Best 4 years to be a student fanatic?

[CTWarrior]

I was at MU form 78-82.  The beginning of the descent into oblivion.  At least I was kinda local, so I did enjoy the golden years.

I was there 79-83, Hank's last 4 years.  Steady descent into mediocrity.  Not great times, but better than the 10 years that followed.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I was there from 2000-04.  Sadly, I didn't give a crap about basketball at the time and was annoyed by the noise caused during our tournament win celebrations during our Final Four run.  To this day, I am still embarrassed about this.

Surely you can't be serious.

Is it possible to be that uptight as a student?

[bilsu]

I attended MU from 71 to 75, but we were not called fanatic's back then.

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

"It has to be a student from 1973/74, 1974/75, 1975/76, and 1976/77.  Two final four runs and a National Championship."

I agree with this. I was a freshman in 1977 when we won it all.  18 drinking age; the last year...or next to last year...of the ticket campout; running to the lakefront; a steady stream of students walking to the game from Wells Street regardless of weather, weekday, opponent, whatever; sneaking alcohol without too much of  a problem into the arena; Al's announcement; the big finish.  Undoubtedly the best single year in MU history.  That would have been a great capper for a senior.  Basketball imperceptibly started down the next year.

I WANT TO GO BACK!!!

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Anytime from 2006-2012 has to be in the top 3. 6 straight tournament appearances and competing in arguably the best overall conference in college bball throughout that time. But I am biased.

[jsglow]

I was there 79-83, Hank's last 4 years.  Steady decent into mediocrity.  Not great times, but better than the 10 years that followed.

My exact era too.  I think we understood that the championships were over but we were still plenty competitive.  Doc left for the NBA the year we graduated.

[chapman]

06-07:  Welcome Maurice Acker, David Cubillan, Lazar Hayward, amigos still killing, Ousmane still starting, Crean still here.  For some reason not much stands out about this year except the bad loss to MSU in the tourney.

Almost losing to Idaho State then losing to North Dakota State was super weak.  But it was the year we beat Duke, and the year Gameday came and later that night Kinsella hit his famous threes.


2005-09 overall was pretty fun...NCAAs all four years, get to experience the four years of the Big Three, first four years of the Big East, Novak and UConn freshman year, Buzz's first year senior year.

[Milwarriorkee]

I was there from '01-02 to '03-'04.  FF my last year.  Cool to see Wade's entire career.  It was law school so the experience was totally different than it would be for an undergrad, I'm sure.  But I had my student tickets throughout.

[ecompt]

1968 through 1972. We did not lose a home game, beat Kentucky in the NCAAs, won an NIT championship.

[DoggyDaddy]

1970-1974
NIT Champs 1970, NCAA Finals 1974, in between: top ten ranking including #1, Nation's longest home court winning steak, SI Cover.
Dean the Dream, Goose, Allie, Chones, Hugh the Enforcer McMahon, George Sugar Fazier, Marcus Washington, the Black Swan, Larry McNeil, Bo, Luke and there are others. Oh yeah, Al, Hank and Rick, too. Dignified Warrior mascot.
The old arena was sold out all the time. Dime beers at the Gym and a free bus ride to the game.  
If you wanted to catch the pros the Bucks won the NBA in 71 and were close all those other years including a great finals in 74 with the Celtics. Oscar, Kareem, Jonny Mac, Bobby D & Co.
Those were the days fellas.    

[Skatastrophy]

'99-'03.  Talk about going out with a bang

Crean getting to MU and building up the program to what it became was quite the ride!

[Dr. Blackheart]

Honestly, every year in the past 45 has been great.  This is the thing about the current students that irk the old timers:  you don't know how good it is (preach).  Camp outs. parades down Wisconsin, toilet paper fireworks, Willie Wampun dances, Hank's rolled up programs, Rick's sweat pants, KO's antics, Mike Deane's stories, Crean's revival, and Buzz stand bound in Cleveland. 

Left out:  Dukiet and my highlight is that these fans are the most passionate as they weren't getting any.  They are the most ardent posters here.  Gotta love them!

[Lennys Tap]

1966-70 - freshman year was Al's first tournament team (NIT), runnerup to Clyde Frazier and SIU. Sophmore year, Al's first NCAA team, made the Sweet 16 with a win over Bowling Green before getting steamrolled by Kentucky. Junior year, payback for Al and George Thompson - MU kicks Rupp's Wildcats a$$ only to have our hearts broken by Rick Mount and Purdue in overtime in the Elite 8 game. Senior year, Al's first championship - tells the NCAA to stick it when they try to send the Warriors out of our region, goes to NY and wins the NIT when the NIT mattered.

I love this thread. I don't suppose anyone could argue against 1973-77, but it's great to read about the passions of MU fans from eras good and bad. Warrior Nation at its best!

[WarriorHal]

I had the good fortune to be a freshman in 1973 and graduated in 1977. Perfect timing. The trip to Atlanta for the Final Four in '77 and seeing them win the national championship in person was the ultimate thrill. Especially after getting blown out by Wichita State in Al's last game at the Milwaukee Arena. We were thinking NIT at that point. But a strong finish on the road got us in to the big dance.


73-74 -- 26-5
74-75 -- 23-4
75-76 -- 27-2
76-77 -- 25-7

101-18 And almost half of those defeats came in the title year.
       

[Dr. Blackheart]

I had the good fortune to be a freshman in 1973 and graduated in 1977. Perfect timing. The trip to Atlanta for the Final Four in '77 and seeing them win the national championship in person was the ultimate thrill. Especially after getting blown out by Wichita State in Al's last game at the Milwaukee Arena. We were thinking NIT at that point. But a strong finish on the road got us in to the big dance.


73-74 -- 26-5
74-75 -- 23-4
75-76 -- 27-2
76-77 -- 25-7

101-18 And almost half of those defeats came in the title year.
       

Hal, what did the home winning streak hit?

[EnderWiggen]

Surely you can't be serious.

Is it possible to be that uptight as a student?

Ha, I just had different interests.  At the time, I was big into gaming with some great friends i met in McCormick and was into music, I was working at the radio station and was starting a band.  Just different interests.  I know it's hard for some people on the board to imagine, but college is a huge wide world and not everyone follows sports.  Now i do, but i had different passions then.

[WarriorHal]

Hal, what did the home winning streak hit?

Marquette had an 81 game home court winning streak. It ended the season before my freshman year -- 72-73. ND's Dwight Clay hit a last second jump shot to beat the Warriors, 71-69.

[RideMyBuycks]

I graduate in May (Queue the "cherish it" from Billy Madison). By no means am I saying that these past 4 years have been better than some of the spans mentioned above, but I have loved the consistency of the teams. Got to watch NBA tallent on every team, after all.

Time to cap this year off feeling good about the $400+ in tickets and God only knows how much in beer. Oh Bradley, how I will miss thee. 

[romey]

Dad is an MU alum and had 4 season tickets beginning in 1970 so I attended almost every home game from then until I enrolled as a frosh in 1978 - second year after the championship.  So Iwas there while the team was top 25, but Doc came in my sophomore year and left after my senior year.  I saw pretty much the entire decade of hoops in the 70's thanks to Pops and his season tix then my student tickets at the end of the decade. Love my Warriors!

[BM1090]

Hopefully it will be 2013-14 to 2015-16 while I'm there getting my MBA

[boyonthedock]

it seems we have had an undisputed winner in 73-77. its awesome that theres like 6 or 7 strong contenders for the number 2 slot. 05-09 coming up a bunch,which is nice, because they were my years. I identify more with 06-20, because i didn't really follow the team freshman year, but was as hardcore as they come the year after i graduated, and lived in milwaukee with my girlfriend still in school getting student tix for me. both of those classes have strong claims.

this is a fun thread. hooray marquette!

[mileskishnish72]

I've gotta agree with ecompt - those were my 4 years in MKE as well. Actually arrived for grad school, but the school had separated from MU over the summer. I got to the ticket office the first day, and it was good enough (thank God) for the lady in the athletic department, and I got tickets. Thanks to Midwestern efficiency, they got renewed every year, even though I was not at MU technically. We were, however, right next to the Old Gym, where we spent planty of time, and got to see (and very occasionally, play with, briefly) the players, and from time to time, Bucks.

Winning percentage those 4 years was .911 (make it .928 if you throw out the meaningless consolation games).
Undefeated reg season 70-71 with bitter 1-point loss to OSU, then undefeated the next year at 22-0 when Chones signed, if I remember right.

Lots of great memories like beating Ky, winning the NIT, despite Dr. J and Pistol Pete, those two magical regular seasons, the SC dukeout. 5-1 vs. Wisconsin, 2-1 vs. ND (a screw job down there in double OT). And never having to walk out of the Arena feeling bad after a loss!

[MarsupialMadness]

Marquette had an 81 game home court winning streak. It ended the season before my freshman year -- 72-73. ND's Dwight Clay hit a last second jump shot to beat the Warriors, 71-69.

wow.

[Canadian Dimes]

Honestly, every year in the past 45 has been great.  This is the thing about the current students that irk the old timers:  you don't know how good it is (preach).  Camp outs. parades down Wisconsin, toilet paper fireworks, Willie Wampun dances, Hank's rolled up programs, Rick's sweat pants, KO's antics, Mike Deane's stories, Crean's revival, and Buzz stand bound in Cleveland. 

Left out:  Dukiet and my highlight is that these fans are the most passionate as they weren't getting any.  They are the most ardent posters here.  Gotta love them!

Dr.

For the most part I agree with you.  I was born in '69 so i became a big fan in the mid 70's with my first memoroies being of the 76, 77 and 78 teams and Butch Lee.  Then of course Hank and Doc, etc.  And Yes Mu has been one of the top BBall schools in the country for the last 45 years, tremendous attendance, success, and support by thousands like ourselves.

Must midly disagree with you on the issue that i was at MU from 88-92, which while I never missed a game and had tons of fun was clearly the lowpoint of MU hoops.  The students in the 60's and 70's and the late 90's and the new millenium have no idea of how great they have it.

Truly unless they have friends or family that attended UCLA, KAnsas, Arizona, Duke, UNC, or Indiana, Kentucky, or Louisville others experiences cannot compare to the MU basketball experience

[The Lens]

I'll issue the 3rd vote for 94-97.  Every year I was in school basketball meant something.  That '96 team is up with IMO with '94, '03 and '09 as teams that could really, really make noise.  '09 lost James and '96 fizzled out against Arkansas in the 2nd round.  We all wanted UMass.  Would have been a great game for an Elite 8 berth.