Shaka Smart Presser 2pm: LINK

[cheebs09]

I'm catching up on the presser between meetings.

I'm not gonna lie, I'm excited about getting back to a deflection-oriented defense.

I think there were more measurable stats in this press conference than all 7 years of Wojos.

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

He is a print/social media guy.  His work has been fine.  You must miss Mike Hunt and Tom Enlund.

Very proud of Scoop for showing restraint at this mention.

[Spotcheck Billy]

Did Shaka imply that his mother went to UW?

[mileskishnish72]

Well, Wojo he ain't.

[The Sultan]

Did Shaka imply that his mother went to UW?

Yes.

[duanewade]

A couple of things that stood out to me.  Please don't take these as criticisms because they aren't.  I love the hire, and ecstatic to have Shaka on board.

1.  If you don't know who really runs Marquette athletics, now you do.  Name dropping is very important.  Scholl made the hire, but the only person that truly matters has a PHD in basketball. 

2.  Shaka did have some PR chops there playing with some non-answers, but I think he did a great job toeing the line on it.  He is obviously more genuine and refined than our previous coach was.

3.  I appreciate that the QA didn't seem to have limits... including the 7 years ago question.  I'm glad that question was asked today instead of being in the back of a lot of reporter's minds for years. 

4. Overall, if you're not impressed with Shaka Smart, you probably will never be happy as a Marquette fan.

I agree... I thought he showed great media savvy in that he avoided totally answering questions he didn't want to or couldn't (i.e.: recruiting which coaches can't/shouldn't comment on until they are signed).  Yet he still answered everything some and didn't avoid any questions completely.  He said he didn't come 7 years ago because he felt it wasn't the right time due to the loyalty he felt to some of his VCU players at the time... good answer. 

I liked how he also downplayed the questions on race and sex saying they are relevant but winning and making good decisions to help the team win are the most important things for the team and the fans. 

He's off to a great start. 

[NCMUFan]

I wish him success.  Based on his past he should represent Marquette well.

[Amal Sh00k Up]

We have a great leader here and a very bright future.  We'll undoubtedly have some bumps but the trajectory of today versus the past 7 years is noticeably better.  Cautiously optimistic on the retention of the three main guys and recruitment to an actual system and philosophy should make us much tougher and more attractive to recruits.  Great hire.  Go Marquette!!

[MU82]

Shaka was very smooth, he was comfortable speaking publicly -- far more than, say, Lovell -- and his enthusiasm was evident. He came across as competent and intelligent, which he is.

He knew to throw out meat to the hungry masses with the many references to MU's past successes, while also focusing on what needs to get done in the present. He was careful not to state any specific goals, but let us know that getting to the Final Four is important and attainable. I thought it was significant (and smart) that he mentioned DJ, DG and JL by name, clearly letting them know that they will be prominent contributors to his program if they choose to stay. Questions about race and gender are never easy, and he answered those about as well as he could have.

Press conferences rarely "matter," and people who are comfortable in front of audiences always come out looking great, but the first one does give everybody a little sense of the person.

One would have to be Barney Buzzkill to have watched that and to not believe it was a successful introduction of Shaka to "Marquette Nation" (we have a nation?), and to not be pretty darn excited about what can be for our heroes.

[MuggsyB]

Shaka was very smooth, he was comfortable speaking publicly -- far more than, say, Lovell -- and his enthusiasm was evident. He came across as competent and intelligent, which he is.

He knew to throw out meat to the hungry masses with the many references to MU's past successes, while also focusing on what needs to get done in the present. He was careful not to state any specific goals, but let us know that getting to the Final Four is important and attainable. I thought it was significant (and smart) that he mentioned DJ, DG and JL by name, clearly letting them know that they will be prominent contributors to his program if they choose to stay. Questions about race and gender are never easy, and he answered those about as well as he could have.

Press conferences rarely "matter," and people who are comfortable in front of audiences always come out looking great, but the first one does give everybody a little sense of the person.

One would have to be Barney Buzzkill to have watched that and to not believe it was a successful introduction of Shaka to "Marquette Nation" (we have a nation?), and to not be pretty darn excited about what can be for our heroes.

Uh....yes.  Lovell did not look comfortable at all, even reading.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I just finished watching.
He had good answers for everything. 

Why leave Texas?  Along the lines of "Going forward, Marquette is the simply best fit for my family." 
7 Years ago - Along the lines "Didn't feel like the right time to move and loyalty to players."

Welcome Shaka!

[CountryRoads]

Shaka said one of his goals was to hang banners. I'm too lazy to research and confirm, but wonder if he was a part of the infamous "Finished the Season #6" banner at VCU.

[The Sultan]

Shaka said one of his goals was to hang banners. I'm too lazy to research and confirm, but wonder if he was a part of the infamous "Finished the Season #6" banner at VCU.

He's gonna haul out the Great Alaska Shootout banner out of mothballs isn't he...

[jsglow]

Great presser.

A big takeaway for me is his desire to retain the Big 3 and also to reel Travis back on the staff. Time will tell.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Shaka was very smooth, he was comfortable speaking publicly -- far more than, say, Lovell -- and his enthusiasm was evident. He came across as competent and intelligent, which he is.

He knew to throw out meat to the hungry masses with the many references to MU's past successes, while also focusing on what needs to get done in the present. He was careful not to state any specific goals, but let us know that getting to the Final Four is important and attainable. I thought it was significant (and smart) that he mentioned DJ, DG and JL by name, clearly letting them know that they will be prominent contributors to his program if they choose to stay. Questions about race and gender are never easy, and he answered those about as well as he could have.

Press conferences rarely "matter," and people who are comfortable in front of audiences always come out looking great, but the first one does give everybody a little sense of the person.

One would have to be Barney Buzzkill to have watched that and to not believe it was a successful introduction of Shaka to "Marquette Nation" (we have a nation?), and to not be pretty darn excited about what can be for our heroes.

Hearing him mention their names I felt like, in Shaka's mind, he already knows and envisions what he needs to do and practice with them for them to excel on the court.

[Tums Festival]

This was crystal clear.

On the whole, I love the hire but I'm not a big hype guy so I thought the presser was about what it should've been i.e. it confirmed that this was the right decision.

One disappointing thing is that he had plenty of opportunity to call out that Marquette has "top 10" level talent on the team and didn't do it......he may be out of touch.

Is this supposed to be teal and you forgot?

[naginiF]

Is this supposed to be teal and you forgot?

Very teal. Referencing another thread where someone is setting themselves up to be furiously disappointed in Shaka next year because they think we have talent to be a top 10 team

[NickelDimer]

Wojo was never the answer to my prayers. Far from it

There wasn't a single time I listened to Wojo and got excited including his intro presser

[jsglow]

Here's more from a separate virtual presser:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50fL_xD8paU

[hairy worthen]

Very teal. Referencing another thread where someone is setting themselves up to be furiously disappointed in Shaka next year because they think we have talent to be a top 10 team

Nah I wont be disappointed. I would rather be optimistic than negative. I believe there was talent on the team this year and the problem was the coach. I think a top 25 team is realistic If everything falls in place. Sometimes it doesn't take much to make a big jump, but we will see.

[MuggsyB]

There wasn't a single time I listened to Wojo and got excited including his intro presser

Were you pleased with Shaka?  I thought he was particularly impressive with the Q&A?  Very thoughtful guy and in a noticeably genuine way.

[Jockey]

I do have one very minor criticism regarding the MU beat writer.  Maybe it's me but I haven't been particularly impressed with his abilities.  And while it's fine if wants to wear a mask while social distancing inside, then he needs to speak up and have some conviction and or inflection in his voice.  Personally, I think we can do much better and actually have in recent years.  I know it's no biggie but believe we can step our game up on this front.  He also appeared crazy nervous to me.

I'm almost 100% certain that Steele doesn't "want" to wear a mask. He does it out of respect to others.

Steele has been excellent since he took the post.

[Stretchdeltsig]

Shaka's a very impressive young man. can't wait for the season to begin. I remember Wojo's first couple years when the camera would drop in on him during timeouts and he literally barked at the players inaudibly. I replayed them to try to understand him. Never could. Its hard to understand "dog."

[Dr. Blackheart]

Here's more from a separate virtual presser:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50fL_xD8paU

Lol. Press on from his past jobs. That says a lot. It also says this was a national hire.

[Jockey]

Very teal. Referencing another thread where someone is setting themselves up to be furiously disappointed in Shaka next year because they think we have talent to be a top 10 team

Very impressed with your snark. Teal wasn't necessary.


As someone whose 1st choice was not Shaka, I have to say I was impressed today. Good things are coming for our program.