Scholarship table
Then you're going to be disappointed far more than you're happy. It's really hard to have sustained success in March, which is why only a handful of programs can do it year over year.I hope MU can get to that level, but in the meantime, I'll look back on this season and the moments it provided with great fondness.
Guess it really just depends on the person then. Like I said I’ve never really given a flying you know what about conference titles. It’s just not something that’s ever interested me, was it a successful year overall? Sure.But I want March success. And that’s always the way I’ve viewed it. Again, just my opinion but not something I’m gonna agree with you on.It’s such a massive disappointment getting bounced in the first weekend.
Probably just wired different, but I couldn't possibly disagree with this more. School record for wins, first outright Big East title, first Big East tourney title, first NCAA win in 10 years, that's a massive overachievement on the season expectations that even I had, and I was about as optimistic as anyone preseason.Here's the thing when it comes to "March success." In the long run, there is only one game I'm really concerned with winning, and that's played on the first Monday in April. Final Fours and Sweet 16s are nice and all, but it's all about cutting nets in April, not cutting nets in March. I'll enjoy all the banners along the way, but unless we are building to a National Championship, it's all meaningless. If they won two more games and got to an Elite 8 but still lost, would it matter more? Marginally, but I'll take this season over 2011 every single time and it's not even close. This team was also better than 2013 and I don't think it's particularly close, and I will remember this season more fondly than 2013. One bad game in March doesn't change the emotions or the celebrations we've had for the past 4 months.I also feel that this program is significantly closer to cutting those final nets than they were at the start of the year. This isn't an overnight process, it's a long-term endeavor. Yes, I would rather still be playing. I would rather have more success. But by any measure, this year's success exceeded everyone's expectations and maligning or belaboring this season or what didn't happen is pretty much pointless. Keep going for a National Championship. That's the only win that really matters.
It was a memorable year and despite the L to MSU, it was a huge success. I'll enjoy recalling this season as a whole rather than dwelling on the losses. Since 67 of the 68 teams will end up losing (and yes, the loser in the title game will be "massively disappointed"), it boggles my mind how anyone can place all their hopes in the tourney results.
I don't think anyone has declared the whole season a massive disappointment, only the fact that MU couldn't live up to the fantastic 2 seed they deserved after a fantastic season. I also understand why fans want to say the BE championships were more important (they were a lot of fun), but coaches at this level keep/lose jobs based on tourney success.As for how "we" will remember this season, I think that depends on how following seasons go. If Marquette can replicate the magic they had most of the year, and have a similar season next year (with hopefully better tourney results) then it will be the year that lead to greater things. If there's an inexplicable step back next year, it'll be the year that could have been. Only time will tell.
Keeping in mind today that the pain is a positive sign. My apathy from the Wojo years is gone. We have our team back. We have reason to hope again!
I agree with all of this. In 10 years I will fondly remember the season that they won the outright Big East Title and the BET and set the program record for wins in a season. I will also remember being disappointed that they didn't make it out of first weekend in the tournament, but that will be secondary.As I told my wife on the drive home from Columbus on Sunday: This Marquette season is one of the most enjoyable sports seasons I can remember in my long life as a sports fan. I had a lot of fun watching this team and their games. I really like the players and coaches. I've had a lot of great and memorable experiences as a sports fan -- my favorite teams have won Superbowls, the World Series, an NBA title, and NCAA Football championships (they've made it to the final games/series on other occasions). I can't honestly say that I enjoyed any of those seasons more than I enjoyed this basketball season with Marquette. It was special. Of course I wish they were still playing and we'd be celebrating the National Championship, but it didn't happen. But it was really, really fun while it lasted. And I will always remember this season fondly. I will have more and better memories of this season than of any prior Marquette season (disclaimer: I wasn't a Marquette fan until I enrolled in 1987). This includes 2003.I sincerely hope it was just the start of a prolonged period of success.
But I’m puzzled by the comment that the only game you’re concerned with winning is the one on the first Monday in April.
I enjoy the process. I wouldn't be here if that wasn't the case. But at the end of the day, what I want to see is a Marquette National Championship. It's one of two sports trophies that I care about I have yet to see my teams claim. Watching Villanova win two in the last decade only reinforced what I always believed since I was a student during the Final Four run: a National Championship is possible at Marquette.It requires the right coach, the right players, and the right timing. This year we had two out of three. We missed on the timing. Our worst game came at the worst possible time. Play our average game and we beat MSU comfortably. This is year two. My belief is that we are going to be a staple at the top of the Big East for the next 10-15 years. I think we are going to get a lot of kicks at the NC can over Shaka's time here. All we need is the right timing to get that can to fall over once. That's what I want to see.For me, it's not high expectations or low expectations, it's about aspiration. I aspire to this being a National Championship program. I am certain the staff and players want the same. That's why I donate, why I attend games, and why I cheer. Maybe I'll go to my grave disappointed. But I'll be damned if I'm going to miss it if it does happen.