Shaka Smart, if you read scoop...

[Newsdreams]

So weird.

In the real world some CEOs get paid solely on performance. Should MU do that with the players? Also, some NBA, MLB and NFL players get paid to not even play.

Nope, CEOs is more posturing, I mean I helped take down who is currently the country's CEO in the 90's and he got rehabilitated by a fake "reality" show and book.....

[brewcity77]

The biggest problem I see is this team needs a general manager. This staff has a model that really doesn't allow for recruiting misses & they missed on an entire class and positional group. They've had some hits too, but need to be at an 80% hit rate for this to work.

If they're going to the portal, someone needs to be identifying transfer targets early, evaluating fit, and scouring every level during the season while the staff is busy worrying about season results.

Whether they like it or not, they're a professional organization now. Time to start acting like it.

[WhiteTrash]

Nope, CEOs is more posturing, I mean I helped take down who is currently the country's CEO in the 90's and he got rehabilitated by a fake "reality" show and book.....

What??

I'm not fan of the President but this is weird stuff for a basketball forum. Just follow the rules. There are a million sites to vent on, so let's just talk hoops.

[Newsdreams]

What??

I'm not fan of the President but this is weird stuff for a basketball forum. Just follow the rules. There are a million sites to vent on, so let's just talk hoops.

I said CEO....

[Newsdreams]

What??

I'm not fan of the President but this is weird stuff for a basketball forum. Just follow the rules. There are a million sites to vent on, so let's just talk hoops.

I know lots of CEO's even the aholes at Blackstone

[The Sultan]

I think it likely Shaka is always honest with his players.  I think he prides himself on it.  And I think it is why he won't run off players.

But he should. Now that they are receiving compensation, they should be treated like any other employee. Either they get the job done or it's time to upgrade. Futhermore, if a "regular" student can lose their scholarship based on poor academic performance, than a basketball player can lose theirs based on poor basketball performance.

Now there is a 100 reasons why it wouldn't be smart to "cut" multiple players every year. That type of workplace generally doesn't endear itself to higher performers. But it would not be wrong to tell Caedin Hamilton for instance, who might be the worst scholarship player of the last decade, that it would be best for him to move on. He's had three seasons. He shouldn't be guaranteed two more because Shaka believed in him back in 2023.

[tower912]

Welcome back.

[The Sultan]

Thanks.

Regardless, I think there will be another opening next season. Sean Jones was injured in the first half of the season and will miss more than 30% of our contests. Read into that what you will.

[Scoop Snoop]

Now that they are receiving compensation, they should be treated like any other employee. Either they get the job done or it's time to upgrade.

This!

[Scoop Snoop]

Welcome back.

Ditto. Maybe TAMU will return some day. I hope so.

[The Sultan]

Ditto. Maybe TAMU will return some day. I hope so.

Is Reeker still gone too?

[tower912]

I traded messages with him in early December.  Too much negativity for him.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Is Reeker still gone too?

Yes.  I messaged him and he replied that he is "avoiding the misery".

[The Sultan]

I traded messages with him in early December.  Too much negativity for him.

Yes.  I messaged him and he replied that he is "avoiding the misery".

I mean that sounds good, but I think we all know that willie's intellectual arguments finally got the best of him.

[tower912]

I have never read that combination of words before.

[brewcity77]

But he should. Now that they are receiving compensation, they should be treated like any other employee. Either they get the job done or it's time to upgrade.

It also isn't fair to the players that do put the work in and develop to keep guys that don't hold up the growth end filling upperclassman scholarships. Keeping Tre as a senior, keeping Caedin as a junior, that's doing a disservice to guys like Royce & Nigel who deserve to have teammates as talented and committed as they are.

Part of the growth is recognizing when it isn't there and the staff having the internal growth to go in a different direction when guys simply aren't good enough.

[Scoop Snoop]

I traded messages with him in early December.  Too much negativity for him.

It also isn't fair to the players that do put the work in and develop to keep guys that don't hold up the growth end filling upperclassman scholarships. Keeping Tre as a senior, keeping Caedin as a junior, that's doing a disservice to guys like Royce & Nigel who deserve to have teammates as talented and committed as they are.

Part of the growth is recognizing when it isn't there and the staff having the internal growth to go in a different direction when guys simply aren't good enough.

Another perspective well-stated in the bolded.

To be very clear, I am NOT in the "fire Shaka " camp. I really want the previous version of him-along with his stunning successes- to reappear. But I'm not hopeful that will happen.

[SchnitzelBoy]

I don't know who is going to transfer, but I bet it'll just be one player. I think Shaka will max out at 2 portal additions. It seems so unlike him to swing the pendulum completely the other way. I very much want

I would be totally fine with basically everyone back next year so long as we can add a productive guard and a physical center who can rebound, defend, and score at a reasonable clip. That does require one guy moving on.

I've said this before, but I think Caedin, Sean and Tre are good "culture" guys who can add value. But one of them needs to go, while the others should keep the vibes similar to what we had with Kolek, Kam, Jop, Oso, and Stevie. 

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I don't know who is going to transfer, but I bet it'll just be one player. I think Shaka will max out at 2 portal additions. It seems so unlike him to swing the pendulum completely the other way. I very much want

I would be totally fine with basically everyone back next year so long as we can add a productive guard and a physical center who can rebound, defend, and score at a reasonable clip. That does require one guy moving on.

I've said this before, but I think Caedin, Sean and Tre are good "culture" guys who can add value. But one of them needs to go, while the others should keep the vibes similar to what we had with Kolek, Kam, Jop, Oso, and Stevie.

I agree this team can be competitive next season with 2 very good portal additions (a 5 and scoring wing are my two preference but also understand the need for a combo guard).

I also think there can be a place for a culture guy or two like Tre.

But if you want to have that luxury, you can't complete whiff on an entire class (Zaide, Tre, etc.) and have another very underwhelming class (Chase, Ben) as your upperclassmen. 

I've said in another thread that I like Shaka using the added roster spots to redshirt some guys and/or to take a flier on a guy like Clark.  But he might be best suited going forward to leave at least one spot open to give himself some additional flexibility. 

[Scoop Snoop]

But he might be best suited going forward to leave at least one spot open to give himself some additional flexibility. 

It's nice to find something we agree upon Vander. FWIW...I respect your opinions despite disagreeing with a fair number of them this season. Your reasoning is sound. I just wish you would see things my way.   

[Vander Blue Man Group]

It's nice to find something we agree upon Vander. FWIW...I respect your opinions despite disagreeing with a fair number of them this season. Your reasoning is sound. I just wish you would see things my way.   

Can you remind me what we've disagreed on other than you being out on Shaka and me thinking he absolutely deserves a chance to fix it? 

Granted, that is a big point of contention.   

[Scoop Snoop]

Can you remind me what we've disagreed on other than you being out on Shaka and me thinking he absolutely deserves a chance to fix it? 

Granted, that is a big point of contention. 

 I'm not "out on Shaka" unless he insists upon going forward with RGV as his operating system. I want the original version of Shaka back for next season, not this Coach Don Quixote version of him.  He deserves a chance to dump his wildly unsuccessful RGV as an operating system and return Marquette to where he had us, and he needs to say adios to players like Hamilton.

[The Sultan]

There is nothing wrong with RGV. Yeah the branding of it is strange, but the core concept is fine. It just has to be flexible enough to allow for more roster turnover.

[GoldenEagles03]

I'm not "out on Shaka" unless he insists upon going forward with RGV as his operating system. I want the original version of Shaka back for next season, not this Coach Don Quixote version of him.  He deserves a chance to dump his wildly unsuccessful RGV as an operating system and return Marquette to where he had us, and he needs to say adios to players like Hamilton.

I just cannot fathom how Shaka can see guys like Kolek and Prosper and Morsell and not try to replicate that every season with 1 or 2 guys.