Whose Scholarship Should Shaka Pull?

[TheTulsaWarrior]

I absolutely hate this time of year with no real information available and BS threads speculating like this one does.  It's totally irresponsible and unfair to the players.  ;-(

[CountryRoads]

I absolutely hate this time of year with no real information available and BS threads speculating like this one does.  It's totally irresponsible and unfair to the players.  ;-(

I used to feel this way but got over it when NIL became a thing. Players are essentially pros and thus a lot more is fair game when discussing the roster.

[The Sultan]

I absolutely hate this time of year with no real information available and BS threads speculating like this one does.  It's totally irresponsible and unfair to the players.  ;-(

You clearly don't understand the reason this topic was created.

[Uncle Rico]

Still two weeks to vote on whose scholarships Shaka should pull to bring in the studs in the portal

[Stretchdeltsig]

Screw the portal unless your in panic mode like the rodents in madison.

[tower912]

I am kind of there.  If you have unexpected departures, use the portal.  If you have roster stability and continuity, don't.mess with happy.

[Viper]

I am kind of there.  If you have unexpected departures, use the portal.  If you have roster stability and continuity, don't.mess with happy.

...if talent via the portal can be added to the front court, please do. Gold, Jop, Al, a RS freshman and 2 incoming freshmen would suggest an addition makes sense, if available.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

At first, I preferred a PG due to Sean's injury.  Especially if Kam would have tested the NBA waters.

But with Kam's return, I think TAMU's right about Shaka's approach for the upcoming.  It will be a shared responsibility amongst all guards.

Tre, Zaide, and Damarius should be enough depth behind Kam, Stevie, and Chase.  Tre and Zaide played 306 and 296 minutes, respectively.  They should grow into rotation pieces as sophomores.  If Damarius beats them out, bonus. And if Sean returns from injury to provide more depth, that's a bonus.

I'm less certain about the depth behind Jop and Ben.  Royce Parham needs some to add muscle, so he's probably best backing up the 4 this year.  Al and Caedin are projects who picked up basketball later than most of their peers.

Hopefully in the longterm, one of Al or Caedin works out.  But in the short term, I'd prefer a veteran backup C.

[dgies9156]

Gang, ya'll don't get the culture Coach Shaka is trying to build. We don't run anyone off!

I'm sure at the end of season meetings, Coach talked to everyone about what they'd accomplished in 2023-2024 and what they have to do to get a significant part of the 2024-2025 minutes. They can then decide what they want to do as far as sticking with the investment they made in their Marquette careers or going elsewhere.

I hope they all stay and develop.

[tower912]

It is nice to agree with you again.

[Viper]

Gang, ya'll don't get the culture Coach Shaka is trying to build. We don't run anyone off!

I'm sure at the end of season meetings, Coach talked to everyone about what they'd accomplished in 2023-2024 and what they have to do to get a significant part of the 2024-2025 minutes. They can then decide what they want to do as far as sticking with the investment they made in their Marquette careers or going elsewhere.

I hope they all stay and develop.

however, are 13 scholarships accounted for? If one is available, and portal talent that makes Marquette better is available, why not?...and no one gets run out.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

however, are 13 scholarships accounted for? If one is available, and portal talent that makes Marquette better is available, why not?...and no one gets run out.

Because it would potentially impact rotations and playing time. 

To be clear, I'm not saying not to use that spot to add someone.  More depth and competition is good.  But if they add a big, for example, that will impact Amadou, Hamilton, and Parham.  And is it a one-year guy or a multi-year guy?

I'm sure Shaka would be transparent and do a great job of communicating with the guys if he made an addition.  But it could lead to someone reconsidering their options. 

[jfp61]

however, are 13 scholarships accounted for? If one is available, and portal talent that makes Marquette better is available, why not?...and no one gets run out.

because people like to play..

and no one has a 13 man rotation.

honestly the 13th man, if its filled, should be a RSing freshman.

[Lennys Tap]

Gang, ya'll don't get the culture Coach Shaka is trying to build. We don't run anyone off!

I'm sure at the end of season meetings, Coach talked to everyone about what they'd accomplished in 2023-2024 and what they have to do to get a significant part of the 2024-2025 minutes. They can then decide what they want to do as far as sticking with the investment they made in their Marquette careers or going elsewhere.

The meetings that you describe are exactly what Shaka (or any other good coach) uses to (your words not mine) "run someone off". You give them an honest assessment (see Ike and Ellis) and "help" them decide what's in their best interest going forward. I have no idea how Shaka sees Amadou and Hamilton. Maybe he thinks they can be solid contributors at this level, maybe not. But if the answer is no he'd be doing them a disservice by keeping it from them.

[MU82]

The meetings that you describe are exactly what Shaka (or any other good coach) uses to (your words not mine) "run someone off". You give them an honest assessment (see Ike and Ellis) and "help" them decide what's in their best interest going forward. I have no idea how Shaka sees Amadou and Hamilton. Maybe he thinks they can be solid contributors at this level, maybe not. But if the answer is no he'd be doing them a disservice by keeping it from them.

Yep. Some might not want to call it "running someone off," but that's pretty much what Shaka has done several times already.

[Uncle Rico]

Yep. Some might not want to call it "running someone off," but that's pretty much what Shaka has done several times already.

Like when he ran Jamal Cain off

[dgies9156]

The meetings that you describe are exactly what Shaka (or any other good coach) uses to (your words not mine) "run someone off". You give them an honest assessment (see Ike and Ellis) and "help" them decide what's in their best interest going forward. I have no idea how Shaka sees Amadou and Hamilton. Maybe he thinks they can be solid contributors at this level, maybe not. But if the answer is no he'd be doing them a disservice by keeping it from them.

Brother Lenny:

Maybe we're engaged in debates on language. I see "running someone off" as talking to a young man and telling him his scholarship does not exist and is being used prospectively for another player. That's not something I see Coach Shaka or Marquette doing.

What I see you speaking about is an honest assessment about the player's adaptation to Division 1 basketball. The player then has the option of sticking with Marquette or going somewhere else. It's no different, in most ways, than an employer telling an employee she will not be CEO and that if she wants to be CEO, she needs to work elsewhere. You value her and like her work but she's not going to reach the highest echelons of the firm.

Ironically, the stories I read about Wojo at Duke was very similar to Option 2. Coach K basically told him he wasn't going to start and would be a bit player for Duke in the years ahead. Wojo went out and spent the summer working intensely on his game and came back a starter. That doesn't happen often, I admit, but maybe someone like Al Amadou might get the message, decides he wants to be part of what Coach Shaka is doing and put unGodly amounts of time into his game over the next six months.

You never know.