This is what you're getting with Shaka

[Knight Commission]

Is Chris Mihm happy?

[Avenue Commons]

I'd take Shaka over Moser.  I truthfully thought Shaka was a pipe dream when Wojo got fired.

He plays a more exciting brand of basketball, will recruit better players and the transition will be much, much quicker.  He's also been kicked in the balls at a big school, so the potential for this to be a long term play for Shaka is certainly there.

I would have been happy with Moser, but I think Shaka is more exciting.

I didn't realize that Shaka is only 43. Still relatively young.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Can you please list the Scoopers "who still supported Wojo after this season"? I know of 3 ... maybe.

LOL the ultimate straw man!

[MU24]

How is Shaka going to be better than what we had?

[Silkk the Shaka]

I didn't realize that Shaka is only 43. Still relatively young.

Is "Shaka is only 43 years old" going to become the new "Markus Howard is only 17 years old"?

[JakeBarnes]

Is "Shaka is only 43 years old" going to become the new "Markus Howard is only 17 years old"?

I think "Shaka Smart, with 6 years at Texas and 6 years at VCU, would easily be the most experienced head coach Marquette has ever hired. He's still just 43" is the new version of that.

[Jockey]

I look forward to you beating this drum for the next few years.  And then watching you try to justify it.

Would you like your crow with a side of mayo or ketchup?

I,  too, am disheartened by the hire. We got rid of a guy who didn't win enough for a guy who won less (at Texas). We got rid of a guy who couldn't win an NCAA game for a guy who couldn't win an NCAA game.

As far as the eye test? Texas was an even bigger mess than MU the last few years - hard as that is to believe.

I will support him 100% and will very gladly eat crow if I am wrong, but this is a disappointing day.

[RushmoreAcademy]

Coaches are what they are.  He is going to give you the same results he had at his high major school the last six years.  No more, no less.

Texas Longhorns (Big 12 Conference) (2015–present)
2015–16   Texas   20–13   11–7   4th   NCAA Division I Round of 64
2016–17   Texas   11–22   4–14   10th   
2017–18   Texas   19–15   8–10   T–6th   NCAA Division I Round of 64
2018–19   Texas   21–16   8–10   6th   NIT Champion
2019–20   Texas   19–12   9–9   T–3rd   Post-season cancelled due to pandemic
2020–21   Texas   19–8          12–6   3rd   NCAA Division I Round of 64
Texas:               109–86 (.559)  52–56 (.481)   

That is zero NCAA wins and a below .500 conference record.

Oh, and he was making $3.2m at Texas.  So assume MU busted the bank for mediocrity when they could have gotten Moser for much less.

Why can't we count his VCU tournament success?  If coaches are what they are, let's see all that they are.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

He was making $3,2m at Texas.  I'll assume he is getting at least that at MU.  (If he took a pay cut, that would be a major red flag).

Given this money, this is your justification for hiring him?  Wow, just Wow!

Maybe MU and Loyola can switch conferences. MU can go to the Valley and Loyola to the Big East.

Huh? 

[YaBlueIt]

How is Shaka going to be better than what we had?

How about making the tournament without relying on a generational scoring talent to carry the team, for starters.

[GurneeHitchkr]

I just can't believe people are complaining about this hire.  Some people are just never happy and love to whine.  Just glad I don't have to work with you, are a relative of you, or a friend of yours.  Debbie downers.  I plan to celebrate with the rest once it's official.

[forgetful]

But if you look at the history of Texas fans/boosters, the argument can be made that they are also psychotic.  Expectations are WAY out of line with reality in what seems like a majority of cases.

And the last coach that Texas was happy to get rid of as a "crappy coach" has done pretty well for himself since.

I wouldn't judge a coach by his performance at Texas and/or the opinion of Texas fans/boosters.

[connie]

The Shaka skeptics have some justification.   I am going to choose optimism.

It's done, and I agree.

[Tyler COLEk]

Can you please list the Scoopers "who still supported Wojo after this season"? I know of 3 ... maybe.

I won't give them the attention they crave. We all know who I'm talking about.

[Farley36]

Coaches are what they are.  He is going to give you the same results he had at his high major school the last six years.  No more, no less.

Texas Longhorns (Big 12 Conference) (2015–present)
2015–16   Texas   20–13   11–7   4th   NCAA Division I Round of 64
2016–17   Texas   11–22   4–14   10th   
2017–18   Texas   19–15   8–10   T–6th   NCAA Division I Round of 64
2018–19   Texas   21–16   8–10   6th   NIT Champion
2019–20   Texas   19–12   9–9   T–3rd   Post-season cancelled due to pandemic
2020–21   Texas   19–8          12–6   3rd   NCAA Division I Round of 64
Texas:               109–86 (.559)  52–56 (.481)   

That is zero NCAA wins and a below .500 conference record.

Oh, and he was making $3.2m at Texas.  So assume MU busted the bank for mediocrity when they could have gotten Moser for much less.

I don't believe this.   People can thrive in different environments despite struggling at others.  People also continue to grow and improve.  Will Shaka be better here than Texas?  Remains to be seen but there are enough differences that it's worth giving the guy a fair shot. 

[muwarrior69]

I don't believe this.   People can thrive in different environments despite struggling at others.  People also continue to grow and improve.  Will Shaka be better here than Texas?  Remains to be seen but there are enough differences that it's worth giving the guy a fair shot.

Yeah, I'm going to give Shaka time to show us if he is the guy. Just like stocks past performance does not predict the future. If he can recruit as good as Wojo and he can, but get those recruits to execute plays and improve each season will have success.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I'm just enjoying that for now it seems like the Projos and Nojos were dumped into a bucket, shaken up, and put on different sides of the Smarters/Dumbers debate.

[JakeBarnes]

I'm just enjoying that for now it seems like the Projos and Nojos were dumped into a bucket, shaken up, and put on different sides of the Smarters/Dumbers debate.

Exactly

[ZiggysChestHair]

Why do you think he is going to give you better results than Texas?

I think playing Depaul, who Marquette has struggled with recently, instead of Kansas twice a year will help Shaka bolster his results.  If the results are the same and Marquette wins the Big East Tournament and earns a 3 seed, I will be more than pleased.

[Galway Eagle]

I think playing Depaul, who Marquette has struggled with recently, instead of Kansas twice a year will help Shaka bolster his results.  If the results are the same and Marquette wins the Big East Tournament and earns a 3 seed, I will be more than pleased.

To be fair Villanova 2x a year is probably equal to Kansas 2x a year

[Farley36]

I'm just enjoying that for now it seems like the Projos and Nojos were dumped into a bucket, shaken up, and put on different sides of the Smarters/Dumbers debate.

You mean people are allowed to have different opinions on different matters?

[StillAWarrior]

If the results are the same and Marquette wins the Big East Tournament and earns a 3 seed, I will be more than pleased.

Yeah...we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that "no NCAA wins" wasn't the only mark against Wojo...at least for me. It was the total humiliation in the tournament along with late season collapses and lackluster performances in the BET.

[willie warrior]

The Shaka skeptics have some justification.   I am going to choose optimism.

For once I agree with Tower.

[MU82]

I'm just enjoying that for now it seems like the Projos and Nojos were dumped into a bucket, shaken up, and put on different sides of the Smarters/Dumbers debate.

Smarters/Dumbers ... love it.

Hell, I've been on both sides of both debates, and I admit it.

Happy to support our new coach. We Are Marquette!

[BM1090]

I'll take Moser's resume over that.

2 ncaa tournaments in 17 years?