Keeyan Itejere to Marquette

[keefe]

I'm down with that, hey?

You write a book, brudda??

[MU1980]

He's the kind of player many here would have gone "eh" at if Wojo had signed him.

But since it's Smart, the reaction is "OMG I can't believe we got him!  He can dunk!"

We get it.  You were one of the few people that did not like the hiring of Shaka Smart.  I find it interesting that the national media, local media, current players, players who originally signed with Texas, most of the players that already signed with Marquette, excellent additional recruits, outstanding assistant coaches and nearly everyone on MUScoop all think this is a good hire, but yet you are still not on board.  Have you been paying attention at all the past 2 1/2 weeks?  Do you watch his press conferences? Do you listen to what his philosophy is? Do you not see what an outstanding reputation he has?  Your main argument against him was you seem to think he failed at Texas, which is not true, but he didn't have success there in the NCAA tournament.  However, he did have more success than anyone would have expected at a school like VCU and the fact that Marquette is nothing like a school like Texas and Shaka seems much more suited to a program like Marquette.  He is still young and I am confident that he will take the things that he learned at VCU and Texas, both good and bad, and use those experiences to achieve greater success than he had at either of his two previous schools. 

[dgies9156]

OK gang, Wojo's gone. Right or wrong, he's going to be coaching somewhere else. I hope he learns and is successful as I like him as a person. He just didn't get it done at Marquette.

MOVE ON!!!!!

As to Shaka, if he is successful, I think we have that elusive "here for the count" Coach. He's tasted life at a high-pressure, win-at-all-costs program. Not saying he won't someday get the itch again, but we're not dealing with Kevin O'Neill or the Buzzard here. I can see him coaching our Warriors to the final four 20 years from now.

Could any of us legitimately say that about the Buzzard, The Tanned One or O'Neill?  Didn't think so.

[Galway Eagle]

OK gang, Wojo's gone. Right or wrong, he's going to be coaching somewhere else. I hope he learns and is successful as I like him as a person. He just didn't get it done at Marquette.

MOVE ON!!!!!

As to Shaka, if he is successful, I think we have that elusive "here for the count" Coach. He's tasted life at a high-pressure, win-at-all-costs program. Not saying he won't someday get the itch again, but we're not dealing with Kevin O'Neill or the Buzzard here. I can see him coaching our Warriors to the final four 20 years from now.

Could any of us legitimately say that about the Buzzard, The Tanned One or O'Neill?  Didn't think so.

Nope. But if 2/3 of Duane doesn't get injured, Vander doesn't declare or McKay stays at MU I think Buzz is looking at a final four in 2014.

So essentially I'd prefer us not to wait 20 years

[TSmith34, Inc.]

We get it.  You were one of the few people that did not like the hiring of Shaka Smart.  I find it interesting that the national media, local media, current players, players who originally signed with Texas, most of the players that already signed with Marquette, excellent additional recruits, outstanding assistant coaches and nearly everyone on MUScoop all think this is a good hire, but yet you are still not on board.  Have you been paying attention at all the past 2 1/2 weeks?  Do you watch his press conferences? Do you listen to what his philosophy is? Do you not see what an outstanding reputation he has?  Your main argument against him was you seem to think he failed at Texas, which is not true, but he didn't have success there in the NCAA tournament.  However, he did have more success than anyone would have expected at a school like VCU and the fact that Marquette is nothing like a school like Texas and Shaka seems much more suited to a program like Marquette.  He is still young and I am confident that he will take the things that he learned at VCU and Texas, both good and bad, and use those experiences to achieve greater success than he had at either of his two previous schools.

The reason he doesn't like Shaka has nothing to do with Smart's basketball pedigree or accomplishments.

[MU1980]

The reason he doesn't like Shaka has nothing to do with Smart's basketball pedigree or accomplishments.

If I am understanding what you are getting at, I hadn't thought of that, but in looking at his past history, that does make sense.  Right from the start he had an irrational and intense dislike for Shaka.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Nope. But if 2/3 of Duane doesn't get injured, Vander doesn't declare or McKay stays at MU I think Buzz is looking at a final four in 2014.

So essentially I'd prefer us not to wait 20 years

Vander + McKay is one of the all-time MU what-ifs... coulda been a legendary squad

[Silkk the Shaka]

OK gang, Wojo's gone. Right or wrong, he's going to be coaching somewhere else. I hope he learns and is successful as I like him as a person. He just didn't get it done at Marquette.

MOVE ON!!!!!

As to Shaka, if he is successful, I think we have that elusive "here for the count" Coach. He's tasted life at a high-pressure, win-at-all-costs program. Not saying he won't someday get the itch again, but we're not dealing with Kevin O'Neill or the Buzzard here. I can see him coaching our Warriors to the final four 20 years from now.

Could any of us legitimately say that about the Buzzard, The Tanned One or O'Neill?  Didn't think so.

That's definitely the major upside to the hire... the 20+ year tenure possibility a.k.a. the holy grail. If that can fall into place the university will be in a great spot as a whole for a long, long time

[dgies9156]

Nope. But if 2/3 of Duane doesn't get injured, Vander doesn't declare or McKay stays at MU I think Buzz is looking at a final four in 2014.

So essentially I'd prefer us not to wait 20 years

I DONT THINK IT WILL TAKE 20 YEARS!!!!!!!!!

Damn, I hope not.

[Dr. Blackheart]

I DONT THINK IT WILL TAKE 20 YEARS!!!!!!!!!

Damn, I hope not.

A score to judge, hey?

[muwarrior69]

I DONT THINK IT WILL TAKE 20 YEARS!!!!!!!!!

Damn, I hope not.

...me too; I would be 94!

[BallBoy]

Nope. But if 2/3 of Duane doesn't get injured, Vander doesn't declare or McKay stays at MU I think Buzz is looking at a final four in 2014.

So essentially I'd prefer us not to wait 20 years

People aren't saying it takes 20 years for a final four but it takes 20 years to build a sustained high level program that gives you multiple runs to a NC. Prime examples include NoVa, Gonzaga. We want the coach to have sustained success for a long period of time to build the brand into a blue blood. We don't want to be in the continued rebuild and coaching searches.

Crean was here 9 years and Buzz was here 6yrs and we carried continued success. I believe had Buzz stayed we would be competing for top talent and have multiple runs at FF and not the flash that happened in 2003.

Think what would have happened if Crean jumped after the FF year.

We see this happen other places. Texas Tech had a good run and because of Beard they were seen as a destination which would have allowed him multiple chances at runs.  Since 2001, TT has had 6 coaches of which 3 were retread has beens and one was the son of a retread.

[MU82]

People aren't saying it takes 20 years for a final four but it takes 20 years to build a sustained high level program that gives you multiple runs to a NC. Prime examples include NoVa, Gonzaga. We want the coach to have sustained success for a long period of time to build the brand into a blue blood. We don't want to be in the continued rebuild and coaching searches.

Crean was here 9 years and Buzz was here 6yrs and we carried continued success. I believe had Buzz stayed we would be competing for top talent and have multiple runs at FF and not the flash that happened in 2003.

Think what would have happened if Crean jumped after the FF year.

We see this happen other places. Texas Tech had a good run and because of Beard they were seen as a destination which would have allowed him multiple chances at runs.  Since 2001, TT has had 6 coaches of which 3 were retread has beens and one was the son of a retread.

Exactly.

Many Scoopers have said they want us to be the next Gonzaga or Nova.

Well, it took Few 18 years to get Gonzaga to the Final Four, and he had inherited a program that had made the Elite 8 the year before he took over.

Nova didn't reach the Final Four until Wright's 8th year and then didn't return until his 15th, when they finally won the national title. And that was Wright's 22nd season as a D1 head coach.

This does not mean I wouldn't take their success even before they got to the FF. Nor does it mean it will necessarily take Shaka that long to get us to a Final Four; heck, it only took Crean 4 years to get us to the FF.

But it takes time, effort and a decent amount of good fortune to be Gonzaga and Nova.

I'd love to see Shaka get us to the point where we make the second weekend almost routinely and we're kvetching about not making more  Final Fours or not winning national titles.

We Are Marquette!

[Pakuni]

Nope. But if 2/3 of Duane doesn't get injured, Vander doesn't declare or McKay stays at MU I think Buzz is looking at a final four in 2014.

So essentially I'd prefer us not to wait 20 years

That's really wishful thinking, especially re: McKay and Duane Wison.

[Herman Cain]

People aren't saying it takes 20 years for a final four but it takes 20 years to build a sustained high level program that gives you multiple runs to a NC. Prime examples include NoVa, Gonzaga. We want the coach to have sustained success for a long period of time to build the brand into a blue blood. We don't want to be in the continued rebuild and coaching searches.

Crean was here 9 years and Buzz was here 6yrs and we carried continued success. I believe had Buzz stayed we would be competing for top talent and have multiple runs at FF and not the flash that happened in 2003.

Think what would have happened if Crean jumped after the FF year.

We see this happen other places. Texas Tech had a good run and because of Beard they were seen as a destination which would have allowed him multiple chances at runs.  Since 2001, TT has had 6 coaches of which 3 were retread has beens and one was the son of a retread.

Toward the end of the Crean/Buzz Era, MU could confidently go and make its  regular recruiting  pitch and then add on the additional pitch, you are part of a brand of success, if you come to MU your going to be in the tournament, making runs and heading to the Association. So yes I agree if Buzz stayed, or we had a successor who had similar success, we would be 20 plus years into being a high level program and all the associated success of being a consistent top 15 or better, Tournament run and NBA talent producing team

The longer we got away from the Crean Buzz level of performance, the recruiting pitch was all the normal MU stuff , however the addendum was come to MU , we will give you the keys and you can lead us back to the promised land. Then working the prospects mother as hard as possible to fall in love with MU and what a family place we are. At that point we are there next to the other top 35 type schools giving a similar opportunity; hence top 35 results over time.

Shaka can come in and make a slightly different pitch. He gives the MU recruiting pitch  ( which includes among other things like playing in FiServ, NBA City and associated attention etc)  and then his addendum is to say MU was attractive to me (Shaka) to leave Texas because  of all of this.  Then he can say I had my own level of final four success, I  believe this is a great platform to get to another FF  and if you come with me to MU , we can get to a special place together with hard work. Obviously this is paraphrasing a whole long set of discussions he would be having.

I believe ,with Shaka ,we don't have to rewind the 20 year clock. The MU basketball  foundation  is still strong, the growth was just stunted the last seven years. We just need to start getting back to tournament with regularity and the momentum will build quickly. 

We now have 5 Promising freshman prospects, plus 2 new skilled transfers. Another two classes of prospects similar to this ( easier said than done) we will be in a good place. The Big East ecosystem is where we have to butter our bread and there still is no clear second team in our league to Nova. Xavier was there with Mack , but he left. Creighton looked like it was there, now no one wants to play on McDermotts plantation. I think MU is in a dog fight with U Conn and Georgetown as to who will be in that 2 spot.

[BallBoy]

Toward the end of the Crean/Buzz Era, MU could confidently go and make its  regular recruiting  pitch and then add on the additional pitch, you are part of a brand of success, if you come to MU your going to be in the tournament, making runs and heading to the Association. So yes I agree if Buzz stayed, or we had a successor who had similar success, we would be 20 plus years into being a high level program and all the associated success of being a consistent top 15 or better, Tournament run and NBA talent producing team

The longer we got away from the Crean Buzz level of performance, the recruiting pitch was all the normal MU stuff , however the addendum was come to MU , we will give you the keys and you can lead us back to the promised land. Then working the prospects mother as hard as possible to fall in love with MU and what a family place we are. At that point we are there next to the other top 35 type schools giving a similar opportunity; hence top 35 results over time.

Shaka can come in and make a slightly different pitch. He gives the MU recruiting pitch  ( which includes among other things like playing in FiServ, NBA City and associated attention etc)  and then his addendum is to say MU was attractive to me (Shaka) to leave Texas because  of all of this.  Then he can say I had my own level of final four success, I  believe this is a great platform to get to another FF  and if you come with me to MU , we can get to a special place together with hard work. Obviously this is paraphrasing a whole long set of discussions he would be having.

I believe ,with Shaka ,we don't have to rewind the 20 year clock. The MU basketball  foundation  is still strong, the growth was just stunted the last seven years. We just need to start getting back to tournament with regularity and the momentum will build quickly. 

We now have 5 Promising freshman prospects, plus 2 new skilled transfers. Another two classes of prospects similar to this ( easier said than done) we will be in a good place. The Big East ecosystem is where we have to butter our bread and there still is no clear second team in our league to Nova. Xavier was there with Mack , but he left. Creighton looked like it was there, now no one wants to play on McDermotts plantation. I think MU is in a dog fight with U Conn and Georgetown as to who will be in that 2 spot.

It will all depend on the momentum. Right now, we have great momentum with people leaving Texas and other places to come to Marquette.

We will have a young team next year.  I think Carton, Elliot are the only two upper class man.   A bad year will set us back a year or two.

Also if Shaka has some good runs, he will become a target. I am hopeful he has found his forever home and wants to win here.

The Crean-Buzz transition was the only coaching change I can remember at MU were we didn't lose momentum.  Buzz had a lot of momentum coming into his first year. Hit the accelerator after year 2 but it took one bad season, one on the horizon and some new expectations and he bolted leaving no momentum. Wojo didn't have any and couldn't build any. 

The excitement of Shaka is amazing and I feel like we are in a better place due to the fact he big name coach with a great history.

[Big Papi]

It's going to depend on if Shaka can coach.  Wojo didn't have any issues in bringing in talent.  We had a lot of top 100 talent coming here.  He couldn't coach them.

[Herman Cain]

Good article on Keeyan prior to his move to MU.

https://www.burntorangenation.com/2021/3/12/22322210/keeyan-itejere-shaka-smart-texas-longhorns-signee-2021

[Shooter McGavin]

Thanks for the article Herman.  This kid looks athletic as hell and I'm glad we have him.  Should be fun to watch him develop.  I really like the type of players Shaka is bringing in.

[tower912]

Jakebarnes posted the same thing on April 14.   A good read then, too

[Shooter McGavin]

Jakebarnes posted the same thing on April 14.   A good read then, too

Ha!  Fair enough.

[augoman]

The reason he doesn't like Shaka has nothing to do with Smart's basketball pedigree or accomplishments.

Tony, I have no idea why he may not like the Shaka hire, but I can tell you why I don't like it.  I was super excited and hopeful when MU offered Shaka the first time.  Then he accepted and I thought we were on our way..., until he backed out because his wife doesn't like Milwaukee. 
This time, I felt we were chasing a 'lover who had spurned us'. Always a bad idea.  Now, everytime I hear a rumor that his wife (same wife) doesn't like the culture or shopping or whatever, I get nervous.  I wish I could share the joy of the "20 year coach" group, but I just don't think so.

[Herman Cain]

Jakebarnes posted the same thing on April 14.   A good read then, too

I didn't see the earlier post from Jake as the thread got away from the subject, which happens sometimes on this website. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Tony, I have no idea why he may not like the Shaka hire, but I can tell you why I don't like it.  I was super excited and hopeful when MU offered Shaka the first time.  Then he accepted and I thought we were on our way..., until he backed out because his wife doesn't like Milwaukee. 
This time, I felt we were chasing a 'lover who had spurned us'. Always a bad idea.  Now, everytime I hear a rumor that his wife (same wife) doesn't like the culture or shopping or whatever, I get nervous.  I wish I could share the joy of the "20 year coach" group, but I just don't think so.

The bolded is a myth, not reality

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Tony, I have no idea why he may not like the Shaka hire, but I can tell you why I don't like it.  I was super excited and hopeful when MU offered Shaka the first time.  Then he accepted and I thought we were on our way..., until he backed out because his wife doesn't like Milwaukee. 
This time, I felt we were chasing a 'lover who had spurned us'. Always a bad idea.  Now, everytime I hear a rumor that his wife (same wife) doesn't like the culture or shopping or whatever, I get nervous.  I wish I could share the joy of the "20 year coach" group, but I just don't think so.

As TAMU said above, Shaka said the thing about his wife was a myth. Now course you'd expect him to say that and not throw his wife under the bus, right? IIRC, at his introductory presser Shaka said he wasn't even in Milwaukee, contrary to those reports.

So I guess it depends on what you believe the story was 8 years ago.