Oso planning to go pro
Recall what happened in 2019 after the 2/25/19 #10 ranking ... MU was leading the Big East. They were playing at Nova. They were leading with 5 minutes to go. A win would have given them at least a share of the Big East title. They collapsed the rest of the game and lost. Then MU lost the next four remaining conference games. They went 1 and 1 in the BET and lost in the first round of the NCAA.So, after leading at Nova with 5 to go, they lost that game, beginning a 1 and 6 stretch to end the season.But it gets worse!Preseason polls for 2020 had MU as high as #2 the next season. Then the Hausers wrote a letter and transferred.All told, it was one of the great college basketball program collapses of all time. Wojo lucked out as the 2020 season was screwed up with the COVID shutdown, and 2021 was played in front of no fans. Without these "distractions," Wojo might have been shown the door 18 months earlier.
What this fails to understand is that team was very different than the team we have now. There was probably far more talent on it than we have, but they didn't play well together. Had a crappy point guard, as I recall, and the team's slogan, unlike Tyler's "F@@k 'em" was "Let Markus Do It!"
Updated as of February 20, 2023In 1977/1978 season MU reached a peak ranking of #1 (AP)
When Bama hit #1 earlier this season there was a bit of chatter about the 20-year gap since the last time they were #1. Norlander did a column about how there have been other longer streaks between #1 rankings, the longest being 45 season for Ohio St between '62 and '07.When Marquette climbs back to #1 we will own the record for longest stretch between #1 rankings.I'm thinking we run to the E85 this year, are top 5 preseason next year, win Maui, and are #1 by Thanksgiving 2023.
We'll be #1 on April 3.
That would be a gas.
There will be other years. And I am bullish about next season. But 18-19 remains the best stretch in recent and intermediate memory.
And who knows ... maybe our best stretch began with Wednesday's win over X!
I am looking forward to a better regular season stretch than 20-2. Best in the 40 years I have been a MU fan.
As long as you don’t count the last 7 games of the season.
The last time MU was ranked better than 8th was March 6, 1978, when they were #3 (FYI, February 20, 1978, MU was #1)