Colton Crowdis committed.

[Small Orange Soda]

Will someone please tell me how to mute people?

Click on your profile name in the upper left hand corner, then Ignore List in the drop down, then add the user name of the person you want to ignore.

[Hards Alumni]

Sorry, but you asked who "we could have gotten that would have agreed to backup minutes."
How could I know - with confidence, no less - who would have agreed to backup minutes without knowing/speaking to that person or reading his mind?

One of his final four as a Class of 2025 high school recruit was Michigan.

Agreed.
All of which is another way of saying the coaches made a choice. Not filling Sheek's spot because they didn't love the options is still a choice.
I think it's a bad choice, but I'll happily be proven wrong if CH makes that long-awaited leap.

That's the point I was making.

[panda]

The staff had targets with months left in the season.  The staff vetted a ton of players.  They were well prepared for the portal.  Sheek agreed to return.  There is no way that you can be prepared for every situation in today's day and age.  You're kidding yourself if you say you can.

ABC young man, ABC. always be cruitin'

Programs with a more robust network address the massive hole sheek left us with instead of shrugging your shoulders and saying, "well we kicked the tires on a few guys, but we're good."

[Jay Bee]

ABC young man, ABC. always be cruitin'

Programs with a more robust network address the massive hole sheek left us with instead of shrugging your shoulders and saying, "well we kicked the tires on a few guys, but we're good."

That's code for, "we have a fourth year guy in our program with a twinkle in his eye - more importantly, bro wears 18 in honor of mf'in me!!! Let's roll!!"

[lawdog77]

I asked you to name names that Marquette could have gotten, not to mind read.  Not some hypothetical, and you complained even about that.  Then you did it.  Good!  I knew you could do it, which is why I asked!

Now we can have a real conversation about why not those guys.  Weeks ago, I put forth names and no one wanted to talk about them either.  This place is such a bitch fest it becomes intolerable sometimes.

I think that Xavien probably wouldn't be an option since he seems like he is tied to living west of the Rockies.

James Brown would have been a nice fit, I agree.  Should have been able to outbid Howard despite its prestige.  Plus him being from Aurora you would think would have helped.

Who knows with either of them really.  Maybe Shaka and the others didn't kick the tires, maybe they did and didn't like what they heard, maybe they said thanks but no thanks! 

Thanks for playing along and being willing to have a real discussion.

To you and Pakuni. what make you think James Brown is better than Caedin? What I see is that there's two years of end of game mop up time at UNC that looks like he is not very good.

[Jay Bee]

To you and Pakuni. what make you think James Brown is better than Caedin? What I see is that there's two years of end of game mop up time at UNC that looks like he is not very good.

The name alone gets him there.

PS.. UNC 2024-25...
Cade Tyson.. 16.4% minutes played.  108 ORtg, 15.5% usage. 50.0% eFG%.
and den... Minnesota 2025-26...
87.9% (!!), 123.9, 24.4%, 59.3%.

Norf Cakalaka sometimes has really good players sit on their bench.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Because providing an excuse for why they couldn't get a single guy to replace Sheek sounds like a coping mechanism. Shaka said he kicked the tires on some guys, but decided to go with what he had.  I think he did that because while he knows the dropoff from Fru to Caedin is big, it's much bigger than he believes.

And compensation that did not reflect their expected contributions? We already got some of those anyway.

It only sounds like an excuse because you're convinced for some reason it's not a realistic scenario, which it absolutely is.

Also, Shaka not realizing the drop off from Fru to Caedin is nonsense.  It's why they're paying Fru big money to begin with.

Additionally, Josh Clark being paid to provide minimal contributions is not remotely the same as paying a backup big starter-level money.

Some of the scenarios you come up with are something else.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Coach's decision.

I don't think, and have never said, MU is unable to land capable players in the portal. That's been the excuse trotted out by people defending the lack of a Sheek replacement, not by me.

I think MU is able to land capable players, and they proved that with Fru and Minnesale. Not landing others, including one to replace Sheek, was a choice. Shaka's hands weren't tied here. He made a choice, and it's that choice that has some people frustrated.

It's not an excuse. I'm not defending the lack of a Sheek replacement.  It's disappointing.  I simply accept there are logical reasons why that player has not been added. It's not that complicated.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

There are almost certainly bigs expecting to start for mid-majors or poorly funded P6 programs who could have been lured to Marquette with the promise of backing up this year followed by a great opportunity - because who else is on the roster? - to earn more minutes (and $$$) in 2027-28 and beyond.

If you're absolutely certain, who were these bigs that were available when Sheek entered the portal?

Where have some since gone and who is remaining?

If you're so certain of this, it shouldn't be difficult to provide that info.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

This is where Shaka/staff/program's portal naivety comes in to play big time. Targets can be assessed and contacted at any time during the season/off season to discuss the staff want and opportunity within the program. Waiting for players to enter the portal is most often, too late and will lead to far too much competition. The staff needs to modernize their approach or will for a third season in a row, fail to meet expectations.

Why would the staff be doing this for a big when Sheek was expected to return? 

Don't let common sense get in the way. 

[MUbiz]

I would like to see a photo. If not the vehicle then the plate. Who knows maybe Josh got a great deal with "Clark Bars".

I have a photo of the X5M in question. It is purple.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Or maybe he'd been here four years and was told time to move on after losing his starting role and since he couldn't stay healthy?

"It's fine he's on the team, he took a paycut!" As Shooter said above, it's resignation followed by rationalization.

Since I answered your question before, maybe you or VBMG can answer the one you keep dancing around: Is it smart to pour four years of money and resources into a player you yourselves think is bad? And 'it doesn't matter' isn't a valid response.

What? 'Constantly saying?' Um, you clearly have me confused with someone else. I don't think we're missing out on guys because of what they're getting paid. But some people want to say we shouldn't overpay for guys when we're already doing that.

Answer my question.

This is disingenuous. IMO.  Your view appears to be Clark or Hamilton being paid anything is an overpay.  It feels like no answer is going to be acceptable for you.

First, it sounds like we agree on whatever those guys are being paid would not prohibit Marquette from adding another player.

I don't know what they are making, but it seems logical to believe that their pay is on the lower end of the compensation structure for the team.

Having those guys for practice and for depth has value.  With 15 roster spots, you don't need significant contributors at every spot. 

So I don't think "overpaying" those guys is remotely in the same universe as dropping starter-level money on a back-up big to play 8-14 MPG. 

I also haven't given up on Clark due to his length.

[Pakuni]

Why would the staff be doing this for a big when Sheek was expected to return? 

Don't let common sense get in the way. 

Because preparing for every eventuality is their job. This is where having an actual GM, not some lowly staffer who kinda sorta does similar things, might be a good idea.

Marquette has every reason to believe Shaka will be head coach this upcoming season. If Shaka pulls a Tony Bennett tomorrow, it would be professional malpractice for Broeker not to have a list of vetted potential replacements at his fingertips.

It also speaks to the naivete panda mentioned. If at this moment in college sports, Shaka and Co. don't understand they can lose any player at any time, then they're not paying attention.