10 years after “Done Deal” … It’s Happening!

[WildBill77RT]

March 24, 2014
After a tweet from IWB about Shaka Smart coming to Marquette as a “Done Deal”, MUScoop fills with Ron Paul ‘It’s happening’ GIFs before finding out the information was not a done deal.  Shaka goes to Texas, we land Wojo, and we only achieve one tourney win over the next nine years.

https://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=43037.0

March 24, 2024
10 years to the day after we learn Shaka is going elsewhere, Marquette wins over Colorado and reaches the sweet 16 for the first time since 2013 in Shaka’s 3rd year at the helm.


How can you not be romantic about college basketball?
#TrustTheProcess

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Meant to be. 

[Goose]

I will never forget the excitement I felt when Marc Marotta called me about 4:45 and told me MU landed Shaka. I left my office thinking Shaka was heading to MKE and was over the top jacked up. Sadly, Marc is not here to celebrate the success of the Shaka era. I miss texting with Marc.

Have to add, a week later TAMU earned his stripes in my book with breaking the Wojo news. I didn’t believe him, or didn’t want to believe him, but he was spot on.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Remember, Shaka stayed at VCU for one more year before going to Texas.

But a very poetic coincidence about March 24!

[GoFastAndWin]

Goose. I’m sorry about the loss of your friend, especially at so young an age.

Shaka going through what he did at Texas might have been the best thing that could’ve happened as far as keeping him here at Marquette for a long time.

This is a great time to be a fan of our Warrior Eagles 🦅. I wish Marc could be here to witness the Shaka era. I don’t doubt he is seeing it from another plane, far above this Earthly one.

[Goose]

GoFast

Shaka going to Texas probably is the best thing that could have happened for MU basketball. He learned some hard lessons and learned as a coach. Right guy at the right time this time around.

[Scoop Snoop]

Remember, Shaka stayed at VCU for one more year before going to Texas.

But a very poetic coincidence about March 24!

I always thought of Richmonders as very pleasant people for the most part. Jerks are everywhere though. But when word leaked out that MU was in talks with Shaka in 2014, "Marquette" quickly became a virtual swear word in Richmond. I thought the South really might rise again and invade and occupy Milwaukee.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

He wasn’t wrong just early?

[Goose]

Another important event from that day ten years ago, I think it was unofficial beginning of the Meat Summit crew and scoop as not been the same. The founding members were quite active that night and the rest is beautiful history.

[GoldenWarrior11]

Everything happens for a reason.

This cathartic journey would make for an excellent 30 for 30 (although a special on Al should be made first IMO).

[4everwarriors]

Another important event from that day ten years ago, I think it was unofficial beginning of the Meat Summit crew and scoop as not been the same. The founding members were quite active that night and the rest is beautiful history.

Absolutely correct, Goose. Cherished membership is available to a select few by invitation only and is non-transferable. Those offered undergo a very arduous vetting process. Once admitted, the bond of brotherhood is eternal and unbreakable, aina?

[willie warrior]

March 24, 2014
After a tweet from IWB about Shaka Smart coming to Marquette as a “Done Deal”, MUScoop fills with Ron Paul ‘It’s happening’ GIFs before finding out the information was not a done deal.  Shaka goes to Texas, we land Wojo, and we only achieve one tourney win over the next nine years.

https://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=43037.0

March 24, 2024
10 years to the day after we learn Shaka is going elsewhere, Marquette wins over Colorado and reaches the sweet 16 for the first time since 2013 in Shaka’s 3rd year at the helm.


How can you not be romantic about college basketball?
#TrustTheProcess

Assuming the romance you are referring to is about the Shaka/MU story and not the Wojo/MU  story which you also mentioned.

[dpucane]

I will never forget the excitement I felt when Marc Marotta called me about 4:45 and told me MU landed Shaka. I left my office thinking Shaka was heading to MKE and was over the top jacked up. Sadly, Marc is not here to celebrate the success of the Shaka era. I miss texting with Marc.

Have to add, a week later TAMU earned his stripes in my book with breaking the Wojo news. I didn’t believe him, or didn’t want to believe him, but he was spot on.

Did we ever get clarity on how close it really was?

I had heard the athletic dept was in the office waiting for his fax when he called to change his mind but I never got anything confirmed.

[Jay Bee]

#DungDeal

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Did we ever get clarity on how close it really was?

I had heard the athletic dept was in the office waiting for his fax when he called to change his mind but I never got anything confirmed.

He turned them down in person.

And its funny you think that anyone would have used a fax machine even ten years ago.

[Goose]

Speaking of that night, I wonder if MU faces Buzz who Dick Strong would be pulling for. He is back in the mix at MU, but still a big Buzz guy. Would not be surprised if he was A&M game tonight.

[sailwi]

We met a personal friend of Shaka’ s at the BET. He told me it was a done deal before Dodd’s BFF leaked the news.  Shaka wanted to tell the current players before accepting and the leak killed it.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

We met a personal friend of Shaka’ s at the BET. He told me it was a done deal before Dodd’s BFF leaked the news.  Shaka wanted to tell the current players before accepting and the leak killed it.

I don't think that's accurate.

[sailwi]

That is what the person told me. I wasn’t there so only passing on what i was told. What did you hear or know.

[MUMountin]

He turned them down in person.

And its funny you think that anyone would have used a fax machine even ten years ago.

I had to send a fax just about a month ago.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

That he thought about it over night and turned them down in the morning. I think the #donedeal happened even after he turned them down, but I can't remember the exact timing.

The issue mostly was that MU didn't have a President or a permanent athletic director.

[Goose]

It was a done deal and Shaka was going to tell his team at about 6pm est and fly up to MKE. It was a done deal for an hour or two.

[CryingShaka]

What's happening?

Not much other than beating seeds 8 slots and lower than MU.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

What's happening?

Not much other than beating seeds 8 slots and lower than MU.

You're a pretty poor troll. Dynamiting the pond is neither creative, nor is it sporting.

A good fisherman lays out his line, and lies in wait. You had a good idea, but the username was a dead give away. You probably should have just started the topic and went away for an hour or so.

Hope this helps.

[dajudge]

Goose. I’m sorry about the loss of your friend, especially at so young an age.

Shaka going through what he did at Texas might have been the best thing that could’ve happened as far as keeping him here at Marquette for a long time.

This is a great time to be a fan of our Warrior Eagles 🦅. I wish Marc could be here to witness the Shaka era. I don’t doubt he is seeing it from another plane, far above this Earthly one.

Marc’s contributions are a significant part of MU’s basketball and community legacy
He would have been elated by Shaka’s culture and success

[Goose]

dajudge

No doubt. Now we have Cam involved in the NIL program and making big contributions to the program. He definitely was a Shaka guy.

[Plaque Lives Matter!]

Absolutely correct, Goose. Cherished membership is available to a select few by invitation only and is non-transferable. Those offered undergo a very arduous vetting process. Once admitted, the bond of brotherhood is eternal and unbreakable, aina?

When life gives you lemons, make it a party aina

[dpucane]

He turned them down in person.

And its funny you think that anyone would have used a fax machine even ten years ago.

I probably have that detail wrong but the gist was that he told them he was coming but changed his mind before he put pen to paper

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

I probably have that detail wrong but the gist was that he told them he was coming but changed his mind before he put pen to paper

That is generally true. But MU peeps were in Richmond.

[real chili 83]

Gotta bring up Big Daddy in this thread.

Friends with Marotta and Buzz. Was MS worthy. Covid sucks.

[Lennys Tap]

GoFast

Shaka going to Texas probably is the best thing that could have happened for MU basketball. He learned some hard lessons and learned as a coach. Right guy at the right time this time around.

Goose

Best thing for Shaka, best thing for Marquette. Win /win. None of us knew it at the time, though.

[Goose]

Lenny

No doubt that none of us knew how it would turn out out 7 years later and it stung at the time. I was disappointed, but not pissed at Shaka the first time and watched Texas closely. That said, never thought it would end up here until after his last game at Texas. Thankfully, he ended up at MU.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

We met a personal friend of Shaka’ s at the BET. He told me it was a done deal before Dodd’s BFF leaked the news.  Shaka wanted to tell the current players before accepting and the leak killed it.

The personal friend lied to you

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

It was a done deal and Shaka was going to tell his team at about 6pm est and fly up to MKE. It was a done deal for an hour or two.

When the hot woman at the bar shoots a guy a down, sometimes he tells his friends that she had a boyfriend even when she's single.

Even so, they sometimes end up getting married seven years later.

[4everwarriors]

When life gives you lemons, make it a party aina

Chumps need not apply, hey?

[MU82]

When the hot woman at the bar shoots a guy a down, sometimes he tells his friends that she had a boyfriend even when she's single.

Even so, they sometimes end up getting married seven years later.

Yep. Life's funny sometimes. Glad MU turned out to be an attractive date all those years later!

[Plaque Lives Matter!]

Chumps need not apply, hey?

I agree. You should keep your lemon party intimate.

[BLWarrior91]

Crazy how 13 of the top 14 in KenPom are in the Sweet Sixteen.  For all of the crying about bubble teams, this now has become one of the most competitive tournament fields ever.

[Zog from Margo]

GoFast

Shaka going to Texas probably is the best thing that could have happened for MU basketball. He learned some hard lessons and learned as a coach. Right guy at the right time this time around.

Marquette learned some hard lessons too.

[dgies9156]

Marquette learned some hard lessons too.

No doubt.

As much as I love Shaka, I wish we had never gone through the Wojo years. It was rough, as few players developed and the in-house problems with the boys was just a nightmare.

All that said, I feel we're headed back to where we were in the 1970s. Another golden era of Marquette basketball!!!

[wadesworld]

No doubt.

As much as I love Shaka, I wish we had never gone through the Wojo years. It was rough, as few players developed and the in-house problems with the boys was just a nightmare.

All that said, I feel we're headed back to where we were in the 1970s. Another golden era of Marquette basketball!!!

There was only one family that caused "in-house problems."

[Skatastrophy]

There was only one family that caused "in-house problems."

Which one? The Ellensons? The Hausers? The Burtons? It was a steam of poor personality and personnel management.

It was a steady stream of bs from Buzz to Wojo.. Just dumb stuff

[Galway Eagle]

Which one? The Ellensons? The Hausers? The Burtons? It was a steam of poor personality and personnel management.

It was a steady stream of bs from Buzz to Wojo.. Just dumb stuff

Not sure a dying parent is on the same level as the crazy overbearing sports parents of the other two.

[wadesworld]

Meh.  The Ellensons got what they wanted, Marquette got what they wanted.  2 college scholarships for the price of 1 athlete worth that scholarship (at least in that sport) is a pretty good deal.

[tower912]

Which one? The Ellensons? The Hausers? The Burtons? It was a steam of poor personality and personnel management.

It was a steady stream of bs from Buzz to Wojo.. Just dumb stuff

Perhaps you meant Maymons instead of Burtons?

[Skatastrophy]

Perhaps you meant Maymons instead of Burtons?

Yep I did that's what I get for posting during meetings. Don't tell my HR plz

[Jay Bee]

Crazy how 13 of the top 14 in KenPom are in the Sweet Sixteen.  For all of the crying about bubble teams, this now has become one of the most competitive tournament fields ever.

As of TODAY, true. But NOT TRUE as of Selection Sunday.

[willie warrior]

I will never forget the excitement I felt when Marc Marotta called me about 4:45 and told me MU landed Shaka. I left my office thinking Shaka was heading to MKE and was over the top jacked up. Sadly, Marc is not here to celebrate the success of the Shaka era. I miss texting with Marc.

Have to add, a week later TAMU earned his stripes in my book with breaking the Wojo news. I didn’t believe him, or didn’t want to believe him, but he was spot on.

Except he was one of the Wojo defenders when that ship was clearly sinking. Was not just him. There were plenty on this board making half ass excuses why we were stuck with Wojo. Oh his buyout clause, oh his contract, oh we are trending in the right direction, oh who else can we get.
Sigh. How revisionist history pervades.
Glad we have Shaka, now let's keep him. Think we can clearly say we are on the right trajectory with him.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Except he was one of the Wojo defenders when that ship was clearly sinking. Was not just him. There were plenty on this board making half ass excuses why we were stuck with Wojo. Oh his buyout clause, oh his contract, oh we are trending in the right direction, oh who else can we get.
Sigh. How revisionist history pervades.
Glad we have Shaka, now let's keep him. Think we can clearly say we are on the right trajectory with him.

If by defending Wojo you mean i said he had done enough not to get fired then yes,  I defended him and was correct for six years.  Then year 7 I switched and said he had done enough to get fired and was correct again.

[Goose]

Willie

Who was defending Wojo? Marotta?

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Except he was one of the Wojo defenders when that ship was clearly sinking. Was not just him. There were plenty on this board making half ass excuses why we were stuck with Wojo. Oh his buyout clause, oh his contract, oh we are trending in the right direction, oh who else can we get.
Sigh. How revisionist history pervades.
Glad we have Shaka, now let's keep him. Think we can clearly say we are on the right trajectory with him.

Interesting considering how much you trash his players and his coaching.

[Zog from Margo]

Everyone wanted Wojo to succeed. That said, he was an odd hire IMO. He had no HC experience. Duke assistants generally have had a poor success rate. At the time, Mike Brey had the most success as a HC. Probably most concerning was the fact that Wojo had never been at any program other than Duke. Taking the HC job at UK or KU might have been a better fit, but MU was not going to have a bunch of McDs AAs walk through the door every year. Why would one think the Duke approach would translate? By contrast, Crean, Buzz, and Shaka had all worked their way through the ranks and had experience in a variety of situations and under a variety of coaches. This is what I was referring to in saying MU learned a hard lesson too.

As it turned out, Wojo could not recruit well enough to make up for his shortcomings as a coach. He also would not acknowledge his limitations by hiring an experienced assistant to teach him. It is very interesting how, by contrast, Shaka is always picking the brains of other coaches and trying to learn more. Let's just say Shaka's bulb burns a bit brighter.

The other day, Lance Allen was interviewing Shaka about Senior Day and the senior managers. Shaka noted that he really appreciated the managers because they had to go through a culture change. Shaka mentioned that a sense of entitlement had pervaded the Al when he arrived, even among the managers. Who would have thought a program run by a Dukie would have a sense of entitlement?

[MU82]

If by defending Wojo you mean i said he had done enough not to get fired then yes,  I defended him and was correct for six years.  Then year 7 I switched and said he had done enough to get fired and was correct again.

This obviously was me, also.

Wish I had been one of the enlightened to see it earlier, but I wasn't because I let my optimism get the better of me. I finally saw the light, called for him to get fired, was thrilled that millionaires stepped in to pay for his ouster, and I moved on.

That doesn't sound like a really big deal, but "moved on" is generally not a Scoop strength. Especially, it seems, when it comes to Wojo. While our players are cutting down the nets in Glendale on April 8, lots of Scoopers will still be complaining about a guy who has been gone for years.

[willie warrior]

Willie

Who was defending Wojo? Marotta?

There were plenty of posters on this board who were offering lame opinions as to why MU was stuck with Wojo. Just look back during that time frame just before he received his severance. TAMU was one of them. Important to put things in perspective. Would argue that cuttiing Wojo out was likely 2nd or third most important decision school made regarding BB program in about 60 years. First was hiring Al, and possibly second was closing the piano top on the piano man or the decision on severing Wojo. 

[willie warrior]

If by defending Wojo you mean i said he had done enough not to get fired then yes,  I defended him and was correct for six years.  Then year 7 I switched and said he had done enough to get fired and was correct again.

Incorrect. Still not willing to admit it.

[willie warrior]

Interesting considering how much you trash his players and his coaching.

Dont think your "considering" is accurate. I see things objectively, not through blue and gold colored lenses.

[Uncle Rico]

Dont think your "considering" is accurate. I see things objectively, not through blue and gold colored lenses.

That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever read, Doctor Dung

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Dont think your "considering" is accurate. I see things objectively, not through blue and gold colored lenses.

lol.

[Judge Smails]

Dumping the piano man far exceeds dumping of Wojo as it pertains to important decisions for the future of MU basketball. Wojo at least sniffed the NCAA tournament; the piano man had us on a Detroit Mercy type path.

[The Lens]

Anyone would fire the Piano Man.

Hiring KO is what saved our program.