[Paint Touches] Inside look at Marquette’s transfer portal strategy

[PaintTouches]

MU was gracious enough to let me speak with Tyler McDevitt (Pseudo-GM) and Devon Mulry (Director of Video and Analytics) about the portal process this season.

LINK HERE

The part about Sheek's departure was actually quite helpful in getting me to put a few pieces together. 

[Uncle Rico]

MU was gracious enough to let me speak with Tyler McDevitt (Pseudo-GM) and Devon Mulry (Director of Video and Analytics) about the portal process this season.

LINK HERE

The part about Sheek's departure was actually quite helpful in getting me to put a few pieces together. 

Thank you

[MuMark]

Fantastic article......thanks for doing it.

[tower912]

It is good to hear from members of the MU staff that they are acting thoughtfully, professionally, and with intent.   I didn't read many surprises there.   Thanks for the article.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Great stuff.  I'm glad to see that the staff has someone dedicated to doing GM things, even though the person doesn't have the GM title.

Unfortunately, it sounds like there won't be another center added.  Hopefully Hamilton and Clark make massive strides.

[MU82]

Good read. Thanks for posting.

This paragraph about losing Sheek stood out:

"We recruited him under the old model and that no longer was the case," McDevitt said. "We did bring in a guy that's going to play as many minutes as he could breathe at his position."

Sheek left because of $$$, sure, plus he'll get to play near where he grew up. But being told, "Son, you're not gonna start for Marquette next season because we just signed Fru," seems to have played a big part in it, too. Which makes sense.

[79Warrior]

Great stuff.  I'm glad to see that the staff has someone dedicated to doing GM things, even though the person doesn't have the GM title.

Unfortunately, it sounds like there won't be another center added.  Hopefully Hamilton and Clark make massive strides.

Tyler has been working on contracts etc for quite some time. Shaka does not have the time for that stuff.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Excellent article - thanks for sharing.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Good read. Thanks for posting.

This paragraph about losing Sheek stood out:

"We recruited him under the old model and that no longer was the case," McDevitt said. "We did bring in a guy that's going to play as many minutes as he could breathe at his position."

Sheek left because of $$$, sure, plus he'll get to play near where he grew up. But being told, "Son, you're not gonna start for Marquette next season because we just signed Fru," seems to have played a big part in it, too. Which makes sense.

While I'm sure not starting played a role, I disagree that it played a big part. 

The reason I say that is Sheek knew the entire offseason that the staff was targeting a 5.  Fru had committed a week or more prior to Sheek entering the portal.

That tells me he was comfortable with staying until he got poached at the last minute with a big overpay. 

No inside info but to me it seems like money was by far the biggest reason.

[tower912]

I see it differently.  Sheek looked at the room and thought he was going to start.   No rumors.  Fru signs, going to get as many minutes as possible (according to the article), Sheek gets a starters equivalent offer close to home, gone. 

More minutes, more money.

[Jay Bee]

While I'm sure not starting played a role, I disagree that it played a big part. 

The reason I say that is Sheek knew the entire offseason that the staff was targeting a 5.  Fru had committed a week or more prior to Sheek entering the portal.

That tells me he was comfortable with staying until he got poached at the last minute with a big overpay. 

No inside but to me it seems like money was by far the biggest reason.

Thought 18 would leave. He didn't. This, the late timing.

Open your eyes, folks.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I see it differently.  Sheek looked at the room and thought he was going to start.   No rumors.  Fru signs, going to get as many minutes as possible (according to the article), Sheek gets a starters equivalent offer close to home, gone. 

More minutes, more money.

You're making an assumption that Shaka did not communicate to Sheek that they were going after a starting 5 in the portal.

That's ludicrous.

[The Sultan]

I see it differently.  Sheek looked at the room and thought he was going to start.   No rumors.  Fru signs, going to get as many minutes as possible (according to the article), Sheek gets a starters equivalent offer close to home, gone. 

More minutes, more money.

Yeah I don't think that's the case at all. Sheek wasn't going to be starting with no experience. Plus Vander is right...Shaka was talking to him throughout about his role.

He received a lucrative offer from his hometown that Marquette was unwilling to match.

[tower912]

The timeline is pretty straightforward.   Starter arrives that is going to play as many minutes as he can.  Sheek leaves.   First player to be recruited over in the portal.

Read the article.  Don't tell me I am wrong, tell the MU insiders they are wrong.

Meh, I am not going to make this some Hamilton-esque obsession.   Couldn't care less if you disagree.

[The Sultan]

The timeline is pretty straightforward.   Starter arrives that is going to play as many minutes as he can.  Sheek leaves.   First player to be recruited over in the portal.

Read the article.  Don't tell me I am wrong, tell the MU insiders they are wrong.

Meh, I am not going to make this some Hamilton-esque obsession.   Couldn't care less if you disagree.

I read the nicely scripted article. I guess I am not going to be the gullible one who's repeatedly defended Shaka's portal avoidance.

[tower912]

I am hearing that you don't care what the de facto MUBB GM has to say about Sheek's departure.

Or what Shaka had to say in his presser or interview with Homer about the evolving approach to the portal.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I am hearing that you don't care what the de facto MUBB GM has to say about Sheek's departure.

Or what Shaka had to say in his presser or interview with Homer about the evolving approach to the portal.

Do you accept that Shaka communicated to Sheek from the beginning of the process they were looking to add a starting 5?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I mean,  i think it's one thing to tell a guy "Hey were actively looking for a guy to be our starting center" and another to say "Hey we've brought in one of the top 5 centers in the portal."

One is theoretical and there's still a situation where they land a lesser guy where the minutes split is going to be close to 20/20.

The other is definitive and the minute split is more likely around 27/13.

I don't know which was more important.  I don't think it matters.  I think you probably need both for the transfer to happen.

[rocky_warrior]

Thought 18 would leave. He didn't. This, the late timing.

Open your eyes, folks.

You're making it a little simplistic.  Thought he'd be the first of the bench for Fru.  That wasn't guaranteed.  He left.

[Small Orange Soda]

You're making it a little simplistic.  Thought he'd be the first of the bench for Fru.  That wasn't guaranteed.  He left.

Who was gonna be first off the bench for Fru then?

[MU82]

That's ludicrous.

Speaking of ludicrous (and also schtick) ...

Thought 18 would leave.

[79Warrior]

Thought 18 would leave. He didn't. This, the late timing.

Open your eyes, folks.

Wrong. CH never gave anyone any indication he was leaving. He was always staying.

[The Sultan]

I mean,  i think it's one thing to tell a guy "Hey were actively looking for a guy to be our starting center" and another to say "Hey we've brought in one of the top 5 centers in the portal."

One is theoretical and there's still a situation where they land a lesser guy where the minutes split is going to be close to 20/20.

The other is definitive and the minute split is more likely around 27/13.

I don't know which was more important.  I don't think it matters.  I think you probably need both for the transfer to happen.

You think he turns down a reported $1M raise over seven minutes a game? Not a chance.

[The Sultan]

I am hearing that you don't care what the de facto MUBB GM has to say about Sheek's departure.

Or what Shaka had to say in his presser or interview with Homer about the evolving approach to the portal.

I don't because it's clearly a well prepared statement.

[brewcity77]

The timeline is pretty straightforward.   Starter arrives that is going to play as many minutes as he can.  Sheek leaves.   First player to be recruited over in the portal.

Read the article.  Don't tell me I am wrong, tell the MU insiders they are wrong.

Meh, I am not going to make this some Hamilton-esque obsession.   Couldn't care less if you disagree.

This isn't about Caedin. If this were the case why didn't Owens jump in when we added Minessale?

It was money and starting there. It wasn't about the role here. Sheek was never going to be a starter in 2026-27 and Marquette targeting a starting five was always the plan since February.

You act like Sheek was blindsided by the Fru addition and that pushed him into the portal. That isn't accurate at all. St Louis lost their top transfer target to Duke & panic offered Sheek at the eleventh hour with an offer too good to be true, so he took it.