We’re #1 …

[MU82]

... in yet another Biggest Disappointment ranking, this time from The Athletic:

Team: Marquette

Shaka Smart's longtime "no transfers" approach worked out OK the last few seasons — especially with Tyler Kolek, Kam Jones and Oso Ighodaro as a reliable core — but everything has come crashing down for the Golden Eagles this season. Marquette sits at 5-8, without a single top-200 win, and has looked completely out of its depth against most of the high-major competition it has faced. Senior guard Sean Jones, a potential breakout candidate coming off a torn ACL last season, has missed six of the team's 13 games with a nagging shoulder injury, but a team's margin for error is slim without portal reinforcements. Marquette made the NCAA Tournament in each of Smart's first four seasons, but with that streak almost certainly coming to an end, it's hard to imagine Smart won't be shopping in the portal next offseason.

Honorable mention: Kentucky (9-4), St. John's (8-4)

[Billy Hoyle]

Senior guard Sean Jones, a potential breakout candidate

really, Athletic?
 

[brewcity77]

Marquette needs a win tonight to avoid a losing 2025 calendar year. Currently sitting at 16-17.

[MU82]

really, Athletic?
 

Yeah, that actually was my second thought as I read it.

When you mention only one Marquette player in the context of everything else in this piece, and it's Sean Jones, it indicates a lack of knowledge. But I thought I'd post it anyway and let everyone make their own judgment.

[#UnleashMalik]

Why were so many people thinking Sean Jones was going to be a breakout player after the acl tear?

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Why were so many people thinking Sean Jones was going to be a breakout player after the acl tear?

An ACL tear, on a guy that relied on speed and change of direction, and whose previous play didn't scream breakout in the least.

[Jay Bee]

Why were so many people thinking Sean Jones was going to be a breakout player after the acl tear?

Certain people really thought the UCLA triple was a clear sign he'd be amazing. smh

[rocky_warrior]

Marquette needs a win tonight to avoid a losing 2025 calendar year. Currently sitting at 16-17.

Oops.

[MarquetteMike1977]

... in yet another Biggest Disappointment ranking, this time from The Athletic:

Team: Marquette

Shaka Smart's longtime "no transfers" approach worked out OK the last few seasons — especially with Tyler Kolek, Kam Jones and Oso Ighodaro as a reliable core — but everything has come crashing down for the Golden Eagles this season. Marquette sits at 5-8, without a single top-200 win, and has looked completely out of its depth against most of the high-major competition it has faced. Senior guard Sean Jones, a potential breakout candidate coming off a torn ACL last season, has missed six of the team's 13 games with a nagging shoulder injury, but a team's margin for error is slim without portal reinforcements. Marquette made the NCAA Tournament in each of Smart's first four seasons, but with that streak almost certainly coming to an end, it's hard to imagine Smart won't be shopping in the portal next offseason.

Honorable mention: Kentucky (9-4), St. John's (8-4)

Kentucky's NET is in the 20's Saint John's NET was in the 30s Marquette's NET is approaching 200!!!!! Ugh we are bad!

[jfp61]

Certain people really thought the UCLA triple was a clear sign he'd be amazing. smh

meanwhile i am still unsure if he is better than tre norman

[wadesworld]

I've never heard people refer to a team's record over 12 months until now. It's one of the dumber things I've seen, which is saying a lot. It's an entirely different season with an entirely different roster. Last year was not the problem. The roster put together for this year is the problem.

[WhiteTrash]

I've never heard people refer to a team's record over 12 months until now. It's one of the dumber things I've seen, which is saying a lot. It's an entirely different season with an entirely different roster. Last year was not the problem. The roster put together for this year is the problem.

I get your point, but unless I missed something and Shaka went all in on the transfer portal, this is not "an entirely different roster" or even mostly different.

[#UnleashMalik]

I've never heard people refer to a team's record over 12 months until now. It's one of the dumber things I've seen, which is saying a lot. It's an entirely different season with an entirely different roster. Last year was not the problem. The roster put together for this year is the problem.

well, we saw the holes in the roster last season when Kam Magic wore off. Minus superstar Kam its basically the same team.

Instead of Jop chucking, weve got Parham chucking.

Pretending Stevie was amazing? Weve got "lockdown" defense Sean Jones now.

The rest are the same, Ben continues to look lost, Chase has flashes of athleticism followed with bone head play.

[SOSW]

I've never heard people refer to a team's record over 12 months until now. It's one of the dumber things I've seen, which is saying a lot. It's an entirely different season with an entirely different roster. Last year was not the problem. The roster put together for this year is the problem.

A year ago today, Marquette was ranked 8th in the country, fell off enough that they were unranked by the season's end, and now are one of the worst high major teams in college basketball. All without a player exiting that wasn't expected except for Zaide who left less than a week ago.

If you can't figure out why that's notable, I don't know what to tell you.

[wadesworld]

A year ago today, Marquette was ranked 8th in the country, fell off enough that they were unranked by the season's end, and now are one of the worst high major teams in college basketball. All without a player exiting that wasn't expected except for Zaide who left less than a week ago.

If you can't figure out why that's notable, I don't know what to tell you.

This season is notable. Has nothing to do with last year. Sports aren't played by the past 12 calendar months or by calendar year. That's just making things up to whine about. Nobody ever talks about sports that way, nor should they. They're two entirely separate seasons.

Last season was fine. Not great, but fine. This season is a catastrophe. There's no need to make up a pointless timeframe to look at a combined record of two different teams and seasons.

[SOSW]

This season is notable. Has nothing to do with last year. Sports aren't played by the past 12 calendar months or by calendar year. That's just making things up to whine about. Nobody ever talks about sports that way, nor should they. They're two entirely separate seasons.

Last season was fine. Not great, but fine. This season is a catastrophe. There's no need to make up a pointless timeframe to look at a combined record of two different teams and seasons.

I've seen stuff like "the momentum from last season carried over to this one" multiple times. It's not unheard of at all.

By the way,it's very odd that you repeatedly call people here "whiners" yet you're out here calling this season a "catastrophe."

Maybe you should have some more self-reflection.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I've seen stuff like "the momentum from last season carried over to this one" multiple times. It's not unheard of at all.

By the way,it's very odd that you repeatedly call people here "whiners" yet you're out here calling this season a "catastrophe."

Maybe you should have some more self-reflection.

You should probably take your own advice.

And I've not once heard anyone say momentum on the floor carries over 7-8 months later. That's ludicrous.

[wadesworld]

I've seen stuff like "the momentum from last season carried over to this one" multiple times. It's not unheard of at all.

By the way,it's very odd that you repeatedly call people here "whiners" yet you're out here calling this season a "catastrophe."

Maybe you should have some more self-reflection.

Yeah there are a lot of people whining about meaningless things. Including the record of a team over a 12 month period, as if that matters at all.

Let's pretend we win 4 more total games this year. Somehow Shaka hits the portal hard, knocks it out of the park, Egbuonu and Sheek are immediate contributors, our non-con schedule isn't amazing next season, and we play DePaul and Providence to start BE play before New Years next year and we start 12-2 before 1/1/27. Do you really think people will really be referencing going .500 in the year 2026?

"Nice start to the season boys! But only .500 in 2026. Barely better than 2025. Not good enough."

[panda]

Yeah there are a lot of people whining about meaningless things. Including the record of a team over a 12 month period, as if that matters at all.

Let's pretend we win 4 more total games this year. Somehow Shaka hits the portal hard, knocks it out of the park, Egbuonu and Sheek are immediate contributors, our non-con schedule isn't amazing next season, and we play DePaul and Providence to start BE play before New Years next year and we start 12-2 before 1/1/27. Do you really think people will really be referencing going .500 in the year 2026?

"Nice start to the season boys! But only .500 in 2026. Barely better than 2025. Not good enough."

Starting hot next year would be bucking the trend of the last year and a half. I would happily ignore the poor results if that happened because results are improving.

A January to march slide last season (mostly because of lack of depth/poor roster construction) leads to even worse performance (mostly because of poor roster construction) equals a trend.

It's only irrelevant if you want to ignore a large patterns of strongly related of events.

[SOSW]

Starting hot next year would be bucking the trend of the last year and a half. I would happily ignore the poor results if that happened because results are improving.

A January to march slide last season (mostly because of lack of depth/poor roster construction) leads to even worse performance (mostly because of poor roster construction) equals a trend.

It's only irrelevant if you want to ignore a large patterns of strongly related of events.

Correct.

[SOSW]

You should probably take your own advice.

And I've not once heard anyone say momentum on the floor carries over 7-8 months later. That's ludicrous.

You should pay more attention.

[MU86NC]

This season is notable. Has nothing to do with last year. Sports aren't played by the past 12 calendar months or by calendar year. That's just making things up to whine about. Nobody ever talks about sports that way, nor should they. They're two entirely separate seasons.

Last season was fine. Not great, but fine. This season is a catastrophe. There's no need to make up a pointless timeframe to look at a combined record of two different teams and seasons.

I agree it's not a number anyone measures or talks about but it isn't stupid... this team was born from last years 2nd half decline...

[Vander Blue Man Group]

You should pay more attention.

Again, take your own advice. 

I'm sorry you don't understand the difference between momentum within an organization or program vs. momentum on the court of the field.