When the general opinion is that you are axing your own foot like Shaka Smart, there is bound to be heightened judgment. While others dip into the transfer portal pond, Shaka Smart still goes about his business, the traditional way. The 5-8 Marquette now has a regular starter leaving the program, and the fans are furious.

Zaide Lowery has decided to leave the program. “I would like to thank Zaide for his many contributions to our program over the last two and a half years,” Marquette coach Shaka Smart said in a statement released by the school. “We wish him the best in all of his future pursuits on and off the court.” 

It had been a turbulent season for Lowery. He started the first nine games, but struggled to find consistency in scoring in single digits against Little Rock and Indiana. He lost his starting spot to freshman Adrien Stevens against Wisconsin on December 6, then played only 12 minutes in a loss at Purdue.

Lowery didn’t come off the bench at all in the Big East opener against Georgetown on December 17, then didn’t make the trip for a game at Creighton on December 20 for what MU called personal reasons. Now, he is looking for a new team.

Lowery played 73 career games for Marquette. He had averaged 4.1 points, 3 rebounds, and 15.8 minutes while making 31 appearances off the bench last season. The exact reason is kept under wraps by both Lowery and the program, but fans are already criticizing Shaka Smart.

Fans Blame Shaka Smart After Zaide Lowery’s Exit Leaves Marquette Reeling

“Sooo Shaka completely lied in his interview… great look,” wrote a fan.

Just last week, Lowery did not travel to Omaha, and when asked about it, Smart simply said, “Just wasn’t here for personal reasons.”

When he was pressed by Ben Steele on whether he is leaving the team or suspended, Smart denied both. It could be that the situation was different then and things have unraveled since. However, it’s still not good optics, especially for a coach who is 3 losses away from matching the tally of the entire last season by the New Year. 

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Smart answered for his anti-portal process after the 77-71 overtime loss to the Flyers earlier in the season.

“Listen, we’ve had a lot of success around here, the way we’ve gone about things. It’s not new,” he said. “What is a little bit different right now is that we’ve had, in the last couple years, six guys exit our program that — before you even talk about them as basketball players — who they were in terms of teammates and leaders and culture-builders, we’re responding to that. We’re having to react and grow from that.”

It seems like Smart is sticking to his guns despite what the fans and the results say. That was still fine for most of the fans, but now that the returnees are leaving, fans fear free fall. 

“Jiminy Christmas, Shaka doesn’t do the portal for only his returnees to up and leave?!?! This is not good, guys…” wrote another fan.

The ambiguity behind Lowery’s exit is what adds to the fire. Some fans presume this as a sign of Lowery losing belief in Smart and Marquette. In today’s NCAA, midseason roster additions are becoming common, which allows players to shift teams. 

“Shaka is in deep water now,” announced another fan.

That’s probably an overstatement, but this move does add some pressure on Shaka Smart to deliver. The results are not coming as well. The ‘championship level’ program that Marquette Athletic Director Mike Broeker wants to build seems some distance away.

However, they are unlikely to move on from Smart after he led the program to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances. There is a possibility that this is just a bump in the road. And it’s not like Lowery was doing exceptionally well. He was shooting 37% from the field and 29.5% from the three- point line.

Nevertheless, Smart’s USP has always been recruiting high-level high school athletes, retaining their loyalty, and developing them into elite players while bringing success to the team. This change adds a dent to that reputation.

Another fan broke the ‘news’ that  Lowery had left the program due to a fight with assistant coach Cody Hatt. “Tough news to share: Zaide Lowery will not return for the second semester after being dismissed from the team by Shaka Smart following an altercation with assistant coach Cody Hatt. #mubb,” the fan wrote.

However, the fan was corrected by the official Marquette account almost immediately, as they replied by writing, “The information regarding the altercation is inaccurate.”

There could be other reasons why Lowery left, but as long as things are left unexplained, fans will continue putting Smart in the hot seat.