Perspective 2025

[dgies9156]

OK, I get it. We're all disappointed about losing to the Lobos. Perhaps nobody is more disappointed than Coach Shaka himself or the guys who played their hearts out -- for us.

Going into the season, we were viewed as a middle of the pack Big East team. We had some early great wins but, like it or not, we regressed to the mean expected of us. This was in no small measure because our two best players from 2023-2024 are in the NBA. Ben Gold and Chase Ross are not Oso Igadoro and Tyler Kolek. More importantly, Kolek's leadership was badly missing.

We lacked a banger inside and we lacked demonstrable, experienced depth. Hopefully, our recruiting and growth changes that.

All this said, c'mon now. We suffered through years of Coach Wojo and going to the Not Invited Tournament ("NIT"), if we went anywhere at all. When we went to the NCAA, we were blown out by Murray State. That's right for those who want to forget -- Murray State! Since Coach Shaka came, we've been to the NCAA four times and got back to the Sweet 16.

Tonight showed, we still have ways to go. Coach knows that better than anyone.

I'm old enough to remember Marquette as a "Blueblood." I'm hoping we get there again, preferably soon. The road is a lot tougher than it was in the 1970s but I'm optimistic Coach Shaka is the guy -- assuming we all don't aggravate the hell out of him.

[MuggsyB]

OK, I get it. We're all disappointed about losing to the Lobos. Perhaps nobody is more disappointed than Coach Shaka himself or the guys who played their hearts out -- for us.

Going into the season, we were viewed as a middle of the pack Big East team. We had some early great wins but, like it or not, we regressed to the mean expected of us. This was in no small measure because our two best players from 2023-2024 are in the NBA. Ben Gold and Chase Ross are not Oso Igadoro and Tyler Kolek. More importantly, Kolek's leadership was badly missing.

We lacked a banger inside and we lacked demonstrable, experienced depth. Hopefully, our recruiting and growth changes that.

All this said, c'mon now. We suffered through years of Coach Wojo and going to the Not Invited Tournament ("NIT"), if we went anywhere at all. When we went to the NCAA, we were blown out by Murray State. That's right for those who want to forget -- Murray State! Since Coach Shaka came, we've been to the NCAA four times and got back to the Sweet 16.

Tonight showed, we still have ways to go. Coach knows that better than anyone.

I'm old enough to remember Marquette as a "Blueblood." I'm hoping we get there again, preferably soon. The road is a lot tougher than it was in the 1970s but I'm optimistic Coach Shaka is the guy -- assuming we all don't aggravate the hell out of him.

Ty, brother dgies.  But I'm really struggling with this one and how we closed the season. 

[MarquetteVol]

OK, I get it. We're all disappointed about losing to the Lobos. Perhaps nobody is more disappointed than Coach Shaka himself or the guys who played their hearts out -- for us.

Going into the season, we were viewed as a middle of the pack Big East team. We had some early great wins but, like it or not, we regressed to the mean expected of us. This was in no small measure because our two best players from 2023-2024 are in the NBA. Ben Gold and Chase Ross are not Oso Igadoro and Tyler Kolek. More importantly, Kolek's leadership was badly missing.

We lacked a banger inside and we lacked demonstrable, experienced depth. Hopefully, our recruiting and growth changes that.

All this said, c'mon now. We suffered through years of Coach Wojo and going to the Not Invited Tournament ("NIT"), if we went anywhere at all. When we went to the NCAA, we were blown out by Murray State. That's right for those who want to forget -- Murray State! Since Coach Shaka came, we've been to the NCAA four times and got back to the Sweet 16.

Tonight showed, we still have ways to go. Coach knows that better than anyone.

I'm old enough to remember Marquette as a "Blueblood." I'm hoping we get there again, preferably soon. The road is a lot tougher than it was in the 1970s but I'm optimistic Coach Shaka is the guy -- assuming we all don't aggravate the hell out of him.

1000% The expectations are because we have a great coach. Victim of his own success. The last four years have been a really fun ride and the future is bright.

[dgies9156]

As I said in another thread:

"Do we really want to go back to where we were just four short years ago...????"

[MarquetteFan94]

Trying to paint the last 3 NCAA appearances as anything but gross underachievement is ridiculous.

[MuggsyB]

This team was different obviously than last year but we were better overall defensively, and had enough imo to make a run in the tournament.  What really disappoints me is we never had any balance on the offensive end, and honestly had guys disappear.  Mitchell and Ross scoring mattered in our wins.  What really bothers me is we were at our best moving the basketbal, reversing, and then attacking.  In the last 2 months we went away from that with far more iso garbage along with the weave and heave.  This should have never happened and is a tough pill to swallow.

[PointWarrior]

Trying to paint the last 3 NCAA appearances as anything but gross underachievement is ridiculous.

Yep

[PGsHeroes32]

Yeah this is a tough sell all around.

Coming in were there question marks? 100%. Were we fringe top 25? 100%.

But we had a good non con even with the Dayton debacle. Started solid in BE. THen for almost 3 months struggled. Basically didn't beat a team with a pulse. Mostly beat, sometimes lost to those without. Pounded the really bad depleted.

We started 3 seniors. 2 juniors. All from the program. 1 is the 2nd all time scorer. Another a 12ish pt scorer and the other a all American defender.

We flat lined.

Does that happen? Sure. But two years ago we were a 2 seed upset by a 7. Last year upset in the sweet 16 with a massive goose egg vs a 11.

Thought to just say perspective is regress to the mean, when a team this year faded. And failed to even come close to compensating for actual good seasons endings.

[IL Warrior]

As I said in another thread:

"Do we really want to go back to where we were just four short years ago...????"

No, but I also don't want to be a program that's just happy to be invited to the dance. We can be happy that Shaka is unequivocally better than Wojo and still be frustrated at his inability to rise to the challenge in March.

[MurphysTillClose]

Trying to paint the last 3 NCAA appearances as anything but gross underachievement is ridiculous.

RGV

[MuggsyB]

Look, we've had 4 very good seasons under Shaka.  There's no doubt we've had three brutal tournament losses.  Especially last year. But you have to get there above all else.  That's what we have to remember.  It's beyond frustrating, and we can talk about roster construction, the portal, or what have you.  My wish list is pretty extensive:

Badass big both defensively and offensively.

Knock down shooter/ Preferably a 6'5-6'7 Rowsey.

Attacking lead guard that can dime and finish.

[Pakuni]

As I said in another thread:

"Do we really want to go back to where we were just four short years ago...????"

Setting the bar at "better than what got the last guy fired" is ultimate COLE.

[BCHoopster]

Shaka believes in development, wonder how the assistants think about that? To many projects, not enough horses.

[MuggsyB]

Shaka believes in development, wonder how the assistants think about that? To many projects, not enough horses.

We honestly don't know that. 

[Viper]

No, but I also don't want to be a program that's just happy to be invited to the dance. We can be happy that Shaka is unequivocally better than Wojo and still be frustrated at his inability to rise to the challenge in March.

Scoop is odd in that we'll argue like hell with each other, yet we all love Marquette Basketball and all that it is, has been and will be. I have no doubt we are collectively happy with Shaka compared to Woj. Woj wasn't an abject disaster imo, just really disappointing because his pedigree said home run. Shaka? I'm still trying to figure it out. Year 1 was a rebuild with a bid we all applauded. Yrs 2 & 3 were excellent in terms of regular season, but gut punch ncaa's. Yr 4 started great, but a mid-conf 3-game losing streak set the tone for the balance of the season...a Wojo-like fade. I'm surprised we were seeded higher than Creighton and UConn (I know, analytics said our 7-seed was appropriate, but the eye-test said no way) and not surprised we lost tonight. And, I absolutely do not accept 'happy to be invited'. I also don't have answers other than we either need better players, or we need better coached players. Probably some of both.  Our competition is ever changing & adjusting. Status quo will not cut it. I want so bad a natty, but is 2nd weekend two years running too much to ask for?

[MU_CHI]

This was not a good season at all. What are we hanging our hat on? Early season wins against Purdue, Maryland and Wisconsin? LOL. THEY ARE ALL STILL PLAYING. We only picked them off because of some early season continuity. This was barely a top 50 team and if you think otherwise you haven't been watching. Rick faxed over a one pager to Richard and they beat us without even thinking about it. Embarasssing.

[Viper]

This was not a good season at all. What are we hanging our hat on? Early season wins against Purdue, Maryland and Wisconsin? LOL. THEY ARE ALL STILL PLAYING. We only picked them off because of some early season continuity. This was barely a top 50 team and if you think otherwise you haven't been watching. Rick faxed over a one pager to Richard and they beat us without even thinking about it. Embarasssing.

probably a quick text Friday morning. Here ya go kid...this, this, that and you'll win.

[Mutaman]

Woj wasn't an abject disaster imo,

7 years w/o an NCAA win? Woj was an abject disaster imo.

[MuggsyB]

7 years w/o an NCAA win? Woj was an abject disaster imo.

Ya....this is a fact. 

But discussing our last 3 tourney failures, and what needs to be done to make deep runs, is fair and vitally important. 

[MarquetteFan94]

probably a quick text Friday morning. Here ya go kid...this, this, that and you'll win.

Our offense has to be the easiest to scout/defend in the conference.  They're either shooting a 3 or driving into to traffic for a highly contested layup. That's it.  Now next year they'll do the same but without an All American guard on the team. Very likely looking at a sub .500 team next year.  But, hey, they'll be connected.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Our offense has to be the easiest to scout/defend in the conference.  They're either shooting a 3 or driving into to traffic for a highly contested layup. That's it.  Now next year they'll do the same but without an All American guard on the team. Very likely looking at a sub .500 team next year.  But, hey, they'll be connected.

LOL

[willie warrior]

Ye

Our offense has to be the easiest to scout/defend in the conference.  They're either shooting a 3 or driving into to traffic for a highly contested layup. That's it.  Now next year they'll do the same but without an All American guard on the team. Very likely looking at a sub .500 team next year.  But, hey, they'll be connected.

Yes, connected, developed, and for a life experience, have lasting relationships.

[tower912]

MU just had the most wins in a 4 year span since the McGuire era.  One day, Kam, Stevie, and Jop will be spoken of with the same reverence as the three amigos.   More tournament would be welcome, of course, but the same can be said of that now sepia tinted era. 
   Buzz won tournament games, but that was also usually team bubble watch and the common lament was that he relied too much on transfers and didn't develop high schoolers.
 Anyway, other than the season ending sooner than I would have like, which is the same complaint that every fanbase but one makes, I enjoyed the season and will now sit back and watch how the offseason shakes out.

[PointWarrior]

Our offense has to be the easiest to scout/defend in the conference.  They're either shooting a 3 or driving into to traffic for a highly contested layup. That's it.  Now next year they'll do the same but without an All American guard on the team. Very likely looking at a sub .500 team next year.  But, hey, they'll be connected.

Truth hurts sometimes.

[79Warrior]

Trying to paint the last 3 NCAA appearances as anything but gross underachievement is ridiculous.

I don't know about that. Last year was our best shot in a long time. It was not Shaka's fault we lost to NC State. The pieces were there. Unfortunately, the team was at a bricklayers convention. It is not Shaka's fault they were ice cold that game.

Sometimes the players just don't get it done. Shaka is the right guy for MU.He will sort it out.