Don't know if there has been any discussion about this among Marquette fans, but as a Villanova fan, the Three Amigos have been so much fun to watch over the past four years that I never miss the chance to catch them on the tube and can't help but root for them, even 'tho doing so might be detrimental to Nova.
And your team this year reminds me so much of our Foye/Ray/Lowry/Nardi team of a few years ago. It's almost like a mirror image. I saw what was on the horizon when the McNeil/James/Matthews were freshmen, and they gave us all we could handle and then some, at the Pavilion.
Anyway, the injury to Dom James is eerily similar to the knee injury suffered by Curtis Sumpter prior to the '04/05 season. Sumpter's season ending injury happened in pre-season practice, which necessitated Jay Wright going to the four guard offense. Sumpter was Villanova's best player at the time of the injury, but at least Jay had a week or two to put together a game plan for the rest of the year. James' foot injury came at the tail end of the BE season, which is a very tough time to make adjustments. As a Villanova fan I can relate to your pain. It sucks. Before the injury, Marquette had as good a chance as anyone to cut down the nets in April. Realistically, I don't see it happening now.
I wish you guys the best and look forward to our matchups in the future.
I watched Nova put away ND tonight and I think the two teams are very similiar this season. Without DJ I think Nova is a bit better than MU. After Nova's ND win I see us ending up tied and Nova getting the coveted bye bye due to their win over Pitt.
Thanks for the kind comments. Looking at Nova's recruiting class next year, it looks like a tough team next year and should probably be favorites to win the conference. Marquette's class is solid and should get better, so lots of fun games ahead.
I'm really enjoying the new semi-rivalries with Pitt and Nova since joining the Big East. Not quite to Louisville level, but still fun.
Most Villanova fans are hyped up regarding the incoming class. I too, am excited about it's potential, but am realistic enough to know that we are not going to easily replace three experienced seniors that have improved every year and are pretty much unfazed by the ups and downs of a college basketball season.
Villanova will be pretty good next year, but not as good as many of it's fans expect. Marquette will be in the same boat. You aren't replacing those three guards, no matter how much talent you bring in. The fact that the league will be weaker will help.
I'm realistic about next year. I see us finishing 8-10. We don't reload (like UCONN or Louisville) we rebuild.
8-10 - thats about how everyone thought this years team would finish. Like those odds
I was trying to say in 8th to 10th place. If we finished in the top 8 I'd be thrilled. I expected this team to finish 5th or 6th and they have exceeded my expectations. Keep in mind the great UCONN who is #1 today had a losing BE record 2 years ago
they still might finish 5th. so they may meet your expectations.
Quote from: mviale on March 03, 2009, 08:55:16 PM
8-10 - thats about how everyone thought this years team would finish. Like those odds
Really??? All those returning players and expectations were 8-10 for this team. I think you are way off on that comment.