Marquette Basketball Thread 20-21

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

I understand the "underperforming relative to talent" takes, I do. But Shaka also lost his leading scorer TWICE midseason. In college basketball, you're also always one weird, random event away from things being totally different. Nature of the sport. Razor thin margin between fans thinking you had a "great" year or a "total failure."

 

I'm with HiAndTight on this one. Texas just never seemed like a good fit for Shaka. He turned down so many opportunities to leave VCU, and I think he's just better-suited to a basketball-first environment where you can actually focus on fit rather than trying to churn the 5-star mill. Cal can do that. K has become great at it. I think the VCU run is attributable to a guy being comfortable running a program in a way that you can't run Texas or Indiana or Kentucky. Maybe I'll be wrong, and I follow UW more closely than Marquette, but I think hoops in the state is so much better when both are good, and I think we're closer to that today than yesterday. Shaka is a way better name than I expected three weeks ago.

[patrickgpe]

Good point. I didn’t consider that but it very well could be true. The one and dones are a blessing and a curse

 

Yeah, I stole that almost exclusively from Kentucky Radio talking about how they were disappointed in their recent teams.

 

I have Satellite, so I'm still not sure why I was listening to the local UK call-in show, but that was their take. So if Kentucky fans aren't loving it...I figured there'd be ample reason for UT fans to not love it at the moment.

It furthers calipari as the greatest coach that he can pretty much coach a new roster every year.

[patrickgpe]

Maybe the issue was the he reached too high to go from VCU to Texas. Marquette is a better job than vcu but not that much. He will have a lot more resources here. You are recruiting a different type of kid at Marquette than at Texas and probably a lot closer to what you would get at vcu. He needs to get a darn good staff that can help make inroads. I think that and if he can keep key guys from transferring will tell a lot on how this will go

 

A lot of coaches had success at mid majors only to fail at big time schools. Archie Miller is another. This is a great chance for smart to revive his career and I hope he does and stays

[FVBrewerFan]

I look at the Shaka Smart hire as an acknowledgment they weren't going to get Porter Moser.

 

I can see him pitching pace of play with the in-state kids, but the real question is whether he can bring in talent when the Dukes, North Carolinas, and Kentuckys come calling (since we know Coach Gard cannot). Other than that final four run a decade ago, he's won a total of 2 games in the Tournament since. Granted, that's 2 more games than Wojo won...but those wins both came before Wojo was even hired as Marquette's head coach (in 2012 and 2013; Wojo was first hired in 2014).

 

Al McGuire couldn't compete with Duke, NC, or Kentucky for the best players so not really the goal to look for in a HC for MU, UW, or really any other school.

[patrickgpe]

I look at the Shaka Smart hire as an acknowledgment they weren't going to get Porter Moser.

 

I can see him pitching pace of play with the in-state kids, but the real question is whether he can bring in talent when the Dukes, North Carolinas, and Kentuckys come calling (since we know Coach Gard cannot). Other than that final four run a decade ago, he's won a total of 2 games in the Tournament since. Granted, that's 2 more games than Wojo won...but those wins both came before Wojo was even hired as Marquette's head coach (in 2012 and 2013; Wojo was first hired in 2014).

 

Al McGuire couldn't compete with Duke, NC, or Kentucky for the best players so not really the goal to look for in a HC for MU, UW, or really any other school.

Marquette is a top 30 job. Smart is a top 30 coach. I don’t want to compete with duke or North Carolina for recruits. I think they can do much better than then the last 7 years though

[folly412]

You are recruiting a different type of kid at Marquette than at Texas and probably a lot closer to what you would get at vcu. He needs to get a darn good staff that can help make inroads. I think that and if he can keep key guys from transferring will tell a lot on how this will go

 

The CBS guys were making this point as well - Shaka's trademark at VCU was the "Havoc" full court pressure defense. At Texas, he found himself landing 5 star big men. Not a fit for this style, so he had to change the style.

 

Would be nice if he could keep Carton, Lewis, and Garcia. Seem to be good fits for his preferred system. But I won't hold it against him if he can't keep Wojo's team together, and the pure free agent transfer market this year might give him a chance to re-build quickly. Looks like he got a 4-star kid from Brookfield to commit to Texas; may be a good start to get him to stay home.

[LouisEly]

Marquette is a top 30 job.

Yep. They only have basketball, so all of their resources go to basketball. I read something a while back, maybe when they hired Wojo, that in terms of resources dedicated to the program plus playing in a NBA arena made Marquette a top-10 program in terms of total resources dedicated to basketball.

[folly412]

Marquette is a top 30 job.

Yep. They only have basketball, so all of their resources go to basketball. I read something a while back, maybe when they hired Wojo, that in terms of resources dedicated to the program plus playing in a NBA arena made Marquette a top-10 program in terms of total resources dedicated to basketball.

 

Yep, whenever USA Today or other outlets compile lists of the top spending programs, they always make it. There's a lot of murkiness due to non-standard accounting between schools and further lack of transparency given they're private, but no doubt they spent a lot.

 

Conversely, I've also seen a list or two that follow up on that with the "worst ROI" programs in terms of success for what they spend, and they're high on that list. Jeff Goodman was explaining that last week re: Wojo, and how the performance given what they invest was even more egregious.

[bjkrautk]

I look at the Shaka Smart hire as an acknowledgment they weren't going to get Porter Moser.

I think it's more of a case of bird in hand versus bird in bush - Moser's season hasn't ended yet, and they may have felt that Smart was good enough to not risk waiting on Moser, or perhaps Smart said he didn't want to wait and if you wanted him you had to get him now.

 

I think DePaul is going to go all-in on Moser, with the pitch that he doesn't have to move his family. Maybe Marquette felt that was too much risk to wait and then if they didn't get Moser there wouldn't be anyone good left.

 

Moser is going to Oklahoma, according to news reports this afternoon, replacing the retired Lon Kruger.

[owbc]

Marquette is a top 30 job.

Yep. They only have basketball, so all of their resources go to basketball. I read something a while back, maybe when they hired Wojo, that in terms of resources dedicated to the program plus playing in a NBA arena made Marquette a top-10 program in terms of total resources dedicated to basketball.

 

Yep, whenever USA Today or other outlets compile lists of the top spending programs, they always make it. There's a lot of murkiness due to non-standard accounting between schools and further lack of transparency given they're private, but no doubt they spent a lot.

 

Conversely, I've also seen a list or two that follow up on that with the "worst ROI" programs in terms of success for what they spend, and they're high on that list. Jeff Goodman was explaining that last week re: Wojo, and how the performance given what they invest was even more egregious.

 

First 8 years in the Big East:

8 NCAA tourney appearances

3 Sweet-16 appearances (1 elite-8)

5 AP top-25 finishes

 

Next 8 years in the Big East:

2 NCAA tourney appearances

0 NCAA tourney wins

0 AP top-25 finishes

 

Most of that is on Wojo, we all know there's been talent on the roster.

[MrTPlush]

Speaking of Marquette, a top recruit in Jonas Aidoo has de committed after the Wojo news.

[patrickgpe]

Speaking of Marquette, a top recruit in Jonas Aidoo has de committed after the Wojo news.

this isn't unexpected, these players come to a school to play for a coach, when he is gone and there is no other connection to the university they are going to leave. Texas had 2 top recruits decommit over the last week and are now linked to Marquette.

[patrickgpe]

Shaka was on Jim Rome today. It was really my first chance to hear him as Marquette’s coach. He comes off so impressive. It reminds me of buzz. If he performs in March like buzz I’ll be happy.

[patrickgpe]

Dawson Garcia exploring the NBA draft waters. Personally don't think he is ready, but he is a big who can shoot. I'm sure he will be MU's next NBA draft pick. I just think he needs a year to bulk up.

 

Smart has done a pretty good job of keeping the roster together, they only lost one recruit and no undergrads said they intend to transfer, which is impressive

[patrickgpe]

Smart converts a texas recruit to MU (and a top 100 one)

 

https://www.burntorangenation.com/2021/4/13/22382160/emarion-ellis-flips-texas-longhorns-marquette-golden-eagles

[patrickgpe]

Shaka has not turned 3 texas recruits to marquette!. 2 more commits today including Joplin from Brookfield (top 75)

[folly412]

I'm even more surprised he was able to keep the other two who committed to Wojo. Roster will be young and inexperienced so can't expect much next year, but plenty of talent to develop. Also fairly small and guard-heavy, which has been good to MU and Shaka historically. Looks like he also just landed a highly regarded assistant from Maryland, in addition to his Texas group.

 

Love that many of the kids seem very excited to play for him. Also more charisma in Shaka's big toe than all of Wojo - looking forward to the season!

[patrickgpe]

i expected carnage on the roster, because that is what happens when you change coaches. It was the only reasonable defense for keeping wojo after the 19-20 season. Texas hired a coach that took A&M to the championship and only kept one recruit. Besides keeping 2 out of 3 recuits and getting 3 texas players to come., he got the A-10 freshman of the year to transfer.

[MrTPlush]

I don't think it is overly odd he kept quite a few recruits and got some to come over. Shaka Smart is a clear upgrade at face value. And while he hasn't created much success players enjoy playing for him. It isn't like Wojo was a massive success story and suddenly retired...he has been quite the opposite of a success story.

[patrickgpe]

Over the years I have realized players come to play for the coach, not the university. Therefore if I am an incoming freshman, I have no connection to the university except for wojo and his assistants. Its why its typical for incoming freshmen to de-commit when there is a coaching change.

 

Texas had a mass exodus when they moved on from Smart and 3 of them went to play for Smart, thus proving my point.

 

For whatever reason, he was able to connect with his players and recruit well even with minimal success on the court. It was pretty odd.

[patrickgpe]

Didn’t realize Perez left the program too. Really hard to keep track of the roster of late. Would imagine Garcia comes back so they should be ok. Still surprised carton declares, have yet to see him in a mock draft mentioned.

[DHonks]

Didn’t realize Perez left the program too. Really hard to keep track of the roster of late. Would imagine Garcia comes back so they should be ok. Still surprised carton declares, have yet to see him in a mock draft mentioned.

 

He won’t be drafted unless the draft goes to 5 rounds. Carton is obviously a guy who just doesn’t do college. He likes ball, but not the school. Good luck to him in the pros...great talent.

[nodakfan17]

Has anyone heard an update on Zaire Wade’s recruiting?

 

Last I heard, he was taking a post grad year to boost his stock, but had offers from Nebraska, DePaul, Rhode Island, and Toledo.

[patrickgpe]

from April;

 

Zaire Wade is a three-star recruit and the 296th ranked player in the 2021 recruiting class, according to 247Sports Composite. ESPN basketball recruiting rates him a 76 on a scale of 100. He currently has scholarship offers from UC Santa Barbara, DePaul, Nebraska, Rhode Island, TCU, South Carolina, and Toledo

[nodakfan17]

Thanks. Doesn’t school start in 6 weeks? The popular press runs a lot of stories about the Wade-Union Family, so I’m surprised there haven’t been any updates lately. If Bronny James wore a Kentucky t-shirt, we’d all know about it.