Quote from: Vander Blue Man Group on Today at 10:37:40 AMWith NIL in the mix I don't think it's that simple anymore.  Playing time isn't the only driver of that decision. 

If Shaka is recruiting guys who care more about money than playing time or wining, then MU is screwed and Shaka is gone. This is a situation 180 degrees from RGV.

After further review...

I guess it was easier to be psyched when there weren't any games.

Quote from: The Sultan on Today at 08:58:36 AMI don't really have a problem with Ben. He's just not good enough to be the second option on a contending team. If there was more talent around him, like last year, he can be effective in a more limited role.

^This. Ben is serviceable, but if you are counting on him to be your lead dog you're in trouble.

Likewise, Chase would be a great 6th man off the bench. Exceptional athleticism and heart, but also not cut out to be the alpha on a good team.

Zaide...he has the athleticism and basketball ability to be a great 3rd option, but he needs a WHOLE lot more intensity. 50% of Oso/Stevie/Tyler would be a good start.

Royce would be a good 8th-10th guy in the rotation on a good team; unfortunately, we need him to start on this one.

Sean is not a BE starter, or anything more than a 5-8 minute spark off the bench. He is, however, light years ahead of Tre. DO...what happened to that guy???? Hamilton is a low major player thrust into a role he has no business being in.

Freshmen have been great for Freshmen. Hopefully the incoming class has another couple of BE-quality starters, but Shaka needs to find some help on the interior through the portal next year.

Quote from: Vander Blue Man Group on Today at 10:37:40 AMWith NIL in the mix I don't think it's that simple anymore.  Playing time isn't the only driver of that decision. 

What a freaking mess. 

Quote from: onepost on December 06, 2025, 05:58:33 PMThis is just wrong. His coaching last year was his worst since he's been at Marquette, hands down. The reason Kam forgot how to shoot is Shaka ran him into the ground with an unsustainable usage rate. The guy was running on fumes from February on. And because Shaka was convinced Sean would be back to himself (crazy) he didn't attempt to remedy our lack of ball handlers and creators.

This all seemed pretty obvious.

Lmao ok.

Quote from: GoldenEagles03 on December 06, 2025, 03:36:00 PMBecause I truly think Shaka doesn't want to sniff the portal. And Sean is almost certainly going to leave as a guy lined up to be a bench player in his Senior year. I'm all for it, I just think Shaka isn't going to like it. In a year that's already lost, I thought he would just play the older guy.

A) You speak with a certainty that isn't warranted
B) Then UCF or some other mid-major will be lucky to have him

Quote from: JTJ3 on Today at 10:29:13 AMThe "old guys" are already losing playing time to the freshman.  And based on recent performances it is going to keep happening even more.  Despite all the relationship talk in the program, some guys will move on since they don't want to have a reduced role for their last year or two of college.  It's not hard to speculate who that could be.

With NIL in the mix I don't think it's that simple anymore.  Playing time isn't the only driver of that decision. 

For the non-transfer portal system to run smoothly every year, you absolutely have to get production out of your classes every year. We're not getting that from our juniors or sophomores. 1 - Zaide Lowery is OK, but with his athleticism, he should have taken a significant leap this year. I'd argue he was better last season. 2 - Tre Norman. Unless he becomes the next Pat Foley (1987-88 season) where he was a non-contributor for three seasons but then developed an outside shot and could drive to the basket and draw fouls, he's just taking up space. Both those guys were big-time recruits that haven't developed. 3 - Damarius Owens looks like he was out for Wisconsin (flu?) but he hasn't done anything this year. 4 - Royce Parham has been the best of the group. The other thing - they have no shooters (free throws or three-pointers). Some of the guys coming in looks like they will be decent. But we have no Kam Jones, Tyler Kolek, Sam Hauser, Andrew Rowsey, Markus Howard that can really knock them down with consistency. That just kills us. Indiana and Wisconsin beat us with three-pointers. We actually had more points in the paint than Wisky. You can get all the deflections, steals, beautiful drive-and-kicks or shot fakes and drives to the paint, but if you can't put the ball in the hoop, all the cardio, weight training, camaraderie, teamwork, positive culture and athleticism you have is canceled out. So far, we are not seeing the "growth" or the "success" of the RGV mantra.

I don't understand the fixation with open records in this thread.

One of the linked articles states flat out that Kentucky's effort is "not an attempt to privatize athletics or shield it from public oversight—unlike similar structures in places like Florida, Champions Blue remains subject to Kentucky's Open Records Act."

Reading the articles linked, the main benefits to Kentucky athletics seem to be a) bypassing the perceived slowness of decision-making by the university at large to provide greater flexibility, and b) creating direct employment and NIL opportunities with an LLC that bypasses the $20 million post-House compensation cap.

Quote from: MarquetteMike1977 on December 06, 2025, 06:32:44 PMAgree and not sure but in talking to some feel we have enough money to add a player or 2 in the portal. Seemed like Chase had his hands tied behind his back at the line today. What did it look like on television

that his hands were tied behind his back (4/13 FG, 3/7 FT)