Shaka Smart 02/18/2026

[BE_GoldenEagle]

This is probably one you will all want to listen to.

A question is asked of last week's statement of evolving relating to the rosters of college basketball (just after the 9:35 mark). Shaka gave a near 3 minute answer in what is probably a must listen for Marquette fans right now. Possible exciting times ahead.

https://youtu.be/7pq3kDQfuVA?si=hYwWoeAWht3NmjxA

[MU82]

Yup. This was the public commitment to using the portal that dozens of Scoopers had been demanding.

[ski44]

Pitino with a swipe at Catholics in his presser:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIa1rGtpmUU

4:16

[The Sultan]

This is probably one you will all want to listen to.

A question is asked of last week's statement of evolving relating to the rosters of college basketball (just after the 9:35 mark). Shaka gave a near 3 minute answer in what is probably a must listen for Marquette fans right now. Possible exciting times ahead.

https://youtu.be/7pq3kDQfuVA?si=hYwWoeAWht3NmjxA

I think JB should be happy that he corrected the "medical redshirt" terminology.

[Johnny B]

Pitino with a swipe at Catholics in his presser:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIa1rGtpmUU

4:16

What was being chanted at Hopkins ?

[Hards Alumni]

What was being chanted at Hopkins ?

Pretty sure it was "Duncan Powell".  Which is certainly a choice.

[The Sultan]

Pitino with a swipe at Catholics in his presser:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIa1rGtpmUU

4:16

He wasn't taking a swipe at Catholics. He was taking a swipe at Marquette students by claiming they aren't Catholic on Ash Wednesday.

You know...from that renowned pious Catholic Rick Pitino.

[jfp61]

This is probably one you will all want to listen to.

A question is asked of last week's statement of evolving relating to the rosters of college basketball (just after the 9:35 mark). Shaka gave a near 3 minute answer in what is probably a must listen for Marquette fans right now. Possible exciting times ahead.

https://youtu.be/7pq3kDQfuVA?si=hYwWoeAWht3NmjxA

Honestly.... this speach was not good...

Really, the issue with this roster is the lack of Sean Jones? Sean Jones, who made worse when he was playing, that Sean jones?

And the focus is on retention? Of which players? If you are focusing on retaining all, you're doing something wrong.

This staff is poor at self evaluations.

[muwarrior69]

Yup. This was the public commitment to using the portal that dozens of Scoopers had been demanding.

Actually he explicitly stated that the emphasis would be on retention, especially our young talented guys (wink wink that is where most of our revenue share and NIL money will be going). I am not convinced he is actually excited to make the changes required to turn the program around from that interview. If we do not get at least 4 portal players in the off season to support our young guys he is not making a sincere commitment. We shall see.

jf you beat me to it.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Honestly.... this speach was not good...

Really, the issue with this roster is the lack of Sean Jones? Sean Jones, who made worse when he was playing, that Sean jones?

And the focus is on retention? Of which players? If you are focusing on retaining all, you're doing something wrong.

This staff is poor at self evaluations.

It's laughable that is what you took away from his comments and it's very difficult to take you seriously. 

His comment about Jones was innocuous yet you're twisting it to something ludicrous. 

Next, of course retention of your best player has to be a priority this offseason and going forward.  And that primarily means Nigel, Royce, and Adrien.  There's nothing remotely confusing about that comment.

And then you conveniently ignore that he:

1) Said he was excited about the process. He likely feels that he has been freed from his self-imposed restrictions

2) They are going to use metrics to fill gaps.  Understand what the returnees down well and how to best supplement those skill sets in the portal. 

Get some help, dude. 

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Actually he explicitly stated that the emphasis would be on retention, especially our young talented guys (wink wink that is where most of our revenue share and NIL money will be going). I am not convinced he is actually excited to make the changes required to turn the program around from that interview. If we do not get at least 4 portal players in the off season to support our young guys he is not making a sincere commitment. We shall see.

jf you beat me to it.

See my comment above for your bonkers take, as well. 

Also, saying if he doesn't take 4 transfers that he's not sincere about his "commitment" is DUMB.

[The Sultan]

Honestly.... this speach was not good...

Really, the issue with this roster is the lack of Sean Jones? Sean Jones, who made worse when he was playing, that Sean jones?

And the focus is on retention? Of which players? If you are focusing on retaining all, you're doing something wrong.

This staff is poor at self evaluations.

Actually he explicitly stated that the emphasis would be on retention, especially our young talented guys (wink wink that is where most of our revenue share and NIL money will be going). I am not convinced he is actually excited to make the changes required to turn the program around from that interview. If we do not get at least 4 portal players in the off season to support our young guys he is not making a sincere commitment. We shall see.

jf you beat me to it.

Do you guys not really understand nuance?

Of course he is going to prioritize retaining the players they want to retain. But when he says "rosters are built differently than two or three years ago," what do you think he means by that?  And then after his retention statement he says "around them we need to look at what's best for Marquette basketball." And then claims to be excited about that and excited to see how they can improve the team in "different ways."

What do you think he's talking about here? Did you really expect him to say "we are going to take numerous transfers" or something similar? Of course that's what he's talking about.

Honestly, I think that question was planted so he could give this response.

[muwarrior69]

Do you guys not really understand nuance?

Of course he is going to prioritize retaining the players they want to retain. But when he says "rosters are built differently than two or three years ago," what do you think he means by that?  And then after his retention statement he says "around them we need to look at what's best for Marquette basketball." And then claims to be excited about that and excited to see how they can improve the team in "different ways."

What do you think he's talking about here? Did you really expect him to say "we are going to take numerous transfers" or something similar? Of course that's what he's talking about.

Honestly, I think that question was planted so he could give this response.

That is not nuance. He is prioritizing how the resources will be spent and that means not spending the resources to get the best transfers to help the team. If he were serious he would prioritize both, if he is serious about what is good for the program, which he did not explicitly say. Additionally, all this "nuance" leads me to believe he has not had those tough conversations with the players that need to take place.

[Johnny B]

Actually he explicitly stated that the emphasis would be on retention, especially our young talented guys (wink wink that is where most of our revenue share and NIL money will be going). I am not convinced he is actually excited to make the changes required to turn the program around from that interview. If we do not get at least 4 portal players in the off season to support our young guys he is not making a sincere commitment. We shall see.

jf you beat me to it.

At least 4? lol what you want 6 transfers? We ain't getting 4 transfers pal.

[Its DJOver]

That is not nuance. He is prioritizing how the resources will be spent and that means not spending the resources to get the best transfers to help the team. If he were serious he would prioritize both, if he is serious about what is good for the program, which he did not explicitly say. Additionally, all this "nuance" leads me to believe he has not had those tough conversations with the players that need to take place.

You expect these "conversations" to happen during the season?

[Markusquette]

Feel like it helps me breathe a sigh of relief. Been a rough year, but at least the usual late season fade has turned into some more optimism instead. Feel like the core players in James, Parham and Stevens give me hope Shaka will supplement properly and let them grow as the cornerstones for this team. Also hopeful some of the redshirts/frosh incomers are hits and Shaka just had a couple of down years recruiting.

[JTJ3]

Im confused.  Would people prefer we allocate funds to transfers first and not retain Nigel and Royce?  I sure wouldnt bet on finding better players than them in the portal.

We're going to add some good players from the portal to supplement them and take some of the scoring pressure off of them, not replace them.

[muwarrior69]

You expect these "conversations" to happen during the season?

Sure, why not. Most of those player are not getting much playing time as it is. If you think it will the affect the season adversely it can't get much worse.

[muwarrior69]

Im confused.  Would people prefer we allocate funds to transfers first and not retain Nigel and Royce?  I sure wouldnt bet on finding better players than them in the portal.

We're going to add some good players from the portal to supplement them and take some of the scoring pressure off of them, not replace them.

It should not be either/or but both which was not inferred.

[Its DJOver]

Sure, why not. Most of those player are not getting much playing time as it is. If you think it will the affect the season adversely it can't get much worse.

That's just not how things work. The only potential "conversation" about next season would have been with, and initiated by, Sean if he's planning on applying for an additional year of eligibility.

[mileskishnish72]

Don't know if he's having the "conversations" as yet or whether he's holding off until
the season is over. It certainly does sound like he and the staff are making themselves aware of the "metrics" and what they need/want. I am sure that they are zeroing in on the kind of players they want, and with his reference to character, perhaps some of the kind of people they want.

[The Sultan]

That is not nuance. He is prioritizing how the resources will be spent and that means not spending the resources to get the best transfers to help the team. If he were serious he would prioritize both, if he is serious about what is good for the program, which he did not explicitly say. Additionally, all this "nuance" leads me to believe he has not had those tough conversations with the players that need to take place.

You are reading way too much into this. He is going to target retaining his guys - Nigel, Adrien, Royce, etc. That's what every coach does. They are going to see what is needed and hit the market.

My guess is that Shaka has a pretty clear understanding of who is going to be here next year and who isn't. They may have already had those conversations! But he isn't going to announce anything to the public in a post game presser when the season isn't even over. Are you kidding me?

Y'all are not seeing the forest through the trees here. It is clear, both from the comments Saturday and Shaka's comments yesterday, that they are hitting the portal. That's what everyone has said they wanted, but now because he isn't saying it the way you want, you're going to get on him for that?

Just nutty stuff.

[Pakuni]

Happy to see Shaka is willing to adjust and he's not, as some here suggested, willing to take his ball and go home.
Annoyed it took a 20-loss season for him to acknowledge something some of us saw coming two years ago.

[Tha Hound]

Honestly.... this speach was not good...

Really, the issue with this roster is the lack of Sean Jones? Sean Jones, who made worse when he was playing, that Sean jones?

And the focus is on retention? Of which players? If you are focusing on retaining all, you're doing something wrong.

This staff is poor at self evaluations.

Come on man, you can read between the lines. This is about as close as a head coach can come to saying our upperclassmen are crap and that they are prioritizing building around the young core. He's not just going to name names like "Chase Ross has been a huge disappointment. Ben Gold is bad."

Not sure how many others ways they can signal they will use the transfer portal and push out (for lack of better term) dead weight. If that doesn't happen then I think most everyone will agree its time to part ways, but that is clearly not the current messaging coming from the AD or head coach.

[Scoop Snoop]

Come on man, you can read between the lines. This is about as close as a head coach can come to saying our upperclassmen are crap and that they are prioritizing building around the young core. He's not just going to name names like "Chase Ross has been a huge disappointment. Ben Gold is bad."

Not sure how many others ways they can signal they will use the transfer portal and push out (for lack of better term) dead weight. If that doesn't happen then I think most everyone will agree its time to part ways, but that is clearly not the current messaging coming from the AD or head coach.

Shaka Smart is no Jerome Tang.