Quote from: nyg on Today at 02:05:02 PMSo no. Thanks, was curious.  Argumentaive postings over complete speculation and whispers.  I'm sure others here will just wait until the portal opens.

His next whisper will be he heard Cam Boozer might not go to draft and loves Shaka's RGV philosophy.

It's literally in a thread titled "2026 Transfer Portal Wishlist."  There are very few players ACTUALLY available right now.  It's just people opining how many players they would like, what positions or skillsets they would like those players to have/be, or potential names from mid or low majors that might make sense or fit.  Minessale is at least from Milwaukee so there's more of a "connection" than some of the other names listed.  And chances are pretty dang high that he'll 1) get paid more by a high major and 2) take his chances at proving he belongs as a high major player after this year.

Quote from: wadesworld on Today at 01:56:11 PMHe's from Milwaukee, went to Marquette High, plays in a low major conference and is productive at that level, and his family apparently whispered into MUMike's ear that he has a big offer from Iowa State but he and his family love Marquette.

Haha yeah the Iowa State stuff and all the whispers from him are funny.

But from what I have heard recently, lets just say Shaka and staff are very aware of Minessale... who he is, how good he is, the fact he's gonna portal and his ties to Marquette.  Im still not sure I believe we'll get him, but the staff is well aware of him already, so including him specifically in these kinds of topics isnt unrealistic at all.

Quote from: wadesworld on Today at 01:56:11 PMHe's from Milwaukee, went to Marquette High, plays in a low major conference and is productive at that level, and his family apparently whispered into MUMike's ear that he has a big offer from Iowa State but he and his family love Marquette.

So no. Thanks, was curious.  Argumentaive postings over complete speculation and whispers.  I'm sure others here will just wait until the portal opens.

His next whisper will be he heard Cam Boozer might not go to draft and loves Shaka's RGV philosophy.

Quote from: GoldenEagles03 on Today at 01:12:17 PMIf the staff leaves it up to the players maybe one more.

If they take matters into their own hands there should be at least 2 more openings to give us 3 spots.

This is where the uncertainty of Shaka's evolution comes into play. It is clear that Shaka has been biased towards his own (and his assistant coaches') assessment of recruits and his ability to develop guys. At the same time, Shaka has implied that he would use the transfer portal if positions open up (and he did in his first year, then after Lewis left--though Wrightsil didn't exactly work out).

But, it has also seemed that Shaka continued to invest exclusively in development, by not saying after a year or two, "well, I don't see this working out going forward." (Though maybe he did that with Al Amadou.)

As this season has shown, that assessment and development are not guaranteed, and he'll need either notable roster turnover or remarkable development for next year to exceed this year.

Ultimately, is he going to be willing to either winnow the chaff from the team (ie, ask/tell players to move on to other places) in order to have additional roster spaces (that would hopefully be filled by transfers), or is he going to double down on his commitment to development? Said differently, is he so committed to relationships and to supporting his players that he'll be willing to keep guys (who may not play much) just because those guys want to stay, perhaps at a cost of a better season next year, with more victories than this year?

As I've said, I hope Shaka tells at least two current roster players that they should leave the program, giving him at least 3 open scholarships heading into the off-season. And, I'll be totally fine if the public explanation (spin) on that so-and-so is heading to somewhere that they can expand their wings and move forward with their b-ball "careers" on a new path is for their own development and growth, and the relationship between Shaka and that player will remain strong.

Quote from: nyg on Today at 01:49:19 PMMaybe I am missing something. Posters keep bringing up this guy Minessale and now others. Has he officially entered the portal or stated he is going to enter the portal?  What about the others being brought up now? Or is the context of the postings being if he enters, will he/they be a good fit. 

He's from Milwaukee, went to Marquette High, plays in a low major conference and is productive at that level, and his family apparently whispered into MUMike's ear that he has a big offer from Iowa State but he and his family love Marquette.

Maybe I am missing something. Posters keep bringing up this guy Minessale and now others. Has he officially entered the portal or stated he is going to enter the portal?  What about the others being brought up now? Or is the context of the postings being if he enters, will he/they be a good fit. 

Quote from: GoldenEagles03 on Today at 12:26:03 PMIt seems to me they are one in the same with Shaka.

    

Okaaay.

Quote from: GoldenEagles03 on Today at 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.

Yeah I forgot he told Alex Egbuonu Marquette is no longer interested once Alex announced he had signed an agent.

He literally advised Kolek to get an agent.

You imagine some crazy stuff sometimes.

I do think we have more talent than SH. We bring this team back they will be better and competitive next year.  A reliable defensive big via portal seems like a no brainer - and I say that as one of the few (only?) fans who think Clark and Hamilton are going to be good eventually.

Our W/L seems to me to be on Shaka/coaches rather than the talent.  In SH game why did he not have DO on Clark the majority of game?  He could have shut him down and Clark was the key to the game. The 1st half of season missed lay ups and open 3s, the substitutions and end game plays - they all point to coaching misses..  Shaka has always played alot of weird combos for what I assume are long term developmental purposes and retention.  It has burned him before.  He has just had a horrible year - it happens.  The long term trajectory this same coach has put us on tho I think is the best one for being consistently in top tier of Big East in the NIL era.  I am with Tower in that the adversity will pay off and Shaka and the team will ultimately be better for it - a shame this season was a loss but thats life.  The long term is we retain our players and they get older and we have an old team full of 23 year old redshirts year after year - in a NIL model we can afford and sustain.  Some of the 5 year bigs other teams got in the portal were probably not much better than Hamilton in year 2/3 of their career but were more than serviceable in year 4/5.  Get a big to smooth over til they get there - I like our guards and wings - stick with them...

Quote from: Mu8891 on Today at 01:01:14 PMThe entire BE is way down this year...

And what happens when UCONN eventually leaves for the ACC or B12 ( which is just a matter of time) ?

Yep. Not if. When.

Of course, UCONN brings in $ to the BE both from the tourney and our TV contract's value with them in the BE. After that? The remaining BE members will have a chance for 2 more Ws vs. other BE teams that have been almost automatic Ls vs. UCONN. Big deal.

With the megadonors shelling out Big Bucks in the power conferences, even after FB, the future of the BE as a high-level conference is certainly in question.