We're officially at Defcon 0.0

[onepost]

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.

Where to even begin with this. Acknowledging how awful things are isn't a temper tantrum. It's just not. I'm sorry I happened to do it a few weeks before others followed suit, hand up! That's on me!

Again, for the umpteenth time, it's not Year 1. His obsession with RGV was clear in Kolek's last season (Kolek asked Shaka to add some help in the portal after O-Max left, Shaka declined). A 2 seed was fantastic, but we still underachieved in March. It was clear last season when he assumed Sean would be back and a contributor, only for Kam to break down by January due to insane usage and we were a disaster the last 3 months of the season. It was clear last April when every other team in America added talent in the portal and we sat on our hands with *this* coming into 2025-2026. 3 years of his philosophy having issues.

We are on pace to have a generationally bad season. One of the absolute worst in Marquette history. All while playing pretty average teams (and within that, teams missing starters, best players, best players going down midgame due to injury) and now facing a down Big East. If that's not grounds for frustration like we're seeing, literally what is? If not "spite and hubris", then what is it? If Shaka is as brilliant as you say, he couldn't POSSIBLY see the team he had and think this was good enough to compete. So which is it, Elonsmusk: is Shaka stubborn or is he incompetent? I'll choose stubborn.

[Hards Alumni]

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.

Fans don't care about the approach, they just want to win within the rules using the resources available.

[CountryRoads]

His obsession with RGV was clear in Kolek's last season (Kolek asked Shaka to add some help in the portal after O-Max left, Shaka declined).

If you are trying to piss people off even more, you are doing a good job of it.

[onepost]

If you are trying to piss people off even more, you are doing a good job of it.

Don't shoot the messenger

[GoldenWarrior11]

Just checked T-Rank again.  While we are projected today to finish 11-20, we are only favored in three remaining games (all home games, against Providence, DePaul and Xavier).  I'm not really sure how that works in their projections, as going 3-17 in conference would have our final record being 8-23. 

The last time Marquette Basketball had fewer than ten wins in a season?  1964-65 under Al. 

If history repeats itself, NCAA Championship in 2048???

[Tha Hound]

Shaka has backed himself into a corner with the RGV strategy and never giving up on "his guys." That's left him with the following options for next year:

(1) Double-down on RGV and roll with the same group of players, despite it leading to one of the worst rosters in modern MU history, and hope for a complete 180 next year;

(2) Concede that his RGV strategy was a mistake, go back on his word to the players he recruited, cut some of them and utilize the transfer portal to rebuild; or

(3) Walk away

I doubt he goes with #2 given his insistence on relationships, and I don't see him walking away (yet). My best guess is we run it back next year with the same roster (+ maybe 1 portal addition) and things are slightly better but still not good enough and he gets canned.

Really, this is my long winded way of saying the problem will take care of itself. Either Shaka will adapt and we'll get back to winning games or he won't and he'll be shown the door. Here's to hoping its the former.

[Galway Eagle]

Don't shoot the messenger

Out of curiosity if you had the Big East 6th man of the year coming back, Chase getting older, with every other meaningful player would you have gone out into the portal?

Shakas approach made sense that offseason, there's no world where Joplin isn't viewed as a potential starter by most top tier teams in the portal and Shaka chooses to use a guy that's a known commodity within the system rather than chancing a new piece, moving chase to Jop's 6th man role. What part of this decision are you critiquing?

[CountryRoads]

(1) Double-down on RGV

How many downs deep are we? Triple? Quadruple? I think we'd be past double at that point.

[GoldenEagles03]

Shaka has backed himself into a corner with the RGV strategy and never giving up on "his guys." That's left him with the following options for next year:

(1) Double-down on RGV and roll with the same group of players, despite it leading to one of the worst rosters in modern MU history, and hope for a complete 180 next year;

(2) Concede that his RGV strategy was a mistake, go back on his word to the players he recruited, cut some of them and utilize the transfer portal to rebuild; or

(3) Walk away

I doubt he goes with #2 for many reasons, and I don't see him walking away (yet). My best guess is we run it back next year with the same roster (+ maybe 1 portal addition) and things are slightly better but still not good enough and he gets canned.

Ya...well he made this bed..so if he can't find a way to make #2 happen then he should be fired before next season starts in my opinion.

And actually, I don't think he even has to admit it was a mistake, just that it isn't working and isn't going to work moving forward.

[onepost]

Out of curiosity if you had the Big East 6th man of the year coming back, Chase getting older, with every other meaningful player would you have gone out into the portal?

Shakas approach made sense that offseason, there's no world where Joplin isn't viewed as a potential starter by most top tier teams in the portal and Shaka chooses to use a guy that's a known commodity within the system rather than chancing a new piece, moving chase to Jop's 6th man role. What part of this decision are you critiquing?

Of any year, it's by far the most defensible, I agree with you. We needed size and depth on that team, so yes I would have gone to the portal. 100%. Moving Jop to the starting 5 left us with Chase and Sean as the only meaningful bench guys: Chase had loud great moments but neither showed enough to warrant Shaka basically relying on 7 players (Ben was two years away from being two years away, shoutout Fran Fraschila).

And Kolek has forgotten more about basketball than I'll ever know, so if he urged Shaka to add pieces then I feel pretty strongly about my opinion.

[Elonsmusk]

Out of curiosity if you had the Big East 6th man of the year coming back, Chase getting older, with every other meaningful player would you have gone out into the portal?

Shakas approach made sense that offseason, there's no world where Joplin isn't viewed as a potential starter by most top tier teams in the portal and Shaka chooses to use a guy that's a known commodity within the system rather than chancing a new piece, moving chase to Jop's 6th man role. What part of this decision are you critiquing?

Keep in mind Onewhiner is trying to do all he can do to shat on Shaka "despite really liking him."

And Shaka standing pat either the roster despite Kolek allegedly wanting him to portal a "big," we still made Big East Championship game, got a 2 seed, made the Sweet 16, and then went 4 for 31 from 3 and didn't advance to Elite 8 - if only Shaka got a "big" that year to replace Omax!!

[Elonsmusk]

Of any year, it's by far the most defensible, I agree with you. We needed size and depth on that team, so yes I would have gone to the portal. 100%. Moving Jop to the starting 5 left us with Chase and Sean as the only meaningful bench guys: Chase had loud great moments but neither showed enough to warrant Shaka basically relying on 7 players (Ben was two years away from being two years away, shoutout Fran Fraschila).

And Kolek has forgotten more about basketball than I'll ever know, so if he urged Shaka to add pieces then I feel pretty strongly about my opinion.

The hits keep coming....but one thing is for sure..Kolek and Shaka know more about basketball than you'll ever know. You're a cartoon.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Of any year, it's by far the most defensible, I agree with you. We needed size and depth on that team, so yes I would have gone to the portal. 100%. Moving Jop to the starting 5 left us with Chase and Sean as the only meaningful bench guys: Chase had loud great moments but neither showed enough to warrant Shaka basically relying on 7 players (Ben was two years away from being two years away, shoutout Fran Fraschila).

And Kolek has forgotten more about basketball than I'll ever know, so if he urged Shaka to add pieces then I feel pretty strongly about my opinion.

Where has there been any legitimately-sourced proof that Kolek urged Shaka to use the portal that offseason?

[Galway Eagle]

Of any year, it's by far the most defensible, I agree with you. We needed size and depth on that team, so yes I would have gone to the portal. 100%. Moving Jop to the starting 5 left us with Chase and Sean as the only meaningful bench guys: Chase had loud great moments but neither showed enough to warrant Shaka basically relying on 7 players (Ben was two years away from being two years away, shoutout Fran Fraschila).

And Kolek has forgotten more about basketball than I'll ever know, so if he urged Shaka to add pieces then I feel pretty strongly about my opinion.

Could be argued about relying on Omax the year prior or even relying on Joplin as a 6th man. I mean it's not worth really getting into a pissing match about it but I 100% think Shaka was right in his call here. Could he have been right as well if he used the portal? Sure, but he relied on "bird in hand is worth two in the bush" knew he had a "dude" rising to be a reliable sophomore, knew he had the BE 6th man of the year.

But it wasn't either of them that caused us to lose to NCST nor to split 2nd with Creighton. Outside of TKO not a single person showed up for that S16 game including Oso, Stevie, & Kam,

[onepost]

Where has there been any legitimately-sourced proof that Kolek urged Shaka to use the portal that offseason?

You don't have to believe me, not that you would anyway.
But I was told during that season that Kolek asked about help in the portal and Shaka said no. Still had a great season.

[GoldenEagles03]

You don't have to believe me, not that you would anyway.
But I was told during that season that Kolek asked about help in the portal and Shaka said no. Still had a great season.

Didn't Shaka actually confirm this? I'm actually certain I heard a clip of Shaka saying something to the effect of "ya after the season Tyler came into my office and said, who are we getting from the portal? But that's just not what we do."

I don't know where to begin looking for that clip but I'm nearly 100% certain it came from Shaka.

[Elonsmusk]

You don't have to believe me, not that you would anyway.
But I was told during that season that Kolek asked about help in the portal and Shaka said no. Still had a great season.

Did that big booster you played golf with one time tell you? 

[StillWarriors]

Didn't Shaka actually confirm this? I'm actually certain I heard a clip of Shaka saying something to the effect of "ya after the season Tyler came into my office and said, who are we getting from the portal? But that's just not what we do."

I don't know where to begin looking for that clip but I'm nearly 100% certain it came from Shaka.

I recall this, as well.

[onepost]

Did that big booster you played golf with one time tell you? 

It was actually Doc Rivers at the local Dave & Busters, but close enough.

[Elonsmusk]

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.

Vast majority LOVED the RGV approach until exactly the Indiana game this season. Numerous comments about not being a revolving door of players that have no ties to the school, that you don't get to see grow.  Loved the Travis Diener notion of pouring into the guys who have worn the jersey versus those who hadn't.  Loved that recruits mentioned it consistently that MU not going into the portal was very attractive to them.

I'm frustrated by the season, and feel Shaka hasn't been great with some of his coaching decisions this season - definitely been some odd choices.  Yet, the total body of work, hearing his interviews, how he reps MU - no way am I going to shat on the guy for a bad year.  I'm confident enough in his intellect to course correct.  Unless he pulls a Tony Bennett, which may be a possibility - given what he's observed with how quickly a growing chunk of our fanbase has turned on him.  It's a joke.

[Biggie Clausen]

Vast majority LOVED the RGV approach until exactly the Indiana game this season. Numerous comments about not being a revolving door of players that have no ties to the school, that you don't get to see grow.  Loved the Travis Diener notion of pouring into the guys who have worn the jersey versus those who hadn't.  Loved that recruits mentioned it consistently that MU not going into the portal was very attractive to them.

I'm frustrated by the season, and feel Shaka hasn't been great with some of his coaching decisions this season - definitely been some odd choices.  Yet, the total body of work, hearing his interviews, how he reps MU - no way am I going to shat on the guy for a bad year.  I'm confident enough in his intellect to course correct.  Unless he pulls a Tony Bennett, which may be a possibility - given what he's observed with how quickly a growing chunk of our fanbase has turned on him.  It's a joke.

I don't think it's out of line for the fanbase to have turned on Shaka at this point in the season, especially with how the end of last year played out.  There are some folks who only watch the games on tv, and for them, they can simply stop watching if they're upset.  But fans who've sunk money into the program have every right to be pissed - those being season ticket holders, donors, and whatever idiot paid a king's ransom for an RGV pullover.  To say these people are not getting their money's worth would be an understatement.  They are getting the equivalent of a restaurant chef spitting in their burger.

As others have stated, this is not shaping up to be *just* a bad/mediocre season.  I mean, what P5 school is going to want to play us in the non-con next year?  If we lose 20 games, next year will not be about rebuilding.  It'll be about proving we're not the next DePaul/Georgetown/Pitt.

[wadesworld]

*3.5 good seasons

This is almost as dumb as suggesting Shaka should be judged on a rolling 12 month basis.  UCONN went a full month winning only 2 games the year they won their first national title under Hurley.  So I guess their season only counts as 80% of a good season.

[MarquetteMike1977]

Not Sure if this has been posted yet

But from Paint Touches

Post
PRINT TOUCHES
Paint Touches @PaintTouches
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Marquette is currently shooting 17.1% on contested spot up 3s (.508 PPP), which is the worst in all of D1.
But get this, I accidentally took off the D1 filter on Synergy and #mubb currently ranks 1443 out of 1465 teams in D1, D2, D3, NAIA, NCCAA and USCCA

[Jay Bee]

Kentucky can exceed the 20 million now that they're an LLC.

You're so clueless.

[panda]

This is almost as dumb as suggesting Shaka should be judged on a rolling 12 month basis.  UCONN went a full month winning only 2 games the year they won their first national title under Hurley.  So I guess their season only counts as 80% of a good season.

It's dumb or you don't agree with me?

Why would it be dumb to analyze a trend? They fell apart down the stretch last year because of lack of depth after ignoring the portal. This year they are a catastrophe devoid of talent and going through what will be one of the worst seasons in Marquette basketball history, again because they ignored the portal. Those two things are the same in my mind and they are adding up to much deeper concerns moving forward.