Fly Away, 2025/26

[Pakuni]

What's cringe worthy bad?

A few things. I can ignore the media thing, and give him the benefit of the doubt that he's trying to play the "us against the world/nobody believes in us" thing.

But the whole point of his RGV philosophy is supposedly that it builds a sustainable culture of success that carries on from one group of players to the next. That when you lose one set of leaders, the next set - having learned from the previous group - fills in seamlessly.
And now at the first sign of trouble, he blames his team's struggles on the loss of players who've moved on. Seems like he's using as a crutch the exact thing his strategy is supposed to prevent.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

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

What do you want him to say?

[wadesworld]

A few things. I can ignore the media thing, and give him the benefit of the doubt that he's trying to play the "us against the world/nobody believes in us" thing.

But the whole point of his RGV philosophy is supposedly that it builds a sustainable culture of success that carries on from one group of players to the next. That when you lose one set of leaders, the next set - having learned from the previous group - fills in seamlessly.
And now at the first sign of trouble, he blames his team's struggles on the loss of players who've moved on. Seems like he's using as a crutch the exact thing his strategy is supposed to prevent.

I guess I might buy it being "cringe worthy bad" if the rest of the actual quote was in there. But it's cut off in the middle of the sentence here...

[Vander Blue Man Group]

A few things. I can ignore the media thing, and give him the benefit of the doubt that he's trying to play the "us against the world/nobody believes in us" thing.

But the whole point of his RGV philosophy is supposedly that it builds a sustainable culture of success that carries on from one group of players to the next. That when you lose one set of leaders, the next set - having learned from the previous group - fills in seamlessly.
And now at the first sign of trouble, he blames his team's struggles on the loss of players who've moved on. Seems like he's using as a crutch the exact thing his strategy is supposed to prevent.

Did you click through to read the rest of his comment?

[rocky_warrior]

Did you click through to read the rest of his comment?

Why would anyone click through to that website?!?!

https://xcancel.com/MatthewBaltzMU/status/1991357146999714246?t=n0CMRYTrBwkNARU-L1k9fg&s=19
https://xcancel.com/MatthewBaltzMU/status/1991354379262390575?t=2X1s1l_S3wxj-B57m88ZFw&s=19

[HutchwasClutch]

Maybe others might agree, but brighter days ahead?  Bring that up after the Purdue game.

Kudos to Ben Gold who played the best three minutes of his MU career from four minutes to one minute left in regulation.  He hit two threes, got three rebounds and made two outstanding defensive plays.  If not for him MU loses by 10 in regulation. The Lowery airball, James turnover and not getting shot off, all in tie game in last two minutes was terrible, along with three points in OT on one shot made.

Yeah, well, we need way more than three minute stretches of solid play from Gold. 6 points, 2/7 from the field, 4 turnovers, and not one trip to the line in 35 minutes is not enough from a senior on a young team like this. He's way too inconsistent. 

[Pakuni]

Did you click through to read the rest of his comment?

Yes.

[Pakuni]

I guess I might buy it being "cringe worthy bad" if the rest of the actual quote was in there. But it's cut off in the middle of the sentence here...

The entire quote:
"We've had a lot of success around here. The way we've gone about things is not new. What is a little bit different right now is, we've had in the past couple years, six guys exit our program, that before you even talk about them as basketball players, who they were in terms of teammates and leaders and culture builders, we're responding to that. We're having to react and grow from that."

Maybe I'm completely misunderstanding RGV, but I've been told a big part of it is building a sustainable culture of success. If that's true, then the culture and success should be able to withstand players using up their eligibility. Why, six games into a season, are they having to react and grow from players departing? The whole point of the model, I thought, was for that growth and development to come over multiple years in the program.

Edit: To be clear, like most of us, I expected a bit of a step back this year with the roster losses of the past two years. But I definitely wasn't expecting the floor to drop out as it has. I imagine Shaka didn't either, but that's his job, not mine.

[Warrior2008]

When you go all in on your model against conventional wisdom, you get the praise when it works and the scorn when it doesn't. Shaka's going to have to get used to this because this team just doesn't have the talent to compete at the level we're accustomed to so the questions will keep coming. Like just about everyone, I wish he wouldn't have painted himself into the corner with the portal. No one forced him there, he willingly went even though we were short a guy or two even with all-Americans the last couple years. And then he doubled down with the RGV bullshit.

Either you adapt or you die.

[Shooter McGavin]

Yeah, well, we need way more than three minute stretches of solid play from Gold. 6 points, 2/7 from the field, 4 turnovers, and not one trip to the line in 35 minutes is not enough from a senior on a young team like this. He's way too inconsistent.

Yep.  I'm still a fan of Ben but up until that point he looked tentative at best.  Has to be aggressive every minute he is in.  Still too passive.  Has to act like this is his and chase's team.  Too often he doesn't even look to shoot and if he does he hesitates.

[rocky_warrior]

we've had in the past couple years, six guys exit our program

1) He counts Amadou, hah
2) He had plenty of warning on Oso and Tyler
3) Pretty good likelihood he knew about Jones, Mitchell, and Joplin too

[Vander Blue Man Group]

1) He counts Amadou, hah
2) He had plenty of warning on Oso and Tyler
3) Pretty good likelihood he knew about Jones, Mitchell, and Joplin too

Even though he said a "couple" he's definitely referring to OMax as part of the 6.

[CountryRoads]

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

His whole answer to that question sounded a lot worse on the video than it read. Little inappropriate to snap at Steele for asking it as well. The media here is pretty easy on them.

[GoldenEagles03]

What's cringe worthy bad?

Why is that cringe worthy bad?

Put yourself in his shoes- you now realize that your system, as designed, isn't fool proof if the upperclassmen don't carry their weight.

However, you've got two very usable 3 year possible starting freshmen guards. You've got some good recruits coming in. You don't want guys like parham, or even Damarius, to jump ship before they can develop into usable.

Even if you plan on shifting course and portalling you stay the same course in the message to retain the youth, and keep the useful upperclassmen. If you feel like you need to, which I think you do, you move on from a few guys and bring in 1-2 talented players in the portal as a stop gap, and let the talent shake itself out.

There are 25 games left, have faith in coach's ability to figure it out if this year is lost, and it's not yet

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.

[DoctorV]

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, but you have no idea what ability he has financially in the high school level or in the portal

It's obvious he's formed a system of retention- stick around and be a stud and gets huge pay day.

I've asked before what happens when the upperclassmen don't earn that pay? Ben is a good example- he's fine, but not worth the 1M$ salary Tyler and Kam got. It's more
Drastic with Zaide and Tre next year, for example.... All things that Shaka now has to navigate thru.

His system of retention and then get paid big is smart, but has veered and will be tested

[GoldenEagles03]

Sure, but you have no idea what ability he has financially in the high school level or in the portal

It's obvious he's formed a system of retention- stick around and be a stud and gets huge pay day.

I've asked before what happens when the upperclassmen don't earn that pay? Ben is a good example- he's fine, but not worth the 1M$ salary Tyler and Kam got. It's more
Drastic with Zaide and Tre next year, for example.... All things that Shaka now has to navigate thru.

His system of retention and then get paid big is smart, but has veered and will be tested

You are correct, I have no idea on the $$$. But from everything I've seen and heard we are near the top of the Big East in that capability. We should be able to build rosters with high end high school and portal talent when necessary and I would think after this season it would be necessary!

[MarquetteMike1977]

But the whole point of his RGV philosophy is supposedly that it builds a sustainable culture of success that carries on from one group of players to the next. That when you lose one set of leaders, the next set - having learned from the previous group - fills in seamlessly.
And now at the first sign of trouble, he blames his team's struggles on the loss of players who've moved on. Seems like he's using as a crutch the exact thing his strategy is supposed to prevent.

Agree. If you purchased RGV shirt can you get a refund and No I do not want an RGL shirt.

[#UnleashNigel]

Yeah, well, we need way more than three minute stretches of solid play from Gold. 6 points, 2/7 from the field, 4 turnovers, and not one trip to the line in 35 minutes is not enough from a senior on a young team like this. He's way too inconsistent.

also passing the ball up with .5 on the clock is wild.

[Shaka Shart]

If Marquette doesn't win every game after this I'm going to self harm

[Shaka Shart]

I notice that freshman are being freshman. I hope they help me cut myself

[rocky_warrior]

If Marquette doesn't win every game after this I'm going to self harm

I notice that freshman are being freshman. I hope they help me cut myself

With that attitude, how am I supposed to feel bad for myself?

And, I still remember your first post here.  So valuable:

Any PC will slow down due to the massive amount of files downloaded and crap people put on there. Both PCs and Macs have their pros and cons for different things, but unfortunately taking 5 minutes to run antivirus software and a simply speed check program that is free to download will take care of most of your issues on a PC. As far as Macs go, great battery life but I am unwilling to pay 2000 dollars for a macbook pro when I can buy a 600 dollar toshiba with about the same performance when you factor in all of the features that Mac is not capable of.

[GB Warrior]

The entire quote:
"We've had a lot of success around here. The way we've gone about things is not new. What is a little bit different right now is, we've had in the past couple years, six guys exit our program, that before you even talk about them as basketball players, who they were in terms of teammates and leaders and culture builders, we're responding to that. We're having to react and grow from that."

Maybe I'm completely misunderstanding RGV, but I've been told a big part of it is building a sustainable culture of success. If that's true, then the culture and success should be able to withstand players using up their eligibility. Why, six games into a season, are they having to react and grow from players departing? The whole point of the model, I thought, was for that growth and development to come over multiple years in the program.

Edit: To be clear, like most of us, I expected a bit of a step back this year with the roster losses of the past two years. But I definitely wasn't expecting the floor to drop out as it has. I imagine Shaka didn't either, but that's his job, not mine.

And does he think RGV happens organically? Was he monitoring last year for what the next crop was going to be? That they were capable of being leaders both as teammates and as players?

Surely there were warning signs that this wasn't it, and that is the opportunity to augment with outside talent.

[muwarrior69]

As we have no shooters I hope Nash Walker is as advertised.

[brewcity77]

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.

[Jay Bee]

I notice that freshman are being freshman. I hope they help me cut myself

Speller are being speller, man.