Shaka Smart, if you read scoop...

[tower912]

I hope James Jr. feels the same way.

I hope the 14 projected scholarship players for next season feel the same way.

[Pakuni]

I hope the 14 projected scholarship players for next season feel the same way.

[WhiteTrash]

I'd be shocked if he's not back.

My Shock Meter Ratings
preseason "MU has 18+ loses" 10/10
now "James not retuning" 8/10

So I do agree with you, but it would be less shocking than this season. So I'm not ruling out being shocked.

[tower912]

Like I always told my kids, your face is going to freeze like that.

[Pakuni]

Like I always told my kids, your face is going to freeze like that.

I'm actually afraid it might if the 14 projected scholarship players for next season are all there to start the season.

[Scoop Snoop]

My Shock Meter Ratings
preseason "MU has 18+ loses" 10/10
now "James not retuning" 8/10

So I do agree with you, but it would be less shocking than this season. So I'm not ruling out being shocked.

I thought you were unShakable.

[WhiteTrash]

I thought you were unShakable.

Nice!

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I hope the 14 projected scholarship players for next season feel the same way.

I would love to have as much retention as possible.  But we've now seen what happens when your senior class is average to below average and your junior class is a complete zero. 

I'm not a fan of telling a kid who wants to be here to pack his bags.  However, RGV is useless without the "V" and I think we need two open spots going into the offseason. 

We have one with Zaide's departure.  I'm not sure why Sean would want to come back to play 10 MPG behind Nigel.  There's your two spots and we'll see what happens with Hamilton and Norman. 

[muwarrior69]

Thanks Rocky. Shaka needs to do a 180 quickly to get the casual fans back.Yes and thney are better with a whole bunch of transfers.

...but we have superior talent according to some here. Yes a 180 would be appreciated.

[muwarrior69]

I would love to have as much retention as possible.  But we've now seen what happens when your senior class is average to below average and your junior class is a complete zero. 

I'm not a fan of telling a kid who wants to be here to pack his bags.  However, RGV is useless without the "V" and I think we need two open spots going into the offseason. 

We have one with Zaide's departure.  I'm not sure why Sean would want to come back to play 10 MPG behind Nigel.  There's your two spots and we'll see what happens with Hamilton and Norman. 

If the coach is not going to cut them why would any of them leave if they're being paid and getting a 70+K scholarship. You really think they'll wind up better elsewhere?

[Vander Blue Man Group]

If the coach is not going to cut them why would any of them leave if they're being paid and getting a 70+K scholarship. You really think they'll wind up better elsewhere?

It's certainly a possibility, especially for Tre and Caedin. 

After all of Sean's injuries, I could see him wanting the opportunity to actually play extended minutes.  I could certainly see a mid-major giving him that chance. 

If he doesn't play again this season, I could also see him trying to get another year of eligibility (but not sure how likely that would be). 

[WhiteTrash]

If the coach is not going to cut them why would any of them leave if they're being paid and getting a 70+K scholarship. You really think they'll wind up better elsewhere?

I 100% follow the logic here and I believe it can apply to many MU players. The troubling take-a-way from your (and others) conclusions is that it begs to question Shaka's evaluation of players he is recruiting. He appears to have a blind spot concerning the competitive drive of the young men he is bringing in. I think great coaches can usually get a feel for who is willing to push themselves for the team and their own personal growth. The case being made that many players are in it just for a payday should be a potential red flag as to the kind of players Shaka is bringing to MU.

That said, if I was at MU and determined I had no future in basketball, I think I'd wave the white flag, do my part and cash the checks also. It is not unreasonable. 

[muwarrior69]

It's certainly a possibility, especially for Tre and Caedin. 

After all of Sean's injuries, I could see him wanting the opportunity to actually play extended minutes.  I could certainly see a mid-major giving him that chance. 

If he doesn't play again this season, I could also see him trying to get another year of eligibility (but not sure how likely that would be). 

So he would give up a D1 NIL and revenue share to go to a mid major just to play more?

[Pakuni]

So he would give up a D1 NIL and revenue share to go to a mid major just to play more?

If he has any serious aspirations of playing beyond college, he needs to actually play in college.
Really depends on what he wants. If he wants to become a better player and be noticed by (international) scouts, he needs to get on the court. If he thinks his playing days are over, then maybe he prefers to stay.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

So he would give up a D1 NIL and revenue share to go to a mid major just to play more?

He would still be in D1 and receive NIL.  How that would potentially compare to what he gets at Marquette, I don't know. 

And, as Pakuni said, there are other considerations if he intends to try to continue playing beyond college. 

[milwaukee expat]

I do think we have more talent than SH. We bring this team back they will be better and competitive next year.  A reliable defensive big via portal seems like a no brainer - and I say that as one of the few (only?) fans who think Clark and Hamilton are going to be good eventually.

Our W/L seems to me to be on Shaka/coaches rather than the talent.  In SH game why did he not have DO on Clark the majority of game?  He could have shut him down and Clark was the key to the game. The 1st half of season missed lay ups and open 3s, the substitutions and end game plays - they all point to coaching misses..  Shaka has always played alot of weird combos for what I assume are long term developmental purposes and retention.  It has burned him before.  He has just had a horrible year - it happens.  The long term trajectory this same coach has put us on tho I think is the best one for being consistently in top tier of Big East in the NIL era.  I am with Tower in that the adversity will pay off and Shaka and the team will ultimately be better for it - a shame this season was a loss but thats life.  The long term is we retain our players and they get older and we have an old team full of 23 year old redshirts year after year - in a NIL model we can afford and sustain.  Some of the 5 year bigs other teams got in the portal were probably not much better than Hamilton in year 2/3 of their career but were more than serviceable in year 4/5.  Get a big to smooth over til they get there - I like our guards and wings - stick with them...

[muwarrior69]

I do think we have more talent than SH. We bring this team back they will be better and competitive next year.  A reliable defensive big via portal seems like a no brainer - and I say that as one of the few (only?) fans who think Clark and Hamilton are going to be good eventually.

Our W/L seems to me to be on Shaka/coaches rather than the talent.  In SH game why did he not have DO on Clark the majority of game?  He could have shut him down and Clark was the key to the game. The 1st half of season missed lay ups and open 3s, the substitutions and end game plays - they all point to coaching misses..  Shaka has always played alot of weird combos for what I assume are long term developmental purposes and retention.  It has burned him before.  He has just had a horrible year - it happens.  The long term trajectory this same coach has put us on tho I think is the best one for being consistently in top tier of Big East in the NIL era.  I am with Tower in that the adversity will pay off and Shaka and the team will ultimately be better for it - a shame this season was a loss but thats life.  The long term is we retain our players and they get older and we have an old team full of 23 year old redshirts year after year - in a NIL model we can afford and sustain.  Some of the 5 year bigs other teams got in the portal were probably not much better than Hamilton in year 2/3 of their career but were more than serviceable in year 4/5.  Get a big to smooth over til they get there - I like our guards and wings - stick with them...

Dr. Vs post on the trajectory of our scoring over the years was just devastating. We have no idea if there is an NJ in the 26 class as it is all hope and high expectations. Having said all this I hope you're right, but I'll hold judgement until I see winning performance on the court and our Donors pony up for players for the top 75 HS recruits or transfers.