We're officially at Defcon 0.0

[WhiteTrash]

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

Agreed. His presser last night reminded me of a video of a hostage reading the demand letter. I'd say maybe all the words and thoughts were true, but he sold it like he had a gun to his head.

Perhaps he is just completely frustrated, but I wouldn't be surprised if MU doesn't get the chance to decide his future and any of the discussion of 'should MU keep Shaka' are in vain.

[onepost]

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.

Or...and I'm just spitballing here...it could be what many of us have been saying all season that Shaka is actively refusing to utilize all of the resources at his disposal and pressure from boosters/admin may force him to exit stage left just like he did when faced with the same dilemma at Texas.

[JTJ3]

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

This is the type of move I could see happening.  He already did the same thing when he left Texas one year early.

[Jockey]

https://x.com/i/status/2001497623753039955

Are you implying that my 3 win estimate was too generous?

[GoldenEagles03]

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.

This has been my worry for a while...that this RGV was a Marquette thing rather than a Shaka thing. Hopefully it is not.

[onepost]

This has been my worry for a while...that this RGV was a Marquette thing rather than a Shaka thing. Hopefully it is not.

It is not

[JTJ3]

This has been my worry for a while...that this RGV was a Marquette thing rather than a Shaka thing. Hopefully it is not.

It's purely a Shaka decision

[WellsstreetWanderer]

Everybody has figured Shaka out and he stubbornly stays with the plan meanwhile orchestrating crazy lineup changes

[Vander Blue Man Group]

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

So the roster was decaying when we got a 2-seed? 

Impressive analysis. 

[Elonsmusk]

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.

I have zero info, but I can't imagine a scenario where Shaka would really be looking to leave MU after the success he's had - unless he felt handcuffed to compete.  And the handcuffs, at least from my perspective/speculation would be that we really don't have the resources.

[Billy Hoyle]

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

the same Pitt who signed Capel to an extension through 2029-30?

[Pakuni]

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.

There's been no bigger pitchman for the RGV model than Shaka. He's quite literally out there selling it (on mugs, on T-shirts, on hats, on keychains, etc.). It's the philosophy he promoted at his introductory press conference.
To believe this theory - that this has all been forced upon him by the administration -  one would also have to believe Shaka is a total fraud and a guy who would tank his record in service to a philosophy he opposes.
I don't think that's true. This is Shaka's choice.
There's zero reason to believe Marquette lacks the resources to field a competitive basketball program, and lots of reason to believe otherwise.

[Elonsmusk]

There's been no bigger pitchman for the RGV model than Shaka. He's quite literally out there selling it (on mugs, on T-shirts, on hats, on keychains, etc.). It's the philosophy he promoted at his introductory press conference.
To believe this theory - that this has all been forced upon him by the administration -  one would also have to believe Shaka is a total fraud and a guy who would tank his record in service to a philosophy he opposes.
I don't think that's true. This is Shaka's choice.
There's zero reason to believe Marquette lacks the resources to field a competitive basketball program, and lots of reason to believe otherwise.

Apparently you can't comprehend what "If it has any legs," and "something has shifted," mean as it relates to a non-linked, Trilly Donovan rumor posted by Shaka's biggest hater here - Onepost - suggested.

And if you think MU has $20 Million to spend on a roster like Kentucky, or what other Power 4, Top 25 programs have to spend - you're living in fantasyland.

Don't forget Title IX and the need to fund women's sports, which I suspect all run in the red as it relates to revenue generation compared to cost to fund.

[ATL MU Warrior]

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

so would I.

[onepost]

Apparently you can't comprehend what "If it has any legs," and "something has shifted," mean as it relates to a non-linked, Trilly Donovan rumor posted by Shaka's biggest hater here - Onepost - suggested.

Haha how simple-minded are you? Because I'm rightfully critical of the guy I'm a hater? You sound like a current member of a certain political party, Elonsmusk.

I don't know how many times I need to say it: I love Shaka. He was receptive when I reached out to him if he had advice for my brother who coaches high school basketball. His staff has done the same and I think the world of those guys too. I'm grateful for the success he's had at my alma mater and it seemed like an absolute perfect fit. He seems to be as genuinely great a guy as you'll find at this position in MBB. I want him to be the coach for another 15 years.

But he continues to show us that he won't utilize the very route that brought him success here. And it seems to be purely out of spite and hubris. While I feel we've underachieved in March, I've been more than willing to forgive that because the tournament is fickle and he's reinvigorated this fanbase on the whole. My initial fear was that even with poor results, Shaka would feel emboldened to just run this team back with the freshmen coming in. I'm quickly beginning to think he may not even make it to next season because rather than give in to pressure from boosters and admin to change things up, he would just as well leave like he did at Texas.

[Pakuni]

And if you think MU has $20 Million to spend on a roster like Kentucky, or what other Power 4, Top 25 programs have to spend - you're living in fantasyland.

Don't forget Title IX and the need to fund women's sports, which I suspect all run in the red as it relates to revenue generation compared to cost to fund.

We've been through all this before.
Marquette doesn't need $20 million to field a competitive basketball roster. Do you think Iowa State spends $20 million on its roster? Creighton? Nebraska? Gonzaga?
You take one of a handful of outliers - Kentucky, for God's sake - and pretend that's the standard, when it's far from it.

Contrary to your continual cries of poor and attempts to turn Shaka into a victim, several credible people here say he's refusing to spend all the money at his disposal.

Is Marquette the only school in the country that has to fund women's and nonrevenue sports? Marquette actually funds fewer women and nonrevenue sports than most D1 programs, and definitely fewer than most high-major programs.

[Elonsmusk]

Haha how simple-minded are you? Because I'm rightfully critical of the guy I'm a hater? You sound like a current member of a certain political party, Elonsmusk.

I don't know how many times I need to say it: I love Shaka. He was receptive when I reached out to him if he had advice for my brother who coaches high school basketball. His staff has done the same and I think the world of those guys too. I'm grateful for the success he's had at my alma mater and it seemed like an absolute perfect fit. He seems to be as genuinely great a guy as you'll find at this position in MBB. I want him to be the coach for another 15 years.

But he continues to show us that he won't utilize the very route that brought him success here. And it seems to be purely out of spite and hubris. While I feel we've underachieved in March, I've been more than willing to forgive that because the tournament is fickle and he's reinvigorated this fanbase on the whole. My initial fear was that even with poor results, Shaka would feel emboldened to just run this team back with the freshmen coming in. I'm quickly beginning to think he may not even make it to next season because rather than give in to pressure from boosters and admin to change things up, he would just as well leave like he did at Texas.

You know what simple minded is?  Throwing a temper tantrum toward a proven winner of a coach (and human being), in Year 1 of the stress test of RGV after 4 very good seasons.  There's nothing he can do about it mid-season.  Yet, you show up here almost daily, whining about the current status of the program and its future.

You're simply speculating that its "spite and hubris" that Shaka wouldn't choose to dip into the portal after this season.  You have zero clue as to if he will.  What I know is he's a bright guy, and if he doesn't resign at the end of the season (which would be due to seeing how fast 30% of the fanbase turned on him) - he will either take action through the portal, or state something to the effect of: We are going to double down on RGV and see it through another year.  If we go that route, and have similar results to the 2025-2026 we will pivot - and if we do, I look forward to being able to field a $20M roster due to the long line of willing donors to write big checks.

[panda]

You know what simple minded is?  Throwing a temper tantrum toward a proven winner of a coach (and human being), in Year 1 of the stress test of RGV after 4 very good seasons.  There's nothing he can do about it mid-season.  Yet, you show up here almost daily, whining about the current status of the program and its future.

You're simply speculating that its "spite and hubris" that Shaka wouldn't choose to dip into the portal after this season.  You have zero clue as to if he will.  What I know is he's a bright guy, and if he doesn't resign at the end of the season (which would be due to seeing how fast 30% of the fanbase turned on him) - he will either take action through the portal, or state something to the effect of: We are going to double down on RGV and see it through another year.  If we go that route, and have similar results to the 2025-2026 we will pivot - and if we do, I look forward to being able to field a $20M roster due to the long line of willing donors to write big checks.

*3.5 good seasons

[Elonsmusk]

We've been through all this before.
Marquette doesn't need a $20 million to field a competitive basketball roster. Do you think Iowa State spends $20 million on its roster? Creighton? Nebraska? Gonzaga?
You take one of a handful of outliers - Kentucky, for God's sake - and pretend that's the standard, when it's far from it.

Contrary to your continual cries of poor and attempts to turn Shaka into a victim, several credible people here say he's refusing to spend all the money at his disposal.

Is Marquette the only school in the country that has to fund women's and nonrevenue sports? Marquette actually funds fewer women and nonrevenue sports than most D1 programs, and definitely fewer than most high-major programs.

Who are these "credible people" here?  Have they doxxed themselves and proven they are "credible?"  And no crap, MU funds fewer sports than Power 4 schools who have football, and enrollments of 25,000-60,000 students, that have an alumni base 2-5x what MU does.  Football is a cash cow - I believe the TV package for college football is larger than college basketball?  Maybe I'm wrong on that? 

But that aside, not surprised to see that you're the kind of guy who would bail on a guy at the first sign of adversity - before even giving the guy a shot to rectify the problem. 

[panda]

Who are these "credible people" here?  Have they doxxed themselves and proven they are "credible?"  And no crap, MU funds fewer sports than Power 4 schools who have football, and enrollments of 25,000-60,000 students, that have an alumni base 2-5x what MU does.  Football is a cash cow - I believe the TV package for college football is larger than college basketball?  Maybe I'm wrong on that? 

But that aside, not surprised to see that you're the kind of guy who would bail on a guy at the first sign of adversity - before even giving the guy a shot to rectify the problem. 

Adversity started last January. #3.5years

[Jay Bee]

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.

#FakeNews #Lies

By the end of the first half, it was assured Gold would not play 30 minutes because he played so little in the first half. While our top DR was seated much of the half, we gave up an insane level of o-boards to Georgetown. Terrible.

[Markusquette]

You know what simple minded is?  Throwing a temper tantrum toward a proven winner of a coach (and human being), in Year 1 of the stress test of RGV after 4 very good seasons.  There's nothing he can do about it mid-season.  Yet, you show up here almost daily, whining about the current status of the program and its future.

You're simply speculating that its "spite and hubris" that Shaka wouldn't choose to dip into the portal after this season.  You have zero clue as to if he will.  What I know is he's a bright guy, and if he doesn't resign at the end of the season (which would be due to seeing how fast 30% of the fanbase turned on him) - he will either take action through the portal, or state something to the effect of: We are going to double down on RGV and see it through another year.  If we go that route, and have similar results to the 2025-2026 we will pivot - and if we do, I look forward to being able to field a $20M roster due to the long line of willing donors to write big checks.

If he doubles down on RGV another year, it's not a bright decision. Fans are disgruntled with his approach and concerned about the future which at this point is completely reasonable. Doesn't mean all those critical have completely given up on him.  Nobody is expecting a Kentucky-level NIL budget to field an entirely new roster of high-level transfers.

[Billy Hoyle]

Apparently you can't comprehend what "If it has any legs," and "something has shifted," mean as it relates to a non-linked, Trilly Donovan rumor posted by Shaka's biggest hater here - Onepost - suggested.

And if you think MU has $20 Million to spend on a roster like Kentucky, or what other Power 4, Top 25 programs have to spend - you're living in fantasyland.

Don't forget Title IX and the need to fund women's sports, which I suspect all run in the red as it relates to revenue generation compared to cost to fund.

Are you suggesting Kentucky and other power 4 programs are giving all of the $20.5 million in rev share to basketball? 20%, maximum, which is $4.1 million.

What's next, complaining that our academic standards are too high?