Quote from: Jay Bee on Today at 06:10:37 PM#FakeNews #Lies

It's not as if we are "maxxed out" on what we can give "student"-athletes.

The athletic department has unlimited financial resources?

Scoop is where I've learned that Marquette doesn't have enough money to compete in the NIL world but also has no ceiling on what it can spend.

Some of the guys that were here for some of Shaka's first few years just had terrific basketball IQ and a really good feel for the game. Some of it was experience and some of it was just innate to those guys. Kam Jones, Ighodaro, Mitchell, and of course Kolek all were smart players with different skillsets that really knew how to work with each other.

Joplin's decision making on offense wasn't quite at the level of those others but I thought he actually had a high IQ on defense. He had a knack for getting in passing lanes, and even came up with timely blocked shots and rebounds despite not being an explosive athlete.

I don't know that anyone amongst the current sophomore through senior classes shows the basketball smarts of the guys mentioned above. Ross is excellent at getting into passing lanes on defense but as a senior that seems to be his only above average trait.

The freshmen do show some promise as being a step above the sophomore through senior classes in hoops IQ but they've got a long ways to go to get where we want them to be.

Hopefully whomever they add this offseason has a better feel for the game and are better decision makers plus a bit more polished offensively than most of this year's team was. It's been a tough watch although occasionally there have been very brief fun moments like national Marquette day.

Quote from: Pakuni on Today at 04:58:42 PMEvery dollar you give him is a dollar that can't be spent elsewhere.

#FakeNews #Lies

It's not as if we are "maxxed out" on what we can give "student"-athletes.

Quote from: Zog from Margo on Today at 03:39:39 PMA little selective editing on your part, but I know you do not believe it matters if teams make FTs. (It's an odd belief because making all of the missed FTs and the missed opportunities for FTs off missed front ends was pretty much the difference in the game yesterday.) In any event, I said shooting which includes more than FTs. MU shoots like crap in both form and substance.

#FakeNews #Lies

I have never said that I do not believe it matters if teams make FTs. That's patently false. I said team FT% isn't of meaningful relevance to winning basketball games. Very different statements.

Now, "the difference in the game yesterday" that you're attributing yesterday's loss to is also bizarro thinking. In what world would the expectation be to make 100% of free throws?

#muMbb scored flippin 0.81 points per possession. 3 missed front ends, but also 2 made and 1's. If we say net 12 possessions used at the line... 11/12 = .092. Free throws helped our offense yesterday - they were not 'the difference in the game'. You shoot sub-43% eFG% and turn it over more than 20%, with sporting an OR% below 20%, you're in deep sh1t.

It may be " remarkable " that there's been no staff changes in Shaka's time ...
But that's NOT a good thing.

All of his staff seem to be complete yes men.  I can see them now ( last summer)
... " yes, Shaka .. Hamilton CAN play in the BE "

How is it that none of them have moved to a head job ?  Do they $uck or are they just not ambitious?

Every single past coach has had guys move on / up to a head job.  Even WOJO had two , Stan Johnson and Dwayne Killings.

But ... I'm sure the last thing Shaka wants is to have someone give him honest feedback.

I blame coaching for an offense that pushes endless dribbling with no off ball movement; no cutters no back door options just stand around. Against DePaul why bring Phillips in and not run a few sets for him to get open for a shot. Maybe hitting a few threes opens up the lane for our drivers.

Quote from: Vander Blue Man Group on Today at 05:12:44 PMIf you really think time the staff has spent with Tre or Josh has adversely impacted the development of Royce or Nigel, that's just silly.  I hardly think coaching and developing a roster of 15 is much different from doing so with a roster of 12 or 13. 

1. That's a red herring.
2. Yes, developing 15 players requires either more time and energy than 12, or a reduction in the amount of time/energy spent developing each individual player. This shouldn't even be controversial. Every additional employee I take on as a manager necessitates that I either spend less time and energy with one of my existing employees or I work more hours.

QuoteAnd now you're getting into the burden from 2-3 extra players on support staff and Todd Smith?  Come on, dude.  You're getting ridiculous here. 

Why yes, I do believe developing and conducting an in-depth strength-and-conditioning program for 15 people requires more time and energy than for 12 people. Again, not controversial.

Quote from: MU82 on Today at 05:18:52 PMMe too.

I didn't say there was an upside. I just don't think it signals doom, either.

There are Scoopers saying, "If so-and-so is on the roster next season, that neans we'll suck again." I simply don't think that's necessarily true.

If you gave me truth serum, I may possibly agree with some here that keeping a one or maybe two of the guys currently on the chopping block won't torpedo the season next season.

However - following this catastrophe of a season, a firm reset is needed to signal the end to free rides for these passengers. Start fresh with a different direction to reset following this year.

MUVB announced the signing of two Slovinians today, a libero and an opposite hitter. Not a bad pipeline to tap into

Quote from: Tha Hound on Today at 03:15:29 PMWhat is the upside to doing this? Warm and fuzzies? I'd much rather bring in a lottery ticket late bloomer and leave a spot open for a midseason transfer than waste it on two guys that should have never made a high major roster.

Me too.

I didn't say there was an upside. I just don't think it signals doom, either.

There are Scoopers saying, "If so-and-so is on the roster next season, that neans we'll suck again." I simply don't think that's necessarily true.