The Altercation

[Elonsmusk]

The venn diagram of people freaking out over the MUBB tweet and the people irrationally mad about shaka/this season is an overlapping circle.

No matter what MU did or did not do after the davenport tweet would have been framed as wrong.

100% correct.  As is Pakuni and his take that this is nothing more than faux outrage from those who are all twisted about this tweet language.

The Cracked Sidewalks tweet was ridiculous and more faux outrage - I'm sure BrewCity77 is responsible for this clown tweet:

https://x.com/CrackedSidewlks/status/2005469477069373483

[Pakuni]

Now in tomorrow's post game, Ben HAS to ask about it, and Shaka HAS to respond. That's a stupid position to put the program and coach in when they could've just said nothing and it would've blown over.

Ben was going to ask about the reasons for Zaide's departure anyhow. And Shaka was going to have to respond anyhow. And once they do, it'll blow over.

[Viper]

Wow, talk about overreacting.

which do you disagree with...that Marquette basketball is currently a crapshow, or the downfall has been swift?
The downfall started about a year ago. That a proud, winning program is not only offering an on-court crapshow, but is 100% in the crapper is irrefutable.

[wadesworld]

Ben was going to ask about the reasons for Zaide's departure anyhow. And Shaka was going to have to respond anyhow. And once they do, it'll blow over.

Exactly.  I do not understand how people actually think that if Marquette's basketball account hadn't Tweeted that there wasn't an altercation, or that the details of an altercation were incorrect, that Ben Steele would simply avoid the subject of a guy who had began the season as a starter leaving the program in the middle of the season.  Come on now.  So much irrationality here.

[brewcity77]

The Cracked Sidewalks tweet was ridiculous and more faux outrage - I'm sure BrewCity77 is responsible for this clown tweet:

https://x.com/CrackedSidewlks/status/2005469477069373483

As usual, you are wrong. The take, however, is correct.

[brewcity77]

Ben was going to ask about the reasons for Zaide's departure anyhow. And Shaka was going to have to respond anyhow. And once they do, it'll blow over.

He would've asked about the departure. Now he has to ask about The Altercation. And that question is wholly of Marquette's making.

[GoldenEagles03]

He would've asked about the departure. Now he has to ask about The Altercation. And that question is wholly of Marquette's making.

Inaccurate

[Elonsmusk]

As usual, you are wrong. The take, however, is correct.

Nah...I know I'm right on this one.  That tweet reeks of angry BrewCity77.  If only hot dogs had been served at the free open scrimmage awhile back. 

[brewcity77]

Inaccurate

Nominee for post of the year, but only if you edit it 

[brewcity77]

Nah...I know I'm right on this one.  That tweet reeks of angry BrewCity77.  If only hot dogs had been served at the free open scrimmage awhile back. 

I haven't tweeted from that account in over a decade. I'm barely on Twitter at all.

[GoldenEagles03]

Nominee for post of the year, but only if you edit it 

I saw a tweet yesterday that had me laughing out loud. They kept the #MUBB and #WeAreMarquette in the footer of the original message. Just absolutely hilarious.

[jesmu84]

He would've asked about the departure. Now he has to ask about The Altercation. And that question is wholly of Marquette's making.

Ben wouldn't have asked if there was an altercation had MU not tweeted at all?

[Pakuni]

He would've asked about the departure. Now he has to ask about The Altercation. And that question is wholly of Marquette's making.

I just hope Shaka and the program can recover from being asked a slightly modified version of a question he was going to be asked regardless.
Saying a prayer for him tonight.

[panda]

***Reporter before Marquette tweet - "Shaka, is there anything you want to say regarding Zaide leaving the program?"

Shaka - "We wish him well, he's good hard-working kid and we will help him land somewhere we he can succeed."

***Reporter after Marquette tweet - "Shaka, can you address the rumors swirling of a physical altercation between a player and staff member? Was that the reason the player left your program? Was he kicked off of the team, or did he decide to leave on his own?

Shaka - "Next question. I won't be addressing rumors."

There is a big difference optically in the response between the two.

[Pakuni]

***Reporter before Marquette tweet - "Shaka, is there anything you want to say regarding Zaide leaving the program?"

Shaka - "We wish him well, he's good hard-working kid and we will help him land somewhere we he can succeed."

***Reporter after Marquette tweet - "Shaka, can you address the rumors swirling of a physical altercation between a player and staff member? Was that the reason the player left your program? Was he kicked off of the team, or did he decide to leave on his own?

Shaka - "Next question. I won't be addressing rumors."

There is a big difference optically in the response between the two.

Neither question would be/will be asked that way.

[connie]

There is a big difference optically in the response between the two.

Is there?  I'm going to need an explanation on why because I see them both as coach-speak non answers.  Which, to be fair, is all that I ever expected to hear from any coach about a departing player.

[Dish]

Since the original tweet came from White Sox Bill, aren't we not allowed to get excited about all this?

[jesmu84]

***Reporter before Marquette tweet - "Shaka, is there anything you want to say regarding Zaide leaving the program?"

Shaka - "We wish him well, he's good hard-working kid and we will help him land somewhere we he can succeed."

***Reporter after Marquette tweet - "Shaka, can you address the rumors swirling of a physical altercation between a player and staff member? Was that the reason the player left your program? Was he kicked off of the team, or did he decide to leave on his own?

Shaka - "Next question. I won't be addressing rumors."

There is a big difference optically in the response between the two.

Why wouldn't Ben ask about physical altercation rumors if MU never tweeted?

[brewcity77]

I'm just glad the program defenders are working harder on their responses in this thread than Marquette's MBB social media manager put into that tweet.

[Pakuni]

I'm just glad the program defenders are working harder on their responses in this thread than Marquette's MBB social media manager put into that tweet.

I've been plenty critical of the program on issues that actually matter ... roster construction, the portal, use of resources, recruiting, etc. I was saying long ago that Shaka's strategy would lead to a decline, while some of us were painting a wildly inaccurate and rosy picture about this team's prospects.

Maybe if things were rolling on the court I'd have to stoop to hot dogs and tweets for something to complain about. But as it is, I find it trivial and unimportant.

[StillWarriors]

I can see the signs in MSG now:  "MU has inaccurate tweets."  No doubt the crushing impact of this fearsome blow will result in a first round exit.

Huh? Reading is a skill.

[rocky_warrior]

Maybe if things were rolling on the court I'd have to stoop to hot dogs and tweets for something to complain about. But as it is, I find it trivial and unimportant.

Actually, it IS the most interesting conversation about Marquette hoops right now, as evidenced by your replies 

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Which doesn't mean you have to validate it.

Except...they didn't do that. With the original tweet or the edit.

No, the correct response would have been far different. First, it shouldn't have been a flippant Twitter reply. It could've been an anonymous report to a trusted local or national source, like Ben Steele or Matt Norlander. Or have an official statement that actually reflects the message you want to put out there.

There's no way to justify making an inadequate response to a known troll account that was "corrected" to make the problem worse as not an issue. Now in tomorrow's post game, Ben HAS to ask about it, and Shaka HAS to respond. That's a stupid position to put the program and coach in when they could've just said nothing and it would've blown over.

Wrong.  You're assuming it would have "blown over".  You're assuming it wouldn't have spread further, yet you had dumbasses here repeating it as fact.  People here have quoted that account multiple times thinking it was an actual source because they don't take the time to look into it. 

If you don't think that could have spread further or continued to impact Zaide adversely with it being ignored I don't know what to tell you other than you're wrong.

Unfortunately, this is the world we live in now.  Criticizing the execution is fair.  Ignoring wouldn't have been the right move.

[Pakuni]

Actually, it IS the most interesting conversation about Marquette hoops right now, as evidenced by your replies 

Kinda fair point, but I wouldn't call interesting a synonym for important.

[rocky_warrior]

Kinda fair point, but I wouldn't call interesting a synonym for important.

Oh, well I totally agree it's trivial and unimportant!

Well, Zaide leaving is the important part.  But even if he needed to go, the question of how/why now is interesting.