Shaka Smart, if you read scoop...

[Viper]

Seton Hall has been better than Marquette all year, home or away.  Today was entirely expected.

I anticipated a loss today too... but I'm feeling better about the team with 9 regular season games remaining. In fact, 6-3 down the stretch...and I'll say it now, MU beats Dracula, er, Pitino & St. John's outright at Fiserv. My worry is Shaka thinking a decent close to the season justifies RGV, and there's no portal shopping.

[rocky_warrior]

6-3 down the stretch...

I would be pleasantly surprised with 2 more wins

[GoldenEagles03]

Shaka if you are reading this, can you please quit so MU bball at least has a small chance of being a winning program again?

Marquette has a far better chance of being a winner if Shaka stays and adapts than if he leaves.

You should be wanting him to use the portal. If he leaves or is fired we will just become a stepping stone again.

[BM1090]

I would be pleasantly surprised with 2 more wins

I think they'll get more than that. Based on current form, DePaul and Butler at home should be wins. Have to think they'll get a road game somewhere, maybe.

If you sort T Rank since 1/10 we're the 70th best team in basketball. 50th best since 1/17. Small samples, but I think that matches the eye test in those time frames. If we continue to play like that, I think we can snag 4-5 more wins.

[rocky_warrior]

If you sort T Rank since 1/10 we're the 70th best team in basketball. 50th best since 1/17. Small samples, but I think that matches the eye test in those time frames. If we continue to play like that, I think we can snag 4-5 more wins.

I donno, vs Creighton was our best game, and @ Creighton was our worst game.  So you're eliminating our worst, but including our best. I agree MU has been playing better, but I don't think we have a tough team.

[BM1090]

I donno, vs Creighton was our best game, and @ Creighton was our worst game.  So you're eliminating our worst, but including our best. I agree MU has been playing better, but I don't think we have a tough team.

Keeps the 24 point loss @SJU in there, though. And road losses to Butler and DePaul. Even with those three games, they're playing a lot better. Covering more spreads, more competitive.

I think learning to win on the road is more of a skill than toughness. They're getting closer. We'll see if they figure it out this year. I'm hoping they do because it'll really change the perspective on next year if they can finish strong. We'll see.

[rocky_warrior]

change the perspective on next year if they can finish strong. We'll see.

Nigel is 200% of the key there.

[Newsdreams]

No! Scoop only closes for political causes, damn it!

As it should Truly be!

[1SE]

Roster construction aside, this team has executed poorly in"winning time" pretty much all year. That's either because Shaka is dialing up bad choices or his players aren't exectuing the good ones - both on him. 

Just because we are now playing better than the absolute dumpster fire of a few weeks ago doesn't excuse the otherwise really subpar in game coaching this year.

I'll still hold out hope for the BET because never say die, but we have get to see this team close games in a way that gives me any confidence we won't see and early exit.

[rocky_warrior]

Just because we are now playing better than the absolute dumpster fire of a few weeks ago doesn't excuse the otherwise really subpar in game coaching this year.

I said (maybe not here), we're the mid major team, we can hang on for a half.

I'm glad the guys had the Creighton game, they've worked hard and deserved that

[WarriorFan]

Roster construction aside, this team has executed poorly in"winning time" pretty much all year. That's either because Shaka is dialing up bad choices or his players aren't exectuing the good ones - both on him. 

It seems simple to me.  Chase Ross cannot be on the court with less than 2 minutes left in a close game.  In fact, I'd like to see him benched for the next game in favor of Owens or Phillips just to see how they could do with serious minutes.  Why not?  What is there to lose?

[MarquetteMike1977]

Marquette Basketball has only had 2 Teams with more than 18 losses in its very long History. This may be the 3rd Team.  We are a Feeble Embarrasung Disgrace Basketball Wise this year. Believe in Shaka but wish he would use the Portal.

[Shooter McGavin]

I think they'll get more than that. Based on current form, DePaul and Butler at home should be wins. Have to think they'll get a road game somewhere, maybe.

If you sort T Rank since 1/10 we're the 70th best team in basketball. 50th best since 1/17. Small samples, but I think that matches the eye test in those time frames. If we continue to play like that, I think we can snag 4-5 more wins.

Yep.  They have a good chance to beat everyone but UConn and St John's. Yesterday was a wasted opportunity.  I think they are better than Seton Hall talent wise but just not as experienced. Lean to win on the road this year and get it out of the way for next.

[muwarrior69]

I said (maybe not here), we're the mid major team, we can hang on for a half.

I'm glad the guys had the Creighton game, they've worked hard and deserved that

Creighton played like us in the first half of that game. They couldn't put the ball in the ocean and dug a hole so deep there was no way for them to dig out of. Sure we played great but they played really poorly which contributed their blowout loss.

Shaka is responsible for this season as we have no senior leadership. Chase looks like he is just going through the motions. Ben tries but again is no go to guy. If we just keep the team we have, next season will not be much different than this season; but will know they play really well in practice.

One silver lining: If our shooting keeps improving there maybe hope, Dr V's post on regressing is depressing however.

[Scoop Snoop]

Yep.  They have a good chance to beat everyone but UConn and St John's. Yesterday was a wasted opportunity.  I think they are better than Seton Hall talent wise but just not as experienced. Lean to win on the road this year and get it out of the way for next.

While I am not as confident as you are regarding "ability to beat everyone but UCONN and St. Johns", I agree with your SH comments regarding talent. But rather than focusing on lack of experience, I see lack of confidence, intelligent decision making, ball movement, not knowing where teammates are, and the discipline that comes with a well-coached team.  The all-too-familiar deer in the headlights looks in yesterday's game once again were clearly present.

[tower912]

MU has been through seasons before where players who were expected to slide into to the senior leadership role didn't.  Think Jamil Wilson and Davante Gardner.  That was also the season that cemented in my mind the need for guard depth, which is currently influencing my opinion about what MU needs from the portal. 

Anyway, it appears that, like Jamil and Davante, Chase and Ben are more comfortable being complementary players rather than the leaders.  Yes, it would be better if on the court Chase was more Vander than Jamil. 

After watching MU playing as a well oiled machine for several seasons, I see a young team learning on the fly.

[wadesworld]

Marquette has a far better chance of being a winner if Shaka stays and adapts than if he leaves.

You should be wanting him to use the portal. If he leaves or is fired we will just become a stepping stone again.

This you?

I think it's best we lose every game the rest of the year.

1) Shaka can move on to somewhere where this is acceptable.

2) I'm not sure any of us want to pick a SoG. None of them deserve it.

[Jay Bee]

Roster construction aside, this team has executed poorly in"winning time" pretty much all year. That's either because Shaka is dialing up bad choices or his players aren't exectuing the good ones - both on him. 

Just because we are now playing better than the absolute dumpster fire of a few weeks ago doesn't excuse the otherwise really subpar in game coaching this year.

I'll still hold out hope for the BET because never say die, but we have get to see this team close games in a way that gives me any confidence we won't see and early exit.

Exactly. All year I've been saying my concerns are much more than just roster construction, but most people are still only on that. The truth is there have been mind-boggling coaching decisions throughout this season. It's wacky as eff and very concerning as we think about the future.

[panda]

Exactly. All year I've been saying my concerns are much more than just roster construction, but most people are still only on that. The truth is there have been mind-boggling coaching decisions throughout this season. It's wacky as eff and very concerning as we think about the future.

Crazy it's taken a Sean jones injury and tre Norman/caedin Hamilton consistently putting in some of the worst performances ever seen in a Marquette uniform to change the rotations for the better.

Absolutely insane behavior playing Hamilton over parham.

[Jay Bee]

Crazy it's taken a Sean jones injury and tre Norman/caedin Hamilton consistently putting in some of the worst performances ever seen in a Marquette uniform to change the rotations for the better.

Absolutely insane behavior playing Hamilton over parham.

I've tried to come up with plausible explanations. There's only one - which I don't believe to be the case - that I get to a spot where I go, "OK, this makes sense"... and that is Shaka had a huge bet on under X wins for MU this season.