Marquette Freshmen Redshirts Prepare for Game Day

Three Marquette basketball players are redshirting this season, focusing on development and growth.

Feb. 23, 2026 at 11:50am

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Three Marquette freshmen basketball players are redshirting this season, a common player-development tool used by head coach Shaka Smart. The redshirting players engage in competitive workouts on game days to continue improving their skills, with Smart noting it's a long process that will take over 36 weeks until they are eligible to play in a game.

Why it matters

Redshirting allows young players to develop their skills and physical maturity without using up a year of NCAA eligibility. This can be crucial for programs like Marquette to build a strong, sustainable roster over time.

The details

The three Marquette freshmen who are redshirting this season are participating in intense, competitive workouts on game days to continue improving their abilities. Head coach Shaka Smart emphasized that the redshirt process is a long one, taking over 36 weeks until the players are eligible to actually play in a game.

  • The three Marquette freshmen began their redshirt seasons at the start of the 2025-26 basketball season.

The players

Shaka Smart

The head coach of the Marquette basketball team who is overseeing the redshirt development of the three freshmen players.

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What they’re saying

“It's a long process. 'I looked at it the other day, there was 36 weeks and five days until those guys are eligible to play a game. And so we're just fighting to grow them as people. Get them sturdy.”

— Shaka Smart, Head Coach

The takeaway

Redshirting is a valuable tool for college basketball programs to develop young talent and build a sustainable roster over time, as Marquette is demonstrating with its three freshmen players this season.