Open practice

[Scoop Snoop]

While what you said about Kolek and Omax being transfers is true ... they weren't especially highly regarded transfers, they were only 1 year out of high school, and neither was considered anywhere near being an NBA prospect. So I'm not sure what point you're trying to make by including them here.

Umm...Shaka should use the portal more to improve the team? Worked with those two, so...

[MU82]

Umm...Shaka should use the portal more to improve the team? Worked with those two, so...

Thanks for explaining. I guess I didn't get that from the post.

What if Shaka believes that the level of freshmen he is bringing in now is better than the level of transfers he reasonably could buy?

Also, Shaka inherited a bad team in 2021 and had to quickly stock it. He now has a successful, established program that he has built piece-by-piece.

Nevertheless, I did say it would have been nice to have added a Jayce Johnson-type big for any of the past few seasons and/or a veteran PG for last season.

But I also trust the guy who has rebuilt our program and put us back on the national basketball map. Given the recruits we are now landing and what those kids are saying about Shaka's philosophy being a major reason they selected Marquette, I'm inclined to believe that he's doing things right.

Obviously, as always, we'll see.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I think seeing the development of our young players and seeing who acts as a leader with Jop and Kam gone is exciting.

Finding out who can get buckets/score is a big question for me. I'm a bit dubious as to Chase and Ben taking that next step after 3 years. Chase has a tough time in half court as his dribbling and shot are average. Ben is just plain limited to hitting the occasional three. So who is going to score for us? We are relying on mostly unproven players but there is upside with some of them as Royce and Zaide perhaps getting us 10+ a game.

When thinking about this roster and its strengths, maybe we play up to 9 or 10 guys and press on D. Try to wear the other team down while pushing the ball up the court to minimize half our court sets. The good coaches in the BE likely to pack the paint and force to shoot from the outside.

TKO and Omax were transfers before big NIL money arrived. Onus is on Shaka and his development strategy now for next 2 years. I am very curious to see how this plays out.

Like others I am in the ncaa bubble camp and maybe a .500 record. Our schedule is tough. Go Marquette!

As MU82 said, I'm not sure why Kolek and OMax being transfers excludes them as proof of concept from the development strategy. Omax averaged 2.5 points and 9.7 minutes per game before he transferred. 

Talent was identified and developed - those guys are perfect examples of it.

There are a lot of questions for this season - I am looking at it as a transition year, which could be fun.  I still expect this to be a tourney team.  Worst-case scenario is being a bubble team that comes up short. 

The team should be longer and more athletic.  I think it will be a good defensive team, especially with Ross, Lowery, Jones, and Stevens on the perimeter.  Rebounding, as is tradition, will be a question.  Big-man depth is a question.

As for offense, I don't disagree that is a question as well.  As others have said, I don't expect there to be a dominant scorer like Kam.  I'd expect it to be more balanced.  If I had to choose a leading scorer it would be Royce.  I also have more confidence in Chase continuing to develop than you seem to.

Ultimately, it comes down to how consistent guys can be with these new roles and responsibilities.   

I expect a couple of guys to take big leaps.  The question is who are they and can some additional guys surprise us like they did going into Shaka's 2nd season.