What does this team do well?

[panda]

Because it's different to say "Shaka's refusal to use one of the most important avenues to building a roster" and another thing to say Shaka is showing "year after year that his philosophy is unnatural carnal knowledgeing awful" when his philosophy has brought the highest two single seeds MU has ever got in an NCAA Tournament and two other single digit seeds in his four seasons here. There's criticism and there's being a whiny baby. Even if the person claims his posts aren't literal once he sees how absurd they are.

Shaka has had nothing but success until this season while at MU. He will have to adjust, whether that's landing higher level high school players, recruiting the portal, or both. People are acting like there's no shot in hell he's going to do anything to try to improve the roster, he's just going to sit here and be too good for those adjustments. I personally think the guy's a good coach and a competitive guy who misread his roster this year. I think he'll make necessary adjustments. Other people think he only takes good players against his will and need to be forced to bring in players he doesn't want by his assistants.

*pretty bad January through the close of
The season last year too

[panda]

I've said it many times. Not sure what you expect him to do in the middle of the season. Unfortunately no trading in college basketball.

Well, actually I do know what you expect him to do. You expect him to play all the freshman and pull redshirts in a lost season so that you personally can decide whether those players are worth keeping around. Logical, to say the least.

Different lineups/rotations. More minutes to higher ceiling players.

It's not like the current Caedin Hamilton experiment is flourishing.

[wadesworld]

Different lineups/rotations. More minutes to higher ceiling players.

It's not like the current Caedin Hamilton experiment is flourishing.

The problem is that nobody behind him is better or ready to contribute. He played 17 minutes today. Still more than he should, but that's where a talent upgrade on the roster is needed. The talent isn't on the roster.

[panda]

The problem is that nobody behind him is better or ready to contribute. He played 17 minutes today. Still more than he should, but that's where a talent upgrade on the roster is needed. The talent isn't on the roster.

He's far and away the worst player on this roster. Any player stepping into those 17 minutes would both be a greater benefit in the present and future of Marquette basketball

[onepost]

If you don't like what you post then don't post it. Or if you don't mean what you post, then post what you mean. I'll respond to what you say. Sorry if I read your posts...well, as they're posted.

"If you don't like what you post then don't post it". What are you even talking about? Surely this sounded smarter in your head than it reads here.

When I talk about freshmen getting more playing time, while yes I will literally actually watch them play, that doesn't mean *I* am deciding their future at Marquette. Rather, it gives the highly-compensated coaches a grasp on how good they are sooner than later. That's INFERRED. So then THEY can determine if the player can cut it at this level. How many times did Fanta and Bahe say "This Marquette team is old, but they're not experienced! They're 199th in experience!" today? Maybe 3 or 4 by my count. So maybe they align the two so we don't have old, inexperienced group that sucks at basketball.

This is no different than when you were told Sean Jones was gonna transfer but Shaka convinced him to stay. It was said "Sean was in the portal" - inferring to anyone with a clue that he was gonna leave. But because Rothstein and Goodman didn't actually tweet out the words that he literally entered the portal, you try and "GOTCHA" your way to a point.

Instead of justifying your opinions, you need these things explained to you like a toddler. Context clues are your friend.

[wadesworld]

"If you don't like what you post then don't post it". What are you even talking about? Surely this sounded smarter in your head than it reads here.

When I talk about freshmen getting more playing time, while yes I will literally actually watch them play, that doesn't mean *I* am deciding their future at Marquette. Rather, it gives the highly-compensated coaches a grasp on how good they are sooner than later. That's INFERRED. So then THEY can determine if the player can cut it at this level. How many times did Fanta and Bahe say "This Marquette team is old, but they're not experienced! They're 199th in experience!" today? Maybe 3 or 4 by my count. So maybe they align the two so we don't have old, inexperienced group that sucks at basketball.

This is no different than when you were told Sean Jones was gonna transfer but Shaka convinced him to stay. It was said "Sean was in the portal" - inferring to anyone with a clue that he was gonna leave. But because Rothstein and Goodman didn't actually tweet out the words that he literally entered the portal, you try and "GOTCHA" your way to a point.

Instead of justifying your opinions, you need these things explained to you like a toddler. Context clues are your friend.

If a kid isn't in the portal, don't post that a kid is in the portal. It's simple.

[onepost]

The problem is that nobody behind him is better or ready to contribute. He played 17 minutes today. Still more than he should, but that's where a talent upgrade on the roster is needed. The talent isn't on the roster.

Hahahaha unreal. I jokingly said you'd use this as an excuse...not thinking you'd actually use this as an excuse. Watch the rakes, wades!

[wadesworld]

Hahahaha unreal. I jokingly said you'd use this as an excuse...not thinking you'd actually use this as an excuse. Watch the rakes, wades!

I forgot that because Creighton pulled a redshirt on a top 50 recruit it means that Militic is Dirk if we just pull the redshirt.

Aren't you the champion of Shaka's strategy sucks and we have no talent? I mean, year after year it's proven to be unnatural carnal knowledgeing awful, no? Now your contention is that we do have the talent to win big, Shaka's just giving the minutes to the wrong guy? Weird flip, but I suppose.

[onepost]

Because it's different to say "Shaka's refusal to use one of the most important avenues to building a roster" and another thing to say Shaka is showing "year after year that his philosophy is unnatural carnal knowledgeing awful" when his philosophy has brought the highest two single seeds MU has ever got in an NCAA Tournament and two other single digit seeds in his four seasons here. There's criticism and there's being a whiny baby. Even if the person claims his posts aren't literal once he sees how absurd they are.

How many times do you need this spelled out for you, man? He accomplished these feats IN LARGE PART DUE TO TAKING TRANSFERS. He earned those seeds by doing what he now refuses to do - and because he's shown continual refusal to use the portal, that's what I'm judging him on. The further away he gets from Kolek and relying only on his own high school recruits, the worse his results are.

Shaka gets paid a crap ton of money. Me criticizing the job he's doing isn't me being a baby, it's me holding the coach of my alma mater to the standard that position warrants.

[onepost]

I forgot that because Creighton pulled a redshirt on a top 50 recruit it means that Militic is Dirk if we just pull the redshirt.

Aren't you the champion of Shaka's strategy sucks and we have no talent? I mean, year after year it's proven to be unnatural carnal knowledgeing awful, no? Now your contention is that we do have the talent to win big, Shaka's just giving the minutes to the wrong guy? Weird flip, but I suppose.

Where did I say Miletic is Dirk? You get off on actual quotes, go ahead and find me that one, be consistent.

Where did I say we have the talent to win big? For someone obsessed with literal comments, you're certainly putting a lot of words in my mouth.

Here are my actual words: with no tournament stakes to play for this season, see what you have in your younger players. A little foresight could do Shaka some good, in my opinion.

[wadesworld]

How many times do you need this spelled out for you, man? He accomplished these feats IN LARGE PART DUE TO TAKING TRANSFERS. He earned those seeds by doing what he now refuses to do - and because he's shown continual refusal to use the portal, that's what I'm judging him on. The further away he gets from Kolek and relying only on his own high school recruits, the worse his results are.

Shaka gets paid a crap ton of money. Me criticizing the job he's doing isn't me being a baby, it's me holding the coach of my alma mater to the standard that position warrants.

No, you've definitely been a baby lately.

[wadesworld]

Where did I say Miletic is Dirk? You get off on actual quotes, go ahead and find me that one, be consistent.

Where did I say we have the talent to win big? For someone obsessed with literal comments, you're certainly putting a lot of words in my mouth.

Here are my actual words: with no tournament stakes to play for this season, see what you have in your younger players. A little foresight could do Shaka some good, in my opinion.

Maybe read the post I was quoting then. I have no idea what excuse you're referring to. You don't want Ben Gold or Caedin Hamilton playing. So that leaves Royce Parham, Joshua Clark, and Ian Militic to play 80 minutes per game at the 4/5.

[onepost]

No, you've definitely been a baby lately.

I really haven't. But yes, I've had to talk down and explain a number of things to you so I understand why you'd say this. It's not your fault...it's not your fault.

[onepost]

Maybe read the post I was quoting then. I have no idea what excuse you're referring to. You don't want Ben Gold or Caedin Hamilton playing. So that leaves Royce Parham, Joshua Clark, and Ian Militic to play 80 minutes per game at the 4/5.

Again, quit putting words in my mouth. Where did I say I don't want Ben Gold or Caedin Hamilton playing any minutes at all? I'm saying they are not good basketball players and shouldn't be starting at Marquette. We have no other options, which for the umpteenth time is my entire unnatural carnal knowledgeing point.

Thank you though. While I don't yet have children, having to "But why? But why? But why?" my way through this conversation with you, I feel like I'm prepared for parenthood.

[BM1090]

To try to answer the question, we get to the line more than any other Shaka team at MU. And we've been a legitimately good (not great) offensive rebounding team. And the defensive rebounding is the best it's been under Shaka. If the numbers hold it'd be our best rebounding team since 2014 and our best FTR team since 2016.

Unfortunately we're turning it over more and our eFG% is way down.

[BM1090]

He's far and away the worst player on this roster. Any player stepping into those 17 minutes would both be a greater benefit in the present and future of Marquette basketball

He's better than Clark right now. Clark's ceiling looks much higher. He's been better than Owens this year too. Same thing about the ceiling though.

[The Sultan]

Because it's different to say "Shaka's refusal to use one of the most important avenues to building a roster" and another thing to say Shaka is showing "year after year that his philosophy is unnatural carnal knowledgeing awful" when his philosophy has brought the highest two single seeds MU has ever got in an NCAA Tournament and two other single digit seeds in his four seasons here. There's criticism and there's being a whiny baby. Even if the person claims his posts aren't literal once he sees how absurd they are.

Shaka has had nothing but success until this season while at MU. He will have to adjust, whether that's landing higher level high school players, recruiting the portal, or both. People are acting like there's no shot in hell he's going to do anything to try to improve the roster, he's just going to sit here and be too good for those adjustments. I personally think the guy's a good coach and a competitive guy who misread his roster this year. I think he'll make necessary adjustments. Other people think he only takes good players against his will and need to be forced to bring in players he doesn't want by his assistants.

I guess if you want people making good faith arguments, calling them "whiney babies" isn't exactly leading by example though.

[wadesworld]

Again, quit putting words in my mouth. Where did I say I don't want Ben Gold or Caedin Hamilton playing any minutes at all? I'm saying they are not good basketball players and shouldn't be starting at Marquette. We have no other options, which for the umpteenth time is my entire unnatural carnal knowledgeing point.

Thank you though. While I don't yet have children, having to "But why? But why? But why?" my way through this conversation with you, I feel like I'm prepared for parenthood.

Huh.

[vogue65]

Get shots blocked, 8.

[brewcity77]

We're like #220-250 team right now. 

This is so overdramatic. We're generally drilling teams in that range and losing close to top-100 type teams. We're right around a top-100 team ourself. Not NCAA or NIT worthy, but good enough to be feisty on a given night.

As far as what we do well, we're pretty good at offensive rebounding and turning teams over defensively. The problem is we are really bad at turning those offensive rebounds into second chance points and our overall defensive efficiency is worse when we press, which mitigates the value of those positives.

[HutchwasClutch]

This is so overdramatic. We're generally drilling teams in that range and losing close to top-100 type teams. We're right around a top-100 team ourself. Not NCAA or NIT worthy, but good enough to be feisty on a given night.

As far as what we do well, we're pretty good at offensive rebounding and turning teams over defensively. The problem is we are really bad at turning those offensive rebounds into second chance points and our overall defensive efficiency is worse when we press, which mitigates the value of those positives.

The eye test says team rebounding is definitely improved and maybe the best it's been under Shaka?  His really good 2nd and 3rd seasons, those were not good rebounding teams IIRC.

Doing press defense more than just picking your spots is not going to work against good teams.  The 40 Minutes of Hell Nolan Richardson Razorbacks is ancient history how to attack.  So not surprising their defensive efficiency decreases doing that.  And that's against a schedule half made up of opponents somewhere in the 200's.

[Elonsmusk]

Because it's different to say "Shaka's refusal to use one of the most important avenues to building a roster" and another thing to say Shaka is showing "year after year that his philosophy is unnatural carnal knowledgeing awful" when his philosophy has brought the highest two single seeds MU has ever got in an NCAA Tournament and two other single digit seeds in his four seasons here. There's criticism and there's being a whiny baby. Even if the person claims his posts aren't literal once he sees how absurd they are.

Shaka has had nothing but success until this season while at MU. He will have to adjust, whether that's landing higher level high school players, recruiting the portal, or both. People are acting like there's no shot in hell he's going to do anything to try to improve the roster, he's just going to sit here and be too good for those adjustments. I personally think the guy's a good coach and a competitive guy who misread his roster this year. I think he'll make necessary adjustments. Other people think he only takes good players against his will and need to be forced to bring in players he doesn't want by his assistants.

Perfect summation of the reality, Wades.  Shaka has said this year would "stress test," the RGV model. So far it's showing to not be working out too well.  However, it does seem he's landing higher rated recruits, and it is mentioned by all of them how the RGV philosophy is attractive.

I suspect we may need to suck it up for another year to see how things evolve.  Though it wouldn't surprise me to see a transfer out this off season, and I would think Shaka would give serious thought to trying to backfill that opening with a proven D-1 player from the portal.

[panda]

Perfect summation of the reality, Wades.  Shaka has said this year would "stress test," the RGV model. So far it's showing to not be working out too well.  However, it does seem he's landing higher rated recruits, and it is mentioned by all of them how the RGV philosophy is attractive.

I suspect we may need to suck it up for another year to see how things evolve.  Though it wouldn't surprise me to see a transfer out this off season, and I would think Shaka would give serious thought to trying to backfill that opening with a proven D-1 player from the portal.

One freshman big coming onto this roster isn't going to drastically change our talent level next year when all of our competitors are adding proven 20-23 year old talents from the portal.

Broken system and we're in a really bad spot roster wise for next year.

[NCMUFan]

Our best win so far, per Torvik, is #215. Yikes.

Southern (215th)
Central Michigan (261st)
Albany (330rd)
Little Rock (333rd)

What if we did not have home court advantage when we played these teams?

[Elonsmusk]

One freshman big coming onto this roster isn't going to drastically change our talent level next year when all of our competitors are adding proven 20-23 year old talents from the portal.

Broken system and we're in a really bad spot roster wise for next year.

As I said, next year may also be a potentially down year.  However, it would not surprise me if we have a transfer out this off season, and Shaka backfills it with a proven player (i.e. a 20-23 talent from the portal), to help bolster things.

Where I get frustrated with the Shaka criticism is it is the first time in his 5 years we are underperforming expectations - and many Scoopers have said they do like the model of getting to know players, see players evolve, and that MU not be a school of 1-year rentals that have zero love for the university.  Progress isn't always linear, and in my view, Shaka has earned some grace for what has been done Years 1-4 coming off of a decade of mediocre (at best) performance.