How the Heck Do We Evaluate a Season Like This?

[GoldenEagles03]

As fans we always want to evaluate year to year to see how we have improved, what we can improve on, and direction of the program.  That is especially the case in year 1 of Shaka Smart.

A young team that has already seen 1 of its 2 best players miss a game due to COVID. The rapidly changing schedule causes a mess for teams. We only see the games, but these kids have to do school work, travel, worry about protocols, etc. They may go a few weeks in between games with how things are going and for an inexperienced team (on the bubble!) looking to build chemistry that is a big deal.

That brings up the question: How the heck do we evaluate a season like this?

[NCMUFan]

We seemed to do it last year with no problem.
This year should be a snap!

[Marquette4life]

Every team is in the same boat. You either make the dance or you don’t. However, my expectations were to make the NIT this year and next year make the dance so as long as everyone keeps realistic expectations which may be hard for some on here, we should evaluate in the same way as you would in any other season

[Uncle Rico]

As fans we always want to evaluate year to year to see how we have improved, what we can improve on, and direction of the program.  That is especially the case in year 1 of Shaka Smart.

A young team that has already seen 1 of its 2 best players miss a game due to COVID. The rapidly changing schedule causes a mess for teams. We only see the games, but these kids have to do school work, travel, worry about protocols, etc. They may go a few weeks in between games with how things are going and for an inexperienced team (on the bubble!) looking to build chemistry that is a big deal.

That brings up the question: How the heck do we evaluate a season like this?

You need to go back and see what Derrick Wilson did in games against top-50 defenses in 30 day months

[MU82]

You need to go back and see what Derrick Wilson did in games against top-50 defenses in 30 day months

I miss the Derrick/Jake backcourt. Good times.

[tower912]

We evaluated last season. 


Respect the process.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Probably won't be a season to evaluate in a few weeks. Sucks, but just don't see how CBB survives this without major changes to testing and protocols.

[rocket surgeon]

   8 good wins and 5 bad losses

[Uncle Rico]

Probably won't be a season to evaluate in a few weeks. Sucks, but just don't see how CBB survives this without major changes to testing and protocols.

.

I find your lack of faith in the people that run college athletics remarkably correct

[Johnny B]

Every team is in the same boat. You either make the dance or you don’t. However, my expectations were to make the NIT this year and next year make the dance so as long as everyone keeps realistic expectations which may be hard for some on here, we should evaluate in the same way as you would in any other season

kiss tournry bye bye next year with no lewis. dont have a ton a faith in the returning guys making huge jumps nor the transfer market

[Mu8891]

U evaluate it the way every other school does.  As pointed out above ... it’s the same for everyone. 

They had a very good start.  Bad last few weeks... and seem to be trending down.  Morsell missed a game ?  So what ?  Guys miss games all the time... on MU and every team.

I honestly don’t think Smart has brought in enough talent. I hope I’m wrong

[GoldenEagles03]

We seemed to do it last year with no problem.
This year should be a snap!

That was well into Wojo's tenure with none of his teams getting better aside from maybe the 2017 team.

I'm mostly looking at how do we evaluate a team in year 1 with a new coach when it is a far from normal season in terms of the layout.

It's difficult to measure a trajectory with stoppages and guys being forced to sit out. Right now Marquette is right in the mix for a bid with plenty of opportunities for good wins, but we don't have a clue what games will be played or who will be available for either team. Just makes evaluating a team extremely difficult or almost impossible.

[rocky_warrior]

Like every year, we'll evaluate it at the end, and with stats!

I would say, the team has a lot of growing up to do.  To this point, this is the worst MU team since 2008, and worst team Shaka has ever coached.  But, there is time to improve - and they need to!

https://www.barttorvik.com/team-history.php?team=Marquette

https://www.barttorvik.com/coach-history.php?coach=Shaka%20Smart

[MU82]

So Torvik says this team isn’t just worse than Wojo’s first team but WAY worse? Hmm. To me that says more about Torvik than it does about anything else.

[mileskishnish72]

The thread title is a good question. Yeah, there are stats, and W's and L's. Bottom line, it looks like the season is going to be so disjointed, Shaka's likely to get a pass no matter the final numbers.

After the season, planning for next year, we'll get to see how effective the relationship-building and culture-creating are.

[MU82]

The thread title is a good question. Yeah, there are stats, and W's and L's. Bottom line, it looks like the season is going to be so disjointed, Shaka's likely to get a pass no matter the final numbers.

I know there was a discussion a little while back in which some Scoopers said Shaka wouldn't "get a pass" from them this season just because he's the new coach.

But for everybody who matters -- those who make the decisions at Marquette -- Shaka was gonna get a pass even if Covid had been cured and the season wasn't doomed to get "disjointed."

[rocky_warrior]

So Torvik says this team isn’t just worse than Wojo’s first team but WAY worse? Hmm. To me that says more about Torvik than it does about anything else.

I get you don't like the numbers, but your argument is to just dismiss them?  Hah.  If they painted a rosy picture you'd probably use them all the time!

I mean, if you like Pomeroy better, only slightly better than the 2015 team, and worse than last year  But still worse than any other Shaka team.  Our efficiency numbers aren't pretty (offense for sure, but defense too).   Like I said, plenty of time to get better, and Shaka to work some magic.

[NCMUFan]

A little question:
If Shaka repeats his Texas  level of success at Marquette, how long will he be MUs head coach?
Realistically, should we expect more?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

A little question:
If Shaka repeats his Texas  level of success at Marquette, how long will he be MUs head coach?
Realistically, should we expect more?

He'd be at MU longer than Wojo if he repeats what he did at Texas

[NCMUFan]

Here's to fingers crossed.

[rocky_warrior]

He'd be at MU longer than Wojo if he repeats what he did at Texas

I disagree - 3 years without a NCAA win and I think the seat gets pretty hot.  But I also don't expect that to be the case.

[4everwarriors]

I disagree - 3 years without a NCAA win and I think the seat gets pretty hot.  But I also don't expect that to be the case.

If MU even thinks 'bout chit cannin' Shaka after 3 years, they're fookin' idiots. Dis iz a reclamation project and dat takes tyme. Dave got da write koach. Now, sit back and let 'im goe ta work. Y'all kneed ta consentrate on udder thangs, hey?

[rocky_warrior]

Y'all kneed ta consentrate on udder thangs, hey?

Sweet, you put time and thought into answering a hypothetical question, and then ridicule others for doing the same thing.  Never change doc...

[GB Warrior]

5 years to evaluate imo

[4everwarriors]

Sweet, you put time and thought into answering a hypothetical question, and then ridicule others for doing the same thing.  Never change doc...

Luv ya man. Watt yeers were ya in da MU Band, hey?

[rocky_warrior]

Luv ya man. Watt yeers were ya in da MU Band, hey?

Hey I was in the Band, and Orchestra, and pep band.  Only 93-94 though. 

[4everwarriors]

Wuz Nick Contorno da director at da tyme, hey?

[rocky_warrior]

Yup, RIP.  Good dude, probably the first person I casually referred to as "Doc".

[bilsu]

You evaluate the season on whether you believe the program is moving in the right direction. A young team should get better as they age and get physically stronger. On that point I think we are okay.

Every coach needs to address his team's weak spot through recruiting. I am concern about MU's frontline next year, especially if Lewis goes pro. My judgement will be based on how Shaka strengthens MU in this area.

[MU82]

I get you don't like the numbers, but your argument is to just dismiss them?  Hah.  If they painted a rosy picture you'd probably use them all the time!

I mean, if you like Pomeroy better, only slightly better than the 2015 team, and worse than last year  But still worse than any other Shaka team.  Our efficiency numbers aren't pretty (offense for sure, but defense too).   Like I said, plenty of time to get better, and Shaka to work some magic.

It's not that I don't "like" the numbers. I just don't get them sometimes.

Ultimately, the only numbers I really care about are those attached to wins and losses. But we're nowhere near "ultimately" with Shaka yet, so I just want to see solid progress. Yes, "see," with my eyes, even though I know such a thing is frowned on today.

Here's hoping Year 2 at Marquette is nothing like Year 2 at Texas ... because Scoop will implode if we go 11-22 next season ... no matter what Torvik might say.

[DoctorV]

Wuz Nick Contorno da director at da tyme, hey?

1- why do you always type like that?

2- iz it difikult or yore uzed to it by now so you doughnt know any udder wey hey?

[Jockey]

If MU even thinks 'bout chit cannin' Shaka after 3 years, they're fookin' idiots. Dis iz a reclamation project and dat takes tyme. Dave got da write koach. Now, sit back and let 'im goe ta work. Y'all kneed ta consentrate on udder thangs, hey?

I'm not bilingual, but I think I agree.

Just not positive.

[NCMUFan]

If MU even thinks 'bout chit cannin' Shaka after 3 years, they're fookin' idiots. Dis iz a reclamation project and dat takes tyme. Dave got da write koach. Now, sit back and let 'im goe ta work. Y'all kneed ta consentrate on udder thangs, hey?

How about a "Superfund site"?

[wildbillsb]

1- why do you always type like that?

2- iz it difikult or yore uzed to it by now so you doughnt know any udder wey hey?

+100!  I found it so annoying, i put him on "ignore."

[Jockey]

+100!  I found it so annoying, i put him on "ignore."

Yup.

It's interesting that the 2 most annoying things on Scoop (babbling and "Crean Sucks" come from the same person). He must be a blast at parties.

[4everwarriors]

Rock Star status, again, hey?

[rocky_warrior]

Rock Star status, again, hey?

Like an enema enigma!

[rocket surgeon]

+100!  I found it so annoying, i put him on "ignore."

you're loss...missing out on some free golden nuggets you'd be able to tell your kids/grandkids about.  come on billy, let your hair down a little bit

[wildbillsb]

Used to have hair.  It was long and black.  Haven't seen it in decades, except for a grungy, white growth that sticks out around the edges of my baseball cap.  Not a good look to say the least.

[tower912]

So, like so many of us, instead of letting your hair down, ypur hair as let you down.