Recruiting as of 2/15/25

[GoldenEagles03]

Ben guarding the likes of RJ Luis, Alex Karaban and Dailyn Swain on the perimeter. Sounds fun.

As opposed to Parham? Ya.

Ben is a versatile defender with decent footwork. Parham is not a perimeter defender at all.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

At the end of the day, who cares? Shaka's job is to field a winning team, not make sure everyone is happy with their playing time (or unwilling to compete for playing time).

Like I said, I trust Shaka to navigate this situation.

[nyg]

If we add a portal Center...Parham, Gold, and said Center aren't all starting.

Which means Parham plays off the bench and his role stays the same as it was this year as the backup 4. If Shaka can convince him that is best for his development and the team, then perfect! I just don't think it's that easy.

You never defined "bench".
That does not necessarily mean his minutes would decrease and you have no clue what his role will be.  Numerous players come off the bench and play significant more minutes than starters. For all you know, that could be the starting frontline, right? No one knows. Your justification responses are minimal.  Thats it from me on this topic. 

I apologize to the other posters for any argumentative posts deflecting from the "Recruiting" thread. I usually refrain from such.  But this guy made me respond.

Back to recruiting talk and just remember there was a reason why Shaka went full blast on recruiting Nigel James and Nyk Lewis last year. That will be post season discussion

Best of luck to the guys next week.  .

[GoldenEagles03]

You never defined "bench".
That does not necessarily mean his minutes would decrease and you have no clue what his role will be.  Numerous players come off the bench and play significant more minutes than starters. For all you know, that could be the starting frontline, right? No one knows. Your justification responses are minimal.  Thats it from me on this topic. 

I apologize to the other posters for any argumentative posts deflecting from the "Recruiting" thread. I usually refrain from such.  But this guy made me respond.

Back to recruiting talk and just remember there was a reason why Shaka went full blast on recruiting Nigel James and Nyk Lewis last year. That will be post season discussion

Best of luck to the guys next week.  .

I didn't make you respond, and wasn't looking for an argument.

Go MU!

[BCHoopster]

MU needs a third big, they all can play 25-30 minutes so who cares who starts, it matters who finishes. Can any of those projects make a difference, doubt it. All probably need another year

[Pakuni]

As opposed to Parham? Ya.

Ben is a versatile defender with decent footwork. Parham is not a perimeter defender at all.

Respectfully, I think you're mistaken here.

[GoldenEagles03]

Respectfully, I think you're mistaken here.

That's fine! I don't think it is particularly close at all. Ben is a very capable defender and Royce has a long way to go there which is why Shaka has said he's been limited in his minutes.

[MU82]

Stating "I just want to win and I trust Shaka" is a sign of surrender.   

First, trusting the guy who has led us to these 4 enjoyable, successful seasons is "surrender"? Second, what are you and me and GE03 and Pakuni supposed to do about any of this? We have no input before, during or after the various decision-making processes, so what are any of us surrendering?

I offered a scenario earlier, mostly to spur discussion. And that's what has happened; we have discussed. I don't know if Freeman is considering MU, if Shaka is considering Freeman, if bringing in Freeman would make Parham think about leaving, etc.

I took absolutely no sides on whether using the portal is "good" or "bad." I did say that using the transfer portal often (but not always) has a domino effect.

College athletes regularly make decisions that fans don't like or that leave fans shaking our heads. Lewis leaving. Vander leaving. Blankson transferring. And on and on. Athletes are young and can be fickle. Family members and friends get involved. Agents are involved. Opposing coaches tamper and promise stuff. Lots of voices in their ears.

Would Shaka bringing in an outside player at his position after promising to always take care of current players make Parham transfer? I hope not. But if so, maybe that's OK with Scoopers? If so, cool.

I do trust Shaka to do what's right for the program until he gives me reason not to. Maybe this season's "failure" has already convinced some fans not to trust him. Obviously, joyless willie is already there. Maybe some rational MU fans are, too.

[willie warrior]

As opposed to Parham? Ya.

Ben is a versatile defender with decent footwork. Parham is not a perimeter defender at all.

What?

[GoldenEagles03]

What?

What?

[Daniel]

Have to be open to building the best team you can build - however you can. 

[Pakuni]

First, trusting the guy who has led us to these 4 enjoyable, successful seasons is "surrender"? Second, what are you and me and GE03 and Pakuni supposed to do about any of this? We have no input before, during or after the various decision-making processes, so what are any of us surrendering?

Whoa, whoa, whoa ... are you seriously questioning the power of a Scoop letter-writing campaign? Or a blog's ability to get a coach fired?

Would Shaka bringing in an outside player at his position after promising to always take care of current players make Parham transfer? I hope not. But if so, maybe that's OK with Scoopers? If so, cool.

Honest question(s) ... when has Shaka ever promised he would never bring in a transfer? And how is bringing in a top recruit to compete with/play over a current player any different?
Say, for example, Shaka was able to land Kon Knueppel. He'd almost certainly have played ahead of Chase. Would that have been some kind of betrayal?

[nyg]

First, trusting the guy who has led us to these 4 enjoyable, successful seasons is "surrender"? Second, what are you and me and GE03 and Pakuni supposed to do about any of this? We have no input before, during or after the various decision-making processes, so what are any of us surrendering?

I offered a scenario earlier, mostly to spur discussion. And that's what has happened; we have discussed. I don't know if Freeman is considering MU, if Shaka is considering Freeman, if bringing in Freeman would make Parham think about leaving, etc.

I took absolutely no sides on whether using the portal is "good" or "bad." I did say that using the transfer portal often (but not always) has a domino effect.

College athletes regularly make decisions that fans don't like or that leave fans shaking our heads. Lewis leaving. Vander leaving. Blankson transferring. And on and on. Athletes are young and can be fickle. Family members and friends get involved. Agents are involved. Opposing coaches tamper and promise stuff. Lots of voices in their ears.

Would Shaka bringing in an outside player at his position after promising to always take care of current players make Parham transfer? I hope not. But if so, maybe that's OK with Scoopers? If so, cool.

I do trust Shaka to do what's right for the program until he gives me reason not to. Maybe this season's "failure" has already convinced some fans not to trust him. Obviously, joyless willie is already there. Maybe some rational MU fans are, too.

Never had interaction with you over the years since the vast majority of your posts are reviewing poster's comments, dissecting them and utilizing them in a sarcastic or demeaning manner.  No thanks.

FYI, I never used the word surrender in the post to reflect it towards Shaka, players, the program or anything derogatory in nature.  I used it in reference to GE03's inability to answer my question posed to him on numerous occasions by him only stating I trust Shaka.

'Stating I just want to win and I trust Shaka is a sign of surrender' is what I wrote, meaning if that's all GE03 could come up with without a viable answer, then he is surrendering to my question. GE03 surrendering....

Tower, see what I mean, I tried. 

[MU82]

Honest question(s) ... when has Shaka ever promised he would never bring in a transfer? And how is bringing in a top recruit to compete with/play over a current player any different?
Say, for example, Shaka was able to land Kon Knueppel. He'd almost certainly have played ahead of Chase. Would that have been some kind of betrayal?

I'm quite sure Shaka has said on multiple occasions that he is committed to the recruits he brings in and is not going to "drop a bag" on a free agent to take current players' places. At least three of the incoming recruits cited Shaka's recruit-develop-retain philosophy as a major reason they chose Marquette.

So no, he never promised he'd never bring in a transfer; indeed, those here who seem to know say he has considered transfers. But he seems to have said often that at least when it comes to the $$$ part of it, he has promised to take care of current players first.

But hey, maybe I'm wrong about that. I've never been there with him and recruits.

I do think recruiting high school kids is different, Pak, though that's a legit question.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I'm quite sure Shaka has said on multiple occasions that he is committed to the recruits he brings in and is not going to "drop a bag" on a free agent to take current players' places. At least three of the incoming recruits cited Shaka's recruit-develop-retain philosophy as a major reason they chose Marquette.

So no, he never promised he'd never bring in a transfer; indeed, those here who seem to know say he has considered transfers. But he seems to have said often that at least when it comes to the $$$ part of it, he has promised to take care of current players first.

But hey, maybe I'm wrong about that. I've never been there with him and recruits.

I do think recruiting high school kids is different, Pak, though that's a legit question.

That's exactly what he said and I'm curious why those that are on the transfer portal bandwagon continually fail to recognize this and the potential negative impacts of pivoting on his philosophy. 

Obviously, it puts a ton of weight and identifying the right kids out of high school and developing them.  And like Shaka has said, he's recruiting the family just as much as the kid, which is going to help with retention. 

Also, and this is a complete hypothetical that I don't think will come to fruition...if they 25-26 team doesn't make the tourney, that's still not enough for me to be convinced the approach is wrong. 

[Aircraftcarrier]

Jaxson Davis of Gurnee Warren with 27 points and 7 steals last night in a semi final win in the class 4A State tournament. A player to watch. 2027 prospect

[Newsdreams]

Right...we would not want to upset Ben, who has disappeared in many games and has already lost minutes to Parham

What will be your Freeman nickname?

[PointWarrior]

That's exactly what he said and I'm curious why those that are on the transfer portal bandwagon continually fail to recognize this and the potential negative impacts of pivoting on his philosophy. 

Obviously, it puts a ton of weight and identifying the right kids out of high school and developing them.  And like Shaka has said, he's recruiting the family just as much as the kid, which is going to help with retention. 

Also, and this is a complete hypothetical that I don't think will come to fruition...if they 25-26 team doesn't make the tourney, that's still not enough for me to be convinced the approach is wrong. 

Cool, the excuse making for the 25-26 team has commenced.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Cool, the excuse making for the 25-26 team has commenced.

Not remotely what's happening, genius.

[GoldenEagles03]

Are we really that off the deep end about next year?

There are teams in our conference that have 1 Quad 1 win being considered for a bid tomorrow.

We don't think we can be much better than that?

Why is it always gotta be the end of the world?

[wadesworld]

Are we really that off the deep end about next year?

There are teams in our conference that have 1 Quad 1 win being considered for a bid tomorrow.

We don't think we can be much better than that?

Why is it always gotta be the end of the world?

Because we already know our seed.

[GoldenEagles03]

Because we already know our seed.

What?

[PointWarrior]

Not remotely what's happening, genius.

At a minimum, the Wojo-slurping crowd has turned in the the Shaka's approach is infallible crowd. 

[Zog from Margo]

At a minimum, the Wojo-slurping crowd has turned in the the Shaka's approach is infallible crowd. 

I was no Wojo fan. I didn't like the hire from the day it happened. It was a bad fit. The difference in the quality of coaching between Wojo and Shaka has been abundantly apparent to anyone with a modicum of knowledge. The program improvement over the 7 years preceding his arrival has certainly earned Shaka the benefit of the doubt. The same can't be said for anyone on this board who thinks they know better than Shaka the best way for MU to acquire players. Shaka isn't infallible but he's certainly got a lot more going on in the coconut than Wojo or the vast majority of fans. Besides, Shaka never said he wouldn't ever use the portal.

[Shooter McGavin]

Agreed Zog.  As always there is a sliver of truth to that statement but only a sliver.  What you are saying is 95% of the pie chart.  There will be down years with Shaka but I am willing to accept those because he is a great coach and I don't think we could do that much better.  Will he make some decisions we don't all like?  Sure.  But the overall body of work will rule the day.  Doesn't mean discussions questioning some of his decisions isn't allowed.  We'd be robots if we didn't.  But overall your point is well taken, let's enjoy this ride.