Quote from: HutchwasClutch on January 01, 2026, 09:26:13 AMThis continues to be said here now and then and it's astounding.  If someone was brought in here with the express intent to ruin this program, they couldn't have done better.  Because anyone can see things are not looking up for future seasons because we've got players sitting out with major injuries or have 2 or 3 or whatever top 30 recruits coming on board. 

No competent coach does what Shaka's done to bring us where we sit today.  And that place is one of, if not THE worst team in modern program history.  There's no excuse for what he's done.  It's not just an off season or rebuilding year, it's egregiously bad and negligent handling of a major college program. 

well said

Quote from: Elonsmusk on January 01, 2026, 01:39:01 PMYou're right.  Shaka walked into a dream program. College basketball landscape is exactly the same now is it was when Buzz was coach.  Current Big East conference (marquee/prestige/attractivness to recruits) is the exact same as the one Buzz coached in (not.)

What's your solution?  Like right now (or the last month), since you and so many other former Shaka fans have turned on Shaka - what would you do?  Who's on your short list of better coaching candidates than Shaka that realistically is going to take the MU job?

I never said nor implied it's a "dream program".  And you know that.  I merely stated what reality is and that is it's a very good job with plenty of resources to win at consistently.  Period.  I feel confident that would be a widely held consensus opinion of our program for those that follow college basketball outside our program.

I would probably still give Shaka one more chance to start using the portal. But there's always coaches who are good but no longer feeling the love where they are or other circumstances going on and that largely is unknown until the coaching turnover cycle gets in full motion.  Did Villanova fans really think they'd poach Willard out of Maryland last year at this time? Or did anyone predict Buzz would be ready to move on again from his home state already?

There's possibilities no one sees coming and we're more than of enough stature in the landscape to take advantage. It's the old COLE mindset that Shaka's the best we can ever do.  Especially how badly he's managed things that have led to this season.

are we sure Elonmusk is not Dodd's alter ego?  Go read the Dodd's defense of Shaka not calling timeouts - it's quite comical.  If Elon starts adding in shooting backgrounds, tired legs, freshman walls, or diffuclty of beating teams on Senior night, we will know...

Quote from: Elonsmusk on January 01, 2026, 09:44:23 AMSo the program Shaka is "ruining" is the one that he built into being something that became a Top 10 program under his watch/building.  Inherited a program that was 83rd in Ken Pom.

Look, Shaka got burned by pretty much this whole returning team underperforming reasonable expectations of growth.  Zaide didn't take the next step despite seemingly getting it done in practice/but not able to translate to gamedays.  Sean largely has been a difference maker in the wrong direction. Ben Gold's shooting has regressed.  Royce started the year very slowly. Damarious hasn't taken much of a step forward.  Chase started the year looking like he'd made improvement but he's fizzled as Royce and Nigel have started to really improve.

The in game coaching has not been great, yet I also feel the crappy performance of pretty much every player (poor shooting, careless turnovers, missed layups), put Shaka into the spin cycle of wholesale substitutions, grasping for straws.

Assuming MU provides the $$$ resources to be very competitive in the portal, there is no reason to think after getting burned this badly by RGV Shaka wouldn't go to the portal and rebuild the program just as he did when he got to MU Year 1.  That is assuming he decides he wants to continue coaching in this day and age.

Quote from: HutchwasClutch on January 01, 2026, 12:10:55 PMThis "10 year drought" is just purposefully misleading context for anyone such as yourself that knows and follows this program's history. Just prior to that 10 year drought, they had a threepeat of 2nd weekend NCAA appearances, with an Elite Eight included. We were a 5 seed when we lost in 2019 to Murray St. Wojo left Shaka with guys like Lewis, Oso, Kam, and Stevie.  This program has all the resources and support any major college coach could ask for to be successful.  Let's stop acting like Shaka took this underdog to success. 

It also ignores that 2020 didn't have a tournament. It ignores that, given his reaction to Shaka deserving this down year, he should have been ok with the 2014 year. It also ignores that Shaka himself is a data point during that "0/10" it gives him kudos without acknowledging his own contribution to a frustrating decade.

Quote from: Elonsmusk on January 01, 2026, 01:39:01 PMCurrent Big East conference (marquee/prestige/attractivness to recruits) is the exact same as the one Buzz coached in (not.)

can you actually point to data that shows the average recruiting rankings dropping at MU, Nova, SJU, SHU, PC, GU, and DPU after the NBE was formed? Can you do a comparison of UConn now vs UConn then?

Because I'm thinking Georgetown is likely the only one that had a significant drop and that's mostly due to Ewing not the conference.

Quote from: PointWarrior on January 01, 2026, 02:06:45 PMYeah - We are #119!!!!!

Shocking that Marquette has a 2% to win at UConn.  Perhaps the entire UConn starters get food poisoning the day of the game?   Would that be the 2%?

Serious question, do you think we could beat UCONN's bench?

Yeah - We are #119!!!!!

Shocking that Marquette has a 2% to win at UConn.  Perhaps the entire UConn starters get food poisoning the day of the game?   Would that be the 2%?

Quote from: Billy Hoyle on January 01, 2026, 01:32:58 PMThe problem is he's built his brand (and MU leadership has doubled down on it) with his mistakes. Going into the Portal would be an admission that RVG hasn't worked and would result in a bunch of kids in Guatemala wearing "RVG" branded gear. Is Shaka (and Broker and Kimo) willing to do that?

100% yes. I can't believe that is a real question.

The concept that MU is a bumbling Summit League university without leadership and  that will piss away millions and their jobs is crazy. Seriously crazy.

Quote from: HutchwasClutch on January 01, 2026, 09:34:07 AMYeah, because The U is so much more appealing. Especially with those class acts Irvin and Lewis on the sideline making sure they get noticed. 

The U still has some residual goodwill for me from endorsing their - unique - identity in the late 80s and beyond. I know they're no different than any other program now, but that's still enough brand equity for me to casually root for them in otherwise neutral games.

Quote from: Elonsmusk on January 01, 2026, 01:39:01 PMYou're right.  Shaka walked into a dream program. College basketball landscape is exactly the same now is it was when Buzz was coach.  Current Big East conference (marquee/prestige/attractivness to recruits) is the exact same as the one Buzz coached in (not.)

What's your solution?  Like right now (or the last month), since you and so many other former Shaka fans have turned on Shaka - what would you do?  Who's on your short list of better coaching candidates than Shaka that realistically is going to take the MU job?

TROLL.

We're at the point now where it can't be a coincidence that every bye team has lost in the expanded CFP. The schedule really needs to be addressed.