2025 Transfer Portal

[The Sultan]

Every program in the country takes transfers in all types of roles.

It's naive to think Marquette can't attract a certain need if they were to acknowledge the need.

So on the one hand, you think you know better than Shaka on how to build a team. But on the other, you have no idea who you would add to the roster since you aren't the coach.

Man that is weak.

[The Sultan]

This. Don't be stubborn and too prideful to use the transfer portal to supplement the roster accordingly. Unless a coach is consistently pulling in top-tier talent out of high school I think there are more potential risks to avoiding the portal altogether.

You really think that Shaka isn't using the portal for these reasons?

[panda2.0]

Joe Chartouny? I think you underestimate how difficult it would be to recruit a player to come off the bench for a season and then, the following season, have to compete with three others at the same position for time.

Good thing the transfer pool in 2024/25 is much deeper than it was in 24/25 and Marquette's profile is much better than it was when chartouny was the profile of player we were going after.

I really don't think it's that difficult. What makes it difficult is ignoring the problem and not addressing it.

[MU82]

The roster has talent but also has very clear flaws. Not supplementing the current roster with an addition or two puts a low ceiling on this team.

Every roster has flaws.

Like many others here, I would have preferred that Shaka had added an experienced player or two through the portal each of the last couple of seasons and for the season coming up. But I admit that I didn't know (and don't know) who was realistically available to MU, and overall I'm pleased with what Shaka has accomplished so far.

The next two seasons will really test Shaka's recruit/develop/retain philosophy. I am rooting hard for Marquette to be one of the great stories in college basketball. If it ends up going bad, you'll have the satisfaction of saying, "I told you so," which apparently matters a lot to you.

[panda2.0]

So on the one hand, you think you know better than Shaka on how to build a team. But on the other, you have no idea who you would add to the roster since you aren't the coach.

Man that is weak.

It's not weak. You like to take a holier than thou stance when you disagree with someone which is actually very weak. The players are out there, the coaching staff needs to discover them just like they discover high school players.

You recruit the portal the same way you recruit high school players. Work your networks to find players interested where your roster has needs.

[The Sultan]

It's not weak. You like to take a holier than thou stance when you disagree with someone which is actually very weak. The players are out there, the coaching staff needs to discover them just like they discover high school players.

You recruit the portal the same way you recruit high school players. Work your networks to find players interested where your roster has needs.

I actually trust a successful college basketball coach when it comes to building a roster, versus a message board guy with crappy sources.

If that's hollier than thou, than I stand guilty.

[panda2.0]

Every roster has flaws.

Like many others here, I would have preferred that Shaka had added an experienced player or two through the portal each of the last couple of seasons and for the season coming up. But I admit that I didn't know (and don't know) who was realistically available to MU, and overall I'm pleased with what Shaka has accomplished so far.

The next two seasons will really test Shaka's recruit/develop/retain philosophy. I am rooting hard for Marquette to be one of the great stories in college basketball. If it ends up going bad, you'll have the satisfaction of saying, "I told you so," which apparently matters a lot to you.

I agree with all of this. Good post. And I want to go on the record saying I hope I'm wrong.

[panda2.0]

I actually trust a successful college basketball coach when it comes to building a roster, versus a message board guy with crappy sources.

If that's hollier than thou, than I stand guilty.

Identifying possible roster additions is not the job of a message board poster so I'm not sure why you're trying to make this your gotcha moment.

[Zog from Margo]

Good thing the transfer pool in 2024/25 is much deeper than it was in 24/25 and Marquette's profile is much better than it was when chartouny was the profile of player we were going after.

I really don't think it's that difficult. What makes it difficult is ignoring the problem and not addressing it.

So which player could MU have landed to sit the bench that would have been an upgrade to playing Ross at the backup PG spot? As for Shaka ignoring the problem, are you saying that he should have known in April of 2024 that Sean Jones would not return for the 2024-25 season? When did you know that Sean Jones would not be available for the entire season?

[The Sultan]

Identifying possible roster additions is not the job of a message board poster so I'm not sure why you're trying to make this your gotcha moment.

Ahh...

[panda2.0]

So which player could MU have landed to sit the bench that would have been an upgrade to playing Ross at the backup PG spot? As for Shaka ignoring the problem, are you saying that he should have known in April of 2024 that Sean Jones would not return for the 2024-25 season? When did you know that Sean Jones would not be available for the entire season?

Shaka - here is your shortlist. Work your coaching networks to find a player.

https://www.on3.com/transfer-portal/top/basketball/2024/?position=pg

Avoiding the opportunity is burying your head in the sand and putting an unnecessary ceiling on a mostly talented roster with a couple of holes.

[tower912]

Shaka chose Clark for the last 24-25 schollie.  He thought that between Stevie, Chase, Tre, Damarius, and Sean he could cobble together 12 minutes a game at the point.   And then Zaide played some point in the loss to Nova in which he scored 25.

I am looking forward to seeing a healthy Sean, Tre, and DO in 25-26.

Ah, well.

[Markusquette]

You really think that Shaka isn't using the portal for these reasons?

Shaka's emphasis on relationships and development has built something solid, and the team clearly buys in. But avoiding the portal entirely, even when there are obvious gaps, is starting to feel a little more like stubbornness and pride than strategy.

He's made conflicting comments — saying he's open to the right transfer who isn't chasing a bag (let's face it, who isn't?), but also that not adding anyone the last few seasons was very intentional. He touched on how coaches can be hypocrites if their actions don't match their values, but it almost feels like he's boxed himself in. Like going to the portal now would make him feel like a hypocrite.

Marquette is still spending in NIL to keep players around, so it's not like the program is above it all. Would they lose guys if they weren't paying their recruits enough? Loyalty is valuable, but being too rigid could be what holds the team back from taking the next step. And yes, we all know that next step is so hard to achieve.

[The Sultan]

He's made conflicting comments — saying he's open to the right transfer who isn't chasing a bag (let's face it, who isn't?), but also that not adding anyone the last few seasons was very intentional. He touched on how coaches can be hypocrites if their actions don't match their values, but it almost feels like he's boxed himself in. Like going to the portal now would make him feel like a hypocrite.

He hasn't made any conflicting comments. He's been very consistent. He will accept transfers if the situation is right.

Don't overthink it. Just take it at face value.

[We R Final Four]

Who was our back up pg last year?

What depth did we have on the front line?




I see major gaps in the roster coupled with low ceiling players in those spots. Hamilton is not a high major player and neither is Norman. Gold isn't a center and is forced to play that role. Sean jones hasn't played basketball in two years.

The roster has talent but also has very clear flaws. Not supplementing the current roster with an addition or two puts a low ceiling on this team.

Imagine if Sean had transferred like some here said over and over!

[Markusquette]

He hasn't made any conflicting comments. He's been very consistent. He will accept transfers if the situation is right.

Don't overthink it. Just take it at face value.

The philosophy itself has merit. But saying he's open to the portal while refusing to engage in any NIL-driven recruiting does feel like a contradiction. Top transfers expect real offers. Given that, I don't see any "right situation" actually happening anytime soon.

[Scoop Snoop]

The philosophy itself has merit. But saying he's open to the portal while refusing to engage in any NIL-driven recruiting does feel like a contradiction. Top transfers expect real offers. Given that, I don't see any "right situation" actually happening anytime soon.

I think the bolded is what causes the most disagreements here. Too often, scoopers who hope that Shaka will bring in a transfer or two do not explain whether they would like a starter or someone willing to come in off the bench. HUGE difference in both $ and effect on Shaka's system and upon players who bought into it.

I assume that they are hoping for starters unless they say otherwise because the gist of their posts point in that direction.

[Zog from Margo]

Shaka - here is your shortlist. Work your coaching networks to find a player.

https://www.on3.com/transfer-portal/top/basketball/2024/?position=pg

Avoiding the opportunity is burying your head in the sand and putting an unnecessary ceiling on a mostly talented roster with a couple of holes.

Which of the guys on that list transferred to a school to be a backup? Saying that the portal was the answer without being able to identify an available player who would actually come to be a backup and would be an upgrade is pretty meaningless.

[TallTitan34]

Shaka - here is your shortlist. Work your coaching networks to find a player.

https://www.on3.com/transfer-portal/top/basketball/2024/?position=pg

You should probably use the list for the correct year when giving recruiting advice.

[tower912]

With the escalating NIL budgets by booster groups at other schools, it is time to think of MU as the Brewers or Packers and simply not expect any big buck free agent signing.

[panda2.0]

Which of the guys on that list transferred to a school to be a backup? Saying that the portal was the answer without being able to identify an available player who would actually come to be a backup and would be an upgrade is pretty meaningless.

You're the type I can't stand working with on a team setting. Always focusing on the negative, avoiding any possible problem solving and avoiding any challenging situation because it goes against the status quo.

[79Warrior]

With the escalating NIL budgets by booster groups at other schools, it is time to think of MU as the Brewers or Packers and simply not expect any big buck free agent signing.

That is a very fair and reasonable assumption.

[panda2.0]

You should probably use the list for the correct year when giving recruiting advice.

The root of the discussion was the options of players going into last season so that is the correct list.

Either way, my point remains. If a coach at a successful program wants to find a player to improve their roster, it isn't hard to find. You need to be able to sell yourself, the program and the opportunity. Declining to do that puts a natural ceiling on your W/L record.

[The Sultan]

You should probably use the list for the correct year when giving recruiting advice.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[MDMU04]

The root of the discussion was the options of players going into last season so that is the correct list.

Either way, my point remains. If a coach at a successful program wants to find a player to improve their roster, it isn't hard to find. You need to be able to sell yourself, the program and the opportunity. Declining to do that puts a natural ceiling on your W/L record.

You should talk about this more, there might be a casual user or two here who don't know your stance on this issue.