Shaka's Credibility

[SchnitzelBoy]

So obviously this is a lost season.

I think the coaching malpractice started last offseason when there wasn't a portal add. I get that Shaka thought Sean Jones would be back midway + the Damarius injuries slowed him down. And then the whole team was banged up down the stretch (3/5 starters were blatantly hobbled and some even needed postseason surgery). But we had a window to make a deep run with that senior class and Shaka allowed the RGV model to drastically lower the ceiling.

This year, it's even worse and with little to point to that's out of MU's control.

I still think Shaka is the right coach for MU and his recruiting has looked promising in recent years. Nigel, Adrien, Michael Phillips are "hits" or even "grand slams." Sheek and Alex look VERY promising.

But his credibility is severely damaged by this season and even last year.

What gets it back?

[panda]

So obviously this is a lost season.

I think the coaching malpractice started last offseason when there wasn't a portal add. I get that Shaka thought Sean Jones would be back midway + the Damarius injuries slowed him down. And then the whole team was banged up down the stretch (3/5 starters were blatantly hobbled and some even needed postseason surgery). But we had a window to make a deep run with that senior class and Shaka allowed the RGV model to drastically lower the ceiling.

This year, it's even worse and with little to point to that's out of MU's control.

I still think Shaka is the right coach for MU and his recruiting has looked promising in recent years. Nigel, Adrien, Michael Phillips are "hits" or even "grand slams." Sheek and Alex look VERY promising.

But his credibility is severely damaged by this season and even last year.

What gets it back?

Sheek and Alex are yet to play a college game. Phillips can barely get on the floor this year on the worst high major roster in the country. Would hardly declare success on those fronts.

[Zog from Margo]

I wouldn't go beyond "promising" for any of the freshmen or incoming recruits. To say they're "hits" or possibly "grand slams" is premature. James had flashes of both good and bad last night. Stevens looks like he might be a Mitchell type player. There are no stars on this roster and there are some that are not BE players. To do RGV, you likely need some potential one and done recruits. Shaka needs to hit the portal to rebuild the depleted roster and hit on some top 25 players if he's going to rely primarily on RGV. You also need to play some defense.

[79Warrior]

James has the makings of a grand slam. He played like a freshman last night, but Shaka can hardly sit him. He has no options at PG with Sean out. He will just play through the rough nights. Needs to learn to play more in control. He will get there. Huge upside. The rest, the jury is out.

[Scoop Snoop]

I wouldn't go beyond "promising" for any of the freshmen or incoming recruits. To say they're "hits" or possibly "grand slams" is premature. James had flashes of both good and bad last night. Stevens looks like he might be a Mitchell type player. There are no stars on this roster and there are some that are not BE players. To do RGV, you likely need some potential one and done recruits. Shaka needs to hit the portal to rebuild the depleted roster and hit on some top 25 players if he's going to rely primarily on RGV. You also need to play some defense.

F RGV! I don't think Shaka will completely give it up, and I do not believe that RGV 2.0 or a patched-up version of it will bring us back to prominence. My guess is that going forward, our ceiling would be 6th place in the BE. The analogy of a building that has to be scheduled for demolition because it is structurally unsound fits here. College bball is a business, and the rules of the marketplace are what they are. Coaches cannot write their own and expect success.

If John Gasaway, author of Miracles on the Hardwood, decided to write a book about Shaka's tenure at Marquette, I would propose as a title The Tale of Two Shakas, and begin page one with:

         It was the best of Marquette basketball. It was the worst of Marquette basketball.