We're officially at Defcon 0.0

[Jay Bee]

You don't like the Caedin minutes. How about the James and Jones together lets not play any defense ever lineup? I mean to be fair it isn't that different from the baseline.

Oh, no. I'm definitely not just talking about Caedin's minutes. There are not more than a few minutes per game when I catch myself looking at the five on the floor and asking out loud, "what the f&ck is this?"

[Viper]

You are easily one of the dumbest people on this board so not really worried about anything you have to say.

❤️

[ATL MU Warrior]

Welcome to the triple digits, friends. 107 in KenPom...

Seems generous

[MuggsyB]

Interesting night at the Fiserv. I just don't understand what Shaka sees. We had a good thing going, we extended a lead even while not playing great, energy was good, Caedin was sitting. Then, he goes a completely different direction.

I think Zaide could be gone, which I'm pretty bummed about even if he has been terrible. I LOVE DO, and tonight I was happy to see him get some run. Good on Shaka, there, but he has to get Stevens in there, too. I was hoping it was for Sean.

Tonight was the first time I saw Shaka kinda of roll his eyes and shake his head after missed layup after missed layup. I think he is a great human, but he is coaching so very poorly that it's astounding. I always thought he was a good coach, but maybe I was caught up in the "I'd want my kid to play for him" energy. He may not be a very good coach. He's kind of a rah rah guy, which I admire and can relate to, but the gild is off the lily. And, I really like Shaka and hope we are back on track within two years. I think we will be, but I'm a hopeful guy.

It is insane to run the same defensive hedges and gambles and get completely exposed. I will say one out of bounds defensive play was awesome when we trapped the corner. We got a TO. Know what happened the next time we tried it, Cooley's men beat it easily and got a dunk. Good coach that one.

It is insane to run no offense and go one on however many. What's even more insane is we get good shots off that crap! Our heads are so far up our asses right now. We are mentally in shambles.

Give NJ, Chase, DO, Parham, and Ben the next start and get Stevens in there relatively soon. Glue Caedin to the bench, and get MPII some minutes as soon as the opponent goes zone. See, all figured out! The only thing worse right now is a literal train wreck.

It's hard to wrap my head around how Shaka doesn't have a clear and set rotation 1/3 of the way through the season.  I don't know how you can develop any team cohesion on the floor or individual rhythm this way.  As far as the trapping and hard hedge?  It's seppuku.  I don't get it at all.  Our bigs are slow to protect the rim when they're near the paint, let alone 25 feet away.  There is no explanation why we continue to do this.  It's hard enough that we can't shoot and don't have anyone that can consistently score or create.  When opposing teams do not turn the ball over we literally are toast.  And I'm talking the absolutely worst teams in the country will take us out if they don't cough it up.

[HutchwasClutch]

I'm not sure we'd finish in the top half of the MVC, definitely not in the top half of the A10. No, that is not hyperbole

It isn't at all.  We're clearly a team in the 200's.  And it didn't have to be this way.  This is a massive failure by Shaka putting this roster together and thinking it has any chance. 

[We R Final Four]

RGV may stand for relationships within the team . But definitely not relationships between the team and the fans and supporters. The Student section was very low in attendance tonight too.

It's winter break.

[Hards Alumni]

Apparently rolled the seniors under the bus.  You know,  because he's all about relationships. 

They played 30 minutes a piece and scored 8 between them on 3-15 shooting hitting exactly zero of the nine 3 pointers they took.

He's not wrong.  They both played awful on both sides of the ball.

[willie warrior]

It isn't at all.  We're clearly a team in the 200's.  And it didn't have to be this way.  This is a massive failure by Shaka putting this roster together and thinking it has any chance. 

Hmmmm......

[willie warrior]

Defcon, Armageddon, Waterloo, Rome burning, etc. Things not looking good at all.

[Pakuni]

People are noticing.

https://x.com/TheFieldOf68/status/2001497301999845887?s=20

[jfp61]

Damarius owens had 15 points and 7 boards on nine shots.

And he still somehow was -2.0 NET RAPM and -1.3 points of impact on hoop explorer.

That is so hard to do.

https://hoop-explorer.com/MatchupAnalyzer?baseQuery=opponent.team%3A%22Georgetown%22%20AND%20date%3A%282025-12-17%29&factorMins=false&gender=Men&maxRank=400&minRank=0&oppoTeam=Georgetown%20%282025-12-17%29%3A%20L%2069-78&team=Marquette&year=2025%2F26&;

[ATL MU Warrior]

Damarius owens had 15 points and 7 boards on nine shots.

And he still somehow was -2.0 NET RAPM and -1.3 points of impact on hoop explorer.

That is so hard to do.

https://hoop-explorer.com/MatchupAnalyzer?baseQuery=opponent.team%3A%22Georgetown%22%20AND%20date%3A%282025-12-17%29&factorMins=false&gender=Men&maxRank=400&minRank=0&oppoTeam=Georgetown%20%282025-12-17%29%3A%20L%2069-78&team=Marquette&year=2025%2F26&;

He has all the athletic ability in the world and no idea how to use it to be a basketball player. Someone, somewhere earlier in his life failed him in his developmental process by not teaching him how to play the game.

[onepost]

Trilly Donovan says he heard a rumor Shaka is angling to get to Pitt.
Would make sense to me! Guy looks completely checked out.

[dpucane]

Down seasons are frustrating but understandable.

Seasons like this are unforgivable.

Hot seat conversation commence

I just want to emphasize again this is not a one season issue.

This is a 3 year decay of the roster fueled by arrogance/stubbornness/ego

[LAZER]

He has all the athletic ability in the world and no idea how to use it to be a basketball player. Someone, somewhere earlier in his life failed him in his developmental process by not teaching him how to play the game.

I'd like to believe his current coaching staff has the ability to teach him how to play the game.

[cheebs09]

Trilly Donovan says he heard a rumor Shaka is angling to get to Pitt.
Would make sense to me! Guy looks completely checked out.

Well, this team is certainly in the pits.

[Pakuni]

He has all the athletic ability in the world and no idea how to use it to be a basketball player. Someone, somewhere earlier in his life failed him in his developmental process by not teaching him how to play the game.

DO right now reminds me some of where OMax was at this point in his college career. He's a baby giraffe out there, all long limbs and stumbling around awkwardly, mixed with an occasional flash of what could come. The skill/sense may never catch up with the body as it did with OMax -  the odds of that are likely less than 50-50 - but at least you can see the glimmer of a high-end player there, if he can figure it out. Which is more than can be said about much of this roster.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

DO right now reminds me some of where OMax was at this point in his college career. He's a baby giraffe out there, all long limbs and stumbling around awkwardly, mixed with an occasional flash of what could come. The skill/sense may never catch up with the body as it did with OMax -  the odds of that are likely less than 50-50 - but at least you can see the glimmer of a high-end player there, if he can figure it out. Which is more than can be said about much of this roster.

I think where that comparison breaks down is the OMax was always all in on playing defense. DO not so much. Well, zero, actually.

That game early in his freshman season where DO came in and hit three silky smooth three pointers, I thought we had our next NBA first rounders. Unfortunately that was still his high water mark.

[Hards Alumni]

He has all the athletic ability in the world and no idea how to use it to be a basketball player. Someone, somewhere earlier in his life failed him in his developmental process by not teaching him how to play the game.

Correctamundo

[Hards Alumni]

Trilly Donovan says he heard a rumor Shaka is angling to get to Pitt.
Would make sense to me! Guy looks completely checked out.

X Doubt

[Elonsmusk]

Trilly Donovan says he heard a rumor Shaka is angling to get to Pitt.
Would make sense to me! Guy looks completely checked out.

Link?  And if it has any legs, the only reason for that would be that something has shifted within our AD/our capability to compete $$$$ in this era.  It is entirely possible that Shaka was told by our Admin that the best model for chance to be successful is through the RGV branding/approach.

[Pakuni]

I think where that comparison breaks down is the OMax was always all in on playing defense. DO not so much. Well, zero, actually.

That game early in his freshman season where DO came in and hit three silky smooth three pointers, I thought we had our next NBA first rounders. Unfortunately that was still his high water mark.

I don't think DO necessarily lacks effort on defense. I think he doesn't know what he's doing. That goes for a lot of his team.

[Pakuni]

Trilly Donovan says he heard a rumor Shaka is angling to get to Pitt.
Would make sense to me! Guy looks completely checked out.

Putting up one of the worst seasons in your program's modern history is a novel way to angle for a new job.

[Elonsmusk]

He has all the athletic ability in the world and no idea how to use it to be a basketball player. Someone, somewhere earlier in his life failed him in his developmental process by not teaching him how to play the game.

LOL - Failed him so miserably he became a top 100 recruit and had multiple high major offers to choose from.

Some of the angst on this board is just silly - like manufacturing crap just to complain.

[cheebs09]

Link?  And if it has any legs, the only reason for that would be that something has shifted within our AD/our capability to compete $$$$ in this era.  It is entirely possible that Shaka was told by our Admin that the best model for chance to be successful is through the RGV branding/approach.

I would hope it's Shaka driving the recruiting strategy and not the AD/President. If it's as you say above, we really are doomed.