Transfers in/out 2025-2026

[Tha Hound]

Oh I am absolutely not doing that.

Valuable contribution, as always!

[Small Orange Soda]

The idea that if Caedin comes back Shaka will treat him as the 15th man is absurd. He went from starter to 10 MPG. That's not nothing. If a guy is going to go from 8th man to 15th in his fourth year, there's zero reason to bring him back.

[Zog from Margo]

There are 15 scholarships. We only need 8 rotation players. That's 7 scholarships for players who we don't expect to be major contributors this season. We have plenty of room.

Also, not the point, but we could have used Itejere this year.

I get what you're saying, but MU is not building just for this season. They could use the spot for a player who could be a future contributor. From all indications, Hamilton won't be. It makes no sense to me to use a scholarship on a player that you don't expect to contribute during his entire four years at MU. They'd be better off keeping the scholarship open for an opportunity that might become available during the season. In any event, I won't belabor the point further.

[rocky_warrior]

Hm, trying to catch up and figured with so many new pages of content big things must have happened.  Nope, just DO staying and lots of Caedin talk.

(And yes, I must be new here)

[Markusquette]

Hook shot practice started the day after the tournament loss

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Really a lot of Hamilton PTSD around here still. 

[StillAWarrior]

I get what you're saying, but MU is not building just for this season. They could use the spot for a player who could be a future contributor. From all indications, Hamilton won't be. It makes no sense to me to use a scholarship on a player that you don't expect to contribute during his entire four years at MU. They'd be better off keeping the scholarship open for an opportunity that might become available during the season. In any event, I won't belabor the point further.

This will be an unpopular opinion, but what if there really is something different about the "culture" that Shaka is building at Marquette? Yes, this year was a dumpster fire and the constant harping on "RGV" - including to the point of selling merch - is tiresome. But, Shaka has done a pretty good job of retaining the talent that he wants to retain. Maybe that has something to do with the fact that he's doing things a little differently - because this year it certainly isn't because the team was winning. Clearly he needs to make some changes to his approach and manage his roster through the portal -- definitely this year and likely in future years to some extent. He's indicated that he's willing to do so and we're all anxiously awaiting proof.

That's a long-winded set up to asking, what if keeping a kid like Hamilton on scholarship at the end of the bench does help build for the future because it demonstrates a culture that could help us attract talent. The 13th - 15th scholarship players aren't going to contribute much - if anything - to the team on game day. So, what are they good for? As mentioned above, projects who might be future contributors. Maybe unique practice players who help prepare the rotation players. And maybe, they can be an example of a program's culture and values.

If No. 15 on the roster isn't going to contribute on the court on game day, I'm open to the thought that there can be value from that spot beyond potential as a "future contributor" (which likely won't pan out anyway). Hell, I'm a believer that Zach Wrightsil was a not insignificant contributor to the team's success in 2022-23 and I wouldn't have objected to having him stick around as No. 15 on the roster the following year.

What I hope will happen (as I've said in another thread): Shaka signs a solid 5 and then tells CH that he appreciates everything he's done but that he's not going to be part of the rotation next year and helps him find a program where he can contribute. But because I don't think that the last scholarship player on the bench is going to contribute to wins and losses during the season anyway, I'm not going to hate on Shaka if he sticks with a kid.

[Scoop Snoop]

Very thoughtful post StillAWarrior. Thank you.

I have been a critic of what I regard as over-the-top RGV, and the merchandise-while meaningless in the big picture of MUBB- really annoys me as Middle Schoolish. But the points you have laid out reflect a very valid counter argument to scoopers like me.

Translation-I'm not buying everything you are selling, but I enjoy reading posts like this one.

[The Sultan]

This will be an unpopular opinion, but what if there really is something different about the "culture" that Shaka is building at Marquette? Yes, this year was a dumpster fire and the constant harping on "RGV" - including to the point of selling merch - is tiresome. But, Shaka has done a pretty good job of retaining the talent that he wants to retain. Maybe that has something to do with the fact that he's doing things a little differently - because this year it certainly isn't because the team was winning. Clearly he needs to make some changes to his approach and manage his roster through the portal -- definitely this year and likely in future years to some extent.

Just like in the workplace, if employees are happy and feel like they are being compensated fairly, they will rarely leave for salary reasons. (Unless they are insanely different of course.)

[StillAWarrior]

Very thoughtful post StillAWarrior. Thank you.

I have been a critic of what I regard as over-the-top RGV, and the merchandise-while meaningless in the big picture of MUBB- really annoys me as Middle Schoolish. But the points you have laid out reflect a very valid counter argument to scoopers like me.

Translation-I'm not buying everything you are selling, but I enjoy reading posts like this one.

Well, one thing I'm not buying is the RGV merch. I've carefully avoided Golden Eagles merch for 30+ years, but I'd buy that before I'd buy an RGV shirt.

I'm aware that one flaw in what I'm "selling" is the very real possibility that 2, 3, 4 or even more players might covet that 15th scholarship spot. There's definitely a hard cap on the number of players that can be carried on a roster whose sole contribution is embodiment of culture and values. At some point, mistakes must be acknowledged and hard decisions must be made. That's why they pay head coaches the big bucks.