Shaka’s mess

[The Sultan]

We're 2 weeks in and have no shot at an at-large bid. And look like a local CYO team. In terms of meaningful, tournament stakes, our season is toast.

Only thing left to play for IMO is Chase impressing NBA scouts and figuring out which freshmen/sophomores are good enough to stay.

We still have a shot at an at large bid and there is still plenty to play for. You're just being silly right now.

[1SE]

We still have a shot at an at large bid and there is still plenty to play for. You're just being silly right now.

While this is technically still true, we certainly aren't projecting to that now.

Beat UW, Beat PU and all of a sudden the season takes on a different narrative. Lose those, and Oklahoma - well a 5-6 OOC schedule with the best win Q3 I think we'd pretty much have to have 18 conference wins. Get to 10 losses and the NCATT is pretty much gone - unless the 21 Ws include 3 or 4 Q1A wins.

[willie warrior]

The only silver lining of our season being over in two weeks is there is absolutely no excuse not to the play the freshmen and sophomores every minute humanly possible.  Enough with the meaningless "well embedded mole" bullshit via Rothstein, it's time to sink or swim.  Play Owens, Clark, Phillips, James, Stevens, Parham as much as you possibly can, and if they prove themselves, bring em back.  If not, then be a highly-compensated college coach and move on to someone more talented.  This isn't a charity, as much as Shaka's loyalty to scrubs is Make-A-Wish lite.

I would love to see him pull Ian's redshirt and see what he's got.  There's no use in redshirting a guy most of us were surprised is sitting when we need to know right now who can hack it at this level.  I'm done with the Caedin Hamilon, Al Amadou, Emarion Ellis, Tre Norman, Keeyan Itejere leeches who stay on the roster when they have no business playing at this level.

Amen

[willie warrior]

That's just dopey.

At least since 1977 when we kicked their ass for the natty.

[Superfan]

The other thing is very noticeable is that there is no true leader on the floor amongst the upperclassman. In past years when players were not contributing The upperclassman would get on them on the court. Remember when TKO got in Chase's face during the NCAA and he played great in the next game. That's sorely lacking this year.

[Uncle Rico]

At least since 1977 when we kicked their ass for the natty.

That was 50 years ago.  You could smoke unfiltereds at the bar and broads were still in the kitchen where they belonged but then woke happened and we can't smoke and broads wear trousers.  SMDH

[The Sultan]

While this is technically still true, we certainly aren't projecting to that now.

Beat UW, Beat PU and all of a sudden the season takes on a different narrative. Lose those, and Oklahoma - well a 5-6 OOC schedule with the best win Q3 I think we'd pretty much have to have 18 conference wins. Get to 10 losses and the NCATT is pretty much gone - unless the 21 Ws include 3 or 4 Q1A wins.

Really? No kidding...

Even then, no coach is going to throw in the towel and play the young guys so the fans can see if they actually can play. He is going to try his best to win every game until the season is over.

[Uncle Rico]

Really? No kidding...

Even then, no coach is going to throw in the towel and play the young guys so the fans can see if they actually can play. He is going to try his best to win every game until the season is over.

And that's why we need to move on.  Shaka's stubbornness to not appease message board posters is a massive problem.

[The Sultan]

And that's why we need to move on.  Shaka's stubbornness to not appease message board posters is a massive problem.

Right. If we can't witness in games how good the young guys are, including those who have been redshirted, how on earth are we going to inform Shaka what the line ups should be next year? SMH...

[Billy Hoyle]

Which is what MU has done throughout their history up until now for some reason. No one ever complained about any transfer in or thought we were renting a team. Always been a good option to fill a hole with an experienced player.

I still refuse to recognize the Final Four because Crean brought in Robert Jackson as a one-year transfer mercenary.

[PointWarrior]

You are correct in that they still have games to play. And these games can be used to develop players.

But as for playing for anything like a tourney bid or placing high in the conference, it is essentially over. 

lol. The season isn't "essentially over." Good lord.

[burger]

I want to know what the odds of being a tourney team are at this point.  KenPom.  Give it to the fans straight.

Instead of this BS.   We have players close to breaking out.

With what I consider 3 bad losses.   2 at home.  I would say we are about a 25% chance of making the tourney.

UConn is going to beat us by 40.

Now I know what it feels like to be Providence or Seton Hall.   Who will probably both beat us also.

Even DePaul looks better at this point.

I am preparing for really really bad.

What is Shaka's spin if we lose 20?

[muwarrior97]

He knew very early that at Marquette, the way to win was to get old and stay old.

The first few years he struck gold when he got in the lab and brought in some elite transfers, and retained and coached up some Wojo recruits.

Then he brought in his own guys- guys in the 75-125 range in the rankings that would fit his retention yet not dropping heavy cash mold and grow old and stay old method.

He knows what he's doing, he has a plan, but like all of us he expected someone like Damarius to become a star, and Royce to follow suit. He expected more out of almost everyone on this roster, and he's been let down.

So, now he has to adjust

[muwarrior97]

He knew very early that at Marquette, the way to win was to get old and stay old.

The first few years he struck gold when he got in the lab and brought in some elite transfers, and retained and coached up some Wojo recruits.

Then he brought in his own guys- guys in the 75-125 range in the rankings that would fit his retention yet not dropping heavy cash mold and grow old and stay old method.

He knows what he's doing, he has a plan, but like all of us he expected someone like Damarius to become a star, and Royce to follow suit. He expected more out of almost everyone on this roster, and he's been let down.

So, now he has to adjust

I agree with this 100% AND I think he will adjust, he has had success with this approach and now they hit a down patch which will lead him to re-evaluate and make some adjustments to the plan.  He's never said he's anti-portal and used it before with good success, he's just modified his approach and expected a few of the underclassmen to take the next step and they have not as of yet......there are 25 games left for them get better, I'll be watching them all and reppin' MUBB

[Jay Bee]

We still have a shot at an at large bid and there is still plenty to play for. You're just being silly right now.

Yeah, and I have a shot at going 14-0 in my men's 4.0-4.5 tourney tomorrow. Ain't gonna happen, bub.

What someone needs to do is explain scenarios where we'd make the Crown / how it works. We've been blessed to not have to be concerned about it for a while, but now it's a real thing. If we go 6-5 and 10-10.. maybe 1-1 in BEast.. any chance it gets us to Vegas?

[The Sultan]

Yeah, and I have a shot at going 14-0 in my men's 4.0-4.5 tourney tomorrow. Ain't gonna happen, bub.

I believe in Shaka more than I do you though.

[panda]

I believe in Shaka more than I do you though.

I believe in Shaka too. Im hoping he can see the two easy fixes for this team to make them more competitive, slow down the pace and pack in the d. No need to pressure 40 feet from the hoop with this squad.

[Jay Bee]

I believe in Shaka too. Im hoping he can see the two easy fixes for this team to make them more competitive, slow down the pace and pack in the d. No need to pressure 40 feet from the hoop with this squad.

We need to figure out getting beat up when we hedge screens w bigs 40 feet away, but re: pack in the d (pawz) would remind you the one thing this defense has going for it is a great def to%.

[panda]

We need to figure out getting beat up when we hedge screens w bigs 40 feet away, but re: pack in the d (pawz) would remind you the one thing this defense has going for it is a great def to%.

I meant no pressuring the ball so far away from the basket not necessarily playing pack line. All good

[Shooter McGavin]

I agree with this 100% AND I think he will adjust, he has had success with this approach and now they hit a down patch which will lead him to re-evaluate and make some adjustments to the plan.  He's never said he's anti-portal and used it before with good success, he's just modified his approach and expected a few of the underclassmen to take the next step and they have not as of yet......there are 25 games left for them get better, I'll be watching them all and reppin' MUBB

I too, agree with Dr V's take.

I don't agree fully when you say he has had success with the model he is promoting just yet. 

He won with the talent he had first year.  Two big transfers, Jop and Wojos recruits.  That kept him successful for four years.

The true test of the Shaka way of doing things was always going to be the second wave of talent. 

As Dr. V said Shaka has been let down by the second wave.

I gave a built in excuse for this in some other thread.  Great players don't want to come to a school where they will be on the bench for 2-3 years.  Maybe it's a simple as that and we need to give him some rope to rebuild again (albeit with much less talented players to start with).

Maybe Shaka and his staff simply overestimated the talent they recruited and none of the above matters.

Maybe we didn't have the money while we were paying Oso, Tyler, and Kam big money at the same time to land a big time recruit.

Whatever the case, the second wave of talent was always going to be the real test for his way of doing things, IMO.

He will need some time to get through this.  And it would behoove fans to support the team as best they can in the meantime.  Recruits don't like half empty buildings.

I'll still try to get to as many games as possible. 

Go MU!