Quote from: tower912 on December 12, 2025, 07:17:05 PMOpportunity for learning and growth.  It is fascinating to see how coaches, players, and fans handle adversity.

My view of this is the same as my past views on Wojo and Elizabeth Warren.

With Wojo, I supported the general upward trajectory until February 2019, when we had a third year where we peaked early then had a calamitous losing stretch. It wasn't feasible to fire him after a 5-seed or in the midst of COVID, but they pulled the trigger at the right time.

Why Elizabeth Warren? I'm not being political, it was just math. She was my preferred 2020 candidate, but when Super Tuesday knocked her out, I migrated to Biden even though Bernie was the more ideologically reflective candidate. But doing the math, I realized there was no path to the nomination, so I supported the only guy that could get it.

And that's where I am with Shaka. I'll support him as long as he's here. I still would love for his method to work. But we have more than a year showing it's flawed. He rode a fantastic initial recruiting class to historic results, but what do we have since then? He hit on just one recruit (Chase) in the 2022, 2023, and 2024 recruiting classes. Some of the guys (Ben, Zaide, Royce) have had moments of okay, but it's pretty clear none are the next level players TK, Oso, O-Max, and Kam were, and not even on par with Stevie/Jop who were solid collegians.

With RGV, there is no way for Shaka to stick to the principles he's espoused and create the kind of roster he needs to get back to that level by next year. I just don't see the plausible path. If he betrays his moral stance, runs guys off & goes to the portal, I'll hope he wins in spite of it. If he sticks by RGV and proves me wrong, I'll happily eat that crow.

But as I look at this team, the talent simply isn't here. The staff misevaluated & I was wrong to believe in this team. And without significant roster overhaul (3-4 scholarships) I don't see a path to a 2026-27 turnaround. So I'm basically at the same place with Shaka that I was with Wojo in February 2019. He's going to get time to turn it around, and I'll cheer for him to do so, but I don't believe it is possible and think change is inevitable in the next 4-16 months.

Quote from: jesmu84 on Today at 03:24:18 PMMostly because it's a decision you made that is inherently selfish and lacking in logic.

If he still doesn't get it, he never will. 

Quote from: HutchwasClutch on Today at 03:31:02 PMMiletic is a must keep? Based on what?

Should have said maybe.  Depends on what they see in practice.  But hard to know if the coaches assessments are reliable at this point.

IM.....And he is a very good shooter. More athletic than you think.

Quote from: chren21 on Today at 03:34:36 PM100% This is a HUGE concern.

Look at the positives. If multiple guys transfer out, Shaka will have no choice but to use the portal. Could be a blessing in disguise...

Quote from: Johnny B on Today at 03:12:36 PMLowery went from solid role player to unplayably bad and uninterested. Another mystery of this team. He has no businesses being this bad wth

Something went awry with this team's offseason development program. Outside of arguably Chase, no returning player came back better this year than they ended last. And several regressed from last season or, in Sean's case, the last time he was on the court.

Quote from: HutchwasClutch on Today at 03:31:02 PMMiletic is a must keep? Based on what?

Given the way the year is going, people don't want to hear about "intangibles,  but I said to a friend before it was known that IM was going to redshirt, "I hope Ian sees the floor this year, for the sake of the team even more than for himself. I don't see any natural leaders on this team and Ian is always gathering up his teammates and keeping their heads up, coaching them on the floor when he has to." If the way he lead on the floor at RMHS was any indication, Marquette needs this young man going forward.

Quote from: ATL MU Warrior on Today at 03:24:40 PMSeparate the end result from the first 15 minutes. The first 15 minutes we were decent, as good as we've been all year. Too bad we turned it over a ton and can't shoot at all. 

They also turned it over in the 1st H.  I can't think of a single thing our team does consistently well.  We also have no leadership or defined roles whatsoever.  This team is piss poor fundamentally, and for reasons unknown,   several of our returning players have gotten worse. 

Quote from: We R Final Four on Today at 03:06:06 PMWhich was what?

Played aggressively on both ends, rebounded, took care of the ball. It ain't much, but it was improvement and he showed more in his 10 minutes than several guys ahead of him in the rotation.

Quote from: Shooter McGavin on Today at 03:28:15 PMOne thing that trumps not be recruited over in the portal are parents of players that want their kid to be on a competitive team to better showcase their talents.  MU better be prepared to up the money on the players they identify as part of the solution to the talent gap we now have with other major conference teams.  RP, AS, NJ, SP and MP and IM.  None of these players can transfer or it's a step backwards from this year.

Quote from: Shooter McGavin on Today at 03:28:15 PMOne thing that trumps not be recruited over in the portal are parents of players that want their kid to be on a competitive team to better showcase their talents.  MU better be prepared to up the money on the players they identify as part of the solution to the talent gap we now have with other major conference teams.  RP, AS, NJ, SP and MP and IM.  None of these players can transfer or it's a step backwards from this year.

100% This is a HUGE concern.