I agree that he is figuring it out.  I think that practice matters.

Quote from: tower912 on Today at 03:23:16 PMAre you citing or mocking Iverson?  He is more comfortable out there because he feels better. 

I thought that Chase, Zaide, and DO would split the minutes at the 2/3 relatively equally, with DO picking up a couple of minutes at the 4  Obviously, I was wrong.  But I have always had a positive attitude about DO.  Early in the season, however, I thought he was the worst defender on the team and I wanted him to sit.
 He has gotten better on both ends and I am looking forward to his continued growth.

Definitely citing AI here. Like him, I think it's odd to talk about practice performance - which, of course, none of us actually see - as if it's the equivalent of game performance.

As for DO in particular, no idea how you would know how he's feeling, but let's let Ben Steele weigh in:
He's looked more con�fid�ent as his play�ing time has increased, and he's fig�ur�ing out how to put him�self in pos�i�tions to suc�ceed.

No mention in this story from two days ago - headlined "Is Damarius Owens figuring it out? Marquette sophomore looks confident" - of his improvement being a result of him feeling better.

https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/marquette/2026/01/18/marquette-golden-eagles-sophomore-damarius-owens-breakout-candidate/88200469007

Quote from: muwarrior69 on Today at 06:07:41 AMI turned 79 yesterday. Nice birthday present. Let's see what happens in the off season as I see hope of turning the program around for next season. However, if Shaka does not go to the portal this place will go ballistic.

Happy Birthday!

Quote from: muwarrior69 on Today at 06:48:23 AMCare to elaborate. The one thing we all agree on is we want a men's basketball program good enough to compete for a national championship. How we get there is where some of us disagree.

I'll elaborate... many people here and on social media platforms are just absolutely toxic and can't handle themselves with grace after a loss or during a bad season.  This is especially true of those who never post unless we lose.  Seems there's a group who only know how to exist if things are a disaster and thus get a chance to bitch and moan. 

Don't even get me started on the people who can't even identify what is going wrong and simply take the easy road and scream "ThIs iS BeCaUsE He rEfuSeS tO uSe ThE PoRtAL!" 

Are you citing or mocking Iverson?  He is more comfortable out there because he feels better. 

I thought that Chase, Zaide, and DO would split the minutes at the 2/3 relatively equally, with DO picking up a couple of minutes at the 4  Obviously, I was wrong.  But I have always had a positive attitude about DO.  Early in the season, however, I thought he was the worst defender on the team and I wanted him to sit.
 He has gotten better on both ends and I am looking forward to his continued growth.

Quote from: brewcity77 on Today at 02:51:09 PMIf anyone wants another example of how incompetent the PR side is, still no mention of Nigel James setting the Marquette freshman record for points in a game last night with 38. Nice, easy chance to point out how one of Markus' all-time records was broken, something positive in this negative season, and Marquette is just ignoring it, I strongly suspect because no one there actually realized it.

Incompetent and clueless. Maybe the thought process is that we have RGV merchandise in the Spirit Shop and that's enough. And yeah, I know. that's not PR, but I think it helps makes my point. Hamilton isn't the only one in MUBB who keeps dropping the ball.

Quote from: onepost on Today at 02:27:19 PMShaka, me, and Royce package deal to Pitt???

FIFY

Quote from: tower912 on Today at 02:59:05 PMI think that he had to grow into the opportunity.  Continue to recover from his surgery.  I thought for the non-conference part of the season he was the worst defender on the team and cited instances.  At least now he isn't so far out of position that he is picking off teammates.

So, yes, as he has healed and improved enough on defense, he is playing more and making the most of it.  Shaka said he was improving in practice and close to it translating into games.

His success is the result of playing more under control, smarter and efficiently when he's on the court. That's not because of some magical Christmas healing. It's because he's more comfortable out there and not looking over his shoulder for a quick hook. And that's result of playing time.

And yet, more than three months into the season ...
"We're talking about practice man. We're not even talking about the game... the actual game, when it matters. We're talking about practice."

I agree with both points.   Also excluded Patrick Reed. 

Quote from: wadesworld on Today at 09:57:52 AMHe normally is, but I thought he was brutal on defense last night.  Consistently blown by off the dribble while he's trying to get into a guy 38 feet from the hoop, and fouling a 3 point shooter at a key moment.

Agreed. Not just him, though. Every single perimeter defender was getting blown by off the dribble last night. Every single one. We play halfway competent D and that game is over much earlier.