Shaka’s post game remarks, if interested

[Apollo]

Anyone else quietly rooting for Shaka to win it all at some point in his career?

 

[freescooter]

Marquette is perfect for him. Great basketball school and great fanbase. They spend enough that he always will be able to field a really good team and he's from there an hour down the road.

Yeah sure. As long as he thinks his ceiling is an occasional elite Eight. If that’s the case he is a perfect fit. If he thinks he has the ability to win the whole thing than Indiana is where he wants to be. Look Al Maguire ain’t waking through the door at Marquette. They are good but never have enough to be great again. But I would think if Shaka thinks he is good enough to win it all it is an easy choice.

 

[superjohn]

Yeah sure. As long as he thinks his ceiling is an occasional elite Eight. If that’s the case he is a perfect fit. If he thinks he has the ability to win the whole thing than Indiana is where he wants to be. Look Al Maguire ain’t waking through the door at Marquette. They are good but never have enough to be great again. But I would think if Shaka thinks he is good enough to win it all it is an easy choice.

Yeah sure. Indiana's last Elite 8 was 2002. Bobby Knight ain't walking through that door again.

 

[mauconnfan]

Anyone else quietly rooting for Shaka to win it all at some point in his career?

If he’s still in the tourney and the Huskies are eliminated sure, why not!

 

[PlayItLeo]

Anyone else quietly rooting for Shaka to win it all at some point in his career?

Loudly rooting for him to get one (provided it’s not at our expense). Shaka seems like a universal good guy in the sport. I hope he has as long and successful career as possible.

 

[JohnFSilver]

Anyone hearing rumors that IU looking at Shaka to replace Woodson?

Why would shaka do that? Woodson a good nba coach, but these nba types just cant recruit.

Shaka might struggle there. Seems like he should have learned from Texas. Stay where you can win.

 

[Fishy]

You can go to Indiana or Marquette. I’ll take Marquette said nobody ever. You can resurrect an historic blue blood program and you think he will turn it down? LOL! If you’re at UConn, Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, UNC, someplace like that you probably say no. Marquette or Creighton? Where do I sign?

It’s not 1985. Marquette is more focused on winning basketball games than Indiana is - and they’re better at it.

And the last guy who left Marquette to take the Indiana job is still unemployed.

 

[Letsgohuskies11]

Anyone hearing rumors that IU looking at Shaka to replace Woodson?

Is IU looking to get past the round of 32?

 

[navery12]

Anyone else quietly rooting for Shaka to win it all at some point in his career?

No, I'm rooting for UConn to win it all

 

[EricLA]

Brad’s not coaching college.

Shaka is perfect for Marquette, but could also see him work in the B10 culturally. That said, he does have a unique style and it worries me he does nothing in the portal. I love the whole develop thing but one does have to adapt to survive. If he’s gonna jump ship this year wouldn’t be a bad one because cupboards look fairly bare next season.

Cuse/Virginia/Nova/Miami gonna be on the prowl too. Hodgson is hot name and will land somewhere, as will the Drake coach. Pitino Junior may also get an upgrade. Then you have UNC being very likely next year - hear Oates will be a target there.

It never ceases to amaze me how much many of the BY'ers know on this board. Did you know this off the top of your head or have to look it up? Either way posts like yours are one reason I enjoy coming on here - great info all the time.

 

[EricLA]

That link didn't work for me. Try this one.

There's a minute of Hurley's post game comments after Shaka's.

Marquette coach Shaka Smart felt UConn played with better poise in the home loss

The Marquette coach said his team lacked mental toughness in the 77-69 loss to UConn.

www.jsonline.com

The last thing Hurley said "we're going to come into the next game looking a lot healthier". Music to most fans' ears. I assume he means Liam back? Diarra feeling better? Anyone else with lingering issues that he could have been referring to?

 

[Stinger92860]

Steven’s has been pretty clear that he loves his job and his life in Boston. He said his wife and kids consider Boston home and have no interest in leaving. He’s basically at the pinnacle of his occupation. I don’t think he scraps it to recruit 17 year olds and poke around the portal. Right now, he grabs a $300 steak with Tatum if he wants to work with the players.

Those steaks are free to him in Boston.

 

[August_West]

Shaka is perfect for Marquette, but could also see him work in the B10 culturally. That said, he does have a unique style and it worries me he does nothing in the portal. I love the whole develop thing but one does have to adapt to survive. If he’s gonna jump ship this year wouldn’t be a bad one because cupboards look fairly bare next season.

So far he seems to be "surviving". he has fielded top 10 teams in parts of the last 3 seasons. I dont want to hear about tournament results, if he keeps knocking on the door, it will open at some point. Calhoun had to knock for a decade before a FF was on his resume. Who knows, maybe the country will have to adapt to him. And Hurley much prefers the Shaka way to the portal way himself. Just because some people say that the portal is the way, it doesnt actually mean that someone can't do it another way and be successful. I love the way Shaka runs that program and root for them every opportunity I get. Which is pretty much any time they arent playing UConn or sometimes I'm rooting for a Marquette loss because it directly effects UConn's standing. Otherwise Im all in on them. Even their players I usually find likeable. However, I don't like Joplin. Something about him irks me, lol.

I think Indiana would be a terrible move for him, he's too quality an individual to be fed to those hyena fans, but I don't think it is worth worrying about, because I dont think he'd go.

 

[Gutter King]

I am not saying that this is the correct approach, but I 100% respect it and give credit to him: I've noticed that Shaka built the current Marquette roster (and last?) without the use of the portal. All of those kids have been one program kids from the glance that I took. No wonder Hurley respects the heck out of the guy. It's a true program he is running, and that feels like FF's are inevitable.

I have willingly detatched myself from the NIL stuff, but it could also mean that they are limited there.

 

[RuffRuff]

So far he seems to be "surviving". he has fielded top 10 teams in parts of the last 3 seasons. I dont want to hear about tournament results, if he keeps knocking on the door, it will open at some point. Calhoun had to knock for a decade before a FF was on his resume. Who knows, maybe the country will have to adapt to him. And Hurley much prefers the Shaka way to the portal way himself. Just because some people say that the portal is the way, it doesnt actually mean that someone can't do it another way and be successful. I love the way Shaka runs that program and root for them every opportunity I get. Which is pretty much any time they arent playing UConn or sometimes I'm rooting for a Marquette loss because it directly effects UConn's standing. Otherwise Im all in on them. Even their players I usually find likeable. However, I don't like Joplin. Something about him irks me, lol.

I think Indiana would be a terrible move for him, he's too quality an individual to be fed to those hyena fans, but I don't think it is worth worrying about, because I dont think he'd go.

He’s landed under the radar talent the last few years with kids like Kolek, Jones, MP, Osu. All 4 will spend time in the NBA. It’s only going to get harder to recruit there and it’s already showing. He’s got a nice thing going and if he’s content, he should stay. To win the big one, I think he’d have to move to assume bigger brand/purse.

 

[RuffRuff]

It never ceases to amaze me how much many of the BY'ers know on this board. Did you know this off the top of your head or have to look it up? Either way posts like yours are one reason I enjoy coming on here - great info all the time.

Only sport I truly follow at the micro level, and amazing the amount of good info you can get grabbing the right feeds, in little time. Love college hoops, everything else distant second. Find roster building in a 5 man sport in a constantly evolving landscape, fascinating.

 

[Jmark212]

Indiana fans still consider the program "blueblood" and a destination. They are completely devoid of reality. Indiana hasn't been consistently relevant in 35+ years. How did it work out for the last Marquette hire over there? I think he got to the 2nd weekend 1 time in a decade.

 

[HooperScooper]

The last thing Hurley said "we're going to come into the next game looking a lot healthier". Music to most fans' ears. I assume he means Liam back? Diarra feeling better? Anyone else with lingering issues that he could have been referring to?

Nowell's ankle. Karaban's ankle.

 

[August_West]

Nowell's ankle. Karaban's ankle.

Man we couldve used Nowell late in the first half. We went almost the last 5 minutes of the half without either Diarra or Mahaney on the floor, with Ross being a primary ball handler for much of it. It was pretty dicey and the only stretch of the game where we looked unsure of ourslves. Nowell despite his struggles really wouldve helped there.
When Karaban missed the 3 to go up 25, and Reed grabbed the offensive rebound and missed the putback to go up 24, and then Marquette proceeded to cut it to 13 before the half, I thought we might be in some trouble. That was a HUGE swing. Im absolutely in love with the fact that we stood tall and hard under some circumstances that have knocked us on our heels previously.

 

[RuffRuff]

Indiana fans still consider the program "blueblood" and a destination. They are completely devoid of reality. Indiana hasn't been consistently relevant in 35+ years. How did it work out for the last Marquette hire over there? I think he got to the 2nd weekend 1 time in a decade.

Proud, historic program sitting in a hotbed of passionate hoops culture. Also has the benefit of conference stability & economics sitting in the P2. Any coach that wins there will be adored. I'd say still a really good job. If anything the drought offers a cushion as it will offer more patience. They just have to make a good decision - no more nostalgic alumni hires, no NBA guys. Go get yourself a current coach that has a track record of winning, either high D1 or mid major.

 

[ValleyGuy]

Yeah sure. As long as he thinks his ceiling is an occasional elite Eight. If that’s the case he is a perfect fit. If he thinks he has the ability to win the whole thing than Indiana is where he wants to be. Look Al Maguire ain’t waking through the door at Marquette. They are good but never have enough to be great again. But I would think if Shaka thinks he is good enough to win it all it is an easy choice.

Yea this is the exact route/thought process Tom Crean had. How’d that go?

Going to Indiana just means youll end up the Georgia coach…

 

[MU in MKE]

First, congrats on the win. They really gutted it out and Ball was a baller. Forgive me for not going into too much detail, the pain of the L is still too fresh. I will say though, that was one of the strangest opening to a game I can recall.

Regarding Shaka and IU... that's some wishful thinking. Most of the best points have already been made, so I won't beat a dead horse. IU is a fantastic coaching opportunity and from a broad perspective is a better coaching option for many coaches.

That being said, Shaka tried the big state school thing, it didn't work out and he's extremely happy where he's at. At Marquette he gets to run the program his way, recruit the type of players he wants to recruit, and he has all the support (operationally, financially, culturally, passion, NIL, etc) that he could ever need. After the Texas debacle, he's seen the other side of the fence. It's not happening.

 

[RuffRuff]

First, congrats on the win. They really gutted it out and Ball was a baller. Forgive me for not going into too much detail, the pain of the L is still too fresh. I will say though, that was one of the strangest opening to a game I can recall.

Regarding Shaka and IU... that's some wishful thinking. Most of the best points have already been made, so I won't beat a dead horse. IU is a fantastic coaching opportunity and from a broad perspective is a better coaching option for many coaches.

That being said, Shaka tried the big state school thing, it didn't work out and he's extremely happy where he's at. At Marquette he gets to run the program his way, recruit the type of players he wants to recruit, and he has all the support (operationally, financially, culturally, passion, NIL, etc) that he could ever need. After the Texas debacle, he's seen the other side of the fence. It's not happening.

While likely true, is this conjecture and wishful thinking with a touch of bias on your end or is this iron clad fact and you give it 0% objectively?

 

[gsmooth]

First, congrats on the win. They really gutted it out and Ball was a baller. Forgive me for not going into too much detail, the pain of the L is still too fresh. I will say though, that was one of the strangest opening to a game I can recall.

Regarding Shaka and IU... that's some wishful thinking. Most of the best points have already been made, so I won't beat a dead horse. IU is a fantastic coaching opportunity and from a broad perspective is a better coaching option for many coaches.

That being said, Shaka tried the big state school thing, it didn't work out and he's extremely happy where he's at. At Marquette he gets to run the program his way, recruit the type of players he wants to recruit, and he has all the support (operationally, financially, culturally, passion, NIL, etc) that he could ever need. After the Texas debacle, he's seen the other side of the fence. It's not happening.

I thought Shaka nailed it in the live view look in at the huddle. Marquette looked like they were too nervous and uptight for the moment of prime time in front of the entire country. UConn visiting teams is going to be treated like a Super Bowl for most teams and get lots of attention. I don't think Marquette got intimidated by the UConn name on the jersey or anything like that because they are not intimidate by that. Remember they beat UConn 2 out of 3 times in 2023 and were the last team to beat UConn that year and it was in MSG, UConn's home away from home.
If Marquette shot their season average on FTs, the game pressure would have increased for UConn. Give Solo Ball credit. His 3s were the fire extinguisher to any potential comeback rally Marquette was trying to produce.

 

[MU in MKE]

While likely true, is this conjecture and wishful thinking with a touch of bias on your end or is this iron clad fact and you give it 0% objectively?

Somewhere in between... but closer to fact.