Lineups - just bizarre. Would like to see the contract.

[Pakuni]

If he did........wait for it......he might get on the floor duting games. Crazy idea, I know.

So, your theory is DO figured it out well enough in practice all off- and preseason to earn 10+ minutes per game over first five games, then abruptly stopped figuring it out in practice and lost playing time as a result.

Another theory. Shaka gave DO minutes during games, but DO was terrible during games and as a result ... wait for it ... stopped getting minutes during games.
Shaka's priority to this point has been winning games, not rewarding practice effort/performance. So, if a player is failing and can't be trusted during games, he's not likely to play, regardless of how hard he tries or how much he gets it in the basement of The AL.
For whatever reason, you're ignoring the obvious: DO isn't playing in games because when he's had his chance in games, he's been terrible.
Crazy idea, I know.

At some point soon, if we're not already there, Shaka's priority probably should turn from winning games to developing his players for next year. And if that means playing Owens more, he should do that.

 

[The Sultan]

So, your theory is DO figured it out well enough in practice all off- and preseason to earn 10+ minutes per game over first five games, then abruptly stopped figuring it out in practice and lost playing time as a result.

Another theory. Shaka gave DO minutes during games, but DO was terrible during games and as a result ... wait for it ... stopped getting minutes during games.
Shaka's priority to this point has been winning games, not rewarding practice effort/performance. So, if a player is failing and can't be trusted during games, he's not likely to play, regardless of how hard he tries or how much he gets it in the basement of The AL.
For whatever reason, you're ignoring the obvious: DO isn't playing in games because when he's had his chance in games, he's been terrible.
Crazy idea, I know.

At some point soon, if we're not already there, Shaka's priority probably should turn from winning games to developing his players for next year. And if that means playing Owens more, he should do that.

I'm not sure it's ever a good idea for a coach's priority to turn from winning games.

[MUBurrow]

Our conversations tend to focus on the relationship between not using the portal and talent level.  But does a public rejection of the portal also affect/reduce the competitive edge among players within the program? For the last three years there has been a year-over-year reduction in talent and leadership, and with a Jr class that has one high-major contributor, that will continue in 26-27 w/o a change in philosophy.

I've been hesitant to post about it, because I  don't think its as simple as "durr these guys are lazy because they know they won't lose PT and NIL $ to portal guys" and I don't have any unique insight on it.  But there seems to be a distinct lack of edge within the program right now.  With every other program in the country using the portal, its tough not to infer causation from correlation. 

[Jay Bee]

Shaka's priority to this point has been winning games, not rewarding practice effort/performance. So, if a player is failing and can't be trusted during games, he's not likely to play, regardless of how hard he tries or how much he gets it in the basement of The AL.

Ummm.... that's not what I've seen.

[We R Final Four]

So, your theory is DO figured it out well enough in practice all off- and preseason to earn 10+ minutes per game over first five games, then abruptly stopped figuring it out in practice and lost playing time as a result.

Another theory. Shaka gave DO minutes during games, but DO was terrible during games and as a result ... wait for it ... stopped getting minutes during games.
Shaka's priority to this point has been winning games, not rewarding practice effort/performance. So, if a player is failing and can't be trusted during games, he's not likely to play, regardless of how hard he tries or how much he gets it in the basement of The AL.
For whatever reason, you're ignoring the obvious: DO isn't playing in games because when he's had his chance in games, he's been terrible.
Crazy idea, I know.

At some point soon, if we're not already there, Shaka's priority probably should turn from winning games to developing his players for next year. And if that means playing Owens more, he should do that.

 

No....my theory is I would defer to the head coach who sees DO practice, and watch film, and understanding his assignments on a daily basis, as opposed to a guy on the internet who thinks he knows more than  the coach.
If DO isn't getting it in practice.....he isn't going to be given the opportunity to "prove" him wrong in games. That's absurd.

[hawk]

I am not willing to go along with the dumpster fire/the seasons over ppoint of view. MU's pr3eseason T rank was 52 and today it was somethhing like 65 up from 72.  I would agree that the NCAA is out of reach unless they pull a Georgetown and swep the conference tourny.  Assuming they win one more preconference game and enter conference play at 5 and 6 you'd need to find 9 wins in conference to get the NIT.  That is a goal.  As far as the line goesI'd say you have Ross and James and a bunch or just regular guys.  I'm really disapoinkted in Gold but he is still the best pos player they have.  I like parham he could find himself in the big east season.  I would agree that clark needs some minutes, at least he can dunk.  I'd play until he gets tired just to see what he can do.  I'd also find minutes for stevens and Philips.  I think Owens is toast.  Regardless of talent level MU needs to play guys that have an attitude and can play angry.

[Pakuni]

No....my theory is I would defer to the head coach who sees DO practice, and watch film, and understanding his assignments on a daily basis, as opposed to a guy on the internet who thinks he knows more than  the coach.
If DO isn't getting it in practice.....he isn't going to be given the opportunity to "prove" him wrong in games. That's absurd.

LOL. Are you intentionally misunderstanding my point because you want yo argue or are you just not getting it?

[Vander Blue Man Group]

8 games in and it's clear Caedin is not ready to contribute at this level.  There could still be something there his junior and senior years.

However, if Shaka doesn't continue to cut his minutes, let alone continues to start him, he should be questioned. 

[We R Final Four]

LOL. Are you intentionally misunderstanding my point because you want yo argue or are you just not getting it?

Lets try this.....
1. Shaka does not feel that DO should be playing/has not earned playing time.
2. You think Shaka should play DO regardless of how he is playing/practicing and let him work it out.
3. Regardless of your 5th grade approach.....Shaka isn't playing him.

Shaka certainly can be criticized for several things this season. If you have watched DO at all this season, allowing DO to "play through it" during games isn't one of them.

[panda]

Lets try this.....
1. Shaka does not feel that DO should be playing/has not earned playing time.
2. You think Shaka should play DO regardless of how he is playing/practicing and let him work it out.
3. Regardless of your 5th grade approach.....Shaka isn't playing him.

Shaka certainly can be criticized for several things this season. If you have watched DO at all this season, allowing DO to "play through it" during games isn't one of them.

Caedin's EGB'e definitely warrants at least 30 mins/game

[We R Final Four]

Caedin's EGB'e definitely warrants at least 30 mins/game

Ok

[Pakuni]

Lets try this.....
1. Shaka does not feel that DO should be playing/has not earned playing time.
2. You think Shaka should play DO regardless of how he is playing/practicing and let him work it out.
3. Regardless of your 5th grade approach.....Shaka isn't playing him.

Shaka certainly can be criticized for several things this season. If you have watched DO at all this season, allowing DO to "play through it" during games isn't one of them.

Could you please point out where I ever wrote DO should be allowed to "play through it?" You're making crap up because you want to argue. And then putting it in quotes as if I wrote it.

Speaking of making stuff up, you've invented up a scenario where DO's lack of minutes recently is because he's not figuring it out in practice. But you have no clue how he's performing in practice. What we do know is that he apparently practiced well enough during the dozens of offseason and preseason practices to earn 10+ minutes per game in the first 5 games of the season. It's only after he performed poorly in actual games that his minutes were reduced. The more likely scenario here is that his loss of PT is a result of his poor play during games, not some sudden decline in his practice. That's also speculation on my part, but at least it's informed speculation. We all see how he's struggling in games. You know zero about how he's practicing.

[We R Final Four]

Could you please point out where I ever wrote DO should be allowed to "play through it?" You're making crap up because you want to argue. And then putting it in quotes as if I wrote it.

Speaking of making stuff up, you've invented up a scenario where DO's lack of minutes recently is because he's not figuring it out in practice. But you have no clue how he's performing in practice. What we do know is that he apparently practiced well enough during the dozens of offseason and preseason practices to earn 10+ minutes per game in the first 5 games of the season. It's only after he performed poorly in actual games that his minutes were reduced. The more likely scenario here is that his loss of PT is a result of his poor play during games, not some sudden decline in his practice. That's also speculation on my part, but at least it's informed speculation. We all see how he's struggling in games. You know zero about how he's practicing.

So he's struggling in games....and is a hot mess.....but he should just play more to work it out??

Why are his minutes decreasing? I wonder if he is not understanding his assignments, not sure where he should be on the floor, hesitant with his shot, fumbling the ball.......but Im sure that is only happening in games.

If Shaka goes.....you should submit your resume.

[panda]

Could you please point out where I ever wrote DO should be allowed to "play through it?" You're making crap up because you want to argue. And then putting it in quotes as if I wrote it.

Speaking of making stuff up, you've invented up a scenario where DO's lack of minutes recently is because he's not figuring it out in practice. But you have no clue how he's performing in practice. What we do know is that he apparently practiced well enough during the dozens of offseason and preseason practices to earn 10+ minutes per game in the first 5 games of the season. It's only after he performed poorly in actual games that his minutes were reduced. The more likely scenario here is that his loss of PT is a result of his poor play during games, not some sudden decline in his practice. That's also speculation on my part, but at least it's informed speculation. We all see how he's struggling in games. You know zero about how he's practicing.

Something is definitely up with DO. He should be playing much more but isn't.

[Pakuni]

So he's struggling in games....and is a hot mess.....but he should just play more to work it out??

Why are his minutes decreasing? I wonder if he is not understanding his assignments, not sure where he should be on the floor, hesitant with his shot, fumbling the ball.......but Im sure that is only happening in games. /

Again, I never said he "should play more to work it out." Do better.

And if he's "not understanding his assignments, not sure where he should be on the floor, hesitant with his shot, fumbling the ball" in practice, why was Shaka running him out there for 10 minutes a game for the first three weeks of the season? Do practice habits not matter until game 6 and beyond?
For some weird reason you're trying to force a scenario rather than accept the more obvious conclusion.

If Shaka goes.....you should submit your resume.