Perspective 2025

[tower912]

I. The 50 ish years that I have been aware of sports...
Every baseball season but one has ended in disappointment.
Every NFL season has ended in disappointment.
With 3 exceptions, Every NBA season has ended with my team out.
College basketball, I have been an MU hoops junkie for 40 years, Every season in that time has ended with, wait for it, a loss.
I participated in the coaching of 39 teams in 5 sports.  Two championships.  Ergo, 37 other seasons.... though to be fair, won a couple of consolations brackets.

So, to me, it is disappointing.  It is always a little sad when a team you really like doesn't go as far as you think they should.

This season does not even make a blip on my wailing, gnashing of teeth, rending of garments, blow everything up spectrum. 

Think Dukiet, Matt Patricia, 2003 Tigers, 2008 Lions for that.  This is just a run of the mill disappointment.

[willie warrior]

Shaka had an interesting quote post game when asked about the slide.  He basically said they have to go out and play without being connected to the results.  Said they did that better early and not so much down that poor stretch.  Maybe these guys put too much pressure on themselves to get over the hump.  He has to figure out a way to get them to play loose in big moments.

Whatever the hell that means. What he should have said is that he needs to recruit better players and prepare for the big games, because this year was a disaster, and next year may even be more of a disaster. Giddyup Shaka.Earn your big time salary.

[79Warrior]

Explain why MU cannot compete at 8 to 10 million for portal players. Not enough people kicking in? Doubt it. But if that is the case, then we need to move down to D2.

That is exactly it. You grossly overestimate how much money BB donors are kicking in. How much do you think Be the Difference had this past season?? You might know if you participated.

[NotAnAlum]

I can't imagine Shaka not taking in some portal help with an extra 5-10 mil a year to throw around.

From what I've read about this MU is not in a uncompetitive position as far as NIL $$.  MU has its share of rich Alums willing to support Bball, some of which came up with $8M to buy out Wojo.  Not taking any portal transfers and telling potential player agents "Don't contact us, we don't need you" is not totally about a lack of money.  Its a desire stand on principle.  Unfortunately when everyone else is using the system it leaves MU with what Shaka would call "A very small margin for error"     

[79Warrior]

From what I've read about this MU is not in a uncompetitive position as far as NIL $$.  MU has its share of rich Alums willing to support Bball, some of which came up with $8M to buy out Wojo.  Not taking any portal transfers and telling potential player agents "Don't contact us, we don't need you" is not totally about a lack of money.  Its a desire stand on principle.  Unfortunately when everyone else is using the system it leaves MU with what Shaka would call "A very small margin for error"     


Participate and find out. The numbers some folks are throwing around is laughable.

[Pakuni]

That is exactly it. You grossly overestimate how much money BB donors are kicking in. How much do you think Be the Difference had this past season?? You might know if you participated.

The good news is few, if any, here expect Shaka/MU to spend $8-10 million in the portal.
It would just be nice to avail oneself to the option for a player here or there, when needed. Last March, everyone recognized two big potential issues with this year's team - the lack of an interior presence and a backup point guard, especially if SJ remained out.
Shaka consciously chose to ignore those needs and instead handed out his final scholarship to a kid who wouldn't help at all this season. He chose hope. He hoped Ben would develop into a better interior player/defender. He hoped Caedin Hamilton could provide quality backup minutes. He hoped Sean Jones would be back by midseason, if not sooner. He hoped Tre Norman could hold down the fort until then.
As we all know, hope is not a strategy for success. And here we are, out after one game, despite having a trio of seniors equal to the Three Amigos (or so I'm told).

[tower912]

No openings after the Clark signing. 

From everything I have read, heard from Shaka, been told 4th hand, MU has NIL money.   Look at the rumored offers to Kolek to return for his COVID season.  Check out his and Kam's reported NIL valuations.   

But also look at what Shaka has said about agents and and negotiating.  Ergo, I think it can be inferred that MU pays a flat fee.   

Shaka said two years ago that he was in contact with a player in the portal a couple of years ago and was taken aback by how much this guy wanted. 

And MU clearly pays enough to keep Kam, TKo, Oso from going elsewhere.

[Markusquette]

The good news is few, if any, here expect Shaka/MU to spend $8-10 million in the portal.
It would just be nice to avail oneself to the option for a player here or there, when needed. Last March, everyone recognized two big potential issues with this year's team - the lack of an interior presence and a backup point guard, especially if SJ remained out.
Shaka consciously chose to ignore those needs and instead handed out his final scholarship to a kid who wouldn't help at all this season. He chose hope. He hoped Ben would develop into a better interior player/defender. He hoped Caedin Hamilton could provide quality backup minutes. He hoped Sean Jones would be back by midseason, if not sooner. He hoped Tre Norman could hold down the fort until then.
As we all know, hope is not a strategy for success. And here we are, out after one game, despite having a trio of seniors equal to the Three Amigos (or so I'm told).

Shaka hangs his hat on his mentality for better and for worse. I think he chose sticking to his guns more than hope itself.

[Big Papi]

The good news is few, if any, here expect Shaka/MU to spend $8-10 million in the portal.
It would just be nice to avail oneself to the option for a player here or there, when needed. Last March, everyone recognized two big potential issues with this year's team - the lack of an interior presence and a backup point guard, especially if SJ remained out.
Shaka consciously chose to ignore those needs and instead handed out his final scholarship to a kid who wouldn't help at all this season. He chose hope. He hoped Ben would develop into a better interior player/defender. He hoped Caedin Hamilton could provide quality backup minutes. He hoped Sean Jones would be back by midseason, if not sooner. He hoped Tre Norman could hold down the fort until then.
As we all know, hope is not a strategy for success. And here we are, out after one game, despite having a trio of seniors equal to the Three Amigos (or so I'm told).

Yup.  He had the chance to at least attempt to help this core group achieve greatness and instead looked down the road. 

I think he did the 3 seniors wrong.  The hurt from all 3 of them afterwards Hopefully strikes a chord with him going forward. 

What's done is done.  Hopefully Clark turns into a stud. 

[🏀]

Not after the range session I just had.  My swing was more off than a Dominic James free throw.

God that was well done, and hurt a little.

[Mu8891]

Papi and Pakuni - You're both right

Everyone saw the weakness on this team, no back up PG, and no interior presence- NONE.  Yet he did nothing.  He sat on his hands.

And why the F does a team need to have
3 ... THREE " project " big guys. Caedin
Al, and Clark ?  Really.  Three scholarships used to not get 5 mins of production for the season....
Sheez

[Zog from Margo]

Yup.  He had the chance to at least attempt to help this core group achieve greatness and instead looked down the road. 

I think he did the 3 seniors wrong.  The hurt from all 3 of them afterwards Hopefully strikes a chord with him going forward. 

What's done is done.  Hopefully Clark turns into a stud. 

Did the three seniors wrong? If he went to the portal to improve, he'd have gotten a shooting guard or a PG and a power player. A shooting guard or PG would've have eaten some of Stevie's minutes and that power player would've eaten some of Joplin's minutes. Joplin was very good last night and improved a lot this season (on D, on the board, at scoring inside), but he's an undersized 4 who doesn't jump well. Part of the problem is that the only people creating shots by the end of the year were Kam and Jop. MU needed other perimeter players who were serious threats to score and create. As we saw, Jop dribbling was an adventure to say the least.

If Shaka had a problem this year, it's that he was loyal to a fault.

Frankly, I think this team played above its talent level.

[tower912]

God that was well done, and hurt a little.

Heh

[jesmu84]

I would think Tyler and Oso would be viewed analogous to the three amigos. Maybe include Kam.

Of course, that would likely just be from the amount of success they brought to the program.

Amigos were both success and longevity as they attended MU all 4 years.

[tower912]

The women's basketball team at my kid's high school just lost the state championship game, going 2/22 from 3.  That stuff is universal and contagious.

[Billy Hoyle]

I would think Tyler and Oso would be viewed analogous to the three amigos. Maybe include Kam.

Of course, that would likely just be from the amount of success they brought to the program.

Amigos were both success and longevity as they attended MU all 4 years.

Tyler was a transfer, so he will have an asterisk

[willie warrior]

I. The 50 ish years that I have been aware of sports...
Every baseball season but one has ended in disappointment.
Every NFL season has ended in disappointment.
With 3 exceptions, Every NBA season has ended with my team out.
College basketball, I have been an MU hoops junkie for 40 years, Every season in that time has ended with, wait for it, a loss.
I participated in the coaching of 39 teams in 5 sports.  Two championships.  Ergo, 37 other seasons.... though to be fair, won a couple of consolations brackets.

So, to me, it is disappointing.  It is always a little sad when a team you really like doesn't go as far as you think they should.

This season does not even make a blip on my wailing, gnashing of teeth, rending of garments, blow everything up spectrum. 

Think Dukiet, Matt Patricia, 2003 Tigers, 2008 Lions for that.  This is just a run of the mill disappointment.

Yes, all well and
 good. Shaka needs to stop
 the slide and needs to do better.
 Like start making his big boy salary. Enough with the treating with kid gloves. He has done well, until this year. Npw is the time to start earning his salary

[wiscwarrior]

Yes, all well and
 good. Shaka needs to stop
 the slide and needs to do better.
 Like start making his big boy salary. Enough with the treating with kid gloves. He has done well, until this year. Npw is the time to start earning his salary

You don't think he has earned his salary since he got here?

[Viper]

The good news is few, if any, here expect Shaka/MU to spend $8-10 million in the portal.
It would just be nice to avail oneself to the option for a player here or there, when needed. Last March, everyone recognized two big potential issues with this year's team - the lack of an interior presence and a backup point guard, especially if SJ remained out.
Shaka consciously chose to ignore those needs and instead handed out his final scholarship to a kid who wouldn't help at all this season. He chose hope. He hoped Ben would develop into a better interior player/defender. He hoped Caedin Hamilton could provide quality backup minutes. He hoped Sean Jones would be back by midseason, if not sooner. He hoped Tre Norman could hold down the fort until then.
As we all know, hope is not a strategy for success. And here we are, out after one game, despite having a trio of seniors equal to the Three Amigos (or so I'm told).

100%

[DoctorV]

No openings after the Clark signing. 

From everything I have read, heard from Shaka, been told 4th hand, MU has NIL money.   Look at the rumored offers to Kolek to return for his COVID season.  Check out his and Kam's reported NIL valuations.   

But also look at what Shaka has said about agents and and negotiating.  Ergo, I think it can be inferred that MU pays a flat fee.   

Shaka said two years ago that he was in contact with a player in the portal a couple of years ago and was taken aback by how much this guy wanted. 

And MU clearly pays enough to keep Kam, TKo, Oso from going elsewhere.

Yea this seems accurate when you take into consideration all that has been said.

Do you think this might change in the next few years if Marquette doesn't have an All American caliber returnee?

It would seem odd that Chase Ross would slide into the alpha role next season and make a similar/same amount as Kam or Tyler.
Ditto with Ben and so on and so forth.
Those two are going to be fine players, it's just hard to envision them having an impact as pronounced as Kolek or Kam...

Does that then open the door for bringing in another surefire starter?
I know what Shaka has said, but I would be very hard pressed to see this offseason come and go without any departures.
If there is a departure, that would then likely mean an outside addition.
We shall see soon enough

[brewcity77]

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.

Every fanbase but two. The runners up aren't disappointed with when their season ended, but rather how 

[tower912]

Ok.

[rgoode57]

When you do not use the portal and rely totally on recruiting high school players, you have no margin for error at all. Looking at the players Shaka has recruited himself, I am a little nervous.

Ross is certainly a player and Lowery and Parham look to be players. Ben Gold could be a very good player, but not having to play the 5. Still, I count him as a good recruit. That's four hits. Then there is Sean Jones, who we hope is a real player, but, in all honesty, we don't really know that yet. And Owens, though obviously athletic, hasn't really shown himself yet to be the player everyone hopes - but there is still hope. That's two "maybes." Then there is Amadou, Norman, and Hamilton which may well be three misses. Clark we have no idea about except that he is another project.

That feels like a 50 /50 record on recruiting, and maybe that's normal. But, when high school recruiting is your sole source of players, I think you have to do better than 50 / 50. The guys you recruit have to be able to develop quickly and contribute something positive as freshmen. They cannot just be practice players.

[rgoode57]

Sorry, I forgot that Joplin was a Shaka recruit, so that's another hit. But, I also forgot about Itejere, so that's another miss. Still 50/ 50 on Shaka recruits.

[Nukem2]

Sorry, I forgot that Joplin was a Shaka recruit, so that's another hit. But, I also forgot about Itejere, so that's another miss. Still 50/ 50 on Shaka recruits.

Jop signed with Texas. I view him like a transfer. He was not recruited to Marquette.