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.

[Zog from Margo]

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.

IMO, the issues are lack of talent, lack of players with high basketball IQs, and lack of players who fit how MU wants to play. (I also wonder how easy it is to find players that both fit Shaka's pressure style of defense and Smith's 3-focused offense.) MU needs to fix those issues and I don't really care how they do it. That said, to do that quickly so my season tickets are somewhat worth it next year, Shaka has to hit the portal.

[burger]

Shaka needs to say:

I take full responsibility for this team.   And analyzing how I can do things differently going forward.....

We will agressively focus on getting this team back the top of the Big East.

No stone to be left unturned.....We will field the best 12 to 15 players we can attract....

This is about winning.....Relationships are secondary.....

I own this year's lack of success.....

COPY....PASTE.   RELEASE TO THE PRESS.....from Shaka..... to the student body and alumni......

[Scoop Snoop]

IMO, the issues are lack of talent, lack of players with high basketball IQs, and lack of players who fit how MU wants to play. (I also wonder how easy it is to find players that both fit Shaka's pressure style of defense and Smith's 3-focused offense.) MU needs to fix those issues and I don't really care how they do it. That said, to do that quickly so my season tickets are somewhat worth it next year, Shaka has to hit the portal.

I like your lack comments and, if he was on Scoop, Shaka would lack likes.

In another thread, I replied to Vander and said that some of my harsh criticisms are a carryover from my days as an entrepreneur. Ignore serious structural problems in your business and you will soon need to learn how to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy. As very happy as I was when Marquette landed Shaka and his first seasons, his unwillingness (I think) to dump this terrible product, RGV, is why I very reluctantly believe he needs to leave. Marquette basketball is in Chapter 11, and he put us there. 

[Viper]

I know nothing about the AD, Broeker. My guess...and just a guess, is that he is not a hard asss 'just win, baby' kinda guy. IMO, the debrief after the 1st rd BET exit should be...drop the RGV bs. Cut some guys. Assist in finding new mid-major homes is fine, but move on from two or three players over-matched at this level, and hit the portal. We're going to adjust how guys are paid. If someone is unhappy over that, show em out. 20+ L's is beyond embarrassing at Marquette. This isn't happening again under my watch as AD.

I'm not confident this will happen, but hey, I'm just guessin' here.

[BM1090]

I think a huge issue are lack of control and lack of players that play at their own pace. Tyler, Oso, Kam, Stevie, O Max and even Jop when he played in the post and mid post, all understood the game and how they could set up their own offense and manipulate the defense a bit to get what they wanted. They all did it in their own ways but they had such a good understanding of the scheme and how to play their own game.

There's none of that on this team. It's all breakneck speed. It's launching the first open shot. There's lack of composure. And just an overall lack of understanding of how to play basketball. We get a lot of open shots but they all seem rushed.

Nigel will get there. He's shown some really promising early signs of knowing how to create for himself with hesitation moves and dissecting defenses off the dribble. With that feel, I think he'll learn how to create for others around him and learn how to pick his spots better. Stevens shows some early signs too. He's less dynamic, but I rarely think he's taking shots that he can't make. And he does a good job of getting himself to his spots.

The rest of the roster is rough.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

One season, as horrific as it has been, hasn't destroyed Shaka's credibility. That's silly.

Now, if he doesn't make the necessary adjustments to put a competitive team on the floor next season, that could change.