Caedin Hamilton Significant Contributor ?

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

The latest Marquette Alumni Magazine on Shaka's approach, mentions Hamilton's howling every day at the end of practice.

[CountryRoads]

The latest Marquette Alumni Magazine on Shaka's approach, mentions Hamilton's howling every day at the end of practice.

At every one of the men's basketball team's workout sessions this summer, the scene played out the same way.

After warm-up stretches or before a high-intensity drill, 15 teammates would amass like a swarm of hornets around big man Caedin Hamilton. As they jostled and let out war whoops, Hamilton would move within inches of an assistant coach or even a visitor he'd never met before. He'd throw back his arms, thrust out his chest, bare his teeth and roar, "I'm the biggest, baddest, toughest (bleep) in the Big East," before stomping off.

If your impressions of Hamilton are still stuck on him as an unassuming, round-shouldered first-year redshirt or the more chiseled but raw bench sub from last year, it's time for an update based on the team experience Head Coach Shaka Smart has dubbed the Summer of Explosive Growth.

https://issuu.com/marquetteu/docs/marquette_magazine_fall_2025/25?ff

[Jay Bee]

200 minutes have to come from somewhere.  Despite starting, he was 7th in minutes last night with the only rotation player getting less being AS.  That was also with no Zaide who likely would have gotten more minutes than him had he not been a DNPCD. CH has played more than 21 minutes in a grand total of 1 regulation length game. It's not like when Derrick was averaging 33 mpg.

"caedin's starts but that doesn't matter. he plays a lot but we have to play 200 minutes!".

This is dumb effin sh1t.  Let's stop effin around and try to win bball games. This is insanity.

[Its DJOver]

"caedin's starts but that doesn't matter. he plays a lot but we have to play 200 minutes!".

This is dumb effin sh1t.  Let's stop effin around and try to win bball games. This is insanity.

How would you have adjusted the rotation last night? You clearly want CH to get fewer minutes, who gets more?

[Jay Bee]

How would you have adjusted the rotation last night? You clearly want CH to get fewer minutes, who gets more?

AS, Zaide, Ben early. WTF?

Not to mention a million other weird fukin pairings for odd amounts of time. I feel like we're on a hidden f'n camera show.

[cheebs09]

At every one of the men's basketball team's workout sessions this summer, the scene played out the same way.

After warm-up stretches or before a high-intensity drill, 15 teammates would amass like a swarm of hornets around big man Caedin Hamilton. As they jostled and let out war whoops, Hamilton would move within inches of an assistant coach or even a visitor he'd never met before. He'd throw back his arms, thrust out his chest, bare his teeth and roar, "I'm the biggest, baddest, toughest (bleep) in the Big East," before stomping off.

If your impressions of Hamilton are still stuck on him as an unassuming, round-shouldered first-year redshirt or the more chiseled but raw bench sub from last year, it's time for an update based on the team experience Head Coach Shaka Smart has dubbed the Summer of Explosive Growth.

https://issuu.com/marquetteu/docs/marquette_magazine_fall_2025/25?ff

My goodness. I thought that was an AI or Rico type of joke, but that's real.

[Its DJOver]

AS, Zaide, Ben early. WTF?

Not to mention a million other weird fukin pairings for odd amounts of time. I feel like we're on a hidden f'n camera show.

Any more detail, or just more misspelled venting?

Zaide is clearly being sent a message. He knowns he's in the dog house, lets see how he responds.  Ben played his season average despite not being very good offensively. AS I would have liked to see more of, I think his role was the result of DO playing well.  Given the position difference, I don't think a bump in AS minutes would result in any significant reduction in CH minutes.

Leader by PT against GT.

Ross: 31 minutes.  1 short of his season average despite being awful on the offensive end. I have no problem with it.  He's our best player, you have to bet on him finding a way to get himself going.

NJ: 30 minutes. Tied his most in a regulation length game. Though he played okay.  A little out of control at times, but to be expected of him and he's clearly the future of the back court.

Ben: 27 minutes. Right at his season average despite not starting and disappearing again on the offensive end. 0-9 from our SRs from three, not good enough.

DO: 27 minutes. Career high for Owens. Thought he played his best game in a MU uniform and was rewarded with more minutes.  Continue to play well, continue to get minutes.

Royce: 26 minutes. 1 short of his career high. Think he hedges to hard defending the PnR but that's more on Shaka. If he's doing what's asked and doing it well, he should continue to get big minutes.

Sean: 22 minutes. About where he's been all year.  Every appearance has been between 20-24 minutes, and that's probably about where he should be. If he want's more he has to play better.

Caedin: 17 minutes. Wish he didn't have to get this many but there are 6 players that got more run than he did.

AS: 14 minutes. As I said above, I think this was a result of DO playing well.  Maybe give him a few of Chase's when Chase is struggling as bad as he was.

Tre: 4 minutes.  I know this board isn't about to start asking for more Tre.

MP: 2 minutes.  Missed both his shots.  If he makes both or even one, I could see giving him a bit more and I certainly don't want him to stop shooting as he's one of the few that's hitting, but you miss your first two and are the liability he currently is on D, it's gonna happen.

Who should have gotten more?  Who should have gotten less?

[K1 Lover]

At every one of the men's basketball team's workout sessions this summer, the scene played out the same way.

After warm-up stretches or before a high-intensity drill, 15 teammates would amass like a swarm of hornets around big man Caedin Hamilton. As they jostled and let out war whoops, Hamilton would move within inches of an assistant coach or even a visitor he'd never met before. He'd throw back his arms, thrust out his chest, bare his teeth and roar, "I'm the biggest, baddest, toughest (bleep) in the Big East," before stomping off.

If your impressions of Hamilton are still stuck on him as an unassuming, round-shouldered first-year redshirt or the more chiseled but raw bench sub from last year, it's time for an update based on the team experience Head Coach Shaka Smart has dubbed the Summer of Explosive Growth.

https://issuu.com/marquetteu/docs/marquette_magazine_fall_2025/25?ff

The biggest, baddest, toughest (bleep) in the Big East made one field goal last night.

[MarquetteMike1977]

At every one of the men's basketball team's workout sessions this summer, the scene played out the same way.

After warm-up stretches or before a high-intensity drill, 15 teammates would amass like a swarm of hornets around big man Caedin Hamilton. As they jostled and let out war whoops, Hamilton would move within inches of an assistant coach or even a visitor he'd never met before. He'd throw back his arms, thrust out his chest, bare his teeth and roar, "I'm the biggest, baddest, toughest (bleep) in the Big East," before stomping off.

If your impressions of Hamilton are still stuck on him as an unassuming, round-shouldered first-year redshirt or the more chiseled but raw bench sub from last year, it's time for an update based on the team experience Head Coach Shaka Smart has dubbed the Summer of Explosive Growth.

https://issuu.com/marquetteu/docs/marquette_magazine_fall_2025/25?ff

Awesome post.

Agree Have seen practices and seen scrimmages and have seen the same. I love Caedin as a person. After these practices and scrimmages I see Caedin with his head up smiling. But I see Josh Clark with his head down and not smiling. I wish Shaka would help both be smiling and head up. I wish they both would be head up and smiling. Hopefully am wrong but this is what was observed.

[Jay Bee]

Get help, DJNo.

[MarquetteMike1977]

The biggest, baddest, toughest (bleep) in the Big East made one field goal last night.

Yes I love Caedin as a person. As a player am not sure

[Its DJOver]

Vent away then. That's what the internet is for.  Let me know when you want to have an actual discussion.

[Billy Hoyle]

The latest Marquette Alumni Magazine on Shaka's approach, mentions Hamilton's howling every day at the end of practice.

That's great, he's an awesome teammate and brings the enthusiasm to practice and on the bench. The same was said about Dwaine Streater; that's the role Hamilton should have. I've viewed Cadin's ceiling as a poor man's Jamil Lott or Dwight Burke, now it's Streater two.

[Small Orange Soda]

That's great, he's an awesome teammate and brings the enthusiasm to practice and on the bench. The same was said about Dwaine Streater; that's the role Hamilton should have. I've viewed Cadin's ceiling as a poor man's Jamil Lott or Dwight Burke, now it's Streater two.

I noticed at least twice after an And One last night that Caedin was the first guy they turned to and he was enthusiastically cheering them on. He's a great teammate, but out of his depth.

[Biggie Clausen]

Man, that whole article is weak sauce, two scoops of slurpery with John Fanta's "one of one" quote being the cherry on top.  I also like how it conveniently fails to mention the fact that Kolek was a portal guy, instead saying he was "already invested in the program."  Very easy to see how we got here, with Shaka running an insular, cult-like program where not a single person involved thought that RGV wasn't the greatest idea in history.

[1SE]

My goodness. I thought that was an AI or Rico type of joke, but that's real.

Who knew the summer of explosive growth would turn into the winter of explosive... well...

[Viper]

That's great, he's an awesome teammate and brings the enthusiasm to practice and on the bench. The same was said about Dwaine Streater; that's the role Hamilton should have. I've viewed Cadin's ceiling as a poor man's Jamil Lott or Dwight Burke, now it's Streater two.

awesome reference. Streater, Lott! We've had some playa's

[Viper]

This team is truly a disappointment to this point in the season.  They may disappoint for the entire year but I have to agree with Tower, if you watch the team you can see the work, they are trying hard to be better.  I think they are becoming but they are not yet there.  Learning is a strange thing,it is improvement over time and trials but there is know way to know how much time or how many trials.  I had hoped for much more out of this team and I hope that by the end of the year they learn how not to try but simply to do.  Imagine a game where every player that uyou have seen play this year all had solid games at the same time, that is what this team can be but is not yet. 

should a program such as Marquette recruit this low caliber of basketball player? Learning 'to do'? Maybe Woj, for example, swung for the fences too often, and a roster can't be full of stars, but the assembly of talent has to be better, and should be expected to be at Marquette.

[tower912]

Shaka, in his post game presser touched on the issue I have noticed with Caedin.  And some of the other missed lay ups from others.   He said they have been trying to get Caedin to just lay the ball in.

CH has come miles.  And he still has miles to go.  He is making it difficult on himself.  He is displaying vastly improved post footwork, getting himself into decent position, and then choosing to throw up banked half hooks over his shoulder.  The toughest shot he could choose from point blank range. 

Explode to the rim.  Create contact.  If you can't dunk it, two hands on the ball as you jump straight toward the box on the glass.   Ejiofor is the current target as the toughest post player in the Big East.  Ejiofor does not have insane skills.  What he does have is the mindset that when he is close to the rim, he is going straight at it and that is the defender's problem.

That is the next step for CH.  That big and strong?  Prove it and make it the defender's problem.

Projecting out to other players, dunk it every chance you get.  Contact is not something to fear.  Your shoulder in the defender's chest, your eyes on the rim.   Referees reward the aggressor. 

[Pakuni]

Shaka, in his post game presser touched on the issue I have noticed with Caedin.  And some of the other missed lay ups from others.   He said they have been trying to get Caedin to just lay the ball in.

CH has come miles.  And he still has miles to go.  He is making it difficult on himself.  He is displaying vastly improved post footwork, getting himself into decent position, and then choosing to throw up banked half hooks over his shoulder.  The toughest shot he could choose from point blank range. 

Explode to the rim.  Create contact.  If you can't dunk it, two hands on the ball as you jump straight toward the box on the glass.   Ejiofor is the current target as the toughest post player in the Big East.  Ejiofor does not have insane skills.  What he does have is the mindset that when he is close to the rim, he is going straight at it and that is the defender's problem.

That is the next step for CH.  That big and strong?  Prove it and make it the defender's problem.

Projecting out to other players, dunk it every chance you get.  Contact is not something to fear.  Your shoulder in the defender's chest, your eyes on the rim.   Referees reward the aggressor. 

I'm not really seeing what you're seeing with CH, but for argument's sake ... should MU be giving scholarships, NIL money and other resources to players who, three years into college, come "miles" and are still well below average for a Big East player?

Good for CH on a personal level that he's come miles, but from a team perspective, what benefit is it if those miles still leaves him a negative player on the court? This isn't summer camp where the goal is to just get better, it's competitive, high-level basketball.

You mention Ejiofor as the target, but Ejiofor was an all-conference player in his third year of college. I hope I'm wrong, but I have a hard time imagining CH will be that by year five.

Anyhow, I guess my question is whether in this era of college basketball and with limited funding available, should MU be investing in players who after three years and miles of development still aren't contributing positively to on-court success?
 

[tower912]

You act as if CH is the first and onlyy project big in MU history, or the first to not be an instant impact player.   Shaka has taken on project bigs with the stated intent that they would be a 5 year project.  Hamilton isn't where we want him to be, but he is only 1/2 way through the 5 year plan.   

[Markusquette]

You act as if CH is the first and onlyy project big in MU history, or the first to not be an instant impact player.   Shaka has taken on project bigs with the stated intent that they would be a 5 year project.  Hamilton isn't where we want him to be, but he is only 1/2 way through the 5 year plan.   

The problem is these projects in the past did not start and play significant minutes while contributing nothing. Almost all of the projects in the past were plastered to the bench for good reason.

[Pakuni]

You act as if CH is the first and onlyy project big in MU history, or the first to not be an instant impact player. 

No I don't. MU has had several project bigs over the years, but CH is the first I can remember who was forced into the starting lineup when he was so obviously not up to the task.
Youssoupha Mbao was here for all of 10 games in one season. Liam McMorrow never even saw the court in his one season. Mike Kinsella was here for three seasons and never played more than 95 minutes in any of them. Rod Grosse spent four years glued to the bench.
It's one thing to take on an occasional project big. It's another to keep him on the roster for five years and start him, when he hasn't shown he's capable of it.

Shaka has taken on project bigs with the stated intent that they would be a 5 year project.  Hamilton isn't where we want him to be, but he is only 1/2 way through the 5 year plan.

You're very close to my point, tower.
In this era of college basketball, why is Marquette spending five years of scholarship money, five years of NIL money, five years of coaching time, five years of academic support, etc., for a players who you hope can provide 1-2 years of productive play?
Just from a ROI standpoint, it makes no sense. Instead of inhabiting your roster with - and spending resources on - multiple projects who might be helpful by their 4th and 5th seasons, pool those resources and go get a kid who can help you now and maybe for another year or two after that. And then when he's gone, do it again.
If MU's resources are as limited as some around here like to claim, why are we spending those limited resources on players who won't help the team win games for years, if ever?

Marquette basketball isn't a developmental program. It shouldn't be in the business of five-year projects. I'm not opposed to taking projects, but it should be done with the "fail fast, fail cheap" mentality that Buzz employed, not the sunken costs fallacy we're seeing at work today.

[tower912]

What you are saying is that you don't think the Bo Ryan model works in the modern game. Stop taking  developmental bigs.  Which is fine.   

[Pakuni]

What you are saying is that you don't think the Bo Ryan model works in the modern game. Stop taking  developmental bigs.  Which is fine.   

Bo Ryan's developmental bigs:

Brian Butch, McDonald's AA, RSCI #7
Greg Steinsma, RSCI #37
Jon Leuer, RSCI #87
JP Gavinski, 4-star, #92 on 247 Composite
Jared Berggren, RSCI #100, 4-star
Evan Anderson, RSCI #95, 4-star
Frank Kaminsky, 3-star
Ethan Happ, 3-star, 247 #150

All of these "developmental" guys, with the exception of Kaminsky and Happ, were top 100 players recruited by high-major programs. Kaminsky had offers from other P5 programs and in Happ's case, he grew three inches from his junior year of high school to college, so he was likely overlooked.

This is not the model Shaka is following. His developmental bigs are zero-star recruits who have no other offers from major programs, and believing he has the secret sauce to turn them into high-major players.
That's not the Bo Ryan model.