What would make you show Shaka the door in March?

[illiniwarriors]

The rules in college basketball have changed and Shaka and Marquette have decided they don't like the change and they will continue to do things the old way.
The best comparison I can make is when the NCAA introduced the 3-point shot, and you have a coach who decides his team won't use it.
Why is Marquette giving Every D-1 in the country an advantage over them.
The reality is if we don't use the portal we will never be competitive in the Big East.
Marquette's Holier than thou attitude Must end.

[NCMUFan]

More interest now on what happens in the off season and 26-27 season.

[Viper]

Is this real? Holy fanboy.
My guy, criticism comes with the job. Shaka is enough of a grown ass man to understand that. And when a program is on pace to produce its worst season in nearly 40 years, the coach is going to face heat for that. Shaka also understands that. He's not curling up in bed at night crying about message boards.

There's not one program of Marquette's stature in the country where the coach wouldn't be getting criticized for a season like this. Not one.

Character revealed? Good Lord. Sports fandom is not a test of one's character. It's entertainment. You're not tough and brave for enduring sh*tty basketball.

If Shaka were to rage quit because his feels got hurt by fans not politely applauding a historically bad season, I have little doubt Marquette basketball will have a brighter future than he does.

Vander and Elon room together in that studio apartment in the Shaka Highlands neighborhood of Shakaville.

[brewcity77]

I think there is a very real possibility MU doesn't have a say in him coming back.

Personally,  I'd welcome him back. I think MU feels the same.

Unless he's picking early retirement, Marquette will have a say. Though dropping the buyout to zero would be a say Marquette could have that wouldn't surprise me.

[mileskishnish72]

Unless he's picking early retirement, Marquette will have a say. Though dropping the buyout to zero would be a say Marquette could have that wouldn't surprise me.

Could they do that, if they had a prenup?

[JTJ3]

Unless he's picking early retirement, Marquette will have a say. Though dropping the buyout to zero would be a say Marquette could have that wouldn't surprise me.

That's the route I'm expecting, assuming this season continues going in the same direction.  Shaka can go get another job for free, Marquette saves on paying a potential buyout after next year.  Win/win for both parties.

As someone who is still a big fan of Shaka as a person, I'd love to see some more positives out of the young guys the remainder of the year and for Shaka to flip the upperclassmen on the roster through the portal after this season.  It's just hard to see that happening at the moment.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Vander and Elon room together in that studio apartment in the Shaka Highlands neighborhood of Shakaville.

I see you're raising your level of stupidity for Festivus.  Well done, Biff!

[WhiteTrash]

Unless he's picking early retirement, Marquette will have a say. Though dropping the buyout to zero would be a say Marquette could have that wouldn't surprise me.

First, I have zero inside knowledge. I'm just a fan.

I can't think of another reason for such a shocking decline in the performance of Shaka and the team other than some off the court issue that has derailed this season. If we were looking at a .500 team, I'd come to the conclusion that Shaka's experiment simply failed. Not fun, but move on. But this season is, justifiably, being discussed as one of MU's worst ever and there are no injury issues.

I can't believe Shaka has simply lost all his sense of coaching and talent evaluation, unless there is something going on the we don't know about.

IDK, maybe I'm guilty of being too much of a Shaka fan and can't accept his significant flaws.

[Shooter McGavin]

Paint touches had an article last year with Kams on off splits.  This year was actually really predictable if we had all paid attention.

We all bought in to Shaka being able create High major NCAA talent out of mid to low major talent over one summer. But there was no indication last year that this team could win without Kam, let alone Stevie and Jop.  I believe we were ranked in the 125 range with the on off splits.  It's bearing out.

Maybe someone on paint touches can post the article again.

[Elonsmusk]

Is this real? Holy fanboy.
My guy, criticism comes with the job. Shaka is enough of a grown ass man to understand that. And when a program is on pace to produce its worst season in nearly 40 years, the coach is going to face heat for that. Shaka also understands that. He's not curling up in bed at night crying about message boards.

There's not one program of Marquette's stature in the country where the coach wouldn't be getting criticized for a season like this. Not one.

Character revealed? Good Lord. Sports fandom is not a test of one's character. It's entertainment. You're not tough and brave for enduring sh*tty basketball.

If Shaka were to rage quit because his feels got hurt by fans not politely applauding a historically bad season, I have little doubt Marquette basketball will have a brighter future than he does.

You and Brew don't understand leverage.  MU needs Shaka far more than Shaka needs MU.  Many Scoopers overestimate where MU sits in the college basketball hierarchy in this day and age.  Past program history - that dating back further than 5 years doesn't mean much of anything in this new era.

Not being at a Power 4 school is a big disadvantage. Shaka could leave MU after the season, make more money at a Power 4 school, have a bigger budget for NIL, and certainly wouldn't have any worse kind of douchebag fanbase than what you and the growing number of MU fans are proving to be.

And PS - No crap Shaka is a "grown ass man." A grown ass man who is talented, with the kind of options Shaka would have if MU eliminated his buyout - doesn't stick around and pour into an entitled, ungrateful, and ignorant fanbase.

And give me a break - I'm not suggesting I'm "tough and brave for enduring crapty basketball."  What I am is grateful for what Shaka has achieved at MU, his character, and overall resume - and am not somebody who is going to throw someone under the bus/show no loyalty due to 1 bad year of performance against 4 extremely good ones.

[Jay Bee]

You really need to listen to his press conferences and media availabilties. In his own way, he says exactly what has gone wrong this season.   Gentler, more diplomatic than here, and always with an eye toward working and getting better.  But if you pay attention, he says it.

He called out his stars more in season's past, and I think he is still trying to shield these players somewhat because he gets the frustration and anger, but he says where the individual players and team need to do better.

Disagree. The substitution patterns mean a f*ck of a lot more than words, and some of the words are flat out bizarre (eg, look i. their eye = PT)

[Galway Eagle]

You and Brew don't understand leverage.  MU needs Shaka far more than Shaka needs MU.  Many Scoopers overestimate where MU sits in the college basketball hierarchy in this day and age.  Past program history - that dating back further than 5 years doesn't mean much of anything in this new era.

Not being at a Power 4 school is a big disadvantage. Shaka could leave MU after the season, make more money at a Power 4 school, have a bigger budget for NIL, and certainly wouldn't have any worse kind of douchebag fanbase than what you and the growing number of MU fans are proving to be.

And PS - No crap Shaka is a "grown ass man." A grown ass man who is talented, with the kind of options Shaka would have if MU eliminated his buyout - doesn't stick around and pour into an entitled, ungrateful, and ignorant fanbase.

And give me a break - I'm not suggesting I'm "tough and brave for enduring crapty basketball."  What I am is grateful for what Shaka has achieved at MU, his character, and overall resume - and am not somebody who is going to throw someone under the bus/show no loyalty due to 1 bad year of performance against 4 extremely good ones.

Ners with a 5 seed and a 10 seed: FIRE THIS CLOWN, ANY OF YOU WHO BUY THIS CRAP ARE SLURPERS!!!

Ners including a 9 & a 7 seed: THESE ARE EXTREMELY GOOD SEASONS!!!

let's not act like it's been nothing but top seeds, Shaka did fantastic for 2 years and has earned some leeway, but also some heat for this year's bottom falling out but 2022 & 2025 were not "extremely good seasons" they were benchmark seasons we made the tournament as an ok seed not expected to go anywhere.

[ghostofcorms77]

You and Brew don't understand leverage.  MU needs Shaka far more than Shaka needs MU.  Many Scoopers overestimate where MU sits in the college basketball hierarchy in this day and age.  Past program history - that dating back further than 5 years doesn't mean much of anything in this new era.

Not being at a Power 4 school is a big disadvantage. Shaka could leave MU after the season, make more money at a Power 4 school, have a bigger budget for NIL, and certainly wouldn't have any worse kind of douchebag fanbase than what you and the growing number of MU fans are proving to be.

And PS - No crap Shaka is a "grown ass man." A grown ass man who is talented, with the kind of options Shaka would have if MU eliminated his buyout - doesn't stick around and pour into an entitled, ungrateful, and ignorant fanbase.

And give me a break - I'm not suggesting I'm "tough and brave for enduring crapty basketball."  What I am is grateful for what Shaka has achieved at MU, his character, and overall resume - and am not somebody who is going to throw someone under the bus/show no loyalty due to 1 bad year of performance against 4 extremely good ones.

hate having to continue discussing the Marquette financial situation. It's on good authority, from several credible national pundits, that Marquette has "great NIL". I followed up last week, just to confirm, and it was reiterated.Thats not even factoring the initial investment into the program, which ranks very well nationally.

There's a reason Shaka left Texas. He was given ultimatums, and couldn't run the program the way he wanted to. That was their boosters, protecting their investment with NIL coming down the line. It was proactive. But, the bottom line is he hates control.

Marquette, not on the same wealth scale as Texas, still pumps a ton of money into this program. That's not to say they will fire him this offseason. But those with significant vested interest in this program, will implement control, to protect their investment.

Shaka is a great orator. But beyond the surface and the moral compass he portrays, he does not want to be controlled.

So, regardless of whether we fire him, he leaves, etc... this relationship with never be as harmonious as once before.

[GoldenWarrior11]

I think it is too early to project openings for the Spring, and it is even more difficult to project what would be a better job for Smart to pursue that could be open (that would not only heavily invest in him after a season like this, but also allow for him to run a program his way).  He is "home" in Wisconsin.  He is at a basketball-first school that has proven it can win at a high-level sustainably and competitively.  He remained at VCU and Texas for six seasons each; he is in year five.  I cannot see him pursuing another job in the SEC/Big 12 leagues; I cannot see him going out west.  That leaves the ACC/B1G as only other major conferences in basketball.  The bottom teams right now that may make a coaching change in those leagues (Oregon, Rutgers, Boston College, Pittsburgh) do not seem like fits at all (for either party). (I cannot believe Jeff Capel has survived as long as he has at Pitt with one NCAAT appearance seven years). 

Today, with still over half of the season remaining, I would project that there are several staff changes in off-season, along with a large of players departing (either via graduation or transfer).  I think the "sell" for next year is that, despite how bad this year has gone, Smart essentially came into Marquette turning over the roster and was able to make the NCAAT in year one.  He actually has a very strong track record as it comes to incoming transfers throughout his career; but whatever the reasons (philosophy, experience, etc.), he moved away heavily from that avenue over the past three seasons. 

[CountryRoads]

He actually has a very strong track record as it comes to incoming transfers throughout his career; but whatever the reasons (philosophy, experience, etc.), he moved away heavily from that avenue over the past three seasons. 

Tyler Nickel, the one transfer we were mentioned with, is also having a good year at Vanderbilt. 15ppg on almost 50% shooting from 3. Top 20 team.

[Elonsmusk]

Ners with a 5 seed and a 10 seed: FIRE THIS CLOWN, ANY OF YOU WHO BUY THIS CRAP ARE SLURPERS!!!

Ners including a 9 & a 7 seed: THESE ARE EXTREMELY GOOD SEASONS!!!

let's not act like it's been nothing but top seeds, Shaka did fantastic for 2 years and has earned some leeway, but also some heat for this year's bottom falling out but 2022 & 2025 were not "extremely good seasons" they were benchmark seasons we made the tournament as an ok seed not expected to go anywhere.

Dude - If Wojo walked into Marquette Year 1 (even inheriting 7 Top 100 players) and took that team to the NCAA as a 9 seed, and followed that up with a 2 seed and regular season and Big East Championship, and followed that up with another 2 seed, runner up Big East championship, a Sweet 16, and then followed that up with a 7 seed - yeah...I would have been plenty fine giving Wojo 1 season of grace.  And even 2.

Instead he "led" us to 93 and 97 finishes in Years 1 and 2.  And we have clowns on Scoop thinking Shaka's seat should be warm.

[Pakuni]

You and Brew don't understand leverage.  MU needs Shaka far more than Shaka needs MU.  Many Scoopers overestimate where MU sits in the college basketball hierarchy in this day and age.  Past program history - that dating back further than 5 years doesn't mean much of anything in this new era.

Not being at a Power 4 school is a big disadvantage. Shaka could leave MU after the season, make more money at a Power 4 school, have a bigger budget for NIL, and certainly wouldn't have any worse kind of douchebag fanbase than what you and the growing number of MU fans are proving to be.

LOL. No, Marquette doesn't "need" Shaka. Marquette has, and can again, succeed with coaches not named Shaka. This program went to three straight Sweet 16s with Buzz and a Final Four with TC, and yet you act as if Shaka's had some kind of unprecedented run of success here.
You, with no evidence, vastly underestimate Marquette's standing and resources. The money is there to be competitive. You're inventing excuses.

And speaking of not understanding leverage, you're delusional if you think some big money P4 program is going to throw millions at a coach who flamed out at his previous two gigs. Especially one who has shown either an unwillingness or inability to adjust to the modern landscape. You think Big 10 ADs and donors are looking at the results of RGV and saying "Give me some of that"?
If Shaka were to leave MU now, his best hope would be a bottom-feeder P4 program (I hear Berkeley is lovely this time of year) but more likely a mid-major.  Hope he likes road trips to play in half-empty arenas in Tulsa and Birmingham.

and am not somebody who is going to throw someone under the bus/show no loyalty due to 1 bad year of performance against 4 extremely good ones.

Two very good
One good
One decent

Shaka thanks you for your service.

[Elonsmusk]

hate having to continue discussing the Marquette financial situation. It's on good authority, from several credible national pundits, that Marquette has "great NIL". I followed up last week, just to confirm, and it was reiterated.Thats not even factoring the initial investment into the program, which ranks very well nationally.

There's a reason Shaka left Texas. He was given ultimatums, and couldn't run the program the way he wanted to. That was their boosters, protecting their investment with NIL coming down the line. It was proactive. But, the bottom line is he hates control.

Marquette, not on the same wealth scale as Texas, still pumps a ton of money into this program. That's not to say they will fire him this offseason. But those with significant vested interest in this program, will implement control, to protect their investment.

Shaka is a great orator. But beyond the surface and the moral compass he portrays, he does not want to be controlled.

So, regardless of whether we fire him, he leaves, etc... this relationship with never be as harmonious as once before.

Who are those "national pundits" that have access to MU's internal financials?

PS...Most high achievers don't like being micromanaged or "controlled."

[MU82]

You and Brew don't understand leverage.  MU needs Shaka far more than Shaka needs MU.  Many Scoopers overestimate where MU sits in the college basketball hierarchy in this day and age.  Past program history - that dating back further than 5 years doesn't mean much of anything in this new era.

Not being at a Power 4 school is a big disadvantage. Shaka could leave MU after the season, make more money at a Power 4 school, have a bigger budget for NIL, and certainly wouldn't have any worse kind of douchebag fanbase than what you and the growing number of MU fans are proving to be.

And PS - No crap Shaka is a "grown ass man." A grown ass man who is talented, with the kind of options Shaka would have if MU eliminated his buyout - doesn't stick around and pour into an entitled, ungrateful, and ignorant fanbase.

And give me a break - I'm not suggesting I'm "tough and brave for enduring crapty basketball."  What I am is grateful for what Shaka has achieved at MU, his character, and overall resume - and am not somebody who is going to throw someone under the bus/show no loyalty due to 1 bad year of performance against 4 extremely good ones.

While I agree with you about what Shaka has done for Marquette, you are far too over the top with your praise and far too unwilling to acknowledge the serious jeopardy he has put our program in with his refusal to use all the tools at his disposal.

If Shaka gets fired or walks away after this season, and if he goes into a job interview at any other P5 school and says he has absolutely no plans to use the transfer portal, who do you think would hire him?

[Elonsmusk]

LOL. No, Marquette doesn't "need" Shaka. Marquette has, and can again, succeed with coaches not named Shaka. This program went to three straight Sweet 16s with Buzz and a Final Four with TC, and yet you act as if Shaka's had some kind of unprecedented run of success here.
You, with no evidence, vastly underestimate Marquette's standing and resources. The money is there to be competitive. You're inventing excuses.

And speaking of not understanding leverage, you're delusional if you think some big money P4 program is going to throw millions at a coach who flamed out at his previous two gigs. Especially one who has shown either an unwillingness or inability to adjust to the modern landscape. You think Big 10 ADs and donors are looking at the results of RGV and saying "Give me some of that"?
If Shaka were to leave MU now, his best hope would be a bottom-feeder P4 program (I hear Berkeley is lovely this time of year) but more likely a mid-major.  Hope he likes road trips to Tulsa and Birmingham.

Two very good
One good
One decent

Shaka thanks you for your service.

Thanks for making my point about some MU fans being ignorant.  Tom Crean hit the lottery with a kid who couldn't qualify academically and three options - Illinois State, DePaul and Marquette - He certainly couldn't sustain any kind of success at MU, and also didn't see MU as a forever job - even with The Al McGuire Center an the vast "resources" at MU.

Buzz Williams?  Best coach since Al, yet MU brass and those self righteous fans sent him packing due to off court issues.

You are delusional if you don't think Shaka would be at the top of the list for any/all off season coaching openings in the Power 4.

[Elonsmusk]

While I agree with you about what Shaka has done for Marquette, you are far too over the top with your praise and far too unwilling to acknowledge the serious jeopardy he has put our program in with his refusal to use all the tools at his disposal.

If Shaka gets fired or walks away after this season, and if he goes into a job interview at any other P5 school and says he has absolutely no plans to use the transfer portal, who do you think would hire him?

You don't know that he won't use the portal after this season.  You have NO idea, yet remain convinced he won't.  Were we not involved with Owen Freeman last off season?

The players have failed Shaka this season.  Not the other way around.  He poured into all of them, and they've rewarded him with terrible at the rim shooting, terrible 3 point shooting, and seemingly developed some kind of internal chemistry issues.

[ghostofcorms77]

Who are those "national pundits" that have access to MU's internal financials?

PS...Most high achievers don't like being micromanaged or "controlled."

Fanta has said T20 several times. Norlander has affirmed that statement. And the other, as I said the other day, said, "Marquette has Great NIL".

Point being. There a lots of quality coaches who'd love to have the resources, that have been afforded to Shaka. It's a desireable job. And this season is much worse than it looks, because it's a result of HC going completely rogue and his completely unorthodox ways.

[Pakuni]

You are delusional if you don't think Shaka would be at the top of the list for any/all off season coaching openings in the Power 4.

If UNC parts ways with Hubert Davis after the season ends in disappointment yet again, or Ohio State decided Jake Diebler isn't the guy ... they're bat-phoning the coach who was ushered out of Austin after repeated tourney flops, hates the portal, doesn't want to deal with agents and just lost 20 games at Marquette?
You're not a serious person.

[Galway Eagle]

Dude - If Wojo walked into Marquette Year 1 (even inheriting 7 Top 100 players) and took that team to the NCAA as a 9 seed, and followed that up with a 2 seed and regular season and Big East Championship, and followed that up with another 2 seed, runner up Big East championship, a Sweet 16, and then followed that up with a 7 seed - yeah...I would have been plenty fine giving Wojo 1 season of grace.  And even 2.

Instead he "led" us to 93 and 97 finishes in Years 1 and 2.  And we have clowns on Scoop thinking Shaka's seat should be warm.

The follow ups are irrelevant when talking about an individual season's success. It comical that you shat all over 10 & 5 yet call 9 & 7 "extremely good". I get it, you're all in on Shaka that's awesome for you, but take the blinders off and realize it's an "extremely good run" not "4 extremely good seasons" given what you've established as your expectations of MUBB from the previous regime.

Also you've consistently hated on Wojo flopping for what he inherited (7 RSCI top 100 guys) why do you not hate on a guy for flopping worse with 7 (active) top 100 guys that he actually recruited?

[ghostofcorms77]

If UNC parts ways with Hubert Davis after the season ends in disappointment yet again, or Ohio State decided Jake Diebler isn't the guy ... they're bat-phoning the coach who was ushered out of Austin after repeated tourney flops, hates the portal, doesn't want to deal with agents and just lost 20 games at Marquette?
You're not a serious person.

Nobody said it would take that level of a job. The rumor posted on discord was Pitt.

Shaka would be a good fit at several schools still. He could say he's willing to change, but also still be ideal for a school with less investment, that needs to abide by a more Shaka-esque approach.

The issue at play today, is not that Shaka is terrible with X's and O's. It's that he leveraged everything on an unorthodox approach that could set us back 3 years, when that never had to be the case. He chose this.

And I know people will respond by saying, why not here? I'd simply say, he'd rather have job security, rather than have to interview on 2 consecutive losing seasons, after being fired.

It's always been about dominating the PR for Shaka. That's not going to change.