New Kenpom Stat Shows This Season Is On The Players, Not Shaka

[JTJ3]

Shaka will definitely get next year to fix this, assuming he doesn't leave on his own, but he has to win.  And to do that he's going to have to get uncomfortable and go into the portal because this roster needs a lot more talent.

If he doesn't, it's going to be a repeat of this year and he'll be fired.

[WhiteTrash]

Shaka will definitely get next year to fix this, assuming he doesn't leave on his own, but he has to win.  And to do that he's going to have to get uncomfortable and go into the portal because this roster needs a lot more talent.

If he doesn't, it's going to be a repeat of this year and he'll be fired.

I agree with this.

If it plays out that he gets fired after next year, no reporter or analyst or coach or anyone of matter will blame MU for being short sighted. MU will continue to be a top tier job for everyone in the coaching profession.

[MU82]

It's not about Wojo, as much as it is about context and pointing out pretzel logic. We've got some weird Scoopers (Rocky, Pakuni, BrewCity) who want to suggest Shaka should be on the hot seat for 1 bad year, who preached patience for 5+ yeas with Wojo - a guy whose best accomplishment was a 20+ point blowout as a 5 seed - that it took him 5 years to achieve.

Hmm.

[rocky_warrior]

Ever heard of a Catch 22?  What would you do if you're Shaka?  Do you agree it would be hard to win if your most veteran/highly regarded player shoots 24%  and takes 28% of your shots?  And that this kind of performance leads directly to losing?

Might be time for a little introspection when you find yourself agreeing with  trolls/drama kings like Panda, Onepost, and Viper.

If I was Shaka, and *if* I agreed that Chase is the reason that Marquette is losing, I would bench his ass.

But, you're the one sh*tting on Chase, and giving Shaka a pass.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Terribly unfair and disrespectful to Shaka.

If you think that Shaka feels he's just along for the ride to any degree, you don't think much of him as a program builder and leader.

It's not remotely disrespectful to Shaka nor is it inferring he's just along for the ride. 

[Elonsmusk]

If I was Shaka, and *if* I agreed that Chase is the reason that Marquette is losing, I would bench his ass.

But, you're the one sh*tting on Chase, and giving Shaka a pass.

Ahh no..I'm not sh*tting on Chase and giving Shaka a pass.  I'm suggesting it is stupid to pin all the blame on the coach, exclusively.  Players also have to perform.  And when your best player, is playing terribly, and the stats clearly show that to be true - it's really hard to win.

I don't blame Shaka for not benching Chase.  I wouldn't either. He's earned the right to start.  But that doesn't mean he's been a net negative to the team for the last month.  Thus, the Catch 22.

[rocky_warrior]

Ahh no..I'm not sh*tting on Chase and giving Shaka a pass.  I'm suggesting it is stupid to pin all the blame on the coach, exclusively.  Players also have to perform.  And when your best player, is playing terribly, and the stats clearly show that to be true - it's really hard to win.

I don't blame Shaka for not benching Chase.  I wouldn't either. He's earned the right to start.  But that doesn't mean he's been a net negative to the team for the last month.  Thus, the Catch 22.

The only catch is that shaka should have surrounded Chase with more talent.

He's the only MU player opposing teams need to shut down, which is why his numbers have gotten worse.

[Heisenberg]

Marquette is now 311 in eFG. Only two P4 + BE teams are worse: Rutgers and Boston College. These are the only P4 + BE teams ranked lower than MU.

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[MarquetteMike1977]

Marquette is now 311 in eFG. Only two P4 + BE teams are worse: Rutgers and Boston College. These are the only P4 + BE teams ranked lower than MU.

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Feel our players shooting among other things have regressed since high school

[GoFastAndWin]

Marquette is now 311 in eFG. Only two P4 + BE teams are worse: Rutgers and Boston College. These are the only P4 + BE teams ranked lower than MU.

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I knew there was some odd bad mojo as to why the only college sweatshirts I saw around Beverly on the South Side today were a guy in a Rutgers sweatshirt and another in a BC 😩 one.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Another chart from KenPom database showing how Marquette's shooting is not just bad, but historically/epically bad.

Marquette is shooting 30.6% from Three. This ranks them 289 out of 365 D1 teams.

The orange dots are P4 (ACC, B10, B12, SEC) plus BE teams. Only Boston College (the worst P4 + BE team) and Florida (highly rated, but they don't rely on 3P shooting) are worse.

Combine it with the 2-point shooting/distance stats above, and a strong case can be made that Marquette is not "just" a poor shooting team, but the single worst shooting team in all of D1 basketball.

All games through January 1
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(interesting side note, the best and worst three-point shooting teams are both from New Haven, CT.)

This is the University of New Haven's first season in D1 so the stat makes sense.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Earlier today, Paint Touches posted that Chase and Ben are shooting 3/35 from 3 in Big East play.  A solid 8.5%.

Ben is 0/10 on unguarded 3s while Chase is 1/5 for a stellar 1/15.

But our best players who have contributed meaningfully in the past on very good teams have no accountability for this mess?

[MU82]

I don't think many Scoopers are saying the players are blameless.

What many are saying is that the entire operation - including player procurement,  player development, and players being put in the best position to succeed during games - has been a mess.

And like it or not, the head coach is singularly in charge of the operation.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I don't think many Scoopers are saying the players are blameless.

What many are saying is that the entire operation - including player procurement,  player development, and players being put in the best position to succeed during games - has been a mess.

And like it or not, the head coach is singularly in charge of the operation.

All true but some have said it's all on Shaka.

[Pakuni]

Earlier today, Paint Touches posted that Chase and Ben are shooting 3/35 from 3 in Big East play.  A solid 8.5%.

Ben is 0/10 on unguarded 3s while Chase is 1/5 for a stellar 1/15.

But our best players who have contributed meaningfully in the past on very good teams have no accountability for this mess?

What's your theory for why these players have fallen off so much?

[WhiteTrash]

All true but some have said it's all on Shaka.

I read post like "this is not all Shaka's fault, but yes he is ultimately responsible". 

I don't know what you are trying to accomplish. So do you want Ben and Chase to kick-in money if MU buys out Shaka? Do you want MU to hang a banner "2025-26 Failure : 90% Shaka, 5% Ben, 5% Chase" ?

What is the end game here? Deane and Wojo had players who could have played better, should we be more critical of MU for firing them? 

Do you know who wants all the responsibility for the MU program?  Shaka does! 100% guaranteed.     That's why I find these posts demeaning to Shaka.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Shaka will definitely get next year to fix this, assuming he doesn't leave on his own, but he has to win.  And to do that he's going to have to get uncomfortable and go into the portal because this roster needs a lot more talent.

If he doesn't, it's going to be a repeat of this year and he'll be fired.

I mostly agree, but if Shaka decides to run it back with a last place roster that loses its two best players, it's essentially a lame duck year.

At that point, we're better off making a coaching change this year rather than waiting a year.

[NCMUFan]

When does Shaka have a serious discussion with the Scoop board members?

[tower912]

When does Shaka have a serious discussion with the Scoop board members?

Hopefully never.  Gadzooks.

[NCMUFan]

Sorry, should have put in teal.

[Scoop Snoop]

I mostly agree, but if Shaka decides to run it back with a last place roster that loses its two best players, it's essentially a lame duck year.

At that point, we're better off making a coaching change this year rather than waiting a year.

Yep. I hope that Coach Don Quixote, astride his horse, morphs back into Coach Shaka Smart, but if not....he can ride off into the sunset. All that he has accomplished at Marquette in his first 3 1/2 years (a LOT!) is irrelevant in any justification for continuing with anything even vaguely resembling the current sh!tshow. 

One point though-"two best players:" may be true again this season, but lately?

[MU82]

All true but some have said it's all on Shaka.

I haven't noticed that but if so, that's silly. I'll be looking out for it now.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I read post like "this is not all Shaka's fault, but yes he is ultimately responsible". 

I don't know what you are trying to accomplish. So do you want Ben and Chase to kick-in money if MU buys out Shaka? Do you want MU to hang a banner "2025-26 Failure : 90% Shaka, 5% Ben, 5% Chase" ?

What is the end game here? Deane and Wojo had players who could have played better, should we be more critical of MU for firing them? 

Do you know who wants all the responsibility for the MU program?  Shaka does! 100% guaranteed.     That's why I find these posts demeaning to Shaka.

I'm simply saying that there are certain things in regard to performance that a head coach can't control or account for. 

When your two seniors are performing well below their career norms in certain aspects of the game (3 point %, missing layup/dunks) for an extended period of time and it's impacting wins and losses, at a certain point that's on the players.

I'm really not sure what's so complicated or difficult to understand about that.

Georgetown and Seton Hall were both winnable games.  Chase & Ben went 3/17 and 0/9 from 3 in the Georgetown game. 

Ben played well overall in the SH game but was still 1/7 from 3.  Chase was 5/17 overall and 1/5 from 3, including a missed breakaway that changed the game. 

[Pakuni]

I'm simply saying that there are certain things in regard to performance that a head coach can't control or account for. 

When your two seniors are performing well below their career norms in certain aspects of the game (3 point %, missing layup/dunks) for an extended period of time and it's impacting wins and losses, at a certain point that's on the players.

I'm really not sure what's so complicated or difficult to understand about that.

Georgetown and Seton Hall were both winnable games.  Chase & Ben went 3/17 and 0/9 from 3 in the Georgetown game. 

Ben played well overall in the SH game but was still 1/7 from 3.  Chase was 5/17 overall and 1/5 from 3, including a missed breakaway that changed the game. 

I asked this earlier in the thread, or another thread, but I'm assuming you didn't see it.
What's your theory for why the seniors' play has fallen off so much?

[tower912]

With Chase, I honestly think if he had taken and made the game winners when he had the opportunity, I think his arc and the team's arc would have been different.   Too much Jamil Wilson, not enough Vander Blue.

With Ben, particularly on defense, I think after excelling in his role for a season and a half, he started trying to be everywhere at once and therefore wasn't where he needs to be.  Watching him be the only one sliding over appropriately, only to see his man get the pass and then dunk, or overcommit trying to generate a deflection, only to see his man roll, the help be non-existent, and Ben be two steps late is so frustrating.   On offense, he isn't willing to be the man.  The drives he has shown are better than he is given credit for.   But he has to want to do it 8 times every game.