Shaka Smart 02/18/2026

[BM1090]

History shows this, no?

Shaka has told us what is going to happen.

I'm paying a hacker to take down scoop.

[rocky_warrior]

I'm paying a hacker to take down scoop.

That is a strategy...

(fwiw, since it's happened, just target me. It'll make it easier for the folks you're going to have to pay)

[Scoop Snoop]

I'm paying a hacker to take down scoop.

DM me. A friend of mine has told me that his 10-year-old son has taken down international companies, so taking down scoop is something he could easily do right after soccer practice tomorrow.

The kid is not cheap, but he's good. Full disclosure: I get a commission.

[rocky_warrior]

The kid is not cheap,

We've been recruiting him.  Seems...not right.

[dgies9156]

Back to the subject at hand: Many of you folks are over-analyzing the Portal issue. Coach Smart either goes to the Portal or he bets on Caedin Hamilton and a group of redshirts/incoming freshmen to carry his water next year.

That path is a sure ticket to unemployment in 2027!

Marquette's needs are simple: depth at guard and a center that's a beast. Our season has fallen apart this year because (a) Zaide, Tre and Sean never became anything close to what Coach Smart had expected; and, (b) Our center(s) are better equipped to play in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association than the Big East.

Our core is basically very good. Keep Nigel, Royce and Adrian, work with Damarius and our incoming and we have the foundation for a good team next year. But without Portal depth at guard and center, we're headed for another disaster.

Let's see what Coach Smart does. In the meantime, the sooner this season ends, the better.

[Zog from Margo]

Unless someone says they want more playing time, and less money.  They're not leaving.

Like Lowery.

[rocky_warrior]

Like Lowery.

He chose quitting over money.

[Zog from Margo]

He chose quitting over money.

We've been told guys won't leave because they make too much money. Yet, for whatever reason, Lowery did. If Shaka is so principled that he's willing to sacrifice his career to continue his approach, then he'll retire at the end of the season. If he wants to keep coaching, he'll make room on the roster. IMO, he'd have nothing to be ashamed of if he changes his approach. He gave that approach a better go than any other D-1 coach.

[JTJ3]

Again, Shaka saying the program will "evolve" includes the payment structure for players, not just being very active in the portal.  Everything is changing, it already is.

[rocky_warrior]

We've been told guys won't leave because they make too much money. Yet, for whatever reason, Lowery did.

My statement about Zaide was incorrect, and incomplete.  I'm guessing he'll get plenty of money.

Though the other guys people hope Shaka will run off...

[Pakuni]

Again, Shaka saying the program will "evolve" includes the payment structure for players, not just being very active in the portal.  Everything is changing, it already is.

Appreciate your confidence on this, but you can't possibly know that. The only people who know what Shaka means by "evolve" are Shaka and his bosses. The rest of us will just have to wait and find out.

[Pakuni]

We've been told guys won't leave because they make too much money. Yet, for whatever reason, Lowery did.

He couldn't show his face on campus after getting whooped by Cody Hatt.

[mug644]

I hope they do too. It's just that considering the talent on this team, good transfers would be making top 5 money here if we only got two. It's a big change in philosophy is all.

And while I'm not fully on board with Rocky's comment about only replacing Zaide, I do think there are some assumptions being made about how many changes will happen. Zaide chose to leave, and it seems like Sean is planning to as well. Those read like player choices. I don't think skepticism about the staff being willing to tell Tre and Caedin that it's time to go are unwarranted. Different situations.

What makes you confident that "Zaide chose to leave"? I think it looks like he was told that he was losing his starting position to Stevens and he didn't take it well. So, he was benched and didn't travel with the team for a game. Then, he continued to pout (and was perhaps a negative presence within the team) and was cut. I suppose it is possible that he was told to man up and wouldn't/couldn't do that, and rather quit, but even that doesn't really feel like he "chose to leave."

As for Sean, it feels likely to me that, following his injury and Nigel's emergence, he was told that he wouldn't get his starting spot back. He seems to have accepted that and so remains a valued part of the team, just as he was during his recovery from his knee injury. That said, I think he realizes that the team next year will be Nigel's and he will, at best, be a back up. For me, I hope that Shaka sees Sean's limitations and injury vulnerability and realizes that he will want a back up point guard that brings different skills (truth is, Sean is small like Nigel, quick like Nigel but has looser handles, lower game sense and worse shooting; the one advantage I'd say that Sean has over Nigel is defense, but that could change too). I'll admit that I'd like to see Sean move on, as I think it would be better for Sean (just like Jamal Cain playing his final year at Oakland) and for MU.

[Tha Hound]

Back to the subject at hand: Many of you folks are over-analyzing the Portal issue. Coach Smart either goes to the Portal or he bets on Caedin Hamilton and a group of redshirts/incoming freshmen to carry his water next year.

That path is a sure ticket to unemployment in 2027!

Marquette's needs are simple: depth at guard and a center that's a beast. Our season has fallen apart this year because (a) Zaide, Tre and Sean never became anything close to what Coach Smart had expected; and, (b) Our center(s) are better equipped to play in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association than the Big East.

Our core is basically very good. Keep Nigel, Royce and Adrian, work with Damarius and our incoming and we have the foundation for a good team next year. But without Portal depth at guard and center, we're headed for another disaster.

Let's see what Coach Smart does. In the meantime, the sooner this season ends, the better.

I'll keep hammering this drum - the bolded is not enough. A beast center for sure, I agree. But we also need a beast wing. And from there a quality depth piece or two would be nice.

Tough to see us shelling out the kind of cash that would take but in my opinion that's the bare minimum to be in legit contention next year.

[The Sultan]

I'll keep hammering this drum - the bolded is not enough. A beast center for sure, I agree. But we also need a beast wing. And from there a quality depth piece or two would be nice.

Tough to see us shelling out the kind of cash that would take but in my opinion that's the bare minimum to be in legit contention next year.

We definitely need a scoring wing. Hoped that DO could step into that role, but alas...

[muwarrior69]

I'll keep hammering this drum - the bolded is not enough. A beast center for sure, I agree. But we also need a beast wing. And from there a quality depth piece or two would be nice.

Tough to see us shelling out the kind of cash that would take but in my opinion that's the bare minimum to be in legit contention next year.

What happens in the off season will tells us a lot about how much cash we actually have to spend and where it will be spent.

[MU82]

I'm as mad as anyone with the way the team has played this season, and because of that hopefully Shaka pulls his head out of his a$$ about using the portal. But Shaka clearly brought up Sean Jones only to inform everyone he'd be out the rest of the season with injury, and nothing else. He never said or implied that he was the missing piece this year. How is it even possible to not understand that?

Shaka "brought up" Sean Jones only after he was asked about Sean Jones at a press conference.

[SchnitzelBoy]

We definitely need a scoring wing. Hoped that DO could step into that role, but alas...

There's still time for Damarius Owens... He needs the game to slow down for him a little bit. There are so many flashes, despite the injuries. That lanky frame and athleticism alone are so useful. Watch him "transfer down" to a Dayton or SLU only to get huge money from an ACC school his senior year after he breaks out for real. I'd rather him bloom late for us.

[The Sultan]

There's still time for Damarius Owens... He needs the game to slow down for him a little bit. There are so many flashes, despite the injuries. That lanky frame and athleticism alone are so useful. Watch him "transfer down" to a Dayton or SLU only to get huge money from an ACC school his senior year after he breaks out for real. I'd rather him bloom late for us.

Sure, but he has not shown enough to start next year.