What a Win

[1SE]

You've gotta love it. Even look at Al Amadou's interview this week. How many 16-17 year olds are gushing about how they can't wait to D it up at the college level? Shaka is zigging while the rest of D1 is zagging. His focus on long-term player development and defense could end up creating a major competitive advantage for this program.

Yep. If he can get the NCAAT success to come he'll be the guy MU has been searching for for 40 years.

Took a nice step towards the tourney today  .

[CountryRoads]

This will end up a Q1 win. I think Nova runs the table in January and wins their next 7. We will catch them red hot on feb 1.

[connie]

This is a seriously fun team to watch play. The lack of rebounding is frustrating, as are the droughts, but this is a fun team.

[Newsdreams]

For all the kvetching on here about poor defense, the boys played lights out D the final four minutes.

But Fts

[🏀]

Per Fanta, Nova was lost three times in the Pavilion since '13-14. Twice to Shaka.

[mileskishnish72]

On CBS highlights (with one of my least favorites, Pete Gillen) the take, as they showed the last play, was that "the Eagles got lucky and flew away with a win."

[🏀]

On CBS highlights (with one of my least favorites, Pete Gillen) the take, as they showed the last play, was that "the Eagles got lucky and flew away with a win."

Pete should focus less of college basketball and more on protecting his Lucky Charms.

[MuggsyB]

On CBS highlights (with one of my least favorites, Pete Gillen) the take, as they showed the last play, was that "the Eagles got lucky and flew away with a win."

Dumb comment by Gillen. 

[Goose]

1SE

I said when Shaka was hired that it was the single greatest hire in MU history. Being the HC of the men's basketball program is big, but he will end up being the face of the university. Right guy at the right time.

[GoldenEagles03]

Such a fun team. Make you want to pull your hair out at times, but they will always fight.

Effort has never been a question, that's for sure.  They always are trying hard.  Maybe the execution is just slow to follow because of experience.

Either way I can always have fun watching effort.  Have to get tougher in some spots but there is a lot to like.

Knowing what we know about this team, if you'd have said Oso had a combined 12 points, rebounds, and assists I'd have thought like a 5% chance to win.  Defense to start was horrible, but equally as good on the flipside to close.

[Goose]

Effort and fun has been established. Now winning needs to established. Winning with this style of play will have money falling out of the guy's pockets. The bar has been raised and today was a nice step in the right direction.

[BLWarrior91]

1SE

I said when Shaka was hired that it was the single greatest hire in MU history. Being the HC of the men's basketball program is big, but he will end up being the face of the university. Right guy at the right time.

He had the best resume of any Coach they've ever hired.  Al was an unknown when MU hired him.  Shaka is the only guy to have high-level head coaching success prior to arriving at MU.  He's our guy!  Plus he has to love being at a school that puts all of its athletic resources behind the basketball program, playing in a beautiful NBA arena, etc.

[Goose]

BL

Al changed MU as an institution and I believe Shaka will do the same. I have no idea if he has Al's success, but his character will be the selling tool the university can use to recruit students. That being said, I think he is going to win a helluva lot of basketball games and create a new generation of sweater vests.

[BLWarrior91]

BL

Al changed MU as an institution and I believe Shaka will do the same. I have no idea if he has Al's success, but his character will be the selling tool the university can use to recruit students. That being said, I think he is going to win a helluva lot of basketball games and create a new generation of sweater vests.

Well said, Goose.  Perhaps it's for the best that Shaka turned us down the first time.  Marquette is no longer a stepping stone for him but a destination.  Plus he gained more experience in the interim. 

[NCMUFan]

On CBS highlights (with one of my least favorites, Pete Gillen) the take, as they showed the last play, was that "the Eagles got lucky and flew away with a win."

Get Nova again on Feb 1, one month from now.
Sweep?

[We R Final Four]

Shaka has won (not one) alot of do or die games. This impresses me the most. He has put numerous teams in a position to make a run.....and it has happened.

Play in game to the FF.......NIT championship....CBI and CAA Tournament champs....Big 12 and A10 conf Tournament champs. That is very impressive.

[Uncle Rico]

Shaka has won (not one) alot of do or die games. This impresses me the most. He has put numerous teams in a position to make a run.....and it has happened.

Play in game to the FF.......NIT championship....CBI and CAA Tournament champs....Big 12 and A10 conf Tournament champs. That is very impressive.

He's a good coach.  Marquette is lucky to have him.  Credit to everyone who bought out Wojo and helped bring him to Milwaukee.  Great story is waiting to be written.  This is the perfect spot for him

[NickelDimer]

He's a good coach.  Marquette is lucky to have him.  Credit to everyone who bought out Wojo and helped bring him to Milwaukee.  Great story is waiting to be written.  This is the perfect spot for him

💯

[Lennys Tap]

Well said, Goose.  Perhaps it's for the best that Shaka turned us down the first time.  Marquette is no longer a stepping stone for him but a destination.  Plus he gained more experience in the interim.

Exactly, BL - if Shaka comes to MU directly from VCU, maybe he's still tempted to move on to the big state school with unlimited assets. Now that he's been there he knows it's not all that, which (hopefully) means he'll be here for the long run.

[The Sultan]

Effort and fun has been established. Now winning needs to established. Winning with this style of play will have money falling out of the guy's pockets. The bar has been raised and today was a nice step in the right direction.

Right. And really just watch them play. They play like a well coached team. I know that's just the ole "eye test" talking, but they rarely make mental mistakes.

[Scoop Snoop]

Well said, Goose.  Perhaps it's for the best that Shaka turned us down the first time.  Marquette is no longer a stepping stone for him but a destination.  Plus he gained more experience in the interim.

And well said BLWarrior91. The fit is just perfect. We are lucky to have him, and he is lucky to have found a home where he is free to be the kind of coach he wants to be, all with the enthusiastic support of Marquette fans.

[1SE]

He's a good coach.  Marquette is lucky to have him.  Credit to everyone who bought out Wojo and helped bring him to Milwaukee.  Great story is waiting to be written.  This is the perfect spot for him

Yep. The exposition is in place - now the easy part - winning a few hundred games in the blue and gold and cutting down some nets along the way.

[avid1010]

This team is a team first, made up of a very good mix of talent. When all is said and done, there may be multiple NBA players on this squad.

Agreed...not sure about NBA talent...but this team can kill you in a million ways.  Shaka has to be loving the opportunity to coach 4 year guys again. 

[real chili 83]

Exactly, BL - if Shaka comes to MU directly from VCU, maybe he's still tempted to move on to the big state school with unlimited assets. Now that he's been there he knows it's not all that, which (hopefully) means he'll be here for the long run.

This analogy is spot on. In a related sorta way, O'Neil and Mr Coppertone left for big $ state schools. Both have publicly stated they realized after those experiences, how good they had it here.  Per Lenny and Goose, Shaka has learned this lesson.

Shaka seems to be learning and developing too as a coach.  We've seen a couple of blunders from him. Yesterday, some nice adjustments. Shaka too is listening and learning.

[Viper]

If Oso continues to develop his game. If Omax continues to develop his game. Infusion of talent into the current mix. How 'bout a MU/UConn Big East battle royale over the next few seasons? Let's get it on!