Zaide Didn’t Travel With Team

[Viper]

The two questions on everyone's minds:
1. Did Derrick Wilson travel with the team?
 2. Is he vaxxed?

he shoots...he scores!!

[Viper]

You mean the 4 seasons where he went 3-4 in the NCAA (2-5 ATS - where we covered against the 15 seeds (Yay!) - and total of -60 ATS over those 7 games?) despite those two 2 seeds, never beating a higher seed (and in fact never beating better than a 10 seed) and exiting to a lower seed each year except the 8/9 UNC?

Certainly being in the tourney is better than not being in the tourney (boy don't we feel that this year) - but let's not pretend Shaka brought us dazzling March success. Making a FF puts serious money in the bank. Making an unexpectedly deep run puts serious money in the bank. Washing out when it matters most after a good regular season is, at best, a wash.

The best we could say was that Shaka had us on a good trajectory despite the disappointing tourney results - but now it looks like we peaked on January 3rd, 2025. Where the nadir is who knows but Shaka is certainly plumbing the depths looking. To get us back on trajectory would mean back in the T-25 and in the protected seed conversation late in the year. Upward trajectory would be a run to and past the S16. That gonna happen next year? The year after? 5 years to judge?

If Marquette simply doesn't have the resources to compete in this era then that absolutely sucks but so be it - but I want a coach that is at least willing to try with all the resources at their disposal. It would be great if Shaka is that guy because there is so much else to like about him, but if he's not going to do what it takes to put us in the best position to win each season, then see ya.

...100%!!  But the birds gonna chirp.

[Galway Eagle]

You mean the 4 seasons where he went 3-4 in the NCAA (2-5 ATS - where we covered against the 15 seeds (Yay!) - and total of -60 ATS over those 7 games?) despite those two 2 seeds, never beating a higher seed (and in fact never beating better than a 10 seed) and exiting to a lower seed each year except the 8/9 UNC?

Certainly being in the tourney is better than not being in the tourney (boy don't we feel that this year) - but let's not pretend Shaka brought us dazzling March success. Making a FF puts serious money in the bank. Making an unexpectedly deep run puts serious money in the bank. Washing out when it matters most after a good regular season is, at best, a wash.

The best we could say was that Shaka had us on a good trajectory despite the disappointing tourney results - but now it looks like we peaked on January 3rd, 2025. Where the nadir is who knows but Shaka is certainly plumbing the depths looking. To get us back on trajectory would mean back in the T-25 and in the protected seed conversation late in the year. Upward trajectory would be a run to and past the S16. That gonna happen next year? The year after? 5 years to judge?

If Marquette simply doesn't have the resources to compete in this era then that absolutely sucks but so be it - but I want a coach that is at least willing to try with all the resources at their disposal. It would be great if Shaka is that guy because there is so much else to like about him, but if he's not going to do what it takes to put us in the best position to win each season, then see ya.

This logic equates to 2011 > 2023 or at best a wash. I'm sorry but that's flat out absurd.

It also assumes upward trajectory is linear, it's not. I am pissed about this year and Shaka deserves all the heat he's getting, I'm more scared/pissed about next (Barring major pivots). But nobody in their right mind reads upward trajectory and says "well next season we have to make it past that round or else it's a downward trajectory". Anyone who has bought a stock at the right time or panicked and sold before it rebounded knows that.

Also to wades point let's be honest about where we are as a program. We can expect to be a tournament team almost every year but in my 34yrs on this earth Marquette has 6 second weekend runs... only 2 of those were past the sweet 16. In fact, we can extend that to anyone who was born since Raymond's made the S16 in 79 meaning if you're born in mid April 1977 or later we as a program have advanced past the S16 twice. I don't care if we beat an NCCAA team to get there as a 1seed, I'll take it and won't minimize it.

[WhiteTrash]

If Marquette simply doesn't have the resources to compete in this era then that absolutely sucks but so be it - but I want a coach that is at least willing to try with all the resources at their disposal. It would be great if Shaka is that guy because there is so much else to like about him, but if he's not going to do what it takes to put us in the best position to win each season, then see ya.

If Marquette doesn't have the resources to complete then they are absolute fools to do a multi-million dollar buyout a serviceable coach. The facts and actions of MU don't support the notion MU is one of the "have nots". MU acts and spends money like a top 40 program.   

[TallTitan34]

We know Liam McMorrow sure was!

Deep cut.  Well done.

[muwarrior69]

If Marquette doesn't have the resources to complete then they are absolute fools to do a multi-million dollar buyout a serviceable coach. The facts and actions of MU don't support the notion MU is one of the "have nots". MU acts and spends money like a top 40 program.  

Maybe that is why we have the team we have this year. We spent money like a top 40 program before the NIL/Revenue sharing era. Not sure if we'll be in the top 40 going forward, but if Seton Hall can put a competitive team with supposedly less resources than we have on the court there is no reason to lose hope; unless the Administration does not want to spend that kind of money anymore. Again, it will be an interesting off season.

[GoldenEagles03]

Maybe that is why we have the team we have this year. We spent money like a top 40 program before the NIL/Revenue sharing era. Not sure if we'll be in the top 40 going forward, but if Seton Hall can put a competitive team with supposedly less resources than we have on the court there is no reason to lose hope; unless the Administration does not want to spend that kind of money anymore. Again, it will be an interesting off season.

The administration aren't the ones spending the money? I've questioned it too but by all accounts it sounds like we have whatever money available that we need to build a roster. It even sounds like there is more available that we just don't need to use because the roster doesn't warrant it.

We are no different than any other Big East school in regards to NIL and likely in the top half of the league when we want to be or need to be.

[Elonsmusk]

When we won the Big East regular season and Tournament title and got our first NCAA Tournament win in over a decade our season was "a wash at best?" When we made a Sweet 16 our season was "a wash at best" because of seeds and Vegas spreads? The reward for being awesome in the regular season is playing worse teams earlier in the Tournament. Trying to discredit seasons because of a single result is crazy, but MU fans will be MU fans.

I genuinely wonder how Marquette fans get this attitude that we are above Sweet Sixteens and can turn our nose up on those. We have 17 Sweet Sixteen appearances in the history of the program. 11 of those came before 1980. We are not the program that a decent amount of Scoopers think we are.

Nailed it.  1SE is a drama king, and many other Scoopers proving to be so as well.

[muwarrior69]

The administration aren't the ones spending the money? I've questioned it too but by all accounts it sounds like we have whatever money available that we need to build a roster. It even sounds like there is more available that we just don't need to use because the roster doesn't warrant it.

We are no different than any other Big East school in regards to NIL and likely in the top half of the league when we want to be or need to be.

Of course this roster does not warrant any extra money and if it is the coaching staff doing the spending, I hope they realize that they certainly overpaid for this roster.

[muwarrior69]

When we won the Big East regular season and Tournament title and got our first NCAA Tournament win in over a decade our season was "a wash at best?" When we made a Sweet 16 our season was "a wash at best" because of seeds and Vegas spreads? The reward for being awesome in the regular season is playing worse teams earlier in the Tournament. Trying to discredit seasons because of a single result is crazy, but MU fans will be MU fans.

I genuinely wonder how Marquette fans get this attitude that we are above Sweet Sixteens and can turn our nose up on those. We have 17 Sweet Sixteen appearances in the history of the program. 11 of those came before 1980. We are not the program that a decent amount of Scoopers think we are.

In all fairness we had to win only one game to get into the S16 before 1980.

[ghostofcorms77]

Maybe that is why we have the team we have this year. We spent money like a top 40 program before the NIL/Revenue sharing era. Not sure if we'll be in the top 40 going forward, but if Seton Hall can put a competitive team with supposedly less resources than we have on the court there is no reason to lose hope; unless the Administration does not want to spend that kind of money anymore. Again, it will be an interesting off season.

I always feared we couldn't compete in this new era of college athletics. But...

I can promise you, we're in the T40. Between the initial investment, the proposed practice facility, and our NIL... we are in the T40. The only reason we aren't in the T40, would be a result of the coach not using all the resources available to him, which is the rumor atm.

Finances aren't a problem, when the boosters are in unison. I do believe, if there ever is a situation where Shaka were to leave, and Marquette didn't have a buyout to pay... you'd be surprised at who we'd call, and the resources that'd be afforded to the new coach.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

... you'd be surprised at who we'd call, and the resources that'd be afforded to the new coach.

It's Billy Donovan isn't it....I mean you have to, right?

[ghostofcorms77]

It's Billy Donovan isn't it....I mean you have to, right?

I'm not going to name names. As I find it pointless to spend the next 3 months arguing over who would take the job, and who wouldn't, we can't afford his, yes we can, etc.

What I will say. Is we'd be a lot of coaches 1st choice, should it come open. And there's a chance some coaches you wouldn't expect to take the call, would entertain the idea.

[forgetful]

It's Billy Donovan isn't it....I mean you have to, right?

And Shaka would stay on as his assistant.

[wadesworld]

It's Billy Donovan isn't it....I mean you have to, right?

This is awesome.

[Elonsmusk]

I'm not going to name names. As I find it pointless to spend the next 3 months arguing over who would take the job, and who wouldn't, we can't afford his, yes we can, etc.

What I will say. Is we'd be a lot of coaches 1st choice, should it come open. And there's a chance some coaches you wouldn't expect to take the call, would entertain the idea.

Like Porter Moser?

[ghostofcorms77]

Like Porter Moser?

No

[GoldenEagles03]

Like Porter Moser?

Portal Moser*

[JTJ3]

Moser would take the Marquette job tomorrow, but he would be far down the list for us.  And we wont have to go that far down the list either.

[Zog from Margo]

.... you'd be surprised at who we'd call, and the resources that'd be afforded to the new coach.

I've heard this before. MU has never hired a top head coach from another program who was at the peak of his game. Shaka is the closest and he was on some thin ice at UT.

[Zog from Margo]

I do not expect MU to can Shaka at the end of the season, but I'm surprised at those who simply call this a "down" year. Missing the NCAAs would be a down year. Finishing last in the BE and playing the way MU is playing is a disaster. The team is clueless on both ends of the floor. If MU goes winless in the BE, I'd suspect Shaka's job security would be shaky at best.

[ghostofcorms77]

I've heard this before. MU has never hired a top head coach from another program who was at the peak of his game. Shaka is the closest and he was on some thin ice at UT.

Times have changed. I'm not going to use names. But there are boosters who are willing, and very capable of making things happen.

We had to pay Wojo to leave, something around $14m. So your options were more limited, than what they'd be should Shaka leave on his own accord.

[Jay Bee]

We had to pay Wojo to leave, something around $14m.

#FakeNews #Lies

[ghostofcorms77]

#FakeNews #Lies

#FakeNews #Lies

Marquette University paid former head coach Steve Wojciechowski over $10 million in total buyout payments following his firing in March 2021.
Key details regarding the buyout include:
Total Amount: The payments made to Wojciechowski to not coach the team totaled over $10 million in the 2022 and 2023 fiscal years.
Payment Breakdown: In 2023 alone, two years after his firing, the school paid him $4.6 million.
Context: While the initial reported buyout figure was around $6 million in 2021, subsequent tax filings revealed the total amount exceeded $10 million.
Total Earnings: Over his nine years associated with the school, including salary and buyouts, he received over $25 million.

[rocky_warrior]

I do not expect MU to can Shaka at the end of the season, but I'm surprised at those who simply call this a "down" year. Missing the NCAAs would be a down year. Finishing last in the BE and playing the way MU is playing is a disaster. The team is clueless on both ends of the floor. If MU goes winless in the BE, I'd suspect Shaka's job security would be shaky at best.

I fully expected a re-building year, hopeful the team could get to bubble status.  I'd be a slightly disappointed, but still a content fan if that were transpiring.

This year is far worse.  Calling it a "down year" is like wondering why the smoke detector is going off when flames are shooting out of the windows.