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

[Vander Blue Man Group]

And yet most of those 90% could probably get a better paying gig if they looked. Despite that, they don't go looking.

Most people consider multiple factors when making most big life decisions. I don't know why we feel that Sheek's decision can only be about a single factor.

First, I don't think comparing college basketball players in the NIL wild west is remotely equivalent to your average corporate employee. 

Sheek was contacted last-minute and offered a significant increase of potentially life-changing money. 

I'm relatively happy at my job.  I make solid money.  I'm not looking for a job, even though I could potentially find something at higher compensation.  But if someone came to me and offered to double or triple my salary, I'd be out the door (assuming the opportunity and company were good). 

Wades is right. 

[BM1090]

Not worked up at all, but you are. Shaka overrecruited Sheek who would have 4 years of eligibility for Fru with one year. That is a screwup by Shaka. So quit getting worked up about criticism of your boy.

1. Fru probably has two years.

2. We'd hope Sheek can become what Fru is. Fru is already a very good player. Sheek may be. We don't know.

[The Sultan]

Not worked up at all, but you are. Shaka overrecruited Sheek who would have 4 years of eligibility for Fru with one year. That is a screwup by Shaka. So quit getting worked up about criticism of your boy.

In a long, long history of incredibly dumb posts, you topped yourself with this one.

Yes, let's crap on Shaka for recruiting a proven post player despite the fact it was our greatest weakness. And you somehow think that having a complete unknown is better because he could be here longer? Or...and hear me out here...we could actually recruit another transfer.

[rocky_warrior]

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

Nothing was guaranteed.  That was the problem.

Sheek will 100% start for SLU.  This may make or break Shaka.

Pearson is the highest-rated recruit to sign with the program since Larry Hughes (1997-98).

"We are really excited to add a player and person of Sheek Pearson's caliber to our program," SLU head coach Josh Schertz said. "He's not just talented, he's super competitive and extremely ambitious with the horsepower behind it in terms of his work ethic.

"Sheek is a fantastic rim protector who rebounds on both ends of the floor," Schertz said. "He's the rare archetype who can create vertical and horizontal spacing. Sheek's combination of humility, confidence and drive will allow him to reach his immense ceiling. It is a great day for Billiken basketball."

[Small Orange Soda]

Nothing was guaranteed.  That was the problem.

Sheek will 100% start for SLU.  This may make or break Shaka.

There's a shtick around here where they call that HDS.

[rocky_warrior]

There's a shtick around here where they call that HDS.

People are dumb.

[Uncle Rico]

People are dumb.

Yeah, some people think Nigel James isn't Big East good

[Uncle Rico]

There's a shtick around here where they call that HDS.

Everyone wanted Sheek to stay.  Everyone wanted Shaka to be active in the portal and add a big. 

As long as Marquette is active in the portal, it's going to leave them vulnerable as well to losing players who see minutes possibly taken from them.

Marquette knows what it is getting with Fru.  With Sheek, he hadn't proven it yet.  If he went out and was a non-factor like Hamilton, then people would be outraged regardless.  I think he'll be quite good and it sucks he left but that's the modern landscape.  You're going to lose good players to the portal.

It's been well documented how this went down.  SLU lost a player they thought they were getting to Duke.  They pivoted and Marquette was the one that got blindsided.  And before we have this "can't Marquette compete" argument, every major program has to be make choices on fund allocation.  Think UW-Madison wanted to lose John Blackwell?  He got a number they decided they didn't want to match.

We're at the point that regardless of who the coach is at Marquette, the modern landscape will lead to tough financial and roster decisions being made.  You want to play in the portal?  You better be ready to be bitten by the portal and put on your big boy pants and accept what can happen.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

People are dumb.

Speaking of...

This may make or break Shaka.

[willie warrior]

The only boy here is some unknown poster spewing garbage. Good luck to you.

Same to you, Garbage Guru.

[muwarrior69]

And yet most of those 90% could probably get a better paying gig if they looked. Despite that, they don't go looking.

Most people consider multiple factors when making most big life decisions. I don't know why we feel that Sheek's decision can only be about a single factor.

We are comparing apples and oranges here. If any of us were offered a huge increase in compensation from another employer and our current employer countered and we decided to stay do you really think the current employer would adjust all the compensation of its current highly valued members? I don't think so.

I agree Sheek's departure is multi-faceted, but it reveals that Marquette's financial resources are limited more than it reveals why Sheek left.

[Shooter McGavin]

Sounds like we agree then, there were multiple factors. Money was probably the biggest.

Money was 99%.  So I'm not sure you guys completely agree.

[Shooter McGavin]

Nothing was guaranteed.  That was the problem.

Sheek will 100% start for SLU.  This may make or break Shaka.

Based on that description, MU should have matched the money and I think if Sheek was dominating practice they would have.  The players would not have minded if he upset the salary structure if they were being abused by him on a daily basis.  They would have understood.  I don't think Shaka lets him out of the building.  Time will tell if he's that good.

[mileskishnish72]

Everyone wanted Sheek to stay.  Everyone wanted Shaka to be active in the portal and add a big. 

As long as Marquette is active in the portal, it's going to leave them vulnerable as well to losing players who see minutes possibly taken from them.

Marquette knows what it is getting with Fru.  With Sheek, he hadn't proven it yet.  If he went out and was a non-factor like Hamilton, then people would be outraged regardless.  I think he'll be quite good and it sucks he left but that's the modern landscape.  You're going to lose good players to the portal.

It's been well documented how this went down.  SLU lost a player they thought they were getting to Duke.  They pivoted and Marquette was the one that got blindsided.  And before we have this "can't Marquette compete" argument, every major program has to be make choices on fund allocation.  Think UW-Madison wanted to lose John Blackwell?  He got a number they decided they didn't want to match.

We're at the point that regardless of who the coach is at Marquette, the modern landscape will lead to tough financial and roster decisions being made.  You want to play in the portal?  You better be ready to be bitten by the portal and put on your big boy pants and accept what can happen.

It's cool when Rico has a lucid interval.

[rocky_warrior]

Time will tell if he's that good.

I certainly wasn't on the "sheek is the future" bandwagon. However, VBMG thinks I'm dumb, so I guess he wins.

[muwarrior69]

I certainly wasn't on the "sheek is the future" bandwagon. However, VBMG thinks I'm dumb, so I guess he wins.

I guess I am dumb because I have no idea what your no politics ban warning actually means in the Superbar.

[rocky_warrior]

I guess I am dumb because I have no idea what your no politics ban warning actually means in the Superbar.

That makes you observant, not dumb.

[The Sultan]

Based on that description, MU should have matched the money and I think if Sheek was dominating practice they would have.  The players would not have minded if he upset the salary structure if they were being abused by him on a daily basis.  They would have understood.  I don't think Shaka lets him out of the building.  Time will tell if he's that good.

If Sheek was that good, there would have been no need for a transfer. I really don't think he starts this season.

[rocky_warrior]

I really don't think he starts this season.

He was unlikely to start for Marquette.  For  St Louis, game on!

[Small Orange Soda]

Everyone wanted Sheek to stay.  Everyone wanted Shaka to be active in the portal and add a big. 

As long as Marquette is active in the portal, it's going to leave them vulnerable as well to losing players who see minutes possibly taken from them.

Marquette knows what it is getting with Fru.  With Sheek, he hadn't proven it yet.  If he went out and was a non-factor like Hamilton, then people would be outraged regardless.  I think he'll be quite good and it sucks he left but that's the modern landscape.  You're going to lose good players to the portal.

I don't think anyone disagrees. If Shaka thought his second year center, or his third year center, or his fourth year center were good enough to start, they wouldn't have gone and gotten Fru. Sheek left, understood. But we didn't replace him and it doesn't appear we will, which means we don't have a viable backup center, and Fru averaged 22 minutes a game last year.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I certainly wasn't on the "sheek is the future" bandwagon. However, VBMG thinks I'm dumb, so I guess he wins.

I certainly don't think YOU'RE dumb.

If I understood your point correctly, which was that adding Fru and Sheek's unexpected departure may "make or break Shaka", I absolutely think THAT'S dumb.

If I misunderstood the point you were making, I'm more than happy to retract that statement.

[rocky_warrior]

If I understood your point correctly, which was that adding Fru and Sheek's unexpected departure may "make or break Shaka", I absolutely think THAT'S dumb.

Well, it's true that my post overly simplified it to a couple players.  This next season Shaka needs to get the team to perform to expectations.  The center position is a big part of that.  It was a disaster last year, we've added a good piece, lost a good piece, and have the disaster as a backup plan.

[Uncle Rico]

I don't think anyone disagrees. If Shaka thought his second year center, or his third year center, or his fourth year center were good enough to start, they wouldn't have gone and gotten Fru. Sheek left, understood. But we didn't replace him and it doesn't appear we will, which means we don't have a viable backup center, and Fru averaged 22 minutes a game last year.

I thought the article covered the replacement part pretty well.  Cost for these guys was a lot higher than they were willing to go and given the dearth of big men that were available, I get it.

I'm not convinced the off-season is done but it's getting late early

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I don't think anyone disagrees. If Shaka thought his second year center, or his third year center, or his fourth year center were good enough to start, they wouldn't have gone and gotten Fru. Sheek left, understood. But we didn't replace him and it doesn't appear we will, which means we don't have a viable backup center, and Fru averaged 22 minutes a game last year.

First, I do think Shaka should add a backup 4/5. However, that seems unlikely. If he doesn't, I don't see it as a huge concern.

I would expect Fru to play 26-28 MPG. I'd expect to see some small lineups with Royce at the 5.

As for Clark and Hamilton, I would expect some improvement. I get that improvement from the level they were at is not that exciting.

In his presser, Shaka mentioned a focus was on Clark's motor, which is why I assume he wasn't getting minutes at the end of the season. That length could really make an impact as a rim protector, rebounder, and lob threat. Hopefully he can take a step forward.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Well, it's true that my post overly simplified it to a couple players.  This next season Shaka needs to get the team to perform to expectations.  The center position is a big part of that.  It was a disaster last year, we've added a good piece, lost a good piece, and have the disaster as a backup plan.

See, your statement labels both Fru and Sheek as good. Except Fru is proven, will be 23 years old, and is 250 lbs.

I like Sheek and wish he was still here but he's just theoretical upside at this point.