Is Bates better than any of Shaka's signees?

[f/k/a humanlung]

#23, huh?

Where do Shaka's recruits to MU that everyone is drooling over rank?

Look Coach Wojo, we know you have a lot of free time on your hands right now but I think your time would be better spent looking for a job.

[Scoop Snoop]

Is NolongerWarriors the most angry, clueless, and judgmental poster in regards to the hiring of Shaka Smart?

Yes, and it isn't particularly close.

There are a few others that aren't fully on board with the Shaka hire and that is certainly their right to have that opinion, but Nolongerwarriors is obsessed with trying to find anything and everything that he can to try and discredit this hire. From the start I wanted Shaka over Moser, but if they had hired Moser, a proven coach like Shaka, I would have sat back and watched what he did the first few weeks and if it was anything like Shaka has done, I would certainly have been more excited about the hire and definitely would not keep posting irrelevant posts trying to tear down our new coach, who is not going anywhere anytime soon.

If Garcia decides to transfer, we will look back at his ranting about Bates and his anti Shaka hatred and say "and we thought he couldn't possibly get any worse." What he's writing now will be considered tame in comparison.

[MikeDeanesDarkGlasses]

If Garcia decides to transfer, we will look back at his ranting about Bates and his anti Shaka hatred and say "and we thought he couldn't possibly get any worse." What he's writing now will be considered tame in comparison if Garcia does not come back.

In all likelihood, Garcia's impact on MU basketball overall will be quite limited to begin with.  He's likely gone after next year - and this team, if it comes together in February, will likely be NIT bound.  Garcia will be an afterthought 10 years down the line....maybe even 5 if his NBA career doesn't pan out.  Chris Crawford will have been the better forward after it's all said and done. 

[Skatastrophy]

What I've learned watching this board and the team over last TEN years, the recruiting rankings don't mean diddly squat

Who cares!!   

There's literally nothing else to discuss in the offseason, so we pour over recruiting rankings and too-early brackets.

[cheebs09]

There's literally nothing else to discuss in the offseason, so we pour over recruiting rankings and too-early brackets.

Well, that and making sure nothing has changed with the Warrior nickname and bringing back football. Sometimes we even throw in closing Wisconsin Ave and bringing back the medical school if we feel spicy.

[Pakuni]

Well, that and making sure nothing has changed with the Warrior nickname and bringing back football. Sometimes we even throw in closing Wisconsin Ave and bringing back the medical school if we feel spicy.

Sadly, Fiserve has killed the ability of some to wax poetic about a return to the Mecca and/or building an on-campus arena.

[NickelDimer]

Look Coach Wojo, we know you have a lot of free time on your hands right now but I think your time would be better spent looking for a job.

He goes by Steve atm

[MU82]

MD-

If Garcia improves as much as many players do from their freshman to sophomore seasons, and if DJ and JL also get better, and if a couple of the newcomers can perform at the level Markus and Sam did as role-playing freshmen, we can be an NCAA tourney team.

Lots of "ifs" for sure - including if DG even comes back - but none that are outrageous, "oh that could never ever happen" ifs.

[MikeDeanesDarkGlasses]

MD-

If Garcia improves as much as many players do from their freshman to sophomore seasons, and if DJ and JL also get better, and if a couple of the newcomers can perform at the level Markus and Sam did as role-playing freshmen, we can be an NCAA tourney team.

Lots of "ifs" for sure - including if DG even comes back - but none that are outrageous, "oh that could never ever happen" ifs.

If MU is going to be an NCAA tourney team, then there will be a true PG on the court that is controlling the tempo, driving, and creating for DC, DG, JL.  Point Guard is the most important position for MU right now because it has the opportunity to turn last year's weaknesses into strengths by bringing stability to the offense.  That alone is worth the most increase in # of Wins and opens up the offense much more to get better looks and decreases the turnover %.   Otherwise, MU was stifled a lot last year on offense as they didn't have a true PG able to control tempo, limit mistakes, and create for others off the dribble.   The shocker is that we never we really had a true PG while Wojo himself was one during his playing days.  That's the most baffling thing about his coaching/recruiting.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Very unlikely but possible:

Garcia comes back and Morsell transfers in....

Who doesn't expect a decent chance at a tourney birth?

[MU82]

If MU is going to be an NCAA tourney team, then there will be a true PG on the court that is controlling the tempo, driving, and creating for DC, DG, JL.  Point Guard is the most important position for MU right now because it has the opportunity to turn last year's weaknesses into strengths by bringing stability to the offense.  That alone is worth the most increase in # of Wins and opens up the offense much more to get better looks and decreases the turnover %.   Otherwise, MU was stifled a lot last year on offense as they didn't have a true PG able to control tempo, limit mistakes, and create for others off the dribble.   The shocker is that we never we really had a true PG while Wojo himself was one during his playing days.  That's the most baffling thing about his coaching/recruiting.

Generally, I'm with you. Here's hoping Mitchell steps up, or DJ takes care of the ball or someone else takes charge.

Curious: What did you think of Junior as a PG? Good enough to start for E8 and S16 teams, yet a lot of Scoopers sure were on his case.

[The Sultan]

Yeah I don't think you need a "true PG."  You just need a better DJ.  And I think he will be.

[bilsu]

Generally, I'm with you. Here's hoping Mitchell steps up, or DJ takes care of the ball or someone else takes charge.

Curious: What did you think of Junior as a PG? Good enough to start for E8 and S16 teams, yet a lot of Scoopers sure were on his case.

MUscoopers were very hard on Junior, but his teams won a lot of games and won in NCAA tournament. The teams would of been better with a better point guard and they would of been better with a center with two eyes, but the teams were pretty good.

[Badgerhater]

MUscoopers were very hard on Junior, but his teams won a lot of games and won in NCAA tournament. The teams would of been better with a better point guard and they would of been better with a center with two eyes, but the teams were pretty good.

I always liked Junior.  He knew his limitations and knew how to run the offense.  We were spoiled by the run of Henry, Diener and James, which diminished Junior in the eyes of some.  He could put the team on his back and make things happen—One could not rely on this happening or even expect it, but there were several key wins on the way to the BE title that were engineered by Junior.

Junior was a warrior who quietly made teams better.   

[MikeDeanesDarkGlasses]

Generally, I'm with you. Here's hoping Mitchell steps up, or DJ takes care of the ball or someone else takes charge.

Curious: What did you think of Junior as a PG? Good enough to start for E8 and S16 teams, yet a lot of Scoopers sure were on his case.

JC played within himself and did what was asked of him which is fine.  That achilles injury set him back from having a much better career at MU.  If JC doesn't have the injury, he's quicker and could have done more on offense/defense. 

[MU82]

JC played within himself and did what was asked of him which is fine.  That achilles injury set him back from having a much better career at MU.  If JC doesn't have the injury, he's quicker and could have done more on offense/defense.

We didn't have the quicker JC. We had the "fine" JC. Which, I agree, was fine for that team. Junior's 3 against UConn was arguably the most important shot of that Big East championship season until Vander's drives against St. John's and Davidson, so I'll always have fond memories of his time at MU.

I have come to believe that Cadougan-as-a-senior should be the absolute floor for the level of PG play a program like Marquette should ever field..

Whether DJ plays mostly on or off the ball, I have high hopes for him next season --  playing his second full season of college ball, surrounded by better (albeit younger) players, and coached by Shaka and his assistants. I think he will be far better than JC ever was, and quite likely better than Vander, too.