Quote from: wadesworld on February 14, 2026, 09:05:32 PMSo let me get this straight. We went from "We hired a University President and Athletic Director who will be yes men to Shaka's RGV, going so far as to make the Spirit Shop all RGV, market it everywhere, heck, make it the University'd unofficial motto," to, "Maybe it wasn't an ultimatum given to Shaka, but Shaka sees the writing on the wall that RGV is not acceptable and changes are needed, and the administration is getting word out there" in about a month. Do I have that correct?

Well, no. But we did go from Shaka dismissing Ben Steele's question about transfers a few months ago to the report today. Things change fast when you have the worst team in a generation.

I think the discrepancy between the top of the roster and everyone else is evident by the fact that two MU players had a double/double today in a losing cause. AI tells me this has never happened before in MU history, but I don't trust AI...

So let me get this straight. We went from "We hired a University President and Athletic Director who will be yes men to Shaka's RGV, going so far as to make the Spirit Shop all RGV, market it everywhere, heck, make it the University'd unofficial motto," to, "Maybe it wasn't an ultimatum given to Shaka, but Shaka sees the writing on the wall that RGV is not acceptable and changes are needed, and the administration is getting word out there" in about a month. Do I have that correct?

Quote from: Johnny B on February 14, 2026, 08:10:01 PMNumber one Arizona goes down in OT to Texas tech. What a game

Star Freshman Koa Peat didn't plan in the 2nd half for AZ due to a lower body injury. Didn't really have much of an update but if it is serious that could alter the tournament in a major way.

Same with Richie Saunders from BYU. One of the better bucket getters in all of college basketball had one of those "please don't be an ACL" injuries today. They are still waiting to hear on that as well.

Some possible major shakeups in the hoops world today.

Quote from: Pakuni on February 14, 2026, 08:49:21 PMI'm sure there's an interesting story we'll never find out about why they're pushing this narrative today. Feels like mostly a message to the fan base, and perhaps some of the whales in the fan base. Doing it during a random February game in Cincinnati, as opposed to something like National Marquette Day or Senior Day, is a curious call.

I like the narrative, and my take is it was crafted to make it look like Shaka has seen the light on his own and the athletic department and prez are assuring him they are onboard and that they will give him the financial support that he needs. The fact that it was not solely from Shaka, I think, speaks volumes. Just my opinion. And yes-"interesting".

I'm sure there's an interesting story we'll never find out about why they're pushing this narrative today. Feels like mostly a message to the fan base, and perhaps some of the whales in the fan base. Doing it during a random February game in Cincinnati, as opposed to something like National Marquette Day or Senior Day, is a curious call.

Quote from: wadesworld on February 14, 2026, 07:41:23 PMDo you not understand how many people in this world coach basketball? Think of the number of high schools that have 2-4 coaches per freshman, JV, and varsity team. How many AAU teams there are.

Yes, I'd say 0.00001%.

To be fair, the vast majority of these people are not full-time basketball coaches. They're teachers who coach after school for a stipend or guys who coach part time while having another job on the side.

Shaka is clearly near the top of his profession, but I'm not sure his profession is the same profession as a freshman girls coach or AAU assistant.

Quote from: Vander Blue Man Group on February 14, 2026, 08:39:12 PMUsing the portal is only half the battle? What on earth are you talking about?

What was shared today is objectively great news yet people are still looking for reasons to nitpick, parse words, and live in the past.

Look, I am optimistic, but -- and I believe you agree -- he needs to get starters in the portal. Two of them need to, along with Parham and James, be our top four players.

Quote from: Scoop Snoop on February 14, 2026, 08:38:29 PMYou got right to the heart of the problem of RGV as an operating system: effectively granting tenure to HS recruits who choose Marquette and circling the wagons to protect them.

I agree that he was probably not given an ultimatum, but he can read the handwriting on the wall. Marquette putting out a statement that encompasses more people than just Shaka speaks volumes. I want the original version of Marquette coach, not RGV coach, Shaka Smart. It is Marquette's team, not his personal team. 

RGV and the portal don't have to be mutually exclusive.