Marquette’s first-round Big East tournament loss to Xavier and its 12-20 finish will dominate the headlines. But how Shaka Smart fills the frontcourt and backcourt this spring will define the next five years more than any single March result. The program is at a fork: build correctly around a young core and return to the top tier, or slip back into the pack and spend seasons digging out.
Smart’s ability to add a big man and backcourt depth this offseason will determine whether Marquette stays in the Big East elite or drifts into the middle of the league
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on March 13, 2026, that Marquette faces a crucial offseason with two clear needs: a big man to address rebounding (the team ranked 332nd nationally in allowing offensive rebounds) and additional veteran guard depth. Ben Gold is out of eligibility and Caedin Hamilton’s development has stalled; the transfer portal window runs April 6-20, and the program has one open scholarship with more likely to open from departures. Smart announced in February 2026 that Marquette would use the portal after avoiding it since 2022, as reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. How he uses that window will set the trajectory for 2026-27 and beyond.
CBS Sports has documented Smart’s impact at Marquette: in his second year he won both the Big East regular season and tournament and earned a No. 2 NCAA seed, going 47-19 in his first two seasons. By 2025-26 the program had collapsed to 12-20, missing the NCAA tournament for the first time under Smart and posting only the second 20-loss season in school history. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Marquette Wire both frame the current moment as a critical offseason in which Smart must build around Big East Freshman of the Year Nigel James Jr., sophomore Royce Parham, and freshman Adrien Stevens while filling gaps via the portal. If he lands the right frontcourt piece and adds backcourt depth, Marquette can compete for the top of the league again; if not, the slide could extend.
Paint Touches noted in February 2026 that James averaged 28.2 points created per game and that Smart has a track record of success with ball-handling point guards; the foundation is there. The question is whether the roster around that foundation is deep and balanced enough to withstand a full Big East schedule. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has reported that Smart will rely on his current staff and director of program development Tyler McDevitt rather than hiring a general manager, so the same group that is managing retention and portal recruitment will be responsible for getting the roster right. The next five years will not be decided by the Xavier loss; they will be decided by who is on the roster in November.
What This Actually Means
March exits are memorable but not deterministic. Marquette’s long-game outlook depends on whether Smart can secure a reliable big man and backcourt help in a single portal window. Success would put the program back in the conversation for league titles and NCAA bids; failure would leave the same structural holes and another year of hoping young players carry too much load. The offseason is the real test.
Who is Shaka Smart and what is at stake for Marquette?
Shaka Smart has been Marquette’s head coach since 2021. He previously led VCU to the Final Four in 2011 and coached at Texas before taking the Marquette job. At Marquette he won the Big East double in 2022-23 and restored the program to national relevance before the 2025-26 collapse. He is now building around Nigel James Jr., Royce Parham, and Adrien Stevens while pursuing transfer help. The stakes for Marquette are straightforward: secure a frontcourt presence and backcourt depth this spring and the program can return to the top tier of the Big East; miss in the portal and the rebuild stretches into the next several seasons.
Why the Offseason Matters More Than the Exit
Marquette’s March exit is one data point; how the program responds in the offseason will shape the next season. Coaching decisions, transfer activity, and player development over the summer often matter more for long-term success than a single tournament result. Analysts and beat reporters have noted that programs that double down on identity and roster construction in the offseason tend to bounce back. The article argues that Marquette’s offseason moves will matter more than its March exit for the program’s trajectory. Fans and media will be watching for roster moves, recruiting news, and any coaching or staff changes in the coming months. How the team fills open scholarships and develops returning players will set the tone for the next campaign. The offseason is when roster gaps are addressed and when coaching staffs make the decisions that define the following year’s ceiling.