Italy Trip

[brewcity77]

Has anyone thought that maybe Shaka doesn't want readily-available advance scouting for all our 2023-24 opponents?

Yes, definitely thought of that. While watching Kansas, UConn, Creighton, Purdue, and other potential opponents and national title contenders do exactly that.

The idea that we're the one team who figured this out is just a bit silly. The collective excuse making for how Marquette lags behind both their ilk and their own past efforts is laughable.

[Milkshakes]

Last year I was on the Jop bandwagon big time. He was good but not what I hoped.  I think this year is his year. He looks totally different physically.  Between him and Ross I think we more than cover O-max moving on.  I'm getting there. High hopes.

[PointWarrior]

brew has to complain about something.

With Marquette fans like brew, who needs Badgers fans?

[GoFastAndWin]

I think we are all still suffering from Thomas Bilde withdrawals.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Yes, definitely thought of that. While watching Kansas, UConn, Creighton, Purdue, and other potential opponents and national title contenders do exactly that.

The idea that we're the one team who figured this out is just a bit silly. The collective excuse making for how Marquette lags behind both their ilk and their own past efforts is laughable.

No one is saying that we're the only team that's figured it out. Some coaches care, others don't. Shaka seems to be one of the ones who does.

We've streamed international games in the past. I highly doubt that people have forgotten how to get this setup over the past four years. What's changed is our coach. If he says he doesn't want the games streamed, they don't get streamed. If that makes you upset, Shaka is the guy to aim your ire at.

[The Sultan]

Yes, definitely thought of that. While watching Kansas, UConn, Creighton, Purdue, and other potential opponents and national title contenders do exactly that.

The idea that we're the one team who figured this out is just a bit silly. The collective excuse making for how Marquette lags behind both their ilk and their own past efforts is laughable.

I'm not making excuses for Marquette. Clearly they have the ability to stream them. They even have cameras at the games! For whatever reason, and I think it's a coaches' decision, they don't want to. 

What I am saying is that you are making this out to be a way bigger than it actually is. The fact they aren't streaming these games will have no meaningful impact on fan engagement.

[pbiflyer]

I think we are all still suffering from Thomas Bilde withdrawals.

When you are given the Mona Lisa, the David, the Sistine Chapel of announcers, then it is taken away from you, you're going to get cranky.

[Dr. Blackheart]

I'm not making excuses for Marquette. Clearly they have the ability to stream them. They even have cameras at the games! For whatever reason, and I think it's a coaches' decision, they don't want to. 

What I am saying is that you are making this out to be a way bigger than it actually is. The fact they aren't streaming these games will have no meaningful impact on fan engagement.

Then they should just state it. 

~4000 MU Mopes showed up to an open gym just before this trip with bold statements about minutes, points, starting line ups, skill and body development, and making freshman assessments...to dismiss fan engagement on this trip by saying it doesn't really matter doesn't seem to jive with reality and doesn't fully support NIL promotion like the other schools have figured out. Shaka apparently dances to a different tune on this issue but that only based on speculation at this point.

[The Sultan]

Then they should just state it. 

They literally stated that it wasn't going to be broadcast when the trip was announced. What else do they need to say?

[Dr. Blackheart]

They literally stated that it wasn't going to be broadcast when the trip was announced. What else do they need to say?

I was talking about Shaka's overall philosophy about fan engagement with the team, Fluffy. Most fan events including The Al Run have been cut off as was discussed previously without much communication as to why from MU.  Just state his philosophy and put an end to the tireless debate.

How this is dripped out makes it look haphazard, especially when every other school is going all in.

[Jay Bee]

Jop called out Tre specifically for his strong efforts on the o-boards in yesterday's game. I like that.

I actually really like the three new guys who are on the trip, and their situation. Certainly can understand them wanting more run.... and maybe they'll earn it, or we'll need it ... but the roster construction such that they don't need to be fully thrown into the fire day 1 is nice.

[but next year, there will have to be movement]

[MUfan12]

I was talking about Shaka's overall philosophy about fan engagement with the team, Fluffy. Most fan events including The Al Run have been cut off as was discussed previously without much communication as to why from MU.  Just state his philosophy and put an end to the tireless debate.

How this is dripped out makes it look haphazard, especially when every other school is going all in.

Totally agree on the last point.

The Al's Run decision was all CHW. MU was notified but had no real say in the matter.

But I do think the more access/content the fans can get on the basketball side, the better. There's a big appetite for it as shown by the turnout for the open practice.

[The Sultan]

I was talking about Shaka's overall philosophy about fan engagement with the team, Fluffy. Most fan events including The Al Run have been cut off as was discussed previously without much communication as to why from MU.  Just state his philosophy and put an end to the tireless debate.

How this is dripped out makes it look haphazard, especially when every other school is going all in.

Seriously? No university is going to say "due to Coach Shaka's preferences, we aren't televising the games in Italy and no longer doing Al's Run." You really think they are going to lay that on him?

This isn't a "tireless debate" anywhere but by a few posters on Scoop.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Seriously? No university is going to say "due to Coach Shaka's preferences, we aren't televising the games in Italy and no longer doing Al's Run." You really think they are going to lay that on him?

This isn't a "tireless debate" anywhere but by a few posters on Scoop.

Then why are you tirelessly debating this? 

So your idea of fan engagement is to leave fans in the dark? Shaka was very clear on his transfer recruiting philosophy. Why wouldn't he be on this?  In the Age of NIL, "hamhandedness" isn't a marketing plan.

[The Sultan]

Then why are you tirelessly debating this? 

So your idea of fan engagement is to leave fans in the dark? Shaka was very clear on his transfer recruiting philosophy. Why wouldn't he be on this?  In the Age of NIL, "hamhandedness" isn't a marketing plan.

My idea of fan engagement is...

...to win basketball games.
...to fill social media with highlights, stories, etc. especially in the off-season
...to give fans an excellent game-day experience.
...to hold events like the open practices from a few days ago.

It doesn't mean they have to do anything and everything that fans want, especially if the (very successful) coach has a preference not to. And it most certainly doesn't mean they have to do something cause "we did it before" or because "other schools are doing it."

And I am debating it because you and brew are being hyperbolic and silly. Apparently not only is not streaming games from Italy in mid-August going to negatively impact fan engagement, it is also going to negatively impact NIL. Sorry, but that is insane.

[Jay Bee]

...so "winning a basketball game" is good fan engagement, but broadcasting foreign games like so many of our peers do isn't?!

[The Sultan]

...so "winning a basketball game" is good fan engagement, but broadcasting foreign games like so many of our peers do isn't?!

I didn't say broadcasting foreign games isn't good fan engagement. It would be fine. But it's not going to negatively impact fan engagement if they don't do it. And since it is therefore relatively low stakes, then the program's decision is fine by me.

Again, if you are just annoyed because you want to watch it, then fine. But that's really all this is about.

[MUfan12]

Looking into it...  Maryland essentially did the same tour as MU and didn't broadcast either. I wonder if it's a matter of having reliable enough connectivity in the gyms to stream them. If so, they should just say that.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Looking into it...  Maryland essentially did the same tour as MU and didn't broadcast either. I wonder if it's a matter of having reliable enough connectivity in the gyms to stream them. If so, they should just say that.

Yeah and TerpCity02 is losing his crap over on MDScoop

[GoldenEagles03]

I cannot believe there are people actually complaining about an August trip to Italy.

Oh wait...this is scoop

[tower912]

Indeed.  First world problem.   Actually affecting no one  here.

[TallTitan34]

FWIW Creighton is playing at the Battle 4 Atlantis venue which is accustomed to televising games while Marquette is playing in what looks comparable to elementary school gyms.

I can't imagine it's worth the cost of broadcasting to have maybe a couple hundred fans if that watch a game.  Anyone who is going to watch these games is going to be there come basketball season.  There is little to no return on broadcasting them.

Even if someone streamed it off of a phone, there'd just be complaints on low production quality.  Last year there were complaints on how the schedule graphic was laid out on social media.

Just let everyone enjoy the trip.

[MUfan12]

This is a great problem to have for MU. You want fans to be invested and want to consume more content. Even if it means some complaints.

And I don't think this discussion is affecting anyone's enjoyment of the trip over there.

[wadesworld]

Isn't the fact that there were 4K fans showing up to an open practice proof that, oh, I don't know, maybe Marquette knows what they're doing?

Again, what gets fans invested?  What makes non-fans become fans?  Well, it's not streaming basketball games at noon during work days in the summer.  It's winning basketball games from November through early April.  That's all that matters.

I'm sure Southeastern Louisiana is seeing their season ticket sales and NIL funds go through the roof with their mid August content.  Meanwhile, Marquette can't pay people to get into the Fiserv because...marketing.

[TallTitan34]

And I don't think this discussion is affecting anyone's enjoyment of the trip over there.

Was thinking more along the lines of the staff over there would have to handle the broadcasting responsibilities making their trip less enjoyable.