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?