Quote from: muwarrior69 on January 20, 2026, 06:48:23 AMCare to elaborate. The one thing we all agree on is we want a men's basketball program good enough to compete for a national championship. How we get there is where some of us disagree.

I'll elaborate... many people here and on social media platforms are just absolutely toxic and can't handle themselves with grace after a loss or during a bad season.  This is especially true of those who never post unless we lose.  Seems there's a group who only know how to exist if things are a disaster and thus get a chance to bitch and moan. 

Don't even get me started on the people who can't even identify what is going wrong and simply take the easy road and scream "ThIs iS BeCaUsE He rEfuSeS tO uSe ThE PoRtAL!" 

Are you citing or mocking Iverson?  He is more comfortable out there because he feels better. 

I thought that Chase, Zaide, and DO would split the minutes at the 2/3 relatively equally, with DO picking up a couple of minutes at the 4  Obviously, I was wrong.  But I have always had a positive attitude about DO.  Early in the season, however, I thought he was the worst defender on the team and I wanted him to sit.
 He has gotten better on both ends and I am looking forward to his continued growth.

Quote from: brewcity77 on January 20, 2026, 02:51:09 PMIf anyone wants another example of how incompetent the PR side is, still no mention of Nigel James setting the Marquette freshman record for points in a game last night with 38. Nice, easy chance to point out how one of Markus' all-time records was broken, something positive in this negative season, and Marquette is just ignoring it, I strongly suspect because no one there actually realized it.

Incompetent and clueless. Maybe the thought process is that we have RGV merchandise in the Spirit Shop and that's enough. And yeah, I know. that's not PR, but I think it helps makes my point. Hamilton isn't the only one in MUBB who keeps dropping the ball.

Quote from: onepost on January 20, 2026, 02:27:19 PMShaka, me, and Royce package deal to Pitt???

FIFY

Quote from: tower912 on January 20, 2026, 02:59:05 PMI think that he had to grow into the opportunity.  Continue to recover from his surgery.  I thought for the non-conference part of the season he was the worst defender on the team and cited instances.  At least now he isn't so far out of position that he is picking off teammates.

So, yes, as he has healed and improved enough on defense, he is playing more and making the most of it.  Shaka said he was improving in practice and close to it translating into games.

His success is the result of playing more under control, smarter and efficiently when he's on the court. That's not because of some magical Christmas healing. It's because he's more comfortable out there and not looking over his shoulder for a quick hook. And that's result of playing time.

And yet, more than three months into the season ...
"We're talking about practice man. We're not even talking about the game... the actual game, when it matters. We're talking about practice."

I agree with both points.   Also excluded Patrick Reed. 

Quote from: wadesworld on January 20, 2026, 09:57:52 AMHe normally is, but I thought he was brutal on defense last night.  Consistently blown by off the dribble while he's trying to get into a guy 38 feet from the hoop, and fouling a 3 point shooter at a key moment.

Agreed. Not just him, though. Every single perimeter defender was getting blown by off the dribble last night. Every single one. We play halfway competent D and that game is over much earlier.

I thought the way they structured the exceptions was very strategic.  In that it seemed to intentionally exclude phil.

Also think that Wesley Bryan should be allowed back but that's a different issue i guess.

I think that he had to grow into the opportunity.  Continue to recover from his surgery.  I thought for the non-conference part of the season he was the worst defender on the team and cited instances.  At least now he isn't so far out of position that he is picking off teammates.

So, yes, as he has healed and improved enough on defense, he is playing more and making the most of it.  Shaka said he was improving in practice and close to it translating into games.

Quote from: MU82 on January 20, 2026, 01:01:40 PMQuite encouraged by the recent play of Owens. Folks were giving up on him (and Parham too) way too early. Young players develop at different paces, and it's been fun watching DO play more freely, with more confidence and spirit, lately. He had several huge plays last night.

If he can continue to improve - and there's really no reason he can't - we'll have him, Parham, James and Stevens as a solid core. Plus Egbuonu, Sheek and an improved Phillips. Hopefully add a couple of good players through the portal, and that's a team that can win next season and beyond.

Some people were ridiculed here last month for suggesting DO be given more of an opportunity.