RIP Marquette 2025-2026 Men's Basketball Season

[Zog from Margo]

No, money decided it was time for wojo to go.

Told you, admin didn't care, money did.

I think you changed your argument. You originally tied Wojo's departure to tickets being sold and fan interest. Now you're saying that big money donors had had enough. Those are different things. You don't want to wait until fans stop renewing tickets. They'll find other things to do.

[Hards Alumni]

I think you changed your argument. You originally tied Wojo's departure to tickets being sold and fan interest. Now you're saying that big money donors had had enough. Those are different things. You don't want to wait until fans stop renewing tickets. They'll find other things to do.

Are big money donors not fans?  They're certainly not profiting from their donations.

[muwarrior69]

If this is was a blip, then yes. If they rebuild through the portal, reinforcing the core 3, and are back in single digit seed, fighting for protected seed territory next year, then yes. However that is clearly not a given and this season has shown that Shaka no longer gets the benefit of the doubt.

If we're 25-10 (14-6) after finishing top-3 in the league and playing on Saturday in the BET at this time next year, great. But if we're 17-16 (7-13) and dropped our first BET game while never seriously getting close to the bubble, then Shaka will be gone and deservedly so.

If he backs up the worst season in many of our living memories with success, he'll be back. But if he follows it up with more failure, he'll be gone. And it's absolutely crazy that you of all people don't see that clear as day.

I agree with you, but my concern is even if we have a 24-8 season next year, is that anything to shout about as some here think Nova is not going to go far in the tournament because the league really stinks. If the league stinks how can you get those quad 1 wins. Many here think the Big East is a power conference, but if more than half the league continues to play .500 or sub .500 ball it will be just another mid major conference.

[SchnitzelBoy]

During the Wojo years, I think interest would have dipped eventually, but Markus Howard was so electric that it was worth tuning in just to see if he'd drop 50 points.

Shaka has some runway, but next year will need to be head and shoulders better than this past one. Missing the tournament would put him on the hot seat for sure, and potentially land him without a job. Trouble with moving on from him next year is the buyout. That's such an unproductive use of money we need to pay players.

Even without substantial upgrades via the portal, this could be a tournament squad if the core (Nigel, Royce, Adrien, DO, Phillips) stays healthy and makes the expected jumps. I think we're going to like what we see from Freshman Sheek Pearson and Alex Egbuonu. I do think they're going to add 1-3 dudes. And if those hit, Marquetete could be VERY VERY good.

[Zog from Margo]

Are big money donors not fans?  They're certainly not profiting from their donations.

You said tickets and fan interest. I'm guessing there was not a significant decline in season ticket renewals under Wojo. I also think fans remained interested though frustrated. The handful of fans who could contribute enough to make a dent in the buyout, however, is small.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

"Blip"? I think the worst MU season in memory is more than a blip.

As for "studs," MU has one returning player who made an All BE team. MU has one stud and two other players who have shown they are BE worthy. That's it for what's proven.

If Marquette is back to the level it should be at next season, it will be a blip, regardless of how horrendous the season was.

[#UnleashThePortal]

bro, pass it

Sir your not allowed to smoke weed! State rights are dead.

[Hards Alumni]

You said tickets and fan interest. I'm guessing there was not a significant decline in season ticket renewals under Wojo. I also think fans remained interested though frustrated. The handful of fans who could contribute enough to make a dent in the buyout, however, is small.

Yes, fan interest clearly includes large donors, small donors, ticket sales.

Fans had, by and large, seen enough from Wojo.  Hell, our bloggers had to outline it for the admin WHY Wojo should not be Marquette's coach.  In the end, the money spoke and he was gone. 

[#UnleashThePortal]

Yes, I'd take a year where we actually beat some high majors in the non conference over one where didn't lol.

Meh, to me any year where you're not even on the bubble is a failed year to me. It doesn't matter if you beat Maryland in November, if there's no post season in March for a team of Marquette's supposed level, that year is an absolute failure and the lowest grade you can receive.

Doesn't matter if its 12-20, 17-16, 3-27. Its the same F grade.

[Zog from Margo]

If Marquette is back to the level it should be at next season, it will be a blip, regardless of how horrendous the season was.

If MU gets back next season by going to the portal, I still wouldn't view it as a blip. It would be confirmation that a change of course was required because the prior approach didn't work.

[#UnleashThePortal]

I agree with you, but my concern is even if we have a 24-8 season next year, is that anything to shout about as some here think Nova is not going to go far in the tournament because the league really stinks. If the league stinks how can you get those quad 1 wins. Many here think the Big East is a power conference, but if more than half the league continues to play .500 or sub .500 ball it will be just another mid major conference.

Hopefully year #2 of NBA lite will be better overall for the big east. It'll be tough to see whos good each year until the transfer portal is complete.

[#UnleashThePortal]

If MU gets back next season by going to the portal, I still wouldn't view it as a blip. It would be confirmation that a change of course was required because the prior approach didn't work.

Really? The biggest change in college sports in history? Shaka took a flier at doing things different, it didnt work. You're really going to hold a grudge over this one season if everything gets righted?

[Galway Eagle]

Meh, to me any year where you're not even on the bubble is a failed year to me. It doesn't matter if you beat Maryland in November, if there's no post season in March for a team of Marquette's supposed level, that year is an absolute failure and the lowest grade you can receive.

Doesn't matter if its 12-20, 17-16, 3-27. Its the same F grade.

2015 final record 13-19: You're saying day to day you weren't even a bit excited when we beat Georgia Tech, Tennessee, and ASU? Hell we were 10-6 (2-2) midway through January and I was still hopeful we could turn it into something despite the Omaha debacle.

2021 final record 13-14: You weren't the least bit excited when we beat Wisconsin on the Justin Lewis put back? I think it was Pakuni who said we were still considered a bubble team in December after the big Creighton win. I don't recall this necessarily but the point is the season wasn't over before Christmas.

2026: Day to day what did we get excited about? Blown out by IU, PU, and UW? Choking repeatedly against Dayton OU and Maryland? My daughter was born 12/10, we were in the hospital and my wife asked if I wanted to turn the Purdue game on jokingly because the season was already over.

If the ultimate goal is entertainment and fan engagement then the first two bad seasons are less bad fails than this past one.

[wadesworld]

I agree with you, but my concern is even if we have a 24-8 season next year, is that anything to shout about as some here think Nova is not going to go far in the tournament because the league really stinks. If the league stinks how can you get those quad 1 wins. Many here think the Big East is a power conference, but if more than half the league continues to play .500 or sub .500 ball it will be just another mid major conference.

Even in the worst year the league has had, Marquette still had 6 Q1 conference games.  And since Shaka has taken over, non-con scheduling has provided plenty of Q1 opportunities as well.  If you're a good team, the Big East isn't holding you back from high seeds.  UCONN was on the 1 line until they lost to Marquette, and now they'll get a 2 seed.

[Zog from Margo]

Really? The biggest change in college sports in history? Shaka took a flier at doing things different, it didnt work. You're really going to hold a grudge over this one season if everything gets righted?

Not sure where you got that. The point is that a self-inflicted program collapse, putting one of the worst teams in MU history on the floor, should not be viewed as just a blip. This season was attributable to a string of problems. First, there were numerous recruiting mistakes and failures to assess talent levels. Second, there was a failure to recognize that this team wasn't very good and do something about it before the program collapsed. Finally, there was the inexcusable defensive performance by returning players early in the season. Will all be forgiven if the ship is righted? Sure. But this season was a dumpster fire.

[wadesworld]

There's a big difference between "another year like this one" and "just missing the Tournament."  There are also a lot of things that can contribute to a season resulting in a missed Tournament.  Saying Shaka is gone if we don't make the Tournament next season is way too simplistic.

[Billy Hoyle]

2026: Day to day what did we get excited about? Blown out by IU, PU, and UW? Choking repeatedly against Dayton OU and Maryland? My daughter was born 12/10, we were in the hospital and my wife asked if I wanted to turn the Purdue game on jokingly because the season was already over.

If the ultimate goal is entertainment and fan engagement then the first two bad seasons are less bad fails than this past one.

Congrats on your daughter, Galway! I hope you gave her a good Irish name.

My cousin is a Purdue grad and shortly after the Oklahoma game asked if we'd be willing to pay around $100 for us to go to the Purdue game. I responded, "No, because we suck this year."

During the Wisconsin game a buddy texted me asking if we wanted his Purdue tickets for the MU game, no charge. My wife and I actually hesitated in saying yes; the enthusiasm for the season was already gone. We drove through a snowstorm for the game, hoping we wouldn't lose by more than 20. Sad to say, our expectations were exceeded that day - we *only* lost by 20.  I had to answer a lot of "what happened to Marquette" questions from the fans around us as they remembered the poleaxing we put on them the season before.

[Hards Alumni]

Exactly.  We were a bubble team for half of a month this year.  If we're a bubble team next year at the end Shaka will be just fine.

Also, as wades points out, a lot of context matters.  Injuries, transfers, record, who knows.  It won't be a "WIN 22 GAMES OR YOU'RE FIRED" situation.

[jfp61]

12-20 in a 3 bid league