It’s Time to Think Bold

[Shooter McGavin]

I think everyone knew this year was a rebuild in some capacity or another but the issue, in my opinion, is with the sophomores. We knew a long time ago that Tre wasn't developing as we hoped. Zaide came out of the blue the second half of last year but looked lost for the beginning and given what Royce showed last year and Owens showed in scrimmages I think a lot of us were banking on that class being the next "Guardians". If they continue to bust as they have so far, we're back to a complete rebuild to get old.

Now maybe Owens pulls a Zaide and gets it together the back half of the season after looking inept the first half of sophomore year but as it stands (given I already accepted this year wasn't going to be much to write home about) I am more concerned that Zaide can't fill Chase's shoes, Parham can't fill Ben's and neither of Owens & Tre developed into remotely serviceable upper class men. That means we're eating two seasons to get experienced and good again.

Agreed completely unless Nigel James and Adrien Stevens are truly the next DJ and JM.  And Alex  is a revelation.

[MU82]

Agreed completely unless Nigel James and Adrien Stevens are truly the next DJ and JM.  And Alex  is a revelation.

And Sheek.

I still think Parham is gonna have what most would consider a good year in which he'll have progressed nicely. Only wishful thinking? We'll see.

[Superfan]

When talking about the struggles this year and possibly next, let's not forget that last year's conference play was also nothing to write home about.

[Markusquette]

So, I hear you, but not every team is stacked 1-15, even 1-5. If we get one or two hits and the third or fourth are culture and practice guys who get spot minutes, is it that much different than the portal hits and misses? We aren't getting the unicorn big or the 6'4" three point shooting point guard in the portal, only a couple teams are. So, in four years of Shaka's philosophy with his roster, we should be an eight strong deep consistently. Seems good to me.

Key words: should be. I genuinely hope that comes to fruition. Certainly don't need to be 10 deep with 2-3 high caliber players each year.

However I disagree about unavailability in the portal. The off season is essentially a giant free agent pool. There's no reason to think MU can't bring in a couple of high-impact players each year, if they want to. Many of our fellow Big East competitors and the loathed Badgers do it successfully.

Shaka's so married to "Our Way" he's boxed himself in as much as developed a unique vision. Portal is about supplementing the philosophy. One or two vetted, high-character guys with real college tape keeps a growing roster competitive. Miss rate is lower when you're evaluating proven production, not AAU projection. What's frustrating is seeing big gaps in the roster for a couple of years knowing the potential impact a solid transfer could have made.

[forgetful]

I think there is really only one option at this point. Here's a poem to sell the final, and should be only candidate.

In a land where rumors sprout like threes from Markus Howard's hand,
Marquette's latest coaching chatter spreads boldly 'cross the land.
Not that anyone requested it, but here we go again—
Let's hunt a coach who'll bring the glory... or at least a decent grin.

First up: the alumni legends, scattered far and wide,
All coaching somewhere respectable—or at least they tried.
There's Travis Diener, in Fond du Lac, a sideline mastermind,
Who'd run the team like TBT: shoot early, shoot often, you'll be fine.

Wesley Matthews, still playing?, but let's just hand him the board—
He'll draw up plays like "Give the ball to me," and instantly be adored.
Or maybe Tony Smith, a hometown coach with flair,
Could stroll in, sip a coffee, yell "Defense!"—vibes everywhere.

Brian Wardle, proven winner, could stride back into town,
Clipboards in hand, ready to teach transition before the ball hits the ground.
He'd bring structure, effort, hustle—and a raised eyebrow or two—
Perfect prep for every Big East game that ends 59–52.

Bart Lundy left Milwaukee, but hey, he's done this gig before;
He could return like a sitcom reboot that no one asked for.
And don't forget Jim McIlvaine, with height enough to see
What every ref on earth somehow still misses constantly.

But wait—what's this?
Across the horizon, with hair perfectly blown...
A familiar figure appears, stepping into the light alone.
A man of passion. A man of volume.
A man of timeout usage unknown.
Tom Crean.
Back to save the day, rewrite the lore,
And maybe yell "Let's GOOOOOO" just a little too loud once more.
He'd install 47-ball-screen offenses, extremely optional defense,
And charm every recruit's parent with enthusiastic... "energy presence."

Could he return? Should he return?
Would anyone stop him if he just walked in?
A mystery. A legend. A man with a laminated practice plan
And more motivational quotes than your cousin selling vitamins on Instagram.

So raise a glass, Marquette fans,
To coaching names from far and near—
Because nothing says "program stability"
Like talking about this in a perfectly normal year.

[Uncle Rico]

TLDR, please keep this thread on topic.  Thank you for your attention to this matter!

[MU82]

Key words: should be. I genuinely hope that comes to fruition. Certainly don't need to be 10 deep with 2-3 high caliber players each year.

However I disagree about unavailability in the portal. The off season is essentially a giant free agent pool. There's no reason to think MU can't bring in a couple of high-impact players each year, if they want to. Many of our fellow Big East competitors and the loathed Badgers do it successfully.

Shaka's so married to "Our Way" he's boxed himself in as much as developed a unique vision. Portal is about supplementing the philosophy. One or two vetted, high-character guys with real college tape keeps a growing roster competitive. Miss rate is lower when you're evaluating proven production, not AAU projection. What's frustrating is seeing a big gaps in the roster for a couple of years knowing the potential impact a solid transfer could have made.

Shaka's "way" is not opening a bigger bag for a free agent than the bags he's promised to returning players who have made multi-year commitments to Marquette.

You might think he should, and that's ok. We all have opinions. But there is no reason to think he will change that part of his philosophy. So pining for it is unproductive.

[forgetful]

TLDR, please keep this thread on topic.  Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Is haiku format better?

Diener draws up shots
Sidelines hum with quick releases
Net whispers "why not?"

Wardle strides back home
Clipboard steady, brows determined
Defense packs the lane

On an ATV
Karate uniforms flap
Tom Crean shouts "Let's go"

[JTJ3]

First you try to money whip Otz into coming home (yes, he will obviously say no).

Porter Moser would leave Oklahoma tomorrow to come here.

Eric Henderson has ties to the state and has been really successful at a few stops now.  Good up and coming coach.

[AlienWarrior]

The only transfers we're going to see are players transferring out

[ATL MU Warrior]

I certainly hope so

[dgies9156]

Shaka's "way" is not opening a bigger bag for a free agent than the bags he's promised to returning players who have made multi-year commitments to Marquette.

How do I say this nicely: while I agree with MU82's assessment, the idea of not using the portal is total nonsense.

In the consulting job from which I recently retired, if the heads of our firm or our practice could find a "free agent" with a big book of business and an opportunity to lift our firm to heights we previously had not been, do you think for a minute they'd worry about recruiting over our junior staff?

Not a chance.

Sorry folks, this is the real world.

As much as I admire Coach Shaka's commitment to his recruits, the only part of RGV that matters to most of us is the "V" part. Losing with character is still losing. Most of us want to win with character and we might sacrifice some of the "R" or "G" for a few "V"s against teams like Maryland, Indiana and Dayton.

Coach Shaka has some built-up goodwill and is entitled to some slack. But tonight consumed more of that goodiwll than any of us want to acknowledge.

[21Jumpstreet]

Key words: should be. I genuinely hope that comes to fruition. Certainly don't need to be 10 deep with 2-3 high caliber players each year.

However I disagree about unavailability in the portal. The off season is essentially a giant free agent pool. There's no reason to think MU can't bring in a couple of high-impact players each year, if they want to. Many of our fellow Big East competitors and the loathed Badgers do it successfully.

Shaka's so married to "Our Way" he's boxed himself in as much as developed a unique vision. Portal is about supplementing the philosophy. One or two vetted, high-character guys with real college tape keeps a growing roster competitive. Miss rate is lower when you're evaluating proven production, not AAU projection. What's frustrating is seeing a big gaps in the roster for a couple of years knowing the potential impact a solid transfer could have made.

Completely agree he seems to have boxed himself in.

[nyg]

The only transfers we're going to see are players transferring out

If a Top 75 recruit like Owens continues to play two minutes a game, then I would imagine he would contemplate.  Biggest question mark to date, along with the Shaka experiment of redshirting his last three bigs (Amadou, Hamilton, Clark) for growth/development is Owens not playing.

[DoctorV]

If a Top 75 recruit like Owens continues to play two minutes a game, then I would imagine he would contemplate.  Biggest question mark to date, along with the Shaka experiment of redshirting his last three bigs (Amadou, Hamilton, Clark) for growth/development is Owens not playing.

He doesn't play because he stinks when he's out there. He's completely lost.

Unfortunately, on this years team, there are like 5-6 guys that really can't get minutes right now.
Shaka doesn't give minutes to Clark, Phillips. Barely gives minutes to Owens.
Tre and Caedin don't deserve minutes, and Tre was actually decent tonight.

That's 5 guys that are far end of the rotation players in a normal season, and one starts this year...

If we are being honest the only guys that have shown they can compete at a high level this year are
Chase, Nigel, Sean Jones, Zaide, Ben, Parham, Adrien Stevens.

One his hurt. 2 are freshmen. 2 have underperformed expectations. 3 are seniors.

That explains the oh crap that we are in

[nyg]

He doesn't play because he stinks when he's out there. He's completely lost.

Unfortunately, on this years team, there are like 5-6 guys that really can't get minutes right now.
Shaka doesn't give minutes to Clark, Phillips. Barely gives minutes to Owens.
Tre and Caedin don't deserve minutes, and Tre was actually decent tonight.

That's 5 guys that are far end of the rotation players in a normal season, and one starts this year...

If we are being honest the only guys that have shown they can compete at a high level this year are
Chase, Nigel, Sean Jones, Zaide, Ben, Parham, Adrien Stevens.

One his hurt. 2 are freshmen. 2 have underperformed expectations. 3 are seniors.

That explains the oh crap that we are in

Agree, it's a roster constructed by Shaka and his staff.  These are the players he signed and hoped they integrated in his culture. His experiment with red shirting unheralded, non major recruits is a failure.  My point with Owens is how did he become so bad?  I mean real bad, not to get more than two minutes bad...MU keeps this play up and next there will be a poll on the board asking how many and who are leaving? 

Also agree with Norman, who played outstanding defense and made layups.  He had two terrible turnovers though.  Shaka didn't play him for last like 10 minutes and in OT, because he can't shoot and can't make free throws.

On to next game.   

[DoctorV]

Agree, it's a roster constructed by Shaka and his staff.  These are the players he signed and hoped they integrated in his culture. His experiment with red shirting unheralded, non major recruits is a failure.  My point with Owens is how did he become so bad?  I mean real bad, not to get more than two minutes bad...MU keeps this play up and next there will be a poll on the board asking how many and who are leaving? 

Also agree with Norman, who played outstanding defense and made layups.  He had two terrible turnovers though.  Shaka didn't play him for last like 10 minutes and in OT, because he can't shoot and can't make free throws.

On to next game.   

Yep, good points.

Honestly Tre in OT in a small lineup would have been better than Caedin, he earned it tonight.

Regardless I get your point. At some juncture you just have to let Damarius run wild out there and see what happens, same with Clark and Phillips

[Shooter McGavin]

How do I say this nicely: while I agree with MU82's assessment, the idea of not using the portal is total nonsense.

In the consulting job from which I recently retired, if the heads of our firm or our practice could find a "free agent" with a big book of business and an opportunity to lift our firm to heights we previously had not been, do you think for a minute they'd worry about recruiting over our junior staff?

Not a chance.

Sorry folks, this is the real world.

As much as I admire Coach Shaka's commitment to his recruits, the only part of RGV that matters to most of us is the "V" part. Losing with character is still losing. Most of us want to win with character and we might sacrifice some of the "R" or "G" for a few "V"s against teams like Maryland, Indiana and Dayton.

Coach Shaka has some built-up goodwill and is entitled to some slack. But tonight consumed more of that goodiwll than any of us want to acknowledge.

The air was sucked out of the building with how the team played.  People will not waste their time on this.  Taking a step back is one thing.  Playing like GT and DePaul that last several years will kill any good vibes around the program in a hurry.

[Scoop Snoop]

After IU beat us, they had their hands full with Incarnate Word but eventually won 69-61. Tonight, it took OT for Maryland to win over Mount St. Mary's. It's not as if early season results indicate that we were playing teams that looked like powerhouses after beating us on our home court.

[rocky_warrior]

After IU beat us, they had their hands full with Incarnate Word but eventually won 69-61. Tonight, it took OT for Maryland to win over Mount St. Mary's. It's not as if early season results indicate that we were playing teams that looked like powerhouses after beating us on our home court.

United center is not home court, but understand

[Scoop Snoop]

United center is not home court, but understand

My bad. Got worked up over losing twice on our home court and was venting.

[rocky_warrior]

My bad. Got worked up over losing twice on our home court and was venting.

I am more frustrated than I should be this evening as well. 

[mileskishnish72]

If we are being honest the only guys that have shown they can compete at a high level this year are
Chase, Nigel, Sean Jones, Zaide, Ben, Parham, Adrien Stevens.

Don't really know about SJ22. He has not played well to date. And tonight, when NJ would make a good play and they showed the bench, Sean wasn't exactly jubilant. At one point I wondered if he was thinking about where he could go.

[DoctorV]

You used the quote feature incorrectly.

Sean has shown he can play high level basketball in the past, and it won't change this year if he gets healthy.

As to "where he can go?"
If that's the case it's because he won't be renewed, and the answer is to a lower level

[Markusquette]

Shaka's "way" is not opening a bigger bag for a free agent than the bags he's promised to returning players who have made multi-year commitments to Marquette.

You might think he should, and that's ok. We all have opinions. But there is no reason to think he will change that part of his philosophy. So pining for it is unproductive.

It's more than just the bag for Shaka and his philosophy. If crap hits the fan for the next couple of years, I'll anticipate some degree of change, along with many other fans I reckon.