RIP Marquette 2025-2026 Men's Basketball Season

[#UnleashThePortal]

It seem most (all?) are in agreement that a repeat of this season's "unmitigated disaster" will cost Shaka his job; so the debate is really how bad can next year be to cost him his job. Miss post season? Below .500? 18 losses?

Personally, I think the chance of MU being so bad that Shaka is on the hot seat is too remote to spend time putting thought into the exact tipping point of dismissal.

If Marquette is not in the bubble discussion or higher. Fired.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

The most recent data point of what ... what it takes to get fired?
Fine, Wojo was fired after back-to-back underwhelming seasons.
What does that data point tell us is the appropriate outcome if Shaka has another underwhelming season?

How do you define "underwhelming"?  That's a subjective term that means different things to different people, including the decision makers. 

You can't make the decision in a vacuum.  Each season is a data point and then you have to project the future with or without Shaka.

Again, unless next season is another sh#tshow, he shouldn't be on the hot seat. 

[Pakuni]

Must have been a fan in the 80s? You enjoy and are fine with mediocrity. 7 years, winless in the ncaas.

It's OK if you don't want to answer the question.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

It seem most (all?) are in agreement that a repeat of this season's "unmitigated disaster" will cost Shaka his job; so the debate is really how bad can next year be to cost him his job. Miss post season? Below .500? 18 losses?

Personally, I think the chance of MU being so bad that Shaka is on the hot seat is too remote to spend time putting thought into the exact tipping point of dismissal.

I agree with this.  But I do think there are some here that would be happy giving him the boot if Marquette misses the tourney next season, even if the team improves considerably.

[Small Orange Soda]

It seem most (all?) are in agreement that a repeat of this season's "unmitigated disaster" will cost Shaka his job; so the debate is really how bad can next year be to cost him his job. Miss post season? Below .500? 18 losses?

Personally, I think the chance of MU being so bad that Shaka is on the hot seat is too remote to spend time putting thought into the exact tipping point of dismissal.

Shaka can narrowly miss the tournament and stick around, but then he's officially on the hot seat and it's really difficult to get off of that. You have to go on a serious run for a string of years to not get fired for another bad season. For Shaka's sake, he needs to make the tournament and show everyone this year was just a blip.

[Pakuni]

How do you define "underwhelming"?  That's a subjective term that means different things to different people, including the decision makers. 

You can't make the decision in a vacuum.  Each season is a data point and then you have to project the future with or without Shaka.

Again, unless next season is another sh#tshow, he shouldn't be on the hot seat.

How do you define sh#tshow? That's a subjective term that means different things to different people, including the decision makers.
And what's the point of having data points if each season is it's own, unique data point?

I think we know from program history that no coach will survive back-to-back losing seasons. So we can start there with the minimum Shaka needs to do to avoid firing. If we're on the wrong side of .500 this time next year, Shaka's seat is more likely to be empty than hot.
From there, I'd say it depends. Making the tournament should be the expectation, but whether failure to do so gets him fired depends on injury luck, how the schedule shakes out, etc. If MU wins 17 games but  doesn't make the tournament because Nigel and Royce each missed a few weeks, that's a mitigating factor in Shaka's favor. If we're playing in the Crown next year with a 17-16 record despite a healthy roster and the promised portal additions, it may be the end of the road. If we win 19-20 games but end up just on the wrong side of the bubble, he's likely safe.

I've read a whole lot here in recent weeks about how this team has three young studs to build around, at least one high-end freshman coming in, three promising redshirts joining the active roster, and Shaka ready and willing to add key pieces through the portal.
How are we thinking/accepting anything other than "Tournament or bust"?

[#UnleashThePortal]

It's OK if you don't want to answer the question.

Deflection lol.

[willie warrior]

If Marquette is not in the bubble discussion or higher. Fired.

IMO if no dance next year, he should be shown the door. Likely though, it will depend on how improved the team is over this year. I dont see that current roster with what is coming in will be enough to get them much over a .500 season. Unless Shaka can land 2 studs in off season. The team still needs a BEast level ass kicker underneath, a Backup PG and at least one wing 3 point shooter. James, Parham, Stevens, Clark, likely Owens, and incoming frosh/Redshirts could put MU close to .500 but at least 2 more studs are needed. 15-15, 16-14 next year are unacceptable, especially if non conference is filled with cupcakes. And maintaining his RGV philosophy is not getting it done. Doubt if he will go out and add at least 2 more studs.

[willie warrior]

Shaka can narrowly miss the tournament and stick around, but then he's officially on the hot seat and it's really difficult to get off of that. You have to go on a serious run for a string of years to not get fired for another bad season. For Shaka's sake, he needs to make the tournament and show everyone this year was just a blip.

Agree with some of this, but he should already be on the hot seat.

[Pakuni]

Deflection lol.

Irony lol.

[Galway Eagle]

When I was in sales I noticed my company wouldn't PIP you if you hit 80% to goal. It felt weird to me because you didn't hit goal but it was that constant "just enough to not be a drag on the company" mindset that kept those salesmen around. That's what Wojo did for 4/7 years (2 fails, 1 'successful'). Using that as my frame of reference for basketball then if Shaka has a buzz 2014 or a Wojo 2016 or 2018 year he's still got a job here. Tough team, lots of winning, just not quite to goal.

If Shaka has a Wojo 2015 or 2021 year hes fired post season. He has a season like this past year again and he's a dead man walking like Kim English was this year.

I think this is why it's important to establish that a bad season isn't all the same and missing w/ 20 wins and being a tough out isn't missing with single digit wins. It's also important to establish what "hot seat" means. Does it mean he's fired any second or does it mean he's a bad season from being fired? If it's the later, Shakas on the hot seat now. If you believe it's the former then he's obviously not on the hot seat till we see next seasons results.

[brewcity77]

Unless next season is also an unmitigated disaster, Shaka should not be on the hot seat.

Missing the tournament, given this season, would qualify. Regardless, if he can have another season that would warrant dismissal, then he's coaching for his job, thus he's on the hot seat.

[wadesworld]

WHY WHY WHY WHY would Marquette use valuable funds to pay two players who clearly cannot play in the big east?

Because there's no rule that you have to pay every player on the roster.

But no, Norman and Tre will not be our 8th-10th man.