Should We Hope for a National Title?

[warriorfred]

I had a few beers with a Wisconsin alum and NIL contributor during the opening round of the NCAA tournament.  He was bummed that Kon Knueppel signed with Duke because Wisconsin only offered $500,000 a year and Duke came through with $1 million. 

I cannot envision Marquette competing for talent at those lofty spending levels.

Admittedly, my disappointment tonight stems from the the fact Marquette may have had its best opportunity to win the Natty these past two (2) seasons while the NCAA basketball world sorted-out compensation for players.

Going forward, I don't know how Marquette can find the money needed to compete at an elite level?

Should we be happy with an occasional Sweet 16?  Am I overly pessimistic?

[MUfan12]

MU topped UW's number from what I was told.

[MU24]

A lot of the teams left have paid for their rosters. Hard to imagine how MU can keep up and expect to reach the end weekends without hitting the transfer portals etc.

[Uncle Rico]

I had a few beers with a Wisconsin alum and NIL contributor during the opening round of the NCAA tournament.  He was bummed that Kon Knueppel signed with Duke because Wisconsin only offered $500,000 a year and Duke came through with $1 million. 

I cannot envision Marquette competing for talent at those lofty spending levels.

Admittedly, my disappointment tonight stems from the the fact Marquette may have had its best opportunity to win the Natty these past two (2) seasons while the NCAA basketball world sorted-out compensation for players.

Going forward, I don't know how Marquette can find the money needed to compete at an elite level?

Should we be happy with an occasional Sweet 16?  Am I overly pessimistic?

If money was an issue, someone would have thrown the bag at Tyler and taken him away.
 

[warriorfred]

If money was an issue, someone would have thrown the bag at Tyler and taken him away.

That gives me some hope.  But I am thinking 3-4 years down the road, and that is a large cash outlay for an elite NCAA basketball team.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Of course we should.

[Uncle Rico]

That gives me some hope.  But I am thinking 3-4 years down the road, and that is a large cash outlay for an elite NCAA basketball team.

Maybe.  Marquette NIL will also funnel all their money/most of the money to the basketball program.

Most football schools will chase football glory.  They’ll be plenty for hoops, of course, and they’ll always have a lot of resources.

[warriorfred]

I am a small town kid from the upper midwest, and the dollar amounts shocked me.  Wonder what the UCONN salary cap is this year?

[Boozemon Barro]

A lot of the teams left have paid for their rosters. Hard to imagine how MU can keep up and expect to reach the end weekends without hitting the transfer portals etc.

Are our guys making no money? That seems highly unlikely.

[wisblue]

You should hope for one as long as you realize that the probability is that you won’t see one in the next 20 years.

I would be happy though if the team could consistently contend for conference titles and protected seeds in the NCAA tournament. The more chances they get the better the chances that they could catch lightning in a bottle once.

[warriorfred]

The Wisconsin Alum Referenced stated that most of the starters at UW were making $300,000 to $500,000 a year, and a $1 million payment to Kon Knueppel would have destroyed any team chemistry.

[warriorfred]

You should hope for one as long as you realize that the probability is that you won’t see one in the next 20 years.

I would be happy though if the team could consistently contend for conference titles and protected seeds in the NCAA tournament. The more chances they get the better the chances that they could catch lightning in a bottle once.

I am not expecting a Natty in my lifetime, and at this point, it seems too much to hope for.  But in 2003, if you asked me, "Would Marquette return to the Final Four in the next 20 years," I would have unequivocally said "Yes."

I could not answer "Yes" today.

[Uncle Rico]

I am not expecting a Natty in my lifetime, and at this point, it seems too much to hope for.  But in 2003, if you asked me, "Would Marquette return to the Final Four in the next 20 years," I would have unequivocally said "Yes."

I could not answer "Yes" today.

Miami, FAU and SDSU made the Final 4 last year

[WarriorDoc]

The Wisconsin Alum Referenced stated that most of the starters at UW were making $300,000 to $500,000 a year, and a $1 million payment to Kon Knueppel would have destroyed any team chemistry.

Absolute garbage value is they were making over a quarter mil this year.

[warriorfred]

Absolute garbage value is they were making over a quarter mil this year.

I completely agree, but if you are telling me that Marquette needs $2.5 million a year for an average to slightly above average starting five, and that price is only increasing each year, I don't know what to say?

[Johnny B]

I’m 27 and will be happy to see 1 final four let alone a natty. Who knows maybe we’ll be a 11 seed Cinderella one year like nc state this year.

[NCMUFan]

Can receipts from large attendance at the FISERV go to NIL money?
If that is the case, with an exceptional coach like Shaka, MU should keep competitive teams on the court.

[Viper]

The Wisconsin Alum Referenced stated that most of the starters at UW were making $300,000 to $500,000 a year, and a $1 million payment to Kon Knueppel would have destroyed any team chemistry.

…if true, I’d say UW overpaid. And now their team is hitting the exits. One starter in the portal. A bench guy…portal. A touted recruit that never played…portal. Another one or two likely to hit the portal in the coming weeks.

[brewcity77]

Yes. If not, what are you even doing here? Delete your account.

[warriorfred]

Yes. If not, what are you even doing here? Delete your account.

Pondering that very question my friend.

[NCMUFan]

Wow, I am disappointed, but it is only entertainment.
Would quit watching before cheering for a UNC, Kansas or U of Kentucky.

[warriorfred]

Wow, I am disappointed, but it is only entertainment.
Would quit watching before cheering for a UNC, Kansas or U of Kentucky.

Whoa, no one said anything about going to the dark side.

[PointWarrior]

Miami, FAU and SDSU made the Final 4 last year

Pre NIL gaining traction.   Won’t happen again.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Pre NIL gaining traction.   Won’t happen again.

Yes it will.

[Goose]

Is this a serious question?

[mu_hilltopper]

Help me out .. where is the NIL money coming from?  Just rich supporters/alums who don't mind donating 6 or 7 figures a year? 

Is that .. sustainable?  Sure, for the Kentuckies and Dukes of the world, but the next ~30 teams have wealthy dudes ready to drop that kind of money forever?

[Uncle Rico]

Pre NIL gaining traction.   Won’t happen again.

Yes it will

[warriorfred]

Is this a serious question?

Completely serious.

[NickelDimer]

The answer is obviously no we should not hope to finish the season as the best team in the country ever

[warriorfred]

Help me out .. where is the NIL money coming from?  Just rich supporters/alums who don't mind donating 6 or 7 figures a year? 

Is that .. sustainable?  Sure, for the Kentuckies and Dukes of the world, but the next ~30 teams have wealthy dudes ready to drop that kind of money forever?

That is my question.  Where does Marquette get the money compete long-term?

[Uncle Rico]

That is my question.  Where does Marquette get the money compete long-term?

Dental school

[Boozemon Barro]

Help me out .. where is the NIL money coming from?  Just rich supporters/alums who don't mind donating 6 or 7 figures a year? 

Is that .. sustainable?  Sure, for the Kentuckies and Dukes of the world, but the next ~30 teams have wealthy dudes ready to drop that kind of money forever?

From whoever paid Wojo's buyout.

[cheebs09]

Marquette can win a natty. It's damn tough though.

[Goose]

Guys

MU has money to compete and that discussion can stop. There is no shortage of money.

[warriorfred]

Dental school

That was funny.  Thank you.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Y’all realize that Marquette raises in the high eight figures each year right?

[Boston Warrior]

Marquette will be fine.

Marquette has a great fan base, fiserv arena, ability to hire best in class coaching and a decent donor base with a well funded endowment. Why are we afraid of nil?

They will be fine

[Vander Blue Man Group]

JFC

[Big Papi]

I just heard today on the radio before the game Shaka saying our players were getting a lot of NIL money.   Im not worried about that.

Have to remember, there is only 1 national champ every year. Hard to do.  Need to be good. Need to have some luck.  Can't afford to play a bad game.

Tough loss today but the future is bright.

[lawdog77]

Guys

MU has money to compete and that discussion can stop. There is no shortage of money.

This. I saw that Zac Edey was making money based on commemorative cups being sold at Mackey Arena. Imagine if our guys could make $1-$2 per beer sold at Fiserv.

[cheebs09]

I just heard today on the radio before the game Shaka saying our players were getting a lot of NIL money.   Im not worried about that.

Have to remember, there is only 1 national champ every year. Hard to do.  Need to be good. Need to have some luck.  Can't afford to play a bad game.

Tough loss today but the future is bright.

For sure. On top of that, I think Shaka will make this a destination to play.

[DoctorV]

Guys

MU has money to compete and that discussion can stop. There is no shortage of money.

Enough to keep Tyler and Kam around and run it back?!?

[MUMountin]

For sure. On top of that, I think Shaka will make has made this a destination to play.

FIFY

[mu_hilltopper]

Y’all realize that Marquette raises in the high eight figures each year right?

No, I did not know that.   But "high eight figures" would have to mean north of $50m/year, which I doubt is what you meant.    So .. could you give a better estimate?

And .. really?   


Even $5m a year would boggle my mind.  People giving $1m want their name somewhere or endow a scholarship FFS.   Is there a list of NIL donors or something?

[Goose]

Doctor V

There is plenty of money and it really comes to philosophy. If I were in charge, I would hit the portal and bring in some grown men. Fortunately for MU, I am just a guy that posts on scoop.

Will add, if up to me I would reload and build the program with Shaka guys. I love this group, but time for guys to chase their dreams.

[mu_hilltopper]

Will add, if up to me I would reload and build the program with Shaka guys.

I'd love that too, but it sure seems the days of building programs starting with freshman recruits is in the rear-view mirror.

[cheebs09]

No, I did not know that.   But "high eight figures" would have to mean north of $50m/year, which I doubt is what you meant.    So .. could you give a better estimate?

And .. really?   


Even $5m a year would boggle my mind.  People giving $1m want their name somewhere or endow a scholarship FFS.   Is there a list of NIL donors or something?

I'm wondering if that's the program and not NIL.

[DoctorV]

Doctor V

There is plenty of money and it really comes to philosophy. If I were in charge, I would hit the portal and bring in some grown men. Fortunately for MU, I am just a guy that posts on scoop.

Will add, if up to me I would reload and build the program with Shaka guys. I love this group, but time for guys to chase their dreams.

Super early moratorium

Do you think it was a mistake to not replace Omax?

Has to be, right?
Worst case you thwart Jops development and he takes off and you hit the portal again.

Midway thru the season I thought Shaka did the right thing rolling with who he had.
Seeing the injuries and end result I bet he would second guess it

[Goose]

Topper

I would bring 2-3 top level portal guys and that is how I would reload. Let’s see what happens, some on here might end being surprised.

[CountryRoads]

Some of the most fun I’ve had watching MU ball in my lifetime these last 2 years. I went to Indy and will always remember that experience as one of my top MU highlights.

I think we can win a title Shaka. I think it’ll happen when we least expect it. Sort of like what NC State or Clemson is doing now.

As far as this group goes, it’s obviously easy to say now, but I think the second weekend was our ceiling. A tier just below the elite teams and that’s ok. This was an awesome group and just wish there were more games, though I admit I need a break from college basketball. Spent an insane amount of time on this season.

[Boston Warrior]

Portal will be used in the future. Decision was made not to mess with team chemistry as nil money was blowing up. IMO, there will be a reset that will focus on development and portal. There will be a structure to work within the program.

[DoctorV]

CountryRoads

Don’t feel bad about the time spent.

Marquette hoops is in a new place now.
Winning is the norm.

The ride is worth its weight in gold.

I have been lucky to have been dealt with an amazing wife but she said to me tonight “don’t let yourself get too down, remember, you’ve only been truly upset a few times these past few years. Compare that to the Wojo years”

And both her and I were huge fans during those years and loved watching MU hoops, despite the middling results.

There are things that bring joy in life, and if following and enjoying this team gives you that don’t feel bad about the time spent.
Passion makes you feel alive

[mu_hilltopper]

TBH, while winning a natty is a wonderful dream to have .. I fantasize about MU not losing to teams it shouldn't lose to ("9 of 10 times") and finishing a season with a hard-fought non-blowout loss to an equal or better team.

I'm a simple man.  Am I asking for too much?

[Uncle Rico]

TBH, while winning a natty is a wonderful dream to have .. I fantasize about MU not losing to teams it shouldn't lose to ("9 of 10 times") and finishing a season with a hard-fought non-blowout loss to an equal or better team.

I'm a simple man.  Am I asking for too much?

Should have hired Porter Moser

[Goose]

Doctor

I would have brought in a portal guy to replace Omax and it would have been a one year guy. I like Jop, but not building a team around him.

MU wins today and Shaka could run with all incoming recruits and returning guys and not get any heat.

[muhoops1]

It isn’t easy winning a Natty.  Money or not.  It’s hard.  If it wasn’t MU would have had one again.

[wadesworld]

This. I saw that Zac Edey was making money based on commemorative cups being sold at Mackey Arena. Imagine if our guys could make $1-$2 per beer sold at Fiserv.

That’ll happen as soon as we make our own on campus arena.

[Zog from Margo]

It’s OK to hope as long as you recognize that it’s really unlikely. MU has won only one and it was almost 50 years ago. Look at UW, they haven’t won a title since the 1940s.

I will say Shaka gives them a better chance than any coach since Al.

[IL Warrior]

TBH, while winning a natty is a wonderful dream to have .. I fantasize about MU not losing to teams it shouldn't lose to ("9 of 10 times") and finishing a season with a hard-fought non-blowout loss to an equal or better team.

I'm a simple man.  Am I asking for too much?

This is where I stand. We were a 2 seed last year. Big East regular season champions. Big East Tournament champions. We returned everyone except O-Max. The preseason expectation was a top 5 team.

I'd kill for a Marquette championship.
A loss to UConn in the finals or Purdue/Tennessee in the Final Four would be a tough end to a great season.
An Elite Eight loss to Duke would be disappointing, but a Final Four is a lofty goal.
Even if we lost tonight in a close one against Kentucky, I would understand.

Getting boat raced by a 14-loss 11-seed is not what I was prepared for.

At the end of the day, this team didn't meet expectations. No Big East regular season title. No Big East Tournament title. Didn't perform up to expectations in the NCAA Tournament.

The last time Marquette outperformed their seed in the NCAA Tournament was 2013.
The last time Shaka outperformed his seed in the NCAA Tournament was 2012.

The hardest part is the feeling that the team was built for this season, and now they'll take a step back. We're not a mid-major. Spending 3 years building to get blown out in the Sweet Sixteen is not our goal. Let's hope that Kam Jones returns. Let's hope that David Joplin, Stevie Mitchell, Chase Ross, and Ben Gold continue to improve. Let's hope that the next batch of Warriors surprise us as much as Tyler Kolek and Oso Ighodaro. And finally, let's hope that we can be the team to get hot in March one of these years, because it's been too damn long since the ball bounced our way.

[tower912]

Always hope.   

[Viper]

Doctor

I would have brought in a portal guy to replace Omax and it would have been a one year guy. I like Jop, but not building a team around him.

MU wins today and Shaka could run with all incoming recruits and returning guys and not get any heat.

not building around Jop…or Gold, agreed on a portal Omax replacement, and next season Stevie is the glue-guy and Kam the go-to guy. I hate the thought of a step-back after over a decade to get to this point. Hopefully MU doesn’t step-back. Elite 8 next season? Why not MU?

[Uncle Rico]

Programs go up and down in college basketball from year-to-year.  Unless you’re Gonzaga

[willie warrior]

Topper

I would bring 2-3 top level portal guys and that is how I would reload. Let’s see what happens, some on here might end being surprised.

Agree with that. You have to play the portal game. So fatten the bank account.

[Mu8891]

IL Warrior  ^

I agree completely.  I’m in my 50s …
I’d kill for a NC. I’m hopeful I see another FF in my lifetime…

In my mind Shaka messed up badly by
Not adding one guy in the Portal to replace OMAX.   It was unrealistic to think this team would be better than last year’s … and they were not.

It would be nice some year not to lose to a lower seed

3 wins in 2 years as a 2 seed is really poor .  Really poor.  Sad.

[Goose]

If MU cannot win a NC, we all are wasting valuable time on this planet jaw jacking about nothing. I’m not here just to kill time.

[CaptainHavoc]

This. I saw that Zac Edey was making money based on commemorative cups being sold at Mackey Arena. Imagine if our guys could make $1-$2 per beer sold at Fiserv.

Were they Tallboys?

[GB Warrior]

Were they Tallboys?

Nope, Shaka doesn't recruit those

[willie warrior]

not building around Jop…or Gold, agreed on a portal Omax replacement, and next season Stevie is the glue-guy and Kam the go-to guy. I hate the thought of a step-back after over a decade to get to this point. Hopefully MU doesn’t step-back. Elite 8 next season? Why not MU?

No elite 8 with the projected roster next year. Only way that happens is if Tyler and Oso comeback even more improved. Shaka, get your ass in the portal.