What does this team do well?

[panda]

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.

Last year was bad too

We've beaten one top 30 torvik rated team since last January. Since February last year, we've beaten one top 100 torvik team Gtown.

The signs of a poor roster existed last season. 

[NCMUFan]

I do believe we will have a year of excellent discussions on Scoop.

[The Sultan]

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.

I don't necessarily disagree with the second paragraph, but they most certainly underperformed last season considering how it started. And I think what's also concerning is there doesn't seem to be much light at the end of the tunnel.

[willie warrior]

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.

SAome people are already tired of "sucking it up"

[willie warrior]

Last year was bad too

We've beaten one top 30 torvik rated team since last January. Since February last year, we've beaten one top 100 torvik team Gtown.

The signs of a poor roster existed last season. 

All signs of a low major

[Elonsmusk]

Last year was bad too

We've beaten one top 30 torvik rated team since last January. Since February last year, we've beaten one top 100 torvik team Gtown.

The signs of a poor roster existed last season. 

What would your reaction be if this year's team is the inverse of last seasons?  If we beat some top 100 Torvik teams and a Top 30 team or two from here on out, do signs of a good roster begin to emerge?

I still think this year's team can finish in the Top 4 of the Big East - a down year in the BE, to be fair. 

[The Sultan]

What would your reaction be if this year's team is the inverse of last seasons?  If we beat some top 100 Torvik teams and a Top 30 team or two from here on out, do signs of a good roster begin to emerge? 

Yes. I just doubt it's going to happen.

[panda]

What would your reaction be if this year's team is the inverse of last seasons?  If we beat some top 100 Torvik teams and a Top 30 team or two from here on out, do signs of a good roster begin to emerge?

I still think this year's team can finish in the Top 4 of the Big East - a down year in the BE, to be fair. 

Of course I'd be excited. This team gives me absolutely no reason to believe anything will change which is frustrating.

[Jay Bee]

Glad we don't have Milwaukee on the sked

[KingKolek]

As someone who was skeptical of Shaka's strategy but open-minded to it working, I'm growing increasingly annoyed by two arguments against those of us who are frustrated and calling for a change in approach.

The first is the strawman "well, guess you want them to go out and get a whole roster of new players every year who don't care at all about MU!" No one is asking for this. There is plenty of gray space between the two extremes. What I'm asking for is a coaching staff that can identify clear deficiencies in the roster in the offseason and address them with a couple of additions if necessary. One of the more troubling aspects of this season has been how most fans could have identified they biggest problem areas before they ever took the court.

Look at Kolek as an example. Sure, he was a transfer, but no one would say he was some money-hungry mercenary looking for the highest bidder. Shaka, go find guys looking for a bigger opportunity that align with your culture.

The second point is the idea that this has worked for years, we've gotten spoiled and are now out the second there is trouble. To me, it feels like we are attributing too much of the success to the process and not enough to the players. Retention is great if the players you retain are special. Shaka truly hit with one group (two of which were transfers) with results slowly getting worse as that group has moved on to the next stage of their lives. One does not make a pattern. This year was the proving ground, and it is resulting in perhaps the worst season in 15 years.