What would make you show Shaka the door in March?

[Galway Eagle]

2025 was his mulligan year.

So for everything I mentioned, after graduating a 2x All American and second team all conference player, your "mulligan" is making the tournament as a single digit seed? Last year his coaching was great, his two main beyond the arc players suddenly forgot how to shoot but they still got plenty of open looks.

That's not a mulligan to me but different strokes.

[mileskishnish72]

Not cleaning house of about 3-5 guys currently on this team that do not and will not ever be able to help the team win.

Absolutely! It has been mentioned in previous posts that if you're really going to have a good relationship with players then you're going to have to be honest about where they could really succeed. I am sorry to say it but there are guys I want gone, not from personal animosity but from concern that they will never be able to contribute meaningfully to an MU team.

The Shaka recruiting shtick that "We won't recruit over you" needs to be amended to "We won't recruit over you IF you develop and progress according to reasonable expectations." You cannot succeed with recruiting misses/lack of development. The coach is being paid a pantload of money and is going to have to field a competitive team or be gone. He is going to have to admit that if a prospect doesn't really have a chance to become a productive BE player, then
he needs to be honest with said prospect and let him go to where he can do better. He is also
going to have to look at the broader picture and look at teams improving by using the portal.

[mu_hilltopper]

maybe you get a few guys to transfer out which opens up some roster slots to bring 2 or 3 guys in.

This isn't your father's NCAA.  You don't "get" a few guys to transfer out. 

Players are jumping to the portal on their whim, no reason not to fire kids who aren't good enough.  It goes both ways now.

It's always been a business.  Now it's just more brazen.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

2025 was his mulligan year.

That's nuts. 

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Absolutely! It has been mentioned in previous posts that if you're really going to have a good relationship with players then you're going to have to be honest about where they could really succeed. I am sorry to say it but there are guys I want gone, not from personal animosity but from concern that they will never be able to contribute meaningfully to an MU team.

The Shaka recruiting shtick that "We won't recruit over you" needs to be amended to "We won't recruit over you IF you develop and progress according to reasonable expectations." You cannot succeed with recruiting misses/lack of development. The coach is being paid a pantload of money and is going to have to field a competitive team or be gone. He is going to have to admit that if a prospect doesn't really have a chance to become a productive BE player, then
he needs to be honest with said prospect and let him go to where he can do better. He is also
going to have to look at the broader picture and look at teams improving by using the portal.

I don't recall Shaka ever saying "I won't recruit over you". 

[MUbiz]

I don't recall Shaka ever saying "I won't recruit over you". 

In a Marquette Today interview, Smart reiterated: "We have made a decision and a commitment to the guys in our program. Yes, we could have gone in the transfer portal and recruited some other guys, but we feel like it would have stunted their growth."

[GoldenEagles03]

I'm worried for him.

Think there is a chance he gets canned after the year if he's not willing to change his portal stance. This season is going to be one we never want to think about ever again after it is over...and we are lined up for much of the same next year.

He needs to add Seniors after this season through the portal or he's a goner and we will be back to starting over.

[MuggsyB]

I'm worried for him.

Think there is a chance he gets canned after the year if he's not willing to change his portal stance. This season is going to be one we never want to think about ever again after it is over...and we are lined up for much of the same next year.

He needs to add Seniors after this season through the portal or he's a goner and we will be back to starting over.

He's not getting axed after this season.  But if 2026-27 isn't monumentally better, meaning a tourney team, I think he'll be shown the door.  And if we don't use the portal at all, I think making the tournament next season will likely not happen. 

[GoldenWarrior11]

I was ok with this being a rebuilding year and not making the tournament, but there is zero reason for a program with these resources and support to be on trajectory to lose 20 games (possibly more).  The eye test shows that and the advanced data supports that (on pace for a 20-loss season).

If Smart and staff thought this was a BE-caliber team, that is a glaring concern with their roster development and talent assessment. If they did not think that, and ignored opportunities to improve roster when they could have, that too is a glaring concern.  In either case, this year (as it develops) is a big red flag moving beyond this year. 

If the bottom falls out this season, all options should be on table (especially since other programs will be after our young players and if they bolt, there'd be little reason to not start new).

[HutchwasClutch]

I'm worried for him.

Think there is a chance he gets canned after the year if he's not willing to change his portal stance. This season is going to be one we never want to think about ever again after it is over...and we are lined up for much of the same next year.

He needs to add Seniors after this season through the portal or he's a goner and we will be back to starting over.

I just don't see them firing him, regardless how bad this season goes.  I'm not advocating he should keep his job, but the leadership at MU seems to love Shaka and they can easily call this a rebuilding year after some very successful seasons.  They know that's an overly simplistic position, but they'll go with it for public consumption anyway.

[GoldenEagles03]

I just don't see them firing him, regardless how bad this season goes.  I'm not advocating he should keep his job, but the leadership at MU seems to love Shaka and they can easily call this a rebuilding year after some very successful seasons.  They know that's an overly simplistic position, but they'll go with it for public consumption anyway.

I didn't think they would either...but this is his 5th season and it is going to be the first time in what? 30 years they had a sub .500 non con. They are going to win maybe 10 to 12 games. That's fireable. Not sure they will either, but if they did, it is warranted.

[HutchwasClutch]

I didn't think they would either...but this is his 5th season and it is going to be the first time in what? 30 years they had a sub .500 non con. They are going to win maybe 10 to 12 games. That's fireable. Not sure they will either, but if they did, it is warranted.

Agree

[warriors141]

You think about a year ago......pretty shocking what this has come to

[MuggsyB]

I didn't think they would either...but this is his 5th season and it is going to be the first time in what? 30 years they had a sub .500 non con. They are going to win maybe 10 to 12 games. That's fireable. Not sure they will either, but if they did, it is warranted.

The BEast isn't very good.  Right now we're probably 10/11 but it's not inconceivable we could pick up more wins than people think.  I'm not saying this changes anything.  Just throwing it out there. 

[GoldenEagles03]

The BEast isn't very good.  Right now we're probably 10/11 but it's not inconceivable we could pick up more wins than people think.  I'm not saying this changes anything.  Just throwing it out there.

We are so much worse than everyone in the Big East aside from maybe DePaul. Xavier looks better. Seton Hall is actually good.

It's going to be very very bad.

[MuggsyB]

We are so much worse than everyone in the Big East aside from maybe DePaul. Xavier looks better. Seton Hall is actually good.

It's going to be very very bad.

Are you predicting 4-16?

[Small Orange Soda]

I just don't see them firing him, regardless how bad this season goes.  I'm not advocating he should keep his job, but the leadership at MU seems to love Shaka and they can easily call this a rebuilding year after some very successful seasons.  They know that's an overly simplistic position, but they'll go with it for public consumption anyway.

I think the administration overestimates the fanbase's love of the RGV model. I don't think most fans are in the "I'm happy we don't take transfers" boat.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

In a Marquette Today interview, Smart reiterated: "We have made a decision and a commitment to the guys in our program. Yes, we could have gone in the transfer portal and recruited some other guys, but we feel like it would have stunted their growth."

I guess I should have been more clear - I meant recruiting over someone out of high school. 

[HutchwasClutch]

I think the administration overestimates the fanbase's love of the RGV model. I don't think most fans are in the "I'm happy we don't take transfers" boat.

I agree how fans generally feel, but I don't think leadership sees that or maybe better put, doesn't want to see/hear that. 

Maybe if attendance tanks, I don't know.

[mu_hilltopper]

Think there is a chance he gets canned after the year if he's not willing to change his portal stance.

He's really got to, if he wants to keep coaching college ball.

Zero of the top ~50 programs would hire a new coach who refuses to use the portal in 2025.

It's .. unamusing that in the wikipedia page about college basketball, there'll be a section devoted to RGV and how Shaka Smart of Marquette disproved it as a winning strategy. 

[MuggsyB]

I think the administration overestimates the fanbase's love of the RGV model. I don't think most fans are in the "I'm happy we don't take transfers" boat.

Fans are vehemently unhappy right now SOS.  And I think somewhat in shock with how bad we are. Again, this is a team somewhere in the vicinity of #300 in the nation.

[Viper]

I didn't think they would either...but this is his 5th season and it is going to be the first time in what? 30 years they had a sub .500 non con. They are going to win maybe 10 to 12 games. That's fireable. Not sure they will either, but if they did, it is warranted.

i posted this during halftime of the game thread but more appropriate here...

(I know nothing about Marquette's new Prez. Does he understand the importance of men's basketball to this school? Not just the history, the pedigree, but its importance in funding the overall athletic program? Or, how applications increase in correlation to basketball success? The AD, Broeker. I'll assume he does understand these things. But, how aggressive is Broeker? A yes man, or does he have a spine? Yeah, Shaka is back next year. But if it's more RGV, more of this garbage, we'll officially be in DePaul's neighborhood. Never ever thought we'd decline like this.)

[GoldenEagles03]

Are you predicting 4-16?

I don't know. If they win more than 8 I would be surprised.

[GoldenEagles03]

He's really got to, if he wants to keep coaching college ball.

Zero of the top ~50 programs would hire a new coach who refuses to use the portal in 2025.

It's .. unamusing that in the wikipedia page about college basketball, there'll be a section devoted to RGV and how Shaka Smart of Marquette disproved it as a winning strategy. 

I would just like him to take transfers and stay! He is clearly a guy that players want to play for. According to almost everyone, we have money to get good players. So the fact that he doesn't use the portal is just irresponsible at this point. He's doing it for no other reason than to just not go against his original idea that he thought would work.

A good coach recognizes his weaknesses and adapts.

[#UnleashNigel]

Once again,

If only we showed this level of apathy to a coach when wojo was around.