Zaide Didn’t Travel With Team

[wadesworld]

It's uncalled for to call what Shaka is doing "ignorance"? Am I wrong? To not work with agents, to not take transfers, and to double and triple down on players who have only shown they aren't good enough for this level - I'd call that ignorant.

We're having a historically bad season, and you're upset posters are meeting that with heightened frustration? It's a message board.

Egbuonu signed with an agent well before committing to Marquette. This is just false.

[onepost]

Egbuonu signed with an agent well before committing to Marquette. This is just false.

"Won't work with agents" on the whole. It's been noted by a number of national writers that Shaka's unwillingness to work with agents (Morillo most recently) is more damaging than his unwillingness to use the portal.

https://x.com/cbb_central/status/1996265555758645515?s=46&t=XcHvMHlRF0oCgzQY_T0_eg

[Elonsmusk]

It's uncalled for to call what Shaka is doing "ignorance"? Am I wrong? To not work with agents, to not take transfers, and to double and triple down on players who have only shown they aren't good enough for this level - I'd call that ignorant.

We're having a historically bad season, and you're upset posters are meeting that with heightened frustration? It's a message board.

Yes, and the irony of you calling anyone ignorant is rich.  Explain how you see Shaka as having double and triple downed on players who have only shown they aren't good enough for this level - a level in which you could never possibly dream of playing in, in your wildest dreams - yet have no problem absolutely trashing our players?

Do all freshman have to come in and make an immediate impact for them to not be granted a second season with the program?  Do all sophomores never improve from their sophomore year to their next two?

This is year 1 of RGV being stress tested, and its been a failure.  Nothing Shaka can do now...and you are on here daily throwing pitchforks like a unnatural carnal knowledgeing toddler.  You are incredibly ignorant, but most toddlers don't have enough capacity to do much beyond whine when they are frustrated.

[Galway Eagle]

you are on here daily throwing pitchforks like a unnatural carnal knowledgeing toddler.  You are incredibly ignorant, but most toddlers don't have enough capacity to do much beyond whine when they are frustrated.

Do you not recall how you were for 7yrs of Wojo?

I mean yes Onepost has been obnoxious but Ners you were so obnoxious you invented weird terms like slurpers for anyone who said anything remotely positive about him (that you've still used). As recently as a year or two ago still get worked up about Derrick Wilson as a player and lastly started a poll (which you were losing but never followed through on because mods shut it down) on whether you should self ban.

Don't throw stones in glass houses. If Onepost becomes the you of the Shaka era then at least have the balls to realize what everyone was saying about you for 7years.

[rocky_warrior]

We could all probably practice some self awareness, but Ners might need an intervention.

[onepost]

Yes, and the irony of you calling anyone ignorant is rich.  Explain how you see Shaka as having double and triple downed on players who have only shown they aren't good enough for this level - a level in which you could never possibly dream of playing in, in your wildest dreams - yet have no problem absolutely trashing our players?

Do all freshman have to come in and make an immediate impact for them to not be granted a second season with the program?  Do all sophomores never improve from their sophomore year to their next two?

This is year 1 of RGV being stress tested, and its been a failure.  Nothing Shaka can do now...and you are on here daily throwing pitchforks like a unnatural carnal knowledgeing toddler.  You are incredibly ignorant, but most toddlers don't have enough capacity to do much beyond whine when they are frustrated.

I'm sorry, Ners. Clearly I've struck the most sensitive nerve you have and I'm genuinely sorry about that. It's not that serious, man.

No, I didn't play D1 basketball. No, I don't think that precludes me from vocalizing disappointment. Yes, I've been obnoxious and frustrated because this season and recent plummet is so self-inflicted. I had no faith in Wojo, so I wasn't hammering the "slurpers" from 2019-2021. I had so much faith in Shaka, which makes me more vocal about wanting this to work. It seems like many changes are clear and obvious, but I don't think he's willing to make them. So here we are.

[WhiteTrash]

Since Dayton I haven't watched very much, but do you think some of the opposing coaches have let up out of professional respect for Shaka? Feel like some of the games could/should have been worse.

[MU82]

Since Dayton I haven't watched very much, but do you think some of the opposing coaches have let up out of professional respect for Shaka? Feel like some of the games could/should have been worse.

Nah. Aside from the normal garbage-time situations that happen in every blowout game in the country.

McDermott still had most of his starters in with 1-2 minutes to go yesterday. He probably felt he needed to win by as much as possible to improve his team's metrics.

[WhiteTrash]

Nah. Aside from the normal garbage-time situations that happen in every blowout game in the country.

McDermott still had most of his starters in with 1-2 minutes to go yesterday. He probably felt he needed to win by as much as possible to improve his team's metrics.

Good to know. Minor relief. I thought it maybe worse than it looked on the scoreboard.

[Biggie Clausen]

Good to know. Minor relief. I thought it maybe worse than it looked on the scoreboard.

Outside of the 25-2 (or whatever it was) run that happened in about 3 minutes and completely ended the game, Creighton looked pretty mid.  Once they got up 30 in the second half, their players seemed to lose interest and they had some really bad shot selection.  Them not winning by 40 was more about them than us.

[Zog from Margo]

Good to know. Minor relief. I thought it maybe worse than it looked on the scoreboard.

If a game is in hand, coaches will slow down on offense to use up clock. I wouldn't say that's letting up but it could reduce the margin from what it could have been. MU was not competitive and was really bad on both ends of the floor.

[Small Orange Soda]

Explain how you see Shaka as having double and triple downed on players who have only shown they aren't good enough for this level - a level in which you could never possibly dream of playing in, in your wildest dreams - yet have no problem absolutely trashing our players?

Do all freshman have to come in and make an immediate impact for them to not be granted a second season with the program?  Do all sophomores never improve from their sophomore year to their next two?

I know he's been everyone's favorite whipping boy, from the biggest haters to the most optimistic, but the process over multiple years that has led to Caedin Hamilton being our starting center is the prime example of Shaka doubling and tripling down on a guy he absolutely shouldn't have.

Shaka takes a project in Itejere that he likely shouldn't have. After two years, it doesn't work out. The smart move would be to replace him with a guy with experience, since all of a sudden there's a two year development hole with that roster spot. Instead, he takes a zero star recruit in Caedin Hamilton who we beat out a prep school for. I could also never dream of playing at the D1 level, but that didn't seem like a great idea.

So Caedin comes in and redshirts as planned. No biggie, we got Oso. Still, looking forward it's concerning that there doesn't seem to be a bridge between Oso and Caedin. What Itejere or his equivalent replacement would've been.

So Oso goes to the NBA. It's clear that Caedin isn't ready. Last year's squad clearly could've used said bridge, but Shaka didn't bother. Things fall apart.

This year, it's clear Caedin still isn't ready. Shaka again doesn't bother. We enter the season with Caedin as our starting center. At no point in his career has Caedin shown he's suited for this level, yet here we are.

Shaka has doubled and tripled down on Caedin. He never should've been recruited, yet three years later he's starting for this terrible squad. In his third year he continues to be a detriment to this squad, yet over and over again, Shaka has made the wrong decision regarding him.

[onepost]

I know he's been everyone's favorite whipping boy, from the biggest haters to the most optimistic, but the process over multiple years that has led to Caedin Hamilton being our starting center is the prime example of Shaka doubling and tripling down on a guy he absolutely shouldn't have.

Shaka takes a project in Itejere that he likely shouldn't have. After two years, it doesn't work out. The smart move would be to replace him with a guy with experience, since all of a sudden there's a two year development hole with that roster spot. Instead, he takes a zero star recruit in Caedin Hamilton who we beat out a prep school for. I could also never dream of playing at the D1 level, but that didn't seem like a great idea.

So Caedin comes in and redshirts as planned. No biggie, we got Oso. Still, looking forward it's concerning that there doesn't seem to be a bridge between Oso and Caedin. What Itejere or his equivalent replacement would've been.

So Oso goes to the NBA. It's clear that Caedin isn't ready. Last year's squad clearly could've used said bridge, but Shaka didn't bother. Things fall apart.

This year, it's clear Caedin still isn't ready. Shaka again doesn't bother. We enter the season with Caedin as our starting center. At no point in his career has Caedin shown he's suited for this level, yet here we are.

Shaka has doubled and tripled down on Caedin. He never should've been recruited, yet three years later he's starting for this terrible squad. In his third year he continues to be a detriment to this squad, yet over and over again, Shaka has made the wrong decision regarding him.

You summed it up better than I could, thanks SOS.

[Pakuni]

SOS nailed it.
This isn't bashing Caedin. I don't doubt he's tried/trying his best and has put in all the work. But reality is, the vast majority of human beings aren't capable of playing high-major college basketball, no matter how hard they try. Caedin, through no fault of his own, sure seems to be among that vast majority.
That Shaka and staff either can't see that or can see it, but have messed up the roster so badly they have to play him anyhow, is what deserves the criticism here, not Caedin.

[Pakuni]

a level in which you could never possibly dream of playing in, in your wildest dreams - yet have no problem absolutely trashing our players?

"Huh?" Derrick Wilson, probably.

[Elonsmusk]

I know he's been everyone's favorite whipping boy, from the biggest haters to the most optimistic, but the process over multiple years that has led to Caedin Hamilton being our starting center is the prime example of Shaka doubling and tripling down on a guy he absolutely shouldn't have.

Shaka takes a project in Itejere that he likely shouldn't have. After two years, it doesn't work out. The smart move would be to replace him with a guy with experience, since all of a sudden there's a two year development hole with that roster spot. Instead, he takes a zero star recruit in Caedin Hamilton who we beat out a prep school for. I could also never dream of playing at the D1 level, but that didn't seem like a great idea.

So Caedin comes in and redshirts as planned. No biggie, we got Oso. Still, looking forward it's concerning that there doesn't seem to be a bridge between Oso and Caedin. What Itejere or his equivalent replacement would've been.

So Oso goes to the NBA. It's clear that Caedin isn't ready. Last year's squad clearly could've used said bridge, but Shaka didn't bother. Things fall apart.

This year, it's clear Caedin still isn't ready. Shaka again doesn't bother. We enter the season with Caedin as our starting center. At no point in his career has Caedin shown he's suited for this level, yet here we are.

Shaka has doubled and tripled down on Caedin. He never should've been recruited, yet three years later he's starting for this terrible squad. In his third year he continues to be a detriment to this squad, yet over and over again, Shaka has made the wrong decision regarding him.

Itejere was a Top 100 recruit, who's rating obviously was too high.  It's entirely possible Shaka tried to recruit a higher level big the year Caedin was recruited, and he didn't land one - I don't recall.  MU hasn't had a long history of talented big men lining up to play here.  Additionally, as I recall, we were involved with Owen Freeman this past portal season, but he chose Creighton.

Caedin was known to be a 5 year project. I don't see it as doubling down/tripling down by staying the course on him.  He's just at the mid-point of his development at MU. I think he is better than what he has shown.  He's pressing a ton and sped up, trying to prove he belongs and is a mess mentally.  Think the whole team is pressing for that matter.

I just find ripping the crap out of Shaka for one bad year incredibly ignorant and classless considering he brought a better resume to the job than any MU hire in history - and massively exceeded expectations in Years 1-3, met expectations in Year 4.

I understand this season has been brutal, we've gotten blown out repeatedly. Yet it was the stress test of RGV, and I feel the players have largely been the ones who haven't performed - and from that underperformance Shaka has gotten into the spin cycle grasping for straws to try to improve the performance. 

There's nothing Shaka can do during the season - other than do what he's done - trying to tinker with lineups.  To jump to the conclusion that he won't do anything different this off season is pure speculation at best.

[Johnny B]

What the hell is the point of seeking out a "5 year project". Seems like massive amounts of resources and time for very little to no pay off.

[Elonsmusk]

"Huh?" Derrick Wilson, probably.

Derrick Wilson had no business playing D-1 basketball.  No guard in D-1 should be so disrespected that defenders play off 5 feet.  That aside, my criticism of him was almost all directed at Buzz and Wojo, and those Scoopers who tried to suggest he was deserving of 30+ minutes per game.

Caedin Hamilton is more worthy of a D-1 scholarship than was Derrick Wilson. Tre Norman's numbers are better than Derrick's FFS.  Imagine if Shaka started playing Tre 30 minutes night in night out....Scoop would implode.

[Elonsmusk]

What the hell is the point of seeking out a "5 year project". Seems like massive amounts of resources and time for very little to no pay off.

Probably years of seeing Wisconsin have success doing it for about 25 years..

[Small Orange Soda]

Caedin was known to be a 5 year project. I don't see it as doubling down/tripling down by staying the course on him.  He's just at the mid-point of his development at MU. I think he is better than what he has shown.  He's pressing a ton and sped up, trying to prove he belongs and is a mess mentally.  Think the whole team is pressing for that matter.

I just find ripping the crap out of Shaka for one bad year incredibly ignorant and classless considering he brought a better resume to the job than any MU hire in history - and massively exceeded expectations in Years 1-3, met expectations in Year 4.

I understand this season has been brutal, we've gotten blown out repeatedly. Yet it was the stress test of RGV, and I feel the players have largely been the ones who haven't performed - and from that underperformance Shaka has gotten into the spin cycle grasping for straws to try to improve the performance. 

There's nothing Shaka can do during the season - other than do what he's done - trying to tinker with lineups.  To jump to the conclusion that he won't do anything different this off season is pure speculation at best.

Like Pakuni said, I don't blame Caedin. He seems like a decent kid, great teammate, etc. I just don't think he's very good at basketball, and has never really shown himself capable. My larger point though, is why are we at a place where he's starting? The idea that Shaka could be the one high major coach who could eschew the portal was ludicrous. Everyone whiffs on high school recruits; I don't want Marquette's coach to be the only one who drags his bat back to the dugout while everyone else takes another crack at it.

I like Shaka, but my larger point was that there were choices made over multiple years that led us here. This isn't a fluke. He made some mistakes (like all coaches do), and yet Tre Norman is still getting an NIL check. And it's been repeated ad nauseam, but those teams in year 1-3 had transfers.

I'm not writing him off, and I do think it's possible that he rights the ship. I think his recruiting has improved. But he's gonna need to eat some crow and not run these third years back next year.

[Pakuni]

Probably years of seeing Wisconsin have success doing it for about 25 years..

Nope, nope, nope.
Made this same point in another thread. Bo Ryan's "projects" were by and large four-star, top 100 recruits, not zero stars he was snaring away from prep schools and low majors.
Copy/pasting from the other thread ...

Bo Ryan's developmental bigs:
Brian Butch, 5-star, McDonald's AA, RSCI #7
Greg Steinsma, 4-star, RSCI #37
Jon Leuer, 4-star, 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, 247
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 high school to college, so he was seen coming out as a kind of unathletic 3/4 who developed into a crafty/skilled post player when he got tall.

[mileskishnish72]

I think he is better than what he has shown.

When people show you what they are, believe them. He is what he is, and that's not good.

[panda]

Itejere was a Top 100 recruit, who's rating obviously was too high. 

Itejere didn't sniff the top 100 rankings

[brewcity77]

Itejere was a Top 100 recruit

No he was not. 247's internal had him as the #39 power forward without an exact national ranking. Their composite ranked him #201. On3/Rivals had him #557. By no stretch was he a top-100 player out of high school.

[Mu8891]

Orange - Right .  The fact that Shaka is the only coach that won't use the portal IS absolutely ludicrous!  I mean ... he apparently thinks he's smarter than
( or holier and more " virtuous " ) every other D1 coach.

I don't know which is worse, that or the fact that he thought this roster of mostly Horizon League players could compete in the BE ?