Quote from: tower912 on February 02, 2026, 07:34:51 PMNoah Kahan is back.  He still has issues. 

He's great.

You can't spell Pickleball without ICE PAL

Quote from: swoopem on February 02, 2026, 07:24:32 PMAlright here comes a hypothetical

If Shaka calls you the day after we lose in the big east tournament (which is looking like Thursday) and says, ok tower you're calling the shots this offseason. What should I do? Do you really say, bring everyone back? That's insane

I wouldn't run off players who want to stay.  And I have said what I am looking for if there is only one player.   So, how much money do I have to play with? 

If only one more player leaves, if that player is a guard or wing, I look for a second combo guard.   If that player is Royce or one of the 3 centers, I look for a 6'9 stretch 4.

Please, Shaka, block scoop on any and all devices of players and coaches.

Noah Kahan is back.  He still has issues. 

Quote from: tower912 on February 01, 2026, 05:14:01 PMI hope the 14 projected scholarship players for next season feel the same way.

Alright here comes a hypothetical

If Shaka calls you the day after we lose in the big east tournament (which is looking like Thursday) and says, ok tower you're calling the shots this offseason. What should I do? Do you really say, bring everyone back? That's insane

Quote from: GoldenEagles03 on February 02, 2026, 12:26:03 PMIt seems to me they are one in the same with Shaka. He holds having an agent against a kid like one would hold a grudge.

It's baffling that he would close the door on so many athletes who have these advisors. Especially when the best of the best will obviously have agents. So we won't take transfers but we also eliminate ourselves from the best high school talent. This is where we end up.

It's too bad we lost Egbuonu because he has an agent.

Quote from: GoldenEagles03 on February 02, 2026, 11:30:06 AMI just looked at his recruiting page and it actually looks like we were one of his first offers!

For most that would probably be a good thing but Shaka seems like a grudge guy. Choosing Providence over Marquette probably eliminates him as a target rather than enhance his ability to be a target of Shaka lol. You would think if he was good enough for the culture then, why wouldn't he be now? But who knows.

A "grudge guy".

There is nothing whatsoever to indicate Shaka is a "grudge guy". In fact, he seems to be the very opposite.

Where do you come up with some of this nonsense?

Quote from: We R Final Four on February 02, 2026, 05:51:24 PMWhy wasn't a big the #1 focus this past offseason?

Gold
Hamilton
Clark
Parham

That is criminal.

Sheek and Clark are two years away from meaningful production.
We need a big next year, even more than this past year.

I suspect it's twofold.

First, I think the staff believed Ben was at his best as a stretch 4. They've long talked about how they want him to play and how they believe there's more there than what he showed. That meant moving someone else to the 5.

Which led to the second problem, the staff misevaluated Caedin Hamilton. Maybe it's the whole "better in practice" thing but I think Caedin was better in practice because he was going against Josh and Parham in the post. One wasn't ready and one isn't physically built to defend 250-lb post players. They mistakenly thought Caedin's practice dominance against guys who weren't Big East level interior defenders was real when it clearly wasn't.

I do think Big East starting big is the top need, and hopefully Sheek can be the rotation piece. But that does require counting on a redshirt freshman and we've been down that road before. You can tell me until you're blue in the face that Pearson is different but I'll believe it when I see it consistently against high majors.

Then we need a scorer on the wing to replace 2023-24 Kam Jones (something we've failed to do for two years). Someone who can also help with ball handling would be ideal, but a 23-26% usage capable scorer is necessary.

Anything else is a luxury.

Quote from: romey on February 02, 2026, 06:56:54 PMWalk-on Rob Hanley got some run even.

Have we "moved on" from Clark?  At one point there was some sentiment that his length could be useful.  It seems that he is getting very few minutes now.

Personally, I like his upside and am hopeful he can contribute next year.

The only thing Clark has going for him is people compare him to Hamilton.

Quote from: Viper on February 02, 2026, 06:37:08 PMthat was 'Action' Jackson playing point center!!! I do agree, Shaka needs a legit big...rim run, boards. (I thought Clark would be that guy) Back-up pg too.

Walk-on Rob Hanley got some run even.

Have we "moved on" from Clark?  At one point there was some sentiment that his length could be useful.  It seems that he is getting very few minutes now.

Personally, I like his upside and am hopeful he can contribute next year.