Recruiting as of 4/15/25

[Zog from Margo]

Hard to know what the future holds but MU will be more longer and more athletic next season. The seniors have been very good players at MU, but it's not a particularly athletic group. Whether the increased length and improved athletic ability will overcome the loss of the intangibles and skills of the seniors remains to be seen. Just watching Ross, Lowery and Owens accelerate up the floor shows they're at a different athletic level. Add Sean Jones and Nigel James and the team will have some speed. Norman, Stevens, and Hamilton have builds to play some bully ball. Lowery is already the strongest perimeter player taking the ball to the rim. Gold returns and might be healthier. He was much improved this season. To that MU adds fairly tall and athletic long-range shooters in Militec and Phillips and wild cards in Clark and Amadou. It might take a little longer to gel next season, but I'm optimistic.

[DoctorV]

I trust in the growth/development pillar. 

We trusted in that this year and look where it's gotten us...

[tower912]

Pretty good season.   Little flat spot at the moment.   Somehow, 20-7 is now considered bad.   What complete and utter whiny crap.

[ATL MU Warrior]

We trusted in that this year and look where it's gotten us...

Your mood seems to have changed.  What finally did it?

[DoctorV]

Haha I took my shot at some sarcasm and it landed decently.

[GoldenEagles03]

We trusted in that this year and look where it's gotten us...

Haha. I like it.

If you could sign up to be 20-7 through 27 games every year that Shaka is here, would you do it?

I would.

2021-2022: 17-10
2022-2023: 21-6
2023-2024: 21-6
2024-2025: 20-7

[wadesworld]

Haha. I like it.

If you could sign up to be 20-7 through 27 games every year that Shaka is here, would you do it?

I would.

2021-2022: 17-10
2022-2023: 21-6
2023-2024: 21-6
2024-2025: 20-7

No.

[GoldenEagles03]

No.

?

I'd take 74% winning  any year!

[Captain Quette]

It would seem based on next year's roster, we still have the same weakness as this year's team. No shooting and no muscle. I understand that some 3 pt percentages look decent now but when I watch our guys take 3s, there is not one player who I see consistently knock it down. A la hauser, Novak, Marcus. Remember Kam shot 40% from 3 last year.

That being said, I am optimistic about the athleticism that chase, zaide, and owens bring. Perhaps Gold lifts some weights and Sean hasn't lost too much being out 2 years.  My question is....is our ceiling a 5th place or lower finish in BE next year without shaka hitting the portal?

[tower912]

Nostalgic for the good old days under Wojo.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

It would seem based on next year's roster, we still have the same weakness as this year's team. No shooting and no muscle. I understand that some 3 pt percentages look decent now but when I watch our guys take 3s, there is not one player who I see consistently knock it down. A la hauser, Novak, Marcus. Remember Kam shot 40% from 3 last year.

That being said, I am optimistic about the athleticism that chase, zaide, and owens bring. Perhaps Gold lifts some weights and Sean hasn't lost too much being out 2 years.  My question is....is our ceiling a 5th place or lower finish in BE next year without shaka hitting the portal?

Shaka is not going to hit the portal. Have you listened to a word he's said on this topic the last couple of seasons?

No, that is not the ceiling.

Did people think the ceiling going into the 22-23 season when the team was picked 9th was a Big East championship, top 10 ranking and 2 seed?

Of course that was a special year but I continue to have a hard time understanding this pessimistic point of view after what we've seen the last few years.

Sure, maybe next year's team finishes 5th or worse in conference but as the ceiling?  No way.

[DoctorV]

Not sure if the tiebreakers with X, but we could be looking at a 5th place finish this season...

Looking at the bright side of things, very few of us here would have said before the season that a 5th place BE finish would still be a lock for the dance, and I think (more than likely?) this team is a lock even if they lose out, but I'll defer to Brew on that

[MUfan12]

You could convince me that next year could be the inverse of this one, while ending up in a similar place. Struggle out of the gates as guys acclimate to new roles, gel and finish the season stronger.

Regardless, losing a 2,000 point scorer All-American, plus two of your more versatile defenders is a big deal, even if they're not playing well now.

[MU82]

Not sure if the tiebreakers with X, but we could be looking at a 5th place finish this season...

Looking at the bright side of things, very few of us here would have said before the season that a 5th place BE finish would still be a lock for the dance, and I think (more than likely?) this team is a lock even if they lose out, but I'll defer to Brew on that

We also could be looking at a 2nd place finish this season.

And we won't lose out.

[MU82]

Shaka is not going to hit the portal. Have you listened to a word he's said on this topic the last couple of seasons?

No, that is not the ceiling.

Did people think the ceiling going into the 22-23 season when the team was picked 9th was a Big East championship, top 10 ranking and 2 seed?

Of course that was a special year but I continue to have a hard time understanding this pessimistic point of view after what we've seen the last few years.

Sure, maybe next year's team finishes 5th or worse in conference but as the ceiling?  No way.

Two months ago, Shaka was the next Al, and the big fear was that Marquette would lose him to a blueblood.

Now, Shaka is a stubborn guy who doesn't acknowledge what this program needs, and the big fear is that his best days as Marquette coach are already over.

[Captain Quette]

Things change in college hoops and the annual churn with rosters is now common place. I have yet to hear shaka say he is not ever going to tap the portal. Set me straight if this is inaccurate. As to our past 2 year's team, in comparison to this year and next. We had 2 nba players on those teams plus Kam, potential NBA. There is a pretty talent difference when comparing, hence my suggestion to portal.

Why not try to put together a FF team, regardless of where the talent originates. If we trust shaka to recruit and develop players from HS, he can certainly do it from the portal.

[The Sultan]

Things change in college hoops and the annual churn with rosters is now common place. I have yet to hear shaka say he is not ever going to tap the portal. Set me straight if this is inaccurate. As to our past 2 year's team, in comparison to this year and next. We had 2 nba players on those teams plus Kam, potential NBA. There is a pretty talent difference when comparing, hence my suggestion to portal.

Why not try to put together a FF team, regardless of where the talent originates. If we trust shaka to recruit and develop players from HS, he can certainly do it from the portal.

He is very clear that he will accept transfers if they are willing to buy into their culture and not make it simply about money. He has also implied that incoming transfers should not expect to receive more via NIL than returning players do.

[MU82]

Things change in college hoops and the annual churn with rosters is now common place. I have yet to hear shaka say he is not ever going to tap the portal. Set me straight if this is inaccurate. As to our past 2 year's team, in comparison to this year and next. We had 2 nba players on those teams plus Kam, potential NBA. There is a pretty talent difference when comparing, hence my suggestion to portal.

Why not try to put together a FF team, regardless of where the talent originates. If we trust shaka to recruit and develop players from HS, he can certainly do it from the portal.

Scoopers don't have to answer this for you. All you have to do is listen to Shaka's many interviews on the subject.

Summary: He is not unilaterally opposed to bringing in transfers, but he does not think it is in the program's best interest to "drop a bag" on a transfer whose main concern is money and who might not fit in with the team.

You might disagree with that philosophy, and that's your right. But Shaka has been quite clear about it.

So taking him at his word, I wouldn't expect him to spend more money to buy somebody who could supplant, say, Sean Jones when he could just use the money to pay Sean Jones.

[MuMark]

I've actually seen interviews with Shaka where he has said both.......lately most of them have basically said " we don't use the portal......nothing wrong with it for those that do but we believe in bringing in players from high school and developing them"

Early on he was more " we aren't going to prioritize guys who gave never worn the jersey over guys like Oso but if somebody fits we will consider it"

The way I'm looking at it now is I'm going to assume we aren't bringing in anyone from the portal until we actually do.

I don't think he wants to......that seems obvious.......

[GoldenEagles03]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGa8X_3xg_5/?igsh=bG1vYzA2MHUzMTNq

[drbob]

To answer your question Tower. NO.  I am nostalgic for the good old days under Coach AL. !!!!!!!

[willie warrior]

Pretty good season.   Little flat spot at the moment.   Somehow, 20-7 is now considered bad.   What complete and utter whiny crap.

20-7 is not considered bad, but the last 2 months play has not been good. It has been mediocre at best. Elite teams are peaking now. We are not. So maybe don't criticize posters for things they haven't said as "utter whiny crap"

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Two months ago, Shaka was the next Al, and the big fear was that Marquette would lose him to a blueblood.

Now, Shaka is a stubborn guy who doesn't acknowledge what this program needs, and the big fear is that his best days as Marquette coach are already over.

Fandumb

[Newsdreams]

20-7 is not considered bad, but the last 2 months play has not been good. It has been mediocre at best. Elite teams are peaking now. We are not. So maybe don't criticize posters for things they haven't said as "utter whiny crap"

Kansas not ranked, mighty Hurley out, NC out, lots to think about Mr. Dung

[Viper]

Kansas not ranked, mighty Hurley out, NC out, lots to think about Mr. Dung

a loss tomorrow or Saturday and we'll be in that dirty laundry pile. Let's hope tomorrow is a get right game.