Beat X on Wednesday

[MuggsyB]

Muggs - this is a serious question...

Why do you think he will pivot / change?

I don't think he will change a thing unless 2 or 3 more guys leave.  He's too dug in. I don't think for a minute that he will tell Tre, Sean or Hamilton to go play in the Horizon League.

My take is Shaka isn't an idiot.  And he's a pretty damn good coach with the right personnel. Unfortunately, he whiffed badly on a few recruiting classes and has been stubborn for sure.  The regression of some of our players is what's most troubling to me. 

Now, as I've said numerous times, you can't be a 8-10 win team and a total abomination like we are this year.  Regardless of past success.  My feeling is Shaka will pivot, dismiss some dead weight, and will use the portal and other resources moving forward.

[Shooter McGavin]

How about the posters who thought this would be a good team.  Good times.

[GoFastAndWin]

Are we really an abomination?
I mean if just a few more layups and 3's find the hoop each game, we are at least "in" every game. Missing layups against UConn has a valid explanation. As far as our other games and the ineptitude around the basket, I'm left saying, "We can't be this bad, can we?"

[rocky_warrior]

Are we really an abomination?
I mean if just a few more layups and 3's find the hoop each game, we are at least "in" every game.

Hey rip, how was your nap? This is far worse than a little bad luck.

[WhiteTrash]

Hey rip, how was your nap? This is far worse than a little bad luck.

It was bad joke.

[rocky_warrior]

It was bad joke.

Lots of bad, and lots of jokes can describe what's been happening.

[WhiteTrash]

Lots of bad, and lots of jokes can describe what's been happening.

So very true.

Somebody wake us all when it's over.

[Shooter McGavin]

Just finished watching the game.  I have been mildly encouraged by the last couple games.  Hoping Ben can snap out of it from three and Chase gets some mojo back.  Would like to see Stevens be more aggressive on the offensive end. Nigel can keep being himself.  Clark had his moments.  Parham is still confident at least. Would be fun to get a couple wins starting with Xavier.  Would be good for the boys. 

[rocky_warrior]

Just finished watching the game.  I have been mildly encouraged by the last couple games. 

Other than the losses, the past two... And Oklahoma have been Marquette's best games (discounting cupcakes).

Trending better, but still doesn't give me a lot of hope.

[mug644]

Muggs - this is a serious question...

Why do you think he will pivot / change?

I don't think he will change a thing unless 2 or 3 more guys leave.  He's too dug in. I don't think for a minute that he will tell Tre, Sean or Hamilton to go play in the Horizon League.

This is where the rubber meets the road--

With the RGV culture (though has that taken a big hit with Zaide leaving and Haynes being suspended) and the purported equity for NIL disbursement, why would 2 or 3 guys leave? Shaka is smart and won't want to have another season next year like this, and is (or better be) able to see the trend the team is on.

I think Shaka forcefully nudges some guys to look for other opportunities, and he will (in his fatherly way) help connect them to programs where they will get playing time. Then, the spin will be that seeing guys move on to places where they can expand their wings and move forward with their b-ball "careers" on a new path is for their Growth, and the Relationship between Coach and player will remain strong.

The next challenge for Shaka will be to let the remaining team know that Victory is as important as Growth, and that he'll be bringing in, via the portal, players that will be expected to contribute immediately.

Then, he'll have to find the right guys, at a cost that MU wants to pay and that doesn't totally blow up the Relationship culture.

None of this will be easy for Shaka (and, thus, there is a part of me that wonders if he might just choose to walk away), but I just don't see him being so stubborn that, even with the writing on the wall and the external concern about the program, he sticks exclusively with the path he's been on for every year but Year 1.

We shall see.

[K1 Lover]

This will be a hard pill to swallow for some people, but please take it seriously from someone who has to listen to Arturas Karnisovas every summer use a 5 game win streak to justify running back a play in team:


It is in the best interest of the program that they go 0-20

This is also in the best interest of the conference. If we do get a win I'd be glad for it to come against Xavier or DePaul (or UConn out of spite), but as it stands we are currently the league's land mine. A loss to us could be the difference between a bubble team making the tourney or not. At this point I'd personally prefer to see the Big East get as many bids as possible in March, even if it comes slightly at our expense.

[Scoop Snoop]

This is where the rubber meets the road--

With the RGV culture (though has that taken a big hit with Zaide leaving and Haynes being suspended) and the purported equity for NIL disbursement, why would 2 or 3 guys leave? Shaka is smart and won't want to have another season next year like this, and is (or better be) able to see the trend the team is on.

I think Shaka forcefully nudges some guys to look for other opportunities, and he will (in his fatherly way) help connect them to programs where they will get playing time. Then, the spin will be that seeing guys move on to places where they can expand their wings and move forward with their b-ball "careers" on a new path is for their Growth, and the Relationship between Coach and player will remain strong.

The next challenge for Shaka will be to let the remaining team know that Victory is as important as Growth (disagree-I think victory is more important), and that he'll be bringing in, via the portal, players that will be expected to contribute immediately.

Then, he'll have to find the right guys, at a cost that MU wants to pay and that doesn't totally blow up the Relationship culture.

None of this will be easy for Shaka (and, thus, there is a part of me that wonders if he might just choose to walk away (agree)), but I just don't see him being so stubborn that, even with the writing on the wall and the external concern about the program, he sticks exclusively with the path he's been on for every year but Year 1.

We shall see.

Thanks for your exceptionally well-worded, rational post. I have not posted on this page since late November because the screaming "discussions"-even by the low bar of scoop standards- were not something I wanted to engage in. Instead, I have relied on "likes" in lieu of posting.

I have italicized one area of disagreement and one comment that I agree is very possible just due to Shaka's nature and depth of his beliefs.

I see RGV as having taken on a life of its own and becoming blinders that have prevented Shaka from being realistic. Shoehorning the word growth into a very brief opportunity to speak after the Valpo game was not a good look, nor was stating "We believe in growth" after the UW fiasco. And I hope that at the end of this season, all the RGV merchandise is shipped off to Marquette Michigan Board of Education free of charge.

Posters who repeatedly reminding scoopers of his past success-#2 seeds, COY, etc.-seem unable to see the disconnect of then and now. It is not a seamless blanket in my opinion. The current version has been Coach Don Quixote, astride his horse Argeevee, in defense of chivalrous basketball. I want Coach Shaka Smart back. Let Argeevee spend his remaining days grazing in a pasture 







 

[Billy Hoyle]

And I hope that at the end of this season, all the RGV merchandise is shipped off to Marquette Michigan Board of Education free of charge.


I hope kids in Venezuela are ready to learn RVG






 

[Shooter McGavin]

This is also in the best interest of the conference. If we do get a win I'd be glad for it to come against Xavier or DePaul (or UConn out of spite), but as it stands we are currently the league's land mine. A loss to us could be the difference between a bubble team making the tourney or not. At this point I'd personally prefer to see the Big East get as many bids as possible in March, even if it comes slightly at our expense.

K1 I get your point but next year's turnaround starts this year.  And James and Stevens need a few wins to reinforce their confidence and commitment to MU.  They need to see a sliver of light at the end of the tunnel so they don't leave.  I do get your point though. 

[K1 Lover]

K1 I get your point but next year's turnaround starts this year.  And James and Stevens need a few wins to reinforce their confidence and commitment to MU.  They need to see a sliver of light at the end of the tunnel so they don't leave.  I do get your point though. 

It's not the ability to win games this year that determines whether our better players stick around or not — it's the ability to win games next year that matters.

If Shaka decides to do the same thing he did this season and keep dead weight around, then yes, I could potentially see some of the younger guys wanting to jump ship and take their talents elsewhere. But if Shaka decides that he's going to make off-season improvements that contribute to winning, then that's a pretty compelling reason to stay as a player.

[Jay Bee]

We beat Little Rock. Now let's beat Little Rick.

[MU82]

It's not the ability to win games this year that determines whether our better players stick around or not — it's the ability to win games next year that matters.

If Shaka decides to do the same thing he did this season and keep dead weight around, then yes, I could potentially see some of the younger guys wanting to jump ship and take their talents elsewhere. But if Shaka decides that he's going to make off-season improvements that contribute to winning, then that's a pretty compelling reason to stay as a player.

They'll want players brought in to increase MU's chances of winning ... but not players brought in who reduce their PT.

[WhiteTrash]

They'll want players brought in to increase MU's chances of winning ... but not players brought in who reduce their PT.

I'd say good luck transferring out because every major program is going to have competition for PT. Plus, I really hope MU does not have players, or many players, adverse to competition. 

[MU82]

We're gonna beat X. And then raise a banner!

[Scoop Snoop]

We're gonna beat X. And then raise a banner!

Raise the banner first. You know...just in case..

[MuggsyB]

Who wou)d you start on Wednesday?  I think bringing Ben in off the bench is silly.