Is Shaka doubling down or just protecting his guys?

[MU82]

He can say it in the locker room too - not mutually exclusive. And certainly not crazy for MUs highest paid employee, by far, to take some public accountability for dismal underperformance.

We have no idea what he says in the locker room or at practices or in individual meetings with players.

[WhiteTrash]

We have no idea what he says in the locker room or at practices or in individual meetings with players.

Why introduce truth and fact?  Killjoy. 

[Jay Bee]

We have no idea what he says in the locker room or at practices or in individual meetings with players.

Rest assured, whatever it is, much of Scoop considers it damaging and WRONG!

[Stretchdeltsig]

We've seen what Hamilton can do. Now it's time to see what Clark can do.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

He can say it in the locker room too - not mutually exclusive. And certainly not crazy for MUs highest paid employee, by far, to take some public accountability for dismal underperformance.

I have very little doubt that is being communicated in the locker room.  Shaka has done this at a high level for a long time. 

While I'm sure he may adapt his style based on his group of players each season, he's not going to play guys that are not giving full effort.  Anything he says during a public press conference won't resonate compared to what he says in the locker room.

The problem is we just don't have enough talent right now and anything Shaka says is not going to change that.

I do think Shaka could have handled a couple of those innocuous press conference questions better but he doesn't owe fans a certain type of answer to convey he is accountable.  He knows that and we know that. 
 

[muwarrior97]

The growth (or lack of) from our returning players is where Shaka whiffed.  Tyko, Oso, Stevie, O-Max, and Kam all got better.  And Mitchell was a game changer defensively. If you look at our returning guys, none of them have really improved.  Including Chase.  His usage is way higher so his numbers look stronger, but he's essentially the same player from the last few seasons.  In his defense he's getting no help whatsoever, but the fact that he and none of our guards can really make consistent plays off the dribble vs a set defense is astounding to me.  And the shooting is even more perplexing.  We may very well be the worst shooting team in the country.  This live by the 3, die by the 3 philosophy, isn't a recipe for ultimate success imo.  Shaka has been bit by it with much better teams. 

Shocked no one is enjoying watching "The Can't Shoot Straight Gang" attempt to shoot/play offense 

[1SE]

I have very little doubt that is being communicated in the locker room.  Shaka has done this at a high level for a long time. 

While I'm sure he may adapt his style based on his group of players each season, he's not going to play guys that are not giving full effort.  Anything he says during a public press conference won't resonate compared to what he says in the locker room.

The problem is we just don't have enough talent right now and anything Shaka says is not going to change that.

I do think Shaka could have handled a couple of those innocuous press conference questions better but he doesn't owe fans a certain type of answer to convey he is accountable.  He knows that and we know that. 
 

But see... he does... because if certain kinds of fans get fed up with his sucking teams and bs platitudes they'll stop buying tickets to games and giving to the B&G. Do you feel like Shaka has given us anything on 1)why we suck 2) what he is going to do to have us not suck? I think those are two pretty reasonable things to communicate to a certain kind of fan.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

But see... he does... because if certain kinds of fans get fed up with his sucking teams and bs platitudes they'll stop buying tickets to games and giving to the B&G. Do you feel like Shaka has given us anything on 1)why we suck 2) what he is going to do to have us not suck? I think those are two pretty reasonable things to communicate to a certain kind of fan.

I don't think the "certain kind of fan" you're describing is owed a single thing.

And if their reaction to not being given answers they think they deserve in press conferences is to stop buying tickets or merchandise or donating, they need to get some perspective and grow the f*ck up.

Personally, I typically head up from Chicago to catch 2-3 home games per year. This year that number will likely be 0 and it's because the team sucks, not because of anything Shaka has or hasn't said.

[Hards Alumni]

I find myself growing increasingly frustrated after each postgame as Shaka rolls out the same cliches, the same excuses for why his team continuously fails to execute. And I ask myself each time, "Is he so daft that he doesn't understand this is absolutely not working?"

I have a great deal of respect for Shaka. I think he is a great, intelligent man. He's the type of person I want leading my program. But he's made so many decisions in the last year that shake me to my core. Can someone like this really not see what's happening right in front of him? Can he really think a frontcourt of Clark and Hamilton can win in the Big East? Can he think this roster construction makes any sense at all?

A key aspect to his approach is "relationships." He has loyalty to his guys. He respects those who put in the effort here at Marquette. So I wonder, does he see the writing on the wall, but understand it isn't nice to rip the players clearly not cut out for the roles he's thrust them into? Could his words and actions eventually contradict each other, as he does what must be done next offseason?

Coaches should not be ripping players in public in any form unless they're doing very dumb things like techs, flagrants, or other non basketball stuff.  That stuff gets saved for the practice court and locker room.

Press conferences are for glue sniffing dumbasses who want a coach to say something that isn't coach speak.  Shaka is a professional (aside from the Ben Steele rudeness) and absolutely will not be tearing down his guys in front of the media and public eye. 

[tower912]

You guys aren't listening.   Listen to what he said about Ben Gold in the Inside MU basketball show.  Listen to him describe his conversation with Zaide and then starting AS.   Look at him start Royce in the second half and Listen to the same interview when he says why.

Then think about  how he has always publicly protected his players and realize that he is most likely being very forthright with them face to face.

Smh

[Pakuni]

Coaches should not be ripping players in public in any form unless they're doing very dumb things like techs, flagrants, or other non basketball stuff.  That stuff gets saved for the practice court and locker room.

Press conferences are for glue sniffing dumbasses who want a coach to say something that isn't coach speak.  Shaka is a professional (aside from the Ben Steele rudeness) and absolutely will not be tearing down his guys in front of the media and public eye. 

Exactly this.
Zero issues with Shaka protecting/backing his guys in public. I'd think less of him if he didn't.
I wouldn't mind seeing a little more introspection/self-criticism, but hopefully that comes in March.

[dgies9156]

C'mon folks. You really think Coach Shaka is going to throw his players under the bus? He's better than that.

Shaka speaks "Coachspeak." It's a form of BS that says nothing while making the average listener think they heard something. It's not indicative of what he tells the guys in practice and in private.

All of us who've been managers in our lives do the same thing. When one of my reports missed something or, God forbid, made a mistake that got out the door, I fell on my sword, practiced service recovery and made good. My staff received my wrath, trust me, they did, but we never let our dirty laundry out the door. I suspect most of you are the same way and I promise Coach Shaka is as well!

[Jay Bee]

Just got my new #muMbb "Lost in the Loss" sweatshirt. It's awesome!

[Small Orange Soda]

You guys aren't listening.   Listen to what he said about Ben Gold in the Inside MU basketball show.  Listen to him describe his conversation with Zaide and then starting AS.   Look at him start Royce in the second half and Listen to the same interview when he says why.

Then think about  how he has always publicly protected his players and realize that he is most likely being very forthright with them face to face.

Smh

I don't think anyone outside of perhaps a couple unreasonable people are asking him to dump on specific players anywhere. The question is if after this season he's going to tell those guys 'hey, this isn't working. Best to look elsewhere'