2026 Transfer Portal

[The Sultan]

I'd imagine I'm in the majority with that opinion.

I guaranty you that a majority of Marquette fans don't think Shaka should be fired "before the season starts" if he doesn't sign another center.

[wadesworld]

I'd imagine I'm in the majority with that opinion. You shouldn't survive 2 unserious seasons at Marquette, and some would argue having Hamilton in line to play minutes would make this the 3rd consecutive unserious season.

I think he will add another center because I think he knows this, but all of the good from this offseason will really be dampened if we ever have to watch him play here again.

Unserious season? lol yeah, you tend to be quite dramatic.

You're rooting for the wrong program if tied for 4th in the BE, a BET semifinal, and a 7 seed are an "unserious season."

And you are definitely not in the majority thinking Shaka should be fired at this point if he doesn't add more in the portal before the season starts.

[GoldenEagles03]

Unserious season? lol yeah, you tend to be quite dramatic.

You're rooting for the wrong program if tied for 4th in the BE, a BET semifinal, and a 7 seed are an "unserious season."

And you are definitely not in the majority thinking Shaka should be fired at this point if he doesn't add more in the portal before the season starts.

I'm fine with 4th, I'm just saying, plenty have voiced their displeasure with not being serious about adding to the roster once Kolek and Ighodaro graduated.

Not giving Kam help was a mistake. Last year was a complete mistake. The additions this year are awesome, I'm huge fan of them, but allowing Caedin Hamilton to show up on the depth chart is also...a mistake.

[panda]

Unserious season? lol yeah, you tend to be quite dramatic.

You're rooting for the wrong program if tied for 4th in the BE, a BET semifinal, and a 7 seed are an "unserious season."

And you are definitely not in the majority thinking Shaka should be fired at this point if he doesn't add more in the portal before the season starts.

Wait what happened why were they a 7 seed? Didn't they have a bunch of seniors and weren't they ranked 5th in the country ?

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I'd imagine I'm in the majority with that opinion. You shouldn't survive 2 unserious seasons at Marquette, and some would argue having Hamilton in line to play minutes would make this the 3rd consecutive unserious season.

I think he will add another center because I think he knows this, but all of the good from this offseason will really be dampened if we ever have to watch him play here again.

Dummies would argue that.

[Galway Eagle]

Wait what happened why were they a 7 seed? Didn't they have a bunch of seniors and weren't they ranked 5th in the country ?

I don't think you understand what unserious or season means if you think this is a "gotcha moment"

I'd imagine I'm in the majority with that opinion. You shouldn't survive 2 unserious seasons at Marquette, and some would argue having Hamilton in line to play minutes would make this the 3rd consecutive unserious season.

I think he will add another center because I think he knows this, but all of the good from this offseason will really be dampened if we ever have to watch him play here again.

This is either actually insane or insane use of hyperbole. Regardless of whether we should have added to the roster and it was or wasn't a mistake it's insane to consider topping out at 5th in the country and 4th place (in a decent year) an unserious season. Even factoring in the collapse we were competitive in 3 of the Ls meaning we were still a team to be taken serious.

As far as firing before the season because of a backup center expected to be woefully out of his depth based on the expectation that it'd mean another horrific year... I don't care if that is hyperbole it's just insane.

[Boone]

Firing Shaka is extreme but we need a competent backup 5. Not too much to ask.

[Billy Hoyle]

Firing Shaka is extreme but we need a competent backup 5. Not too much to ask.

Maybe Clark is taking 20000 hook shots this summer?

[K1 Lover]

I'd imagine I'm in the majority with that opinion. You shouldn't survive 2 unserious seasons at Marquette, and some would argue having Hamilton in line to play minutes would make this the 3rd consecutive unserious season.

I think he will add another center because I think he knows this, but all of the good from this offseason will really be dampened if we ever have to watch him play here again.

I love seeing Caedin play as much as the next guy, but to say that the impact of keeping him on the bench outweighs the impact of adding Fru and Minessale to the starting lineup is as nonsensical as it gets.

[DoctorV]

The silver lining of Sheek leaving and Shaka retaining Caedin is the opportunity it gives Josh Clark imo.

It's risky, very much so, and CH18 drives me nuts as much as he does to most of the fanbase, but Clark really did show some flashes in his limited minutes.
He's got good tools, and is the type of backup 5 that Shaka covets with his rim running and lob threat ability, so this is a massive off season for him.
He needs the game to slow down a bit, he needs to learn positioning and improve his confidence, but he has solid tools and will learn things from Sananda Fru.

Also, at the end of the day, one of the big knocks on Fru from Louisville fans was that he's bounty soft. "Shaka style" bigs will have that because sometimes it goes hand in hand with the versatility and mobility/movement he covets.
Having Caedin on the roster and at practice day in and day out should, in essence, help toughen up the other bigs a bit, you'd hope.
If he learns to become useful on the court he gives you 5-7 mins of muscle/beef and some fouls when you need it.
If not, at least he provides a solid example of someone who works his arse off and challenges the other bigs from a physicality perspective in practice, and then hopefully moves on the following offseason if he can't figure it out.

It's definitely risky not bringing in another quality big, and it's not ideal going into a BE and ncaa tourney hopeful season hoping Josh Clark becomes a quality backup overnight, but at least he's got a really good opportunity to grow into a solid role.
If Fru plays 25 mins- which I'm sure Shaka hopes is on the low end for the amount of money spent- you've only got 15 to cover amongst Josh and Caedin. If Josh can't give you 5-10 useful minutes then you could be in trouble.
That's how I justify it in my mind at least.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

A competent back-up 5 would be great and I hope Shaka adds one.

I would imagine that we hope Fru can play 24-28 MPG. Personally, I'd hope for close to 30 but that seems unrealistic considering he was at 22 last season.

That leaves 12-16 MPG at the 5.

I think it's reasonable Royce can take some of those minutes in a small lineup. Maybe 4-6 MPG.

That leaves 8-10 MPG split between Clark and Hamilton, assuming another big isn't added.

If those 2 guys are playing a combined 10 MPG, worst-case scenario, that's not going to ruin the season. And Clark making some decent progress is not far-fetched.

It's like Hamilton banged some of your significant others, and that's assuming you're not scared to talk to women.  Get a grip.

[rocky_warrior]

Clark really did show some flashes in his limited minutes.
He's got good tools, and is the type of backup 5 that Shaka covets with his rim running and lob threat ability, so this is a massive off season for him.

I hope it's a good offseason, but Clark lost more minutes than Hamilton at the end of last year.

[Zog from Margo]

If Shaka wants to bet on the development of Hamilton and Clark to provide backup minutes, that's obviously his call. Both players have some athletic ability but have shown little to date to justify roster spots. The proof of talent assessment and development will be in the pudding.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I hope it's a good offseason, but Clark lost more minutes than Hamilton at the end of last year.

Doesn't mean that will carry through to this season.

[rocky_warrior]

Doesn't mean that will carry through to this season.

No, it does not.  But losing minutes as your second year in the program progresses doesn't scream "that guy just needs an offseason to really break out!".  Like I said, I hope does, but I wouldn't bet on it, at least not more money than my annual "Marquette to win the national championship" bet.

[Jay Bee]

Doesn't mean that will carry through to this season.

SS is still the coach, bub. #LastYear

[TSmith34, Inc.]

I hope it's a good offseason, but Clark lost more minutes than Hamilton at the end of last year.

Indeed. Josh showed a few brief glimpses early in the season, but the fact that he couldn't find the court at all at the end of a 12-20 season doesn't scream quality back-up to me.

[GoldenEagles03]

I love seeing Caedin play as much as the next guy, but to say that the impact of keeping him on the bench outweighs the impact of adding Fru and Minessale to the starting lineup is as nonsensical as it gets.

Doesn't outweigh. It dampens it.

A backup center always ends up playing meaningful minutes at some point and even if the plan is to have Parham be the backup 5, Hamilton will surely be in line for important minutes...and that cannot happen.

[K1 Lover]

Doesn't outweigh. It dampens it.

Yet it's apparently grounds for firing Shaka. Gotcha.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Indeed. Josh showed a few brief glimpses early in the season, but the fact that he couldn't find the court at all at the end of a 12-20 season doesn't scream quality back-up to me.

No, it doesn't scream quality back-up.  There isn't really a logical reason to believe in Clark and Hamilton for this upcoming season.

That being said, the one thing I go back to with Clark is his length.  Unlike Hamilton, he could potentially be a lob threat, block and alter some shots, and grab some boards.  I haven't given up on him yet and hopefully he can be a pleasant surprise. 

Hopefully Shaka still adds a back-up 5, though.

[mileskishnish72]

The silver lining of Sheek leaving and Shaka retaining Caedin is the opportunity it gives Josh Clark imo.

It's risky, very much so, and CH18 drives me nuts as much as he does to most of the fanbase, but Clark really did show some flashes in his limited minutes.


It's definitely risky not bringing in another quality big, and it's not ideal going into a BE and ncaa tourney hopeful season hoping Josh Clark becomes a quality backup overnight, but at least he's got a really good opportunity to grow into a solid role.

Yes, it's risky, but I think that's the way it's going to be. The coach (I'm guessing) thinks that the two of them will be adequate backup. I agree with the thought that
Josh would seem to have more upside but Ham, the teacher's pet, clearly is ahead of him in
the minutes line so that's another obstacle.

Shaka is the coach and I think that he motivates his players well, but he went 0-fer on a
recent recruiting class, and started last year with a very questionable lineup. Bottom line is, we'll see. In the meantime I'm doing novenas for Fru's health.

[GoldenEagles03]

Yet it's apparently grounds for firing Shaka. Gotcha.

I don't want him to be. I like Shaka.

I just don't know why he constantly toes the line of borderline stupid roster decisions.

[wadesworld]

I don't want him to be. I like Shaka.

I just don't know why he constantly toes the line of borderline stupid roster decisions.

He did for 1 year. There's plenty of time to add. He didn't kick Sheek off the team. It was an unexpected departure.

Are you this dramatic in all facets of life?

[BCHoopster]

Hamilton has proven he has done nothing well all last year, his best at cheerleading. Do not expect much more this year.  Clark must be pretty bad if he was unable to play ahead of Hamilton. I always wonder with 2 years of coaching there is not one move they can learn to score with.  Clark looks somewhat athletic, so somewhat surprised with that, do they have a big man coach? Sure have not seen it.

[wadesworld]

Hamilton has proven he has done nothing well all last year, his best at cheerleading. Do not expect much more this year.  Clark must be pretty bad if he was unable to play ahead of Hamilton. I always wonder with 2 years of coaching there is not one move they can learn to score with.  Clark looks somewhat athletic, so somewhat surprised with that, do they have a big man coach? Sure have not seen it.

If Shaka has proven anything in his career it's that he has no clue how to coach bigs.