Shaka Smart 02/18/2026

[MU1985]

Yes, I understand that expectations are relatively low for Ethan Johnston due to the various low rankings, but to completely ignore him and not even include his name on the team as a bench player next year doesn't feel right to me due to his athleticism as a 6'7" wing player

[Pakuni]

Yes, I understand that expectations are relatively low for Ethan Johnston due to the various low rankings, but to completely ignore him and not even include his name on the team as a bench player next year doesn't feel right to me due to his athleticism as a 6'7" wing player

Barring departures, this team next year will have no shortage of 6'7"ish wing players.
Again, I have no idea where Johnston ends up on the depth chart and how/whether he helps the team, but expectations should be low.

[The Sultan]

Culture is how you act, interact, and responed.

They are changing their ways because they failed, not because they are pressing their advantages.

Did you pull this nonsense off of LinkedIn or something?

[jfp61]

Did you pull this nonsense off of LinkedIn or something?

You don't know how much of a self own this is.

It is Shaka Smart's definition of culture in his Culture Document.

[GoldenEagles03]

[quote author=onepost link=msg=1794929 date=1771531396
Nigel, Royce, Adrien, Damarius, Michael, Alex, Sheek, Ian, portal guard like Minessale, portal wing like a Leon Bond, portal big man.


This a best case scenario, and this team feel like a 17-18 win team.

And until they run people off, this whole diatribe is aimless. They havn't acted that way towards their players in the past, they likely won't in the future.

Meanwhile, I won't infer competence in a staff. They are now 14-26 in their last 40 games.

How does this team "feel like" a 17 or 18 win team when we

A) don't know our schedule
B) don't know what other rosters will look like
C) don't know what our roster will look like

What if we just add a couple of really good players? It's feasible that we could. In that case I would say the sky is the limit for that roster.

[Jay Bee]

You don't know how much of a self own this is.

It is Shaka Smart's definition of culture in his Culture Document.

Actually the Culture Doc says respond, not responed.

[The Sultan]

You don't know how much of a self own this is.

It is Shaka Smart's definition of culture in his Culture Document.

Self own? I don't give a rip what's in his Culture Document.

I care that he is changing course. He's a smart enough gut to figure it out.

[Jay Bee]

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

Us professionals like to use the proper terminology at times. Shame on Shaka and I for being righteous.

btw, saw anonymous eagle do a write up re: sean and this situation.. it's factually very wrong.

I've posted about it before.. but, again, the public comments by MU re: Sean last year were D&D. Oh well.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Without winning out. This is the single worst Marquette basketball season in the 21st century.

Let's see if they will be better than 1990-91.

Culture is how you act, interact, and responed.

They are changing their ways because they failed, not because they are pressing their advantages.

Sorry that this season doesn't make me optimistic

Does it really matter at this point why their roster building approach is evolving?

If you're looking at wins & losses right now to determine your optimism moving forward you're not looking at the right things. 

[muwarrior69]

First, what changes the equation to me is Nigel, Royce, and Adrien.  They are proving with each game they can be counted on next season and beyond.

Royce will be an upper classmen. Nigel might be pre-season All Big East 1st or 2nd team next season as a sophomore.  And Adrien has shown a lot as well. 

For me, that's a very nice core to start with. 

In regard to the portal, I think we do need to balance out the classes with a couple of one-year guys that will be seniors, and maybe a guy with 2 years left.  If Sean and Tre are both gone, this team will have no seniors so that is a spot where you can add that experience. 

I'd like to see them add 3 guys via the portal.  A starting 5 with one year of eligibility left, a starting wing (one or two years left), and a combo guard (one or two years left). 

Starters:
C - Portal addition
F - Royce
G/F - Portal Addition
SG - Adrien
PG - Nigel

Bench:
Portal addition (combo guard)
Sheek
Owens
Egbuonu

Plus, Phillps, Miletic, Walker

I get that the bench is unproven but I see depth and upside. To me, I don't see why this hypothetical squad wouldn't be competitive. 

How so? They have not played one game of D1 ball. You don't even know the caliber of play of the transfers. I'll reserve judgement until next year's team plays some actual games and performs better than they do in practice.