Our Future

[wadesworld]

Not a possibility I see. It would take more production from multiple redshirts in one season than we've seen in the first five years of Shaka's tenure.

Maybe. But if we have been performing as the 66th best team in the country since Caedin's minutes have been reduced, and if losing Chase is truly addition by subtraction, and we get contributions from two of the red shirts or incoming freshman (not insane given Sheek is redshirting because he should be on high school, and him and Egbuonu are both ranked higher than NJ and Stevens who are contributing this year), plus we see even minor development from the current freshman and sophomores, then by adding one portal players that's at least a bubble level team.

Having said all that, I'm not convinced we're one of the top 66 teams even playing the right players the right minutes this year.

[Scoop Snoop]

Big picture, I believe Shaka hates to lose. There has been moderate improvement but not enough for him to avoid transfers. Young guys are needed as depth because it would be very risky to rely on them as starters.

No guarantees, but it would be shocking for him to stay the course and probably the end of his time at MU. He'd have no other options other than a step down to a mid-major. I just can't see him putting himself in that position.

Trying to figure out what goes on in anyone's head is difficult, and in the case of Shaka, especially so. Marquette gave him a free reign, and he wowed us in his first seasons. He has refereed to some book that he said changed his life and meditates daily. I see him as a deep thinker and "true believer", but of what I do not know. We all incorporate our personal beliefs into many areas of our lives, but I think a certain amount of compartmentalization is necessary.

I think he has used his free reign at Marquette to structure the team to fit many of his personal beliefs, and the possibility of having to move on, even to a mid-major, may not be enough to persuade him to change course. He just might "stay the course", despite the consequences. The way coaching college bball has evolved and the path he has chosen are so very different in terms of roster management and financial negotiations with players and their reps. I have referred to him as Don Quixote, with his admirable but impractical ideals.

[WhiteTrash]

Trying to figure out what goes on in anyone's head is difficult, and in the case of Shaka, especially so. Marquette gave him a free reign, and he wowed us in his first seasons. He has refereed to some book that he said changed his life and meditates daily. I see him as a deep thinker and "true believer", but of what I do not know. We all incorporate our personal beliefs into many areas of our lives, but I think a certain amount of compartmentalization is necessary.

I think he has used his free reign at Marquette to structure the team to fit many of his personal beliefs, and the possibility of having to move on, even to a mid-major, may not be enough to persuade him to change course. He just might "stay the course", despite the consequences.

I'll concede anything is possible,  including next year being worse.

Based upon his history, I think the likely outcome is 2 or 3 transfers as a part of the strategy to significantly improve MU to his accustomed level of success. Also, roster upgrades may be the key to retaining our best players.

[Billy Hoyle]

I think there are three possibilities:

1) Shaka goes against RGV, creates 2-3 more scholarships on top of Zaide, reinforces with transfers, and we're competitive again.
2) Shaka doubles down on RGV, takes at most one transfer, we are mediocre again and he's fired in 13 months.
3) Shaka gets out ahead of the pitchforks, parachuting to a Pitt/Wake/Rutgers type of job and we get a new coach that overhauls the roster.

I see #2 being the most likely result, but the key will be the level of the transfer. If Shaka uses Zaide's scholarship to bring in an HS project, then we'll know the RVG brand is more important to Shaka and the MU leadership than winning. And President Kimo can focus on making more Facebook and TikTok videos showing how cool he is.

[GoldenEagles03]

Not a possibility I see. It would take more production from multiple redshirts in one season than we've seen in the first five years of Shaka's tenure.

They should push him out if he can't commit to using the portal by March. He doesn't have to use it every year but with Nigel having the potential to be one of the best PGs in the Country you can't just let an opportunity like this slow cook and hope they are good in 3 years. Go be good now or go somewhere else.

[JTJ3]

We'll add more than one transfer.  Shaka talks RGV to the public, but he is also way too competitive to let another season like this happen.

I dont expect more than two additons though, maybe a third at most, but there is no need to flip the entire roster like some programs do.  The freshman and sophomore classes are legit, just need a starting guard/wing and starting big to supplement them and we're back in the tournament next year.

[Pakuni]

https://x.com/CrackedSidewlks/status/2020179925785817448?s=20

[wadesworld]

https://x.com/CrackedSidewlks/status/2020179925785817448?s=20

How many schools have GMs for basketball that aren't NBA alumni (aka do nothing other than have a name recruits recognize)?

[Zog from Margo]

Given the growth we've seen from NJ, Stevens, Royce, & Owens, adding 2 starter level players (center, wing) and a rotation guard should suffice. It'll require one of Clark or Sheek to be a serviceable piece and probably one other guy to be able to give 15-20 bench minutes, but it's pretty clear there's something there with that first group of 4.

In addition, Chase leaving will be addition by subtraction based on what he's done this year.

Owens has been better but I'm not sure he's eliminated any doubts. Like last year, he shows flashes and then disappears. His stat line against Seton Hall was nothing to write home about.

[panda]

How many schools have GMs for basketball that aren't NBA alumni (aka do nothing other than have a name recruits recognize)?

Good point - we shouldn't be ahead of the curve in roster construction because a lot of other teams don't take it seriously either.