Shaka's 2024-2025 Season Accomplishments

[1SE]

Locked in a .500 BE season.

Almost certainly locked in a NCAA appearance as well and avoiding a Q3 loss, although I guess it's possible we could still meet GT in the BET.

[1SE]

Finally get to bold the big one. NCAA in season 1 - no matter how we feel about the late season mini-swoon that's a major accomplishment.

But now let's get some post-season success!

Also - no Q3 or Q4 losses - as much as losing to DePaul (and Butler) on the road sucks - we didn't lay any eggs at home or trip up in any of the cupcakes. If we can do that every year we're probably on the bubble at a minimum.

Also - despite the prognostications of 50 pt games, the O could sniff the top fifty if we really light things up in the tourneys - let's do it! 

[RushmoreAcademy]

It's more important to me to weigh the results vs non biased outside opinion, and Shaka exceeded the expectations in that regard.  This season has been a success no matter what lies ahead.

[1SE]

It's more important to me to weigh the results vs non biased outside opinion, and Shaka exceeded the expectations in that regard.  This season has been a success no matter what lies ahead.

Yeah, there are a lot of things bolded on that list that we would have been very excited about at the start of the season.  And still a decent chance to bold a few more.

[Newsdreams]

Finally get to bold the big one. NCAA in season 1 - no matter how we feel about the late season mini-swoon that's a major accomplishment.

But now let's get some post-season success!
Beware were still "close"to the bubble, COLE
Also - no Q3 or Q4 losses - as much as losing to DePaul (and Butler) on the road sucks - we didn't lay any eggs at home or trip up in any of the cupcakes. If we can do that every year we're probably on the bubble at a minimum.

Also - despite the prognostications of 50 pt games, the O could sniff the top fifty if we really light things up in the tourneys - let's do it!

[1SE]

A lot to strike out.

Some good accomplishments this year. But not bolding that NCAA win (and in such an emphatic manner) will leave a bitter taste.

[1SE]

Struck off the last thing Kenpom t-50 defense (final) - unless Duke has an epically bad game, it looks like we'll finish 55. Huge drop from from our in-season high.

That's maybe the most important piece that was missing form the post-mortem thread. I'll maybe buy that our shooting was just crazy hot and above our talent level during the 8-1 run, but defense is supposed to travel. Defense is much more about effort than skill or luck. Why did our D regress so badly?

All in all if you had shown me this list of season accomplishments at the start of the year I would have been pretty happy. But expectations shifted, and the late-season letdown can't be ignored.

[brewcity77]

While it was team-wide, there was one repeated very questionable defensive lineup choice. When we played two of Kam & Elliott together, it was a defensive nightmare. And yet it kept happening down the stretch. It was even more baffling when Kam and Elliott stopped scoring.

They checked in together at 13:03 of the UNC game and the score was 10-8. Both stayed in the game until the 7:38 mark and the score was 29-12. Our defense wasn't great down the stretch, but when you're outscored by 15 in less than 6 minutes with two guys that are habitually giving up big runs when they're on the court together, that's not good.

[The Sultan]

While it was team-wide, there was one repeated very questionable defensive lineup choice. When we played two of Kam & Elliott together, it was a defensive nightmare. And yet it kept happening down the stretch. It was even more baffling when Kam and Elliott stopped scoring.

They checked in together at 13:03 of the UNC game and the score was 10-8. Both stayed in the game until the 7:38 mark and the score was 29-12. Our defense wasn't great down the stretch, but when you're outscored by 15 in less than 6 minutes with two guys that are habitually giving up big runs when they're on the court together, that's not good.

As I recall, they checked in together because they went an exceedingly long time between dead balls because Shaka usually "staggered" their rotation.  But clearly they should not have played that long together, and even if they both came in at 13:03, one of them should have sat at the under-12 timeout.

Or better yet, Stevie should have taken Greg's minutes toward the end of the season.

[brewcity77]

As I recall, they checked in together because they went an exceedingly long time between dead balls because Shaka usually "staggered" their rotation.  But clearly they should not have played that long together, and even if they both came in at 13:03, one of them should have sat at the under-12 timeout.

Or better yet, Stevie should have taken Greg's minutes toward the end of the season.

Honestly, I hoped I was wrong, but when I saw those two and Joplin all ready to check in, I kind of thought the game was over. We were only down 10-8 at the time, but that was a lineup that was really struggling to score on the offensive end and wasn't stopping anyone on the defensive end. They did trickle to the sideline, but they would've been better off putting one of them in with Darryl or Tyler, letting one of those two get rest, then rotating them at the next timeout (which we knew was coming soon because it was almost the under-12). Instead he left them out there past that and bringing Morsell and Justin back in alongside Kam/Greg wasn't enough to stem the tide. Kolek and O-Max left at 13:03 with a 2-point deficit and returned 5:25 later with a 17-point deficit and the game effectively over.

[MarquetteDano]

Poor end of the season, no doubt,  but once again Marquette played a seed barely expected to win their first game who went onto the Final Four.

The way we were playing at the end of the year we probably would have lost to most #8 seeds,  but I don't think we get blown out.  Just unlucky that we faced North Carolina and South Carolina in recent tourneys that were playing final four basketball.

[The Sultan]

I think we would have been much more competitive v. Boise or SDSU (The other 8-seed was Seton Hall) though we likely lose to both.  I don't care how good UNC was playing and how poor we were, losing by 30 in an 8/9 game is terrible.

[brewcity77]

I think we would have been much more competitive v. Boise or SDSU (The other 8-seed was Seton Hall) though we likely lose to both.  I don't care how good UNC was playing and how poor we were, losing by 30 in an 8/9 game is terrible.

I know this isn't much consolation, but the scoreline did not reflect how the game was played. We deserved to lose by double-digits, no question, but Carolina made shots they don't normally make while we missed a ton that we do normally make. Shot Quality had it as a 14-point loss. It was a bad performance, but it was made worse by all the bounces going to the Heels.

[MU82]

While it was team-wide, there was one repeated very questionable defensive lineup choice. When we played two of Kam & Elliott together, it was a defensive nightmare. And yet it kept happening down the stretch. It was even more baffling when Kam and Elliott stopped scoring.

They checked in together at 13:03 of the UNC game and the score was 10-8. Both stayed in the game until the 7:38 mark and the score was 29-12. Our defense wasn't great down the stretch, but when you're outscored by 15 in less than 6 minutes with two guys that are habitually giving up big runs when they're on the court together, that's not good.

Totally agree. For much of the season -- even before and immediately after the 8-1 stretch -- I thought one of Shaka's strengths as a coach was his apportionment of minutes and lineup-combination decisions.

Starting with the second Georgetown game, he began making a lot of questionable decisions in that regard IMHO, and it really hurt the team.

Still high on Shaka. But like his players, he needs to improve.

[Farley36]

Totally agree. For much of the season -- even before and immediately after the 8-1 stretch -- I thought one of Shaka's strengths as a coach was his apportionment of minutes and lineup-combination decisions.

Starting with the second Georgetown game, he began making a lot of questionable decisions in that regard IMHO, and it really hurt the team.

Still high on Shaka. But like his players, he needs to improve.

Agreed.  I wonder what changed.  Do we know if FS1 had any of their "It" reporters covering the game.  Could be their skimpy outfits distracted him and affected his decision making process.  Who knows.  🤷‍♂️

[PointWarrior]

Maybe add "Not get screwed by the crapshoot" as an accomplishment to achieve next year?

Poor end of the season, no doubt,  but once again Marquette played a seed barely expected to win their first game who went onto the Final Four.

The way we were playing at the end of the year we probably would have lost to most #8 seeds,  but I don't think we get blown out.  Just unlucky that we faced North Carolina and South Carolina in recent tourneys that were playing final four basketball.

[MU82]

Agreed.  I wonder what changed.  Do we know if FS1 had any of their "It" reporters covering the game.  Could be their skimpy outfits distracted him and affected his decision making process.  Who knows.  🤷‍♂️

Could be. You should investigate. Nice attempt to ruin another thread, though. You must be really bored today. Mom won't let you out of the basement?

[Farley36]

Could be. You should investigate. Nice attempt to ruin another thread, though. You must be really bored today. Mom won't let you out of the basement?

I'll leave the investigating of such hard hitting, enlightened topics to you.  😂  Carry on.

[1SE]

Ffs guys, let's not get this one locked too.

Has anyone asked shaka about those line-ups? I dont recall seeing that in amy of the pressers.

[1SE]

Maybe add "Not get screwed by the crapshoot" as an accomplishment to achieve next year?

Definitely going to add ".500 or better in Feb and March"

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Ffs guys, let's not get this one locked too.

Has anyone asked shaka about those line-ups? I dont recall seeing that in amy of the pressers.

Freudian slip?

[wildbillsb]

Agreed.  I wonder what changed.  Do we know if FS1 had any of their "It" reporters covering the game.  Could be their skimpy outfits distracted him and affected his decision making process.  Who knows.  🤷‍♂️

Not sure if they distracted Shakaowski, but hey had an effect on me1

[Viper]

Not sure if they distracted Shakaowski, but hey had an effect on me1

steve lavin saying MU was his sleeper Final 4 pick is what screwed the season.

[willie warrior]

Great. Thread turning into MU was outed by a FF team so we all good npw.

[Uncle Rico]

Great. Thread turning into MU was outed by a FF team so we all good npw.

Thanks, Wanky.  You hit the nail on the head again.