOEiIFoAAAAM/dumb-thats-dumb.gif)
The portal is closed
Quote from: Vander Blue Man Group on May 01, 2026, 01:51:56 PM(https://media.tenor.com/auIHDOEiIFoAAAAM/dumb-thats-dumb.gif)
Underachieved expectations the last two years and as of now, have only filled 2 open roster spots on a team which went 12-20 last year.
Quote from: Jay Bee on May 01, 2026, 12:15:02 PMObviously he's going to. It's why Sheek wound up at SLU.
No its not.
Quote from: panda on May 01, 2026, 01:45:42 PMPrecisely - without in addition moving forward, this would make it three off seasons in a row where Shaka completely missed the boat on bettering the roster.
"Completely missing the boat" suggests Shaka signed zero transfers. IMHO he did "better the roster."
Now, whether he bettered it enough is something we'll find out next November-March.