Losing the Fight

[panda]

Much has been made of the current situation of our once storied program. Let's cut to the chase -

Does Shaka deserve another year? Reflexively I say he's simply because of his past accomplishments with the program.

However, examining the situation below surface level, this is a disaster completely of Shaka's own doing.

1 - Roster building malpractice. Shaka carried Al Amadou, Josh Clark and Caedin Hamilton last season when we desperately needed help down low as well as guard depth.

2 - Ignoring the portal. No one is begging for big names or full roster overhaul each season. But when you are looking to create a team who can compete at the highest level, ignoring a roster building strategy which can improve your team is gross negligence.

3 - RGV. Aside from this being an absolute crock...Every other program in the country works on this, like no duh this is just obvious. Shaka completely over backed himself into a corner with this. He's in a no win situation following this year when he will need to have tough conversations with 90% of this roster if we want to compete next season. He either banks on the growth part of RGV for next year (lol) or he becomes what he hates and flips the roster to compete next season.

Which comes to the poll - please vote above.

[Billy Hoyle]

Much has been made of the current situation of our once storied program. Let's cut to the chase -

Does Shaka deserve another year? Reflexively I say he's simply because of his past accomplishments with the program.

However, examining the situation below surface level, this is a disaster completely of Shaka's own doing.

1 - Roster building malpractice. Shaka carried Al Amadou, Josh Clark and Caedin Hamilton last season when we desperately needed help down low as well as guard depth.

He may have failed with roster building but he's excelled with brand building.

[GoldenEagles03]

I doubt he gets fired. He will have to leave on his own or mutually agree to leave for a departure next year in all likelihood.

[DoctorV]

Shaka deserves 2 more years, even if of the non tourney variety.

If he misses the tournament 3 consecutive years then I will reassess.

Let the man do his job and cut it out with the nonsense.

[hawk]

Dry your eyes and get over yourself.  Shaka will return next season for certain.  This is an off year full stop.  Next year already looks better.  There is nothing wrong with Hamilton or Clark, both can contribute minutes on a successful team.  for 35 mimutes or so MU looked like a unified cohesive force on the court.  The end of game I think goes directly to Smart for trying to play the clock and not the opponent.  The team will learn form this I am sure.  Gold had a career day which on one hand speaks volumes about his career at MU but on the other has exposed to everyone and himself how good a player he can be going to the rack and playing big.  The same could be said for Parham who showed great ability to work inside.  If these two guys continue to play that way with that intensity this could well be a much better team moving forward.  The same could be said for Ross, he needs to score the ball more going to the rack and not trying to make a ton of 3's.  Together with James, this make a solid base from woch to build and if Owens grows into his roll this could be a pretty decent team by season's end. This is the ugly side of what growth looks like, next season will show the beauty of the the struggle to grow.

[Galway Eagle]

Shaka carried Al Amadou, Josh Clark and Caedin Hamilton last season

Al, while a project, was just outside the top 150 on 247 (165) and held offers from St John's, Miami, Georgia Tech, and St Joseph's. That's quite a bit different than Clark and Hamilton. That puts him around Greg Elliott who was 159. It's not unheard of for MU to take those guys.

[SOSW]

Shaka deserves 2 more years, even if of the non tourney variety.

If he has another year like this one, there is zero chance he's back for another.

[Galway Eagle]

Dry your eyes and get over yourself.  Shaka will return next season for certain.  This is an off year full stop.  Next year already looks better.  There is nothing wrong with Hamilton or Clark, both can contribute minutes on a successful team.  for 35 mimutes or so MU looked like a unified cohesive force on the court.  The end of game I think goes directly to Smart for trying to play the clock and not the opponent.  The team will learn form this I am sure.  Gold had a career day which on one hand speaks volumes about his career at MU but on the other has exposed to everyone and himself how good a player he can be going to the rack and playing big.  The same could be said for Parham who showed great ability to work inside.  If these two guys continue to play that way with that intensity this could well be a much better team moving forward.  The same could be said for Ross, he needs to score the ball more going to the rack and not trying to make a ton of 3's.  Together with James, this make a solid base from woch to build and if Owens grows into his roll this could be a pretty decent team by season's end. This is the ugly side of what growth looks like, next season will show the beauty of the the struggle to grow.

So many LOLs in this.

[SOSW]

Dry your eyes and get over yourself.  Shaka will return next season for certain.  This is an off year full stop.  Next year already looks better.

It does? How?

[DoctorV]

If he has another year like this one, there is zero chance he's back for another.

He won't.

If he does, the odds aren't 0 that he's back for another

[Galway Eagle]

Shaka deserves 2 more years, even if of the non tourney variety.

If he misses the tournament 3 consecutive years then I will reassess.

Let the man do his job and cut it out with the nonsense.

Teal? No way anyone with remotely average expectations says a guy deserves three no tournament years... of his own recruiting classes. That wouldn't have been given to buzz or Crean let alone Shaka.

[Billy Hoyle]

So many LOLs in this.

I stopped reading after "There is nothing wrong with Hamilton or Clark."

Sure, if you're Purdue-Fort Wayne...a team that has actually beaten a P4 opponent this season.

[GoldenEagles03]

Shaka deserves 2 more years, even if of the non tourney variety.

If he misses the tournament 3 consecutive years then I will reassess.

Let the man do his job and cut it out with the nonsense.

That's outrageous.

No one deserves more than a second chance in this era. The easy fixes are right there for you to figure out. Avoiding them on purpose is digging your own grave. He should get a chance to change his ways on the portal, but if he doesn't and they miss the tournament he should be fired.

[Viper]

Shaka deserves 2 more years, even if of the non tourney variety.

If he misses the tournament 3 consecutive years then I will reassess.

Let the man do his job and cut it out with the nonsense.

respectfully disagree. 2nd half of last season...now this season. Give him next, fine...but if the result is similar after 26/27, MU has to move on, imo. Mens basketball to MU is too important, for many reasons, to have not one but two more of this. And, if Shaka isn't willing to consider the portal after this season, maybe cutting bait in March is better for all concerned. Why the loyalty to a CEO, er coach that is paid handsomely that's apparently not utilizing all avenues to succeed? Results business. Stock price is dramatically falling.

[WhiteTrash]

He won't.

If he does, the odds aren't 0 that he's back for another

Maybe not zero, but Wojo has a better chance than Shaka to return.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Much has been made of the current situation of our once storied program. Let's cut to the chase -

Does Shaka deserve another year? Reflexively I say he's simply because of his past accomplishments with the program.

However, examining the situation below surface level, this is a disaster completely of Shaka's own doing.

1 - Roster building malpractice. Shaka carried Al Amadou, Josh Clark and Caedin Hamilton last season when we desperately needed help down low as well as guard depth.

2 - Ignoring the portal. No one is begging for big names or full roster overhaul each season. But when you are looking to create a team who can compete at the highest level, ignoring a roster building strategy which can improve your team is gross negligence.

3 - RGV. Aside from this being an absolute crock...Every other program in the country works on this, like no duh this is just obvious. Shaka completely over backed himself into a corner with this. He's in a no win situation following this year when he will need to have tough conversations with 90% of this roster if we want to compete next season. He either banks on the growth part of RGV for next year (lol) or he becomes what he hates and flips the roster to compete next season.

Which comes to the poll - please vote above.

"Have conversations with 90% of the roster".  More ridiculous hyperbole. 

We have one open spot.  If two more open up and Shaka 1) actually uses the portal and 2) does well in the portal, next year's team could be competitive. 

I would be more than happy to have the following guys back next season:

Parham
Owens
James
Stevens
Phillips
Clark
Pearson
Miletic
Walker
Egbuonu
Johnston