A question for the Scoop elders

[BCHoopster]

As bad as many teams have been in the past, I do not remember teams not even being competitive, this team is that.  Losing by 20 or more is the norm it seems

[WhiteTrash]

As bad as many teams have been in the past, I do not remember teams not even being competitive, this team is that.  Losing by 20 or more is the norm it seems

I figured a few weeks ago it would be a bad season, maybe 20 losses, but was 100% in Shaka's corner. Lately I'm convinced Shaka or the team have simply given up. A drastic collapse like this is usually a sign of some major off the court issue.

It appears they don't practice or prepare for games. It's like Shaka just rolls out the ball.

[Biggie Clausen]

I wouldn't say I'm an elder, but I remember that 1998-99 team, and they were really bad.  Jon Harris, John Polonowski, John Mueller, Bart Miller, and Greg Clausen all on scholarship.  Mike Bargen as the second leading scorer.  I suppose they had Brian Wardle and Cordell Henry, but that's a lot of dead weight at the end of the bench.

So, this is at least the worst team since then, and that was Deane's worst team (might've been the only one with no KO recruits) and before that you'd probably have to go back to the late 80s.  I'm not sure if the current squad - at least the one we've seen the last few games - would beat 98-99 if they squared off, and it's probably not worth thinking about.

What I will say is this is the strangest season I can remember.  While the signs of trouble were there in the second half of last year, I don't know that any of us expected this combination of lack of talent, bad coaching, and negativity/drama.  It's like Deane times Wojo divided by Buzz.

[NCMUFan]

My father was an MU grad.  As a kid, remember watching on TV this team in bubble bee uniforms and players like Gary Brell, Larry McNeil, Bob Lackey.  Freshman year at MU was the National Championship.  80's to 90's too busy with studies or working out of state to follow.  But picked it back up in 2000s. Can't say I know what is wrong with this team.  Must be just a talent discrepancy between us and the competition.

[Jay Bee]

Your just a kid, not an elder. An elder is an alum who graduated at least 45-50 years ago and on SS.

*You're

[AccredoJoe]

Class of 75. Dukiet was bad but at least his name rhymed with Marquette. Since I live is Omaha now my friends certainly were a bit obnoxious yesterday. My wife was Creighton nursing student. This is the worst. The team is clueless. I hate to,say this but since I'm in the at the end of my life cycle I'm half way into the last quarter of the game hoping for overtime. Don't want to waste precious time watching an inferior product.

[Johnny B]

Class of 75. Dukiet was bad but at least his name rhymed with Marquette. Since I live is Omaha now my friends certainly were a bit obnoxious yesterday. My wife was Creighton nursing student. This is the worst. The team is clueless. I hate to,say this but since I'm in the at the end of my life cycle I'm half way into the last quarter of the game hoping for overtime. Don't want to waste precious time watching an inferior product.

In my mind I had pronouncing it DUE-key-et the whole time. It's Due- Quette..?

[AccredoJoe]

Yes - when he was hired the newsletter that went out and a big deal it. He did play the piano at the announcement event as well. Literally went back playing pianos in bars after leaving coaching

[MU62]

Would have to go back to Ed Hickeys era, maybe his last season. Back in those days we did have Don Kojis who was a stud. But as I recall, his last year was like 5-21. Too lazy to look it up and get a bad memory.
Something definitely needs to have a significant emotional event to get this stuff to change now. Saw the team going downhill last year but did not fathom it would be this bad. The gap is now a chasm and really don't see much to change it. Might as well play the young guys now to let them grow. Probably too late, but bring some of the redshirt out.

Yes the team was 5 and 21 in the 63-64 year and Hickey was given the choice of quitting or being fired.  He quit.  The year before the made the NIT with a 20-9 record.  They had decent teams under Hickey but that last year of his six years was terrible.   

[MUEng92]

I wouldn't rate this team quite as bad as Dukiet's 88-89 team.  Other than Tony Smith, cupboard was really bare.  There were no good freshmen and Trevor Powell out of Milwaukee Washington HS was the only sophomore who was anything. 

This team and Dukiet's teams are close enough that it doesn't speak highly of either one.  I will say the 1980's Tony Smith would make this year's team MUCH better.

[HutchwasClutch]

In my mind I had pronouncing it DUE-key-et the whole time. It's Due- Quette..?

Yes. I is silent. 

[Nukem2]

As one who has followed the program as a student, grad and ardent fan and supporter since the late 50s, I find this to be a tough season to absorb especially since there are still 19 games remaining including the BET. The Dukiet years have been the hardest to take. While there is disappointment this year there is reason for some optimism that was not there for Dukiet based on the active frosh, the redshirt frosh and incoming recruits as well as potential'26 recruits as well as hopeful development. But still believe there should be some careful use of the portal and rethinking how revenue sharing and external NIL possibilities are used in the recruiting process as well as among current guys on the roster.

[MuggsyB]

Agreed.  I don't have any inside info, but I'm really getting a vibe that there is something much bigger going on that is causing this

I can't believe that 1. Shaka has lost his ability to coach, 2. These players don't have even mid-major level of skill and/or 3. That the coaches and players dislike and distrust each so much that they can't work together.

Purely a guess,  but I think Shaka is leaving by his choice.

Are you speculating we'll see him during the tournament in different gear a la Buzz.  And that the team has known this?  I haven't really gotten that vibe.  I just know we're really bad. 

[Richie]

I didn't intend to be nitpicking your post.  The way it was worded gives the impression to those not around then his tenure at MU was longer than 3 years. 


Thanks....sorry for the over-reaction, I am too proud of living through the dark ages of MU BB!

[MuggsyB]

I stated after the Valpo game (a game we should have lost) that we are somewhere around #225-250 in the country.  Perhaps we're closer to #300.  Now maybe it doesn't matter if we're 225, 250, 275, 300 etc.  What does matter is having a bad season or a "rebuild" is entirely different from what we've seen from this MU team on the floor.

When you have a team who isn't capable of competing with a top 100 squad and zero light at the end of the tunnel?  Combined with how good we've been and the tremendous history of our program?  THIS CAN'T HAPPEN.  PERIOD AND END OF DISCUSSION.  If MU plays it's A+ game, whatever that might be, we still aren't beating a tournament team this season.  And keep in mind the BEast is WAY down this season.  In any other year we would have 0.0 chance against any program but DePaul.  As it stands we still could easily be 2-18 based on what we've seen.

So to say this is a total mess is a vast understatement.  I believe we must have a very clear idea where we are going moving forward by the end of March.  Can you lift a redshirt now?  I understand Shaka isn't going to say that certain players won't be back but we have to have some indication that we will be looking for immediate proven talent.  We went from having two absolutely F4 potential MU teams to this total debacle with zero hope.  It's unprecedented in 2 years.  We must make drastic and immediate changes to deal with this train wreck. It can't wait until the end of '26-27. 

[muwarrior69]

*You're

Well the way the season is going you got nothing better to do than to check an old timer's grammar. Hope the the mods are paying you well as my Scoop membership just doubled. Come to think of it didn't Scoop have a spell checker at some point?

I am sure no one misunderstood my post. Then again maybe I should start a bad grammar and spelling thread just to keep you busy. We know the difference between were/we are/we're but sometimes we are/we're just in a hurry and make typos and don't check if the post is completely correct.

However, thanks for the correction.

Is this a "thing" for you?

[Silkk the Shaka]

I wouldn't say I'm an elder, but I remember that 1998-99 team, and they were really bad.  Jon Harris, John Polonowski, John Mueller, Bart Miller, and Greg Clausen all on scholarship.  Mike Bargen as the second leading scorer.  I suppose they had Brian Wardle and Cordell Henry, but that's a lot of dead weight at the end of the bench.

So, this is at least the worst team since then, and that was Deane's worst team (might've been the only one with no KO recruits) and before that you'd probably have to go back to the late 80s.  I'm not sure if the current squad - at least the one we've seen the last few games - would beat 98-99 if they squared off, and it's probably not worth thinking about.

What I will say is this is the strangest season I can remember.  While the signs of trouble were there in the second half of last year, I don't know that any of us expected this combination of lack of talent, bad coaching, and negativity/drama.  It's like Deane times Wojo divided by Buzz.

'98-99 was 111 on kenpom (abominable). This team is currently 117, and that's with a preseason #47 still baked into some of the #s. I think it's safe to say this team is worse 😭😭😭

[vogue65]

When Al arrived from Belmont Abbey we went nuts. Who? Where?  Why?
Initially it was a disaster, he fought with everyone.  Then it started to work. He got his guys from the city, he installed his culture, he turned Marquette into Marquette.

So it's time to reload, no problem.  I look forward to our first win and first upset victory.  This team will test out loyalty.

[Viper]

I wouldn't say I'm an elder, but I remember that 1998-99 team, and they were really bad.  Jon Harris, John Polonowski, John Mueller, Bart Miller, and Greg Clausen all on scholarship.  Mike Bargen as the second leading scorer.  I suppose they had Brian Wardle and Cordell Henry, but that's a lot of dead weight at the end of the bench.

So, this is at least the worst team since then, and that was Deane's worst team (might've been the only one with no KO recruits) and before that you'd probably have to go back to the late 80s.  I'm not sure if the current squad - at least the one we've seen the last few games - would beat 98-99 if they squared off, and it's probably not worth thinking about.

What I will say is this is the strangest season I can remember.  While the signs of trouble were there in the second half of last year, I don't know that any of us expected this combination of lack of talent, bad coaching, and negativity/drama.  It's like Deane times Wojo divided by Buzz.

Deane x's Wojo / Buzz... + Dukiet. it's the new math 🤣

[TSmith34, Inc.]

This team and Dukiet's teams are close enough that it doesn't speak highly of either one.  I will say the 1980's Tony Smith would make this year's team MUCH better.

Current day Tony Smith would make this team better.

[Jay Bee]

You're right. It's not a game anymore where an athlete can just get a free education. The Coaches and ADs don't have as much control over the players as in the past. Their all free agents and expect to be treated as such.

*They're

[Billy Hoyle]

I wouldn't say I'm an elder, but I remember that 1998-99 team, and they were really bad.  Jon Harris, John Polonowski, John Mueller, Bart Miller, and Greg Clausen all on scholarship.  Mike Bargen as the second leading scorer.  I suppose they had Brian Wardle and Cordell Henry, but that's a lot of dead weight at the end of the bench.

Mueller was a walk-on (at least he came in as a one). Harris was a freshman that year and was a grinder and leader during his career (2-year captain). We could use a Jon Harris type on this year's team.