Fly Away, 2025/26

[Hards Alumni]

We seem to have fundamental flaws on both ends.

Offensively, we prioritize threes, but haven't developed shooters. We're taking over 43% of our shots from deep but hitting just 31.2%. in 2022-24, the shooting came around in conference play, but last year it didn't and it's hard to see where it improves this year.

Beyond that, the ball movement and maybe more important off ball movement isn't enough to create looks. At the rim, we're making just 58.4% of our shots. That's 166th nationally. Where's the big man pick & roll, the back door cuts, the other actions that made this offense successful? L'Etang took away so much at the rim and we kept driving, hoping the next wild shot would find its way over and in.

Defensively, Dayton was a poor shooting team but we left them wide open, rarely fighting over screens effectively. What use is a weekly Jrue Holiday award if no one will go over a screen? We're not forcing teams deep into the shot clock.

And for the love of god, challenge shots! We've played three non-cupcake opponents. Our eFG% allowed is 60.6% (IU), 60.0% (MD), and 60.2% (Dayton). Giving up 60+ eFG every time you play an opponent with a pulse is a recipe for disaster.

The passes don't come quick enough.  The offense is this:  drive until you're stuck, then jump pass or plant, spin, and pass.  There is no secondary cutting or motion.  Four Marquette guys standing around waiting for the outlet pass.  Every defender sees it coming.  Help defense down low and let Marquette shoot threes all day because they can't make them.

It's very basic to defend against Marquette right now because the offense is about as dynamic as the three man weave.

[The Sultan]

9) You know it's gotten bad when you're begging for a freshman in overtime. Ben gets hurt, best play is to go small with Parham at the 5 and Adrien in a small lineup. That's on the staff, and the lack of growth/improvement in the offseason.

This is what I was hoping for. Caedin just isn't a top level post player. He has developed some decent moves on offense, but defensively...oy.  Maybe a 10 minute change of pace guy at best.

BTW, putting in a zone was a smart coaching move, but it also is exactly opposite from how Shaka likes to defend. He has no choice though because the rotations right now are terrible.

[Viper]

5 & 6 are true for sure.

Ben tweaking his ankle at end of regulation probably led to Hamilto being out there in OT.
Agree 13 would have been the better call.

The saddest thing, to me, is that despite this display of ineptitude by multiple people Owens couldn't get a sniff. I was really optimistic that with him healthy we'd see a player.

thought the same re: Owens. 3 mins of PT. Curious what he's not doing in practice that Shaka needs to see change/improve to get more run time

[The Sultan]

thought the same re: Owens. 3 mins of PT. Curious what he's not doing in practice that Shaka needs to see change/improve to get more run time

Defensively he's pretty bad.

[Hards Alumni]

Defensively he's pretty bad.

He's also extremely careless with the ball.  He also tries to force points every time he gets the ball.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

After having time to digest, other than the freshman, this team for the most part are players who have been role players or subs for the last 3 years.  They seem to still have the same mentality and are waiting for Kam or Tyler or Oso or Jop or Stevie to bail them out of a play. 

[brewcity77]

After having time to digest, other than the freshman, this team for the most part are players who have been role players or subs for the last 3 years.  They seem to still have the same mentality and are waiting for Kam or Tyler or Oso or Jop or Stevie to bail them out of a play. 

Jop was at the game last night and I was desperately hoping they'd find a way to get him in.

[Nukem2]

After having time to digest, other than the freshman, this team for the most part are players who have been role players or subs for the last 3 years.  They seem to still have the same mentality and are waiting for Kam or Tyler or Oso or Jop or Stevie to bail them out of a play. 

Yep, Nigel seems to be the only one who could be an alpha, but he is just getting his feet wet as a frosh.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Nightmares returned from watching the Knegele Knight game.

[wadesworld]

I find it cringe worthy because I genuinely want Shaka to be the guy long term and I don't know that he'll get the time necessary to survive bad years. People have the expectation of winning around here, and rightfully so. This program has so much that others don't. It should be a winner.

When we were rolling it was so much fun and I'm not sure why he is limiting himself so much with his roster construction. The growth mindset still works with transfers. You can still have great relationships with transfers. It's ok that he's not winning right now, that happens, but he's just capping his potential so much. I really think he has what it takes to dominate both the high school recruiting and the portal. He has that ability.

Sure.  Shaka has not won here and Marquette prior to Shaka is immune to down years.  Let's move on.  Unfortunate situation as Shaka is likeable, but his results here aren't good enough for this fanbase.



Winning should be expected here.  Shaka has done a lot of that here.  He clearly didn't do a good enough job of putting together the roster, and the team is not coached well enough this year.  If this fanbase wants to move on from him because of this year then we'll I'm not sure where we turn for our next coach.  We aren't Kentucky, UNC, Duke, etc.  Any decent coach is going to look at Marquette and be like, "Shaka took a program that hadn't won a Tourney game in a decade, won a BE regular season and Tournament title, went to 4 straight Tournaments, had the program's 2 best seeds ever, and with one bad year the fanbase wants him gone?  Yeah, I'll stay where I am, thank you."

All of this said, not sure what any of that has to do with his answers being "cringe worthy."

[wadesworld]

Jop was at the game last night and I was desperately hoping they'd find a way to get him in.

With college rules these days, might as well have just put him in.  Anybody can play.

[GoldenEagles03]

Sure.  Shaka has not won here and Marquette prior to Shaka is immune to down years.  Let's move on.  Unfortunate situation as Shaka is likeable, but his results here aren't good enough for this fanbase.



Winning should be expected here.  Shaka has done a lot of that here.  He clearly didn't do a good enough job of putting together the roster, and the team is not coached well enough this year.  If this fanbase wants to move on from him because of this year then we'll I'm not sure where we turn for our next coach.  We aren't Kentucky, UNC, Duke, etc.  Any decent coach is going to look at Marquette and be like, "Shaka took a program that hadn't won a Tourney game in a decade, won a BE regular season and Tournament title, went to 4 straight Tournaments, had the program's 2 best seeds ever, and with one bad year the fanbase wants him gone?  Yeah, I'll stay where I am, thank you."

All of this said, not sure what any of that has to do with his answers being "cringe worthy."

We are falling back towards the middle of this conference and he is doubling down on a philosophy that is outdated and clearly not working. I cringed because his comments make it seem like he has 0 room for adjustment of his plan. I'm rooting for him to be right on this, but it is hard to see that being the case.

[MUbiz]

We are falling back towards the middle of this conference and he is doubling down on a philosophy that is outdated and clearly not working. I cringed because his comments make it seem like he has 0 room for adjustment of his plan. I'm rooting for him to be right on this, but it is hard to see that being the case.

Falling back into the middle of this conference - which is one of the weakest BE conference seasons that I can remember. Not good.

[GoldenEagles03]

Falling back into the middle of this conference - which is one of the weakest BE conference seasons that I can remember. Not good.

Correct. If he can continue to get results like he has, it's fine. But he's not! Last year was evidence of major major wear down. Instead of help the roster fix that, he threw more unprepared guys into the fire. That's not fair to Chase and Ben, not fair for fans, it's not fair for the unprepared guys. I can't imagine how he could possibly think this is the right path after everything that has taken place.

[MU82]

Sean is out a few more weeks. Our schedule is only getting tougher but the play on the court seems to be getting worse. Shaka's answers in the Postgame were pretty cringe worthy bad.

https://x.com/MatthewBaltzMU/status/1991357146999714246?t=n0CMRYTrBwkNARU-L1k9fg&s=19

https://x.com/MatthewBaltzMU/status/1991354379262390575?t=2X1s1l_S3wxj-B57m88ZFw&s=19

"cringe-worthy" is an opinion, and you're entitled to it. Seems a little hyperbolic to me (and I'm not always opposed to hyperbole).

Having said that, I watched the press conference and it was the first time I can remember being disappointed with a few of his answers. His snippy retort to Steele's perfectly good question was uncalled for, and the lead recruiter (aka the head coach) is always the one responsible for an inability to move on successfully from departed players.

[GoldenEagles03]

"cringe-worthy" is an opinion, and you're entitled to it. Seems a little hyperbolic to me (and I'm not always opposed to hyperbole).

Having said that, I watched the press conference and it was the first time I can remember being disappointed with a few of his answers. His snippy retort to Steele's perfectly good question was uncalled for, and the lead recruiter (aka the head coach) is always the one responsible for an inability to move on successfully from departed players.

Ya. That seemed totally uncalled for towards Ben Steele.

The questions are only going to get more frequent, so if he's already annoyed from hearing it, he's probably only going to get more snippy. I just hope he's not too stubborn to adjust. I truly think he could dominate the portal and recruiting trails at the same time. He's the perfect guy at a great spot to do it. He just doesn't want to it seems.

[GoFastAndWin]

I'm watching Golden Eagles videos.  Most people don't realize they can dive bomb at 200 mph and go 110 mph horizontally. 

You sound like Shaka describing our team speed. So what?! Means nothing if you don't get your prey. 🦅