2025-26 Regular Season Record Predictions

[Shooter McGavin]

19-12 (11-9).  The conference is stronger this year minus SH.  Too many unknowns for me on MU (leaders, go to guys, level of development of previous role players, potential freshmen impact, height of our main ball handlers, raw back up centers, three point shooting).  Shaka is a great coach and I think he gets the team to play well enough with good enough defense to get a winning record overall and in conference.

Hope to be pleasantly surprised on the upside with this team.  Glad that many of the scoopers here that have good basketball acumen think they will be much better than I do.  I need to see it to believe it.  Doubting Thomas.  Major test of Shaka's and MU's recruiting and NIL philosophy. He has said as much as well. 

Go MU!  Glad the season is here.

[jimmybutlerfanatic]

Same as last few years.

We start out strong, win some games over some top teams we're not supposed to beat (coz these teams are full of transfers who haven't figured out how to play together yet), have flashes and games where it looks like we're playing National Championship basketball.

Steadily rise in the rankings as the wins pile up, start getting some press and coverage. Continue to rise in the rankings, get more press, talk of how this MU team could be a 2 seed easily and Shaka COY and how he's "doing it right" with no transfers and quality guys who want to be at MU!

Meanwhile other teams starting to figure it out and gelling. Now teams have seen enough tape and have figured us out.

In the BEast grind, getting beat up and tossed around by more physical teams. Falling in the rankings, talk starts about how we're a 5 to 7 seed if we win a couple of BEast tourney games.

MUScoop meltdowns, doom and gloom. End the regular season and post conference season .500 at best over last 8 games. Probably on a 2 to 4 game losing streak going into BEast Tourney. Maybe win 1 in NY or maybe not.

Go into NCAA tourney 8 to 10 seed. Possibly eek 1st round game out or more likely get bounced by a lower seeded team. Definite blow out embarrassing loss in 2nd round.

More MUScoop meltdowns, usual calls of pay the players more, get some transfers or calls for Shaka's head.

Others content with the season, how hard "our guys" tried and how we shouldn't be critical of these "kids" (adults 18yr and older by definition) who are now, also by definition, paid professional players (likely making more $$$ than you btw) in college!

Scoopers then go in to a late hibernation season until hype for next season begins. And we start the same thing all over again!

Still looking forward to the season and the MUScoop meltdowns though. 

[MU82]

Same as last few years.

We start out strong, win some games over some top teams we're not supposed to beat (coz these teams are full of transfers who haven't figured out how to play together yet), have flashes and games where it looks like we're playing National Championship basketball.

Steadily rise in the rankings as the wins pile up, start getting some press and coverage. Continue to rise in the rankings, get more press, talk of how this MU team could be a 2 seed easily and Shaka COY and how he's "doing it right" with no transfers and quality guys who want to be at MU!

Meanwhile other teams starting to figure it out and gelling. Now teams have seen enough tape and have figured us out.

In the BEast grind, getting beat up and tossed around by more physical teams. Falling in the rankings, talk starts about how we're a 5 to 7 seed if we win a couple of BEast tourney games.

MUScoop meltdowns, doom and gloom. End the regular season and post conference season .500 at best over last 8 games. Probably on a 2 to 4 game losing streak going into BEast Tourney. Maybe win 1 in NY or maybe not.

Go into NCAA tourney 8 to 10 seed. Possibly eek 1st round game out or more likely get bounced by a lower seeded team. Definite blow out embarrassing loss in 2nd round.

More MUScoop meltdowns, usual calls of pay the players more, get some transfers or calls for Shaka's head.

Others content with the season, how hard "our guys" tried and how we shouldn't be critical of these "kids" (adults 18yr and older by definition) who are now, also by definition, paid professional players (likely making more $$$ than you btw) in college!

Scoopers then go in to a late hibernation season until hype for next season begins. And we start the same thing all over again!

Still looking forward to the season and the MUScoop meltdowns though. 

By "last few years," you mean last season, right?

[Uncle Rico]

8-3 NC (beat MD & IU. Lose to OU, UW & P) 9-11 Conf. (0-4 vs UConn & RickyP, sweep BU, split the rest) 17-14 overall. Not sure MU has a go-to guy this season. NIT seems about right. However, IF...Prov & SH can be swept...and MU is due to win in Dane Cty despite the brilliance of Gard,  11-9 / 20-11 gets a NCAA 10-seed. I like the attempt of no-transfer, but not sure it ever wins big. Those days gone, my friends.

Seeing this prediction makes me feel a lot better about Marquette's chances this year

[MU2007]

Honestly, hard to predict - I'm weirdly excited for this season bc I think it could go a lot of different directions. One thing I think we'll see for sure this year that'll be different is this team will be playing better and improving as year goes on.

[Galway Eagle]

I don't know what we'll end as a whole record but I think 23 wins total (whether those extra from big east tournament or ncaa) and Chase retires as the winningest player in MU history

[tower912]

I have several things I hope to see.
Health.
Depth.
Versatility.
Extended pressure.  Turning into transition offense.

IF...Hamilton isn't just fetch.
IF...Stevens and James are really ready to provide some high energy, effective minutes.
IF... Lowery builds on the second half of last season.
IF... Owens is who we thought he was pre-injuries.

This will be the deepest, most athletic MU team in forever.  If Shaka is able to harness it, and have this group play as fast as he says he wants to, this is going to be a riot to watch.

[Shooter McGavin]

Lots of ifs but I like it Tower.  I feel the the same way if all those things come true (but I could say that about a lot of teams I root for before the season starts).  Some teams you just know it.  This year my enthusiasm is built on Hope.  Hope that everything you said is true.

Many players on this team have the desired size, length and athleticism. Are they mentally prepared and skilled enough to get the job done against a really good schedule?  Who knows? 

I'll be there watching it though no matter what.

[tower912]

Lots of ifs but I like it Tower.  I feel the the same way if all those things come true (but I could say that about a lot of teams I root for before the season starts).  Some teams you just know it.  This year my enthusiasm is built on Hope.  Hope that everything you said is true.

Many players on this team have the desired size, length and athleticism. Are they mentally prepared and skilled enough to get the job done against a really good schedule?  Who knows? 

I'll be there watching it though no matter what.

Yes, there aren't as many knowns as there have been in recent seasons under Shaka.  And, of course, the RGV vs transfers debate. 
 
But, why the assumption (not from you, but from some others) that teams with huge roster turnover are by definition better?   It seems to me that everyone is playing the portal game, but the numbers of winners and lovers has remained the same.

[Uncle Rico]

Yes, there aren't as many knowns as there have been in recent seasons under Shaka.  And, of course, the RGV vs transfers debate. 
 
But, why the assumption (not from you, but from some others) that teams with huge roster turnover are by definition better?   It seems to me that everyone is playing the portal game, but the numbers of winners and lovers has remained the same.

Have my doubts about the same number of lovers.  Willie might be able to provide more data on that.  He's been studying the game since the Statue of Liberty was delivered

[Shooter McGavin]

Yes, there aren't as many knowns as there have been in recent seasons under Shaka.  And, of course, the RGV vs transfers debate. 
 
But, why the assumption (not from you, but from some others) that teams with huge roster turnover are by definition better?   It seems to me that everyone is playing the portal game, but the numbers of winners and lovers has remained the same.

Agree that constant roster turnover is not necessarily the answer.  If this strategy (Shaka's) works and I think it can, it will be the best of all worlds for a program like Marquette. I have been a proponent of supplementing the roster with one or two players as needed when it looks like it would fill a hole on a really good team. But year over year turnover is not ideal.  I like getting to know and rooting for MU players over several years.

 If this second wave of talent develops like the first wave did I think it would be hard to second guess this RGV strategy going forward.  If MU is a fringe tournament team with the arrow pointing up at the end of the season I think that would be a very good sign.

[MU82]

I have several things I hope to see.
Health.
Depth.
Versatility.
Extended pressure.  Turning into transition offense.

IF...Hamilton isn't just fetch.
IF...Stevens and James are really ready to provide some high energy, effective minutes.
IF... Lowery builds on the second half of last season.
IF... Owens is who we thought he was pre-injuries.

This will be the deepest, most athletic MU team in forever.  If Shaka is able to harness it, and have this group play as fast as he says he wants to, this is going to be a riot to watch.

Good post, tower. But it does seem weird to keep talking about this guy every time Hamilton's name is mentioned ...