3rd Annual EOY PredictionsWritten by: hilltopper91@gmail.com (Kevin Buckley (Hilltopper))For the last couple years, after Marquette hung it's final "L" on the schedule, I've written out predictions for the next year.
Let's see how I did last year:
2008-09 Predictions: (http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2008/03/2007-recap-2008-predictions.html)
1. DJ, Wes, and McNeal will all be back for their Senior year. Since we are over committed on scholarships, someone will have to leave. One could guess that Pat Hazel may want playing time at another university. Correct, except Hazel didn't leave. Our roster imploded in other ways.
2. It wouldn't shock me if Buzz Williams got a head coaching gig somewhere. Didn't I read TCU was sniffing around? All the other coaches stay. WOW. Buzz did get a coaching gig somewhere. Just didn't know it would be so close to home. All
of the other coaches went to Indiana, Indiana.
3. Another Former MU player will join the coaching staff, because it happens every year. What's Scott Merritt up to these days? Totally wrong.
4. Mbakwe will get better. I don't see him exploding like Lazar did, though. Mbakwe exploded on the community college circuit.
5. Scott Christoperson .. won't play many minutes in Big East play next year. While Scott may be our future long distance shooter, I can't see him getting quick enough to defend BE players. Scott played zero Big East minutes.
6. Marquette will go 12-6 next year, 1-1 in the BET, 1-1 in the NCAAs. I think I've seen this movie before. Sadly, bullseye. We went 12-6, 1-1, 1-1. To a large extent, it was indeed the same movie, great expectations, hopes dashed in the end. Even with a different coach, same result.
7. It's going to be a long off-season. Totally wrong. With Crean leaving, Buzz arriving, players coming and going .. it was perhaps the shortest off-season ever, as big news hit every month.
2009-10 Predictions:
1. Coach Buzz will say the following phrases 14,000,000 times next year:
- "In regards to..."
- "I'm humbled by..."
- "I'm not smart enough to.."
- "I've been on the job XXX days.."
- "We've had XX practices.."
- "We had XX paint touches."
- "Where's my Sweet Tea?"
- "We were out of character .."
- "FOUL!" (and get called for a Technical).
2. Attendance decrease? As was explained to me before, the attendance numbers usually reflect the prior year's success. But with this economy .. and as most MU fans know, a great chunk of our team just graduated .. I imagine ticket sales will be depressed.
3. The Jump-Around guy will break his 5th metatarsal bone in his foot during a meaningless exhibition game, tragically ending his season as King of the Jumbotron.
4. Coach Buzz will not freak out on Jim McIllvaine next year. Furthermore, Buzz will refrain from freaking out on anyone with a microphone. Beware, newspaper guys.
5. I can't make predictions about players this year. There are too many questions. Will Coobie get the green light to shoot more? Otule & Fulce played very few BE minutes, will they improve enough to play more? The new recruits have torn up their HS opponents. How does that translate to the NCAA? I have no idea.
6. Season Record? Last year, we could count on 4 seniors. Plus or minus, we won and lost most games we were supposed to win and lose. Next year, lots of variables .. we've got very talented freshmen coming in, but without having see them play versus collegiate talent, one can only wildly guess what will happen. Here's my first stab: 8-10 in BE, 1-1 in BET, 0-1 NIT.
That being said, 4 years ago, I had sub-500 thoughts, but after watching the Three Amigos at the scrimmages and first exhibition game, I bumped my expectations, thinking: These guys are going to win way more than people expect. The result was a shocking 4th place finish in the BE that year, when we were predicted 10th. Let's hope we have the same type of surprising year.
http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2009/03/3rd-annual-eoy-predictions.html
Quote from: CrackedSidewalksSays on March 28, 2009, 07:45:03 AM
3rd Annual EOY Predictions
6. Marquette will go 12-6 next year, 1-1 in the BET, 1-1 in the NCAAs. I think I've seen this movie before. Sadly, bullseye. We went 12-6, 1-1, 1-1. To a large extent, it was indeed the same movie, great expectations, hopes dashed in the end. Even with a different coach, same result.
NAiled this one due to injury...I am mpre convinced than ever that if DJ doesn't get hurt, MU is
still playing.
No doubt about that.
But it's not like the NCAA is going to award us an honorary Sweet 16 award. The game is played the way the game is played, injuries, bad refs, good refs, bad bounces, lucky breaks, et al.