Two takes on Smart after non-con

[rocky_warrior]

First from SI
https://www.si.com/college/2021/12/13/first-year-coaches-tj-otzelberger-tommy-lloyd-shaka-smart

The most notable change about Marquette in Year 1 under Smart is that it has a clear identity. The Golden Eagles are flying around on defense, and while not every game will produce the 26 turnovers Marquette forced in its early-season upset of Illinois, the effort and energy on that end of the floor has been a constant. In many ways, this group looks a lot more like one of Smart's VCU teams than the squads loaded with five-star talent we saw under him at Texas.

Early-season wins over Illinois, West Virginia and Ole Miss have given the Golden Eagles a solid résumé, and so far they've avoided the types of bad losses that could hurt them come Selection Sunday. Getting into the Big Dance in Year 1 under Smart would be a major win, considering how many young players are contributing to this team. Sophomores Justin Lewis and Tyler Kolek have been essential, while freshmen Kam Jones and Stevie Mitchell have been key cogs in the backcourt. The future looks very bright in Milwaukee.

And then next from, Bleacher Report (sorry)
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2951315-way-too-early-grades-for-mens-college-basketball-first-year-head-coaches

Had we done this little exercise 12 days into the season, Shaka Smart would've gotten an easy A-plus. Marquette started out 5-0 with a shocking win over Illinois (sans Kofi Cockburn) and a pair of nice wins in Charleston against Ole Miss and West Virginia.

Considering Marquette hadn't even gotten out to a 3-0 start to a season since 2011-12, it was a noteworthy first impression for Smart in Milwaukee.

However, Darryl Morsell (who scored 21-plus in each of Marquette's first four games) has since come crashing back to earth, and so have the Golden Eagles along with him. They lost by 16 to St. Bonaventure, lost by 13 to Wisconsin and never even threatened to make things interesting in Saturday night's loss to UCLA.

None of those are bad losses, but they do collectively make it much tougher to argue for an A grade here, even though Marquette would exceed expectations if it finishes any better than bottom two in the Big East.

It doesn't help matters that Marquette's 2022 recruiting class is no more than a pair of 3-star guards. Then again, signing 5-star guys at Texas wasn't working out all that well for Smart, so maybe he can get back to his VCU roots by honing in on lower-rated guys who better fit his coaching scheme.

Grade: B

[MU82]

Shaka's doing great, and I'm pleasantly surprised by the start to the season.

His reaction to the late St. Bonaventure time-out was over the top, and I'm not sure why he didn't have Elliott on the floor during a critical juncture of the UCLA game. Otherwise, I've been very happy with how he has managed this team, especially with his emphasis not on immediate results but on creating a culture that will result in long-term excellence.

There is plenty of truth in both of those takes. Even the second one wasn't really very harsh.

[rocky_warrior]

There is plenty of truth in both of those takes. Even the second one wasn't really very harsh.

Agreed!  The apology was because it was BR, but their content is OK sometimes.

[Uncle Rico]

Agreed!  The apology was because it was BR, but their content is OK sometimes.

I think a B is the correct grade.  The recruiting thus far is my concern but I won't really be concerned until I see how they utilize the portal next summer

[MU82]

I think a B is the correct grade.  The recruiting thus far is my concern but I won't really be concerned until I see how they utilize the portal next summer

Was the grade for this season or for how he's managing the program in general?

For this season, I don't see how much lower it could be than A-; future recruiting classes have nothing to do with this season. If it's about the program in general, I'd probably say at least a B so far but probably would call it "incomplete."

[Uncle Rico]

Was the grade for this season or for how he's managing the program in general?

For this season, I don't see how much lower it could be than A-; future recruiting classes have nothing to do with this season. If it's about the program in general, I'd probably say at least a B so far but probably would call it "incomplete."

This years roster is part of his grade

[MU82]

This years roster is part of his grade

Fair enough. We don't have enough good players, especially knock-down shooters (an opinion many of us voiced concern about before the very first shot was taken), and that's obviously the coach's domain. So sure, B-ish is reasonable.

The BR guy was talking about '22 recruits and again, I don't know what that has to do with this season's grade. It'll weigh on next season's grade if the recruits/transfers aren't good enough.

[Uncle Rico]

Fair enough. We don't have enough good players, especially knock-down shooters (an opinion many of us voiced concern about before the very first shot was taken), and that's obviously the coach's domain. So sure, B-ish is reasonable.

The BR guy was talking about '22 recruits and again, I don't know what that has to do with this season's grade. It'll weigh on next season's grade if the recruits/transfers aren't good enough.

They're far better record wise than I imagined but there are a lot of variables at play in that record. 

[Goose]

Rico

The record has Chicago Bears feel to it. Whenever the Bears have had a winning record the past decade +, it seems to me it is because they had 26 pick six, 9 punt returns during the season and still were outscored for the season. Only difference to me, I think MU is 8-3 and not 6-5 because they willed themselves to victory. All three close games they won they shut down the opponent when they needed to and that is the way to create a winning culture.

[Uncle Rico]

Rico

The record has Chicago Bears feel to it. Whenever the Bears have had a winning record the past decade +, it seems to me it is because they had 26 pick six, 9 punt returns during the season and still were outscored for the season. Only difference to me, I think MU is 8-3 and not 6-5 because they willed themselves to victory. All three close games they won they shut down the opponent when they needed to and that is the way to create a winning culture.

I don't disagree and that's why the process of this season was always more important than wins and losses.  It's been said ad nauseam, but all things being equal, if Wojo is the coach, this team is 5-6, maybe 4-7.

My expectations for the Big East slate is low.  What is important to me is, some players show marked improvement by March.  They look more comfortable and natural playing the way the staff wants them to.

I'm not concerned about Kuath or Morsell.  I want to see 3-4 guys become dudes that you add to.  You're correct.  There will be roster flux.  What we want is, the good players to stay and the ones in over their heads, to find the appropriate home

[tower912]

Those two reports do not contradict each other.

[NCMUFan]

Glad Shaka is setting a higher bar than the college BB sporting news.
Two spots above last is too low a bar for MU fans.
This fan wants Marquette in the upper half of the conference and a Big Dance bid.
Being a bottom feeder is an easy habit that is hard to break out of.

[Goose]

NC

Losing is a harder habit to break than bad shooting.

[avid1010]

If someone would have asked for the best case scenario at this point in the season I think it would be right where we are. 

[Tha Hound]

Glad Shaka is setting a higher bar than the college BB sporting news.
Two spots above last is too low a bar for MU fans.
This fan wants Marquette in the upper half of the conference and a Big Dance bid.
Being a bottom feeder is an easy habit that is hard to break out of.

You and me both, buddy

[We R Final Four]

Shaka's doing great, and I'm pleasantly surprised by the start to the season.

His reaction to the late St. Bonaventure time-out was over the top, and I'm not sure why he didn't have Elliott on the floor during a critical juncture of the UCLA game. Otherwise, I've been very happy with how he has managed this team, especially with his emphasis not on immediate results but on creating a culture that will result in long-term excellence.

There is plenty of truth in both of those takes. Even the second one wasn't really very harsh.

Yes—good take. I was a little surprised by Shaka's reaction to the late timeout by Smith and the Bonnies. But, those tournaments are played in a 5k or smaller gyms and those Bonnie fans were crazy and I just think Shaka had enough.
I asked twice during the UCLA game ....why isn't Greg in right now?  He needs to be on the floor. With Homer Shaka said he wishes they would have played 8 more minutes and he would have had Greg shoot more.

[We R Final Four]

.

[GB Warrior]

Fair enough. We don't have enough good players, especially knock-down shooters (an opinion many of us voiced concern about before the very first shot was taken), and that's obviously the coach's domain. So sure, B-ish is reasonable.

The BR guy was talking about '22 recruits and again, I don't know what that has to do with this season's grade. It'll weigh on next season's grade if the recruits/transfers aren't good enough.

I am pleased with everything I've seen this far, but I'm also underwhelmed by the recruiting, if only because the picture and strategy is incomplete. I'm unsure how any of the pieces the team is struggling with now (outside shooting, rebounding at the top of the list) get better with next year's machination as it currently projects.

[MU82]

I am pleased with everything I've seen this far, but I'm also underwhelmed by the recruiting, if only because the picture and strategy is incomplete. I'm unsure how any of the pieces the team is struggling with now (outside shooting, rebounding at the top of the list) get better with next year's machination as it currently projects.

All I can say is recruiting is way different now. A bazillion transfers will be available.

[NCMUFan]

It will be interesting to see the recruiting process in the future.
If transfers don't need to sit out a year, and you have playing time available it may be a desirable option.
I guess in the future, Marquette teams may look similar to this year.
Many new faces that never played together.
Maybe the new successful coach model/style will be how fast can you get a bunch of new players to play cohesively together.

[MU82]

It will be interesting to see the recruiting process in the future.
If transfers don't need to sit out a year, and you have playing time available it may be a desirable option.
I guess in the future, Marquette teams may look similar to this year.
Many new faces that never played together.
Maybe the new successful coach model/style will be how fast can you get a bunch of new players to play cohesively together.

At a lot of places, perhaps including Marquette, it will be a combination of attracting quality high school recruits and top transfers. Some schools might mostly stick to recruits; others will lean heavily toward transfers. It will be interesting to see how it shakes out, both at Marquette and elsewhere.

[brewcity77]

It seems obvious the recruiting plan is for the long-term. The staff wants long athletes that play with high activity to fit into our Violence defense while also being able to convert threes and paint shots. You can already see how guys like Joplin, Jones, and Ellis fit into that even if they aren't there yet (hence the long-term). The athleticism matches what we've heard about Itejere and while Sean Jones might not have the length desired, the activity level and defensive acumen he and Ross are reputed to have makes it pretty clear how they fit.

This is about culture and development. Shaka is looking for continuity and wants his players to adopt these philosophies for the long-term so they are paying off not necessarily this year but in years 2, 3, 4, and beyond. I suspect the hope is they will have better retention rates of their own players (Shaka only had 5 transfers out in 6 years at Texas, and only 3 were players he recruited out of high school) and they will be able to fill holes with transfers in (similar to Morsell and Kuath, and likely what they hoped Alfonso Plummer would've been and has been at Illinois).

The strategy seems clear, the only question is if the cultural retention will work in an era of immediately eligible transfers.

[Herman Cain]

First from SI
https://www.si.com/college/2021/12/13/first-year-coaches-tj-otzelberger-tommy-lloyd-shaka-smart
And then next from, Bleacher Report (sorry)
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2951315-way-too-early-grades-for-mens-college-basketball-first-year-head-coaches

My take is we did very well non - conference . We also signed two very athletic 2022 Prospects  who appear to be a good fit in the system . Things are going very well.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Four of our top 6 in minutes per game are transfers.  I think Shaka will continue to mix in transfers as needed.  For next year, I hope Shaka adds a starting caliber wing and a big to tag team with Oso.

[Jay Bee]

For next year, I hope Shaka adds a starting caliber wing and a big to tag team with Oso.

Naughty!

But, yeah... with Kur & DM out, those certainly make sense