The good news is Marquette will win the national title this year. The reason being is this team is loaded talent wise and we have one of the greatest coaches in the history of any sport who has just started his climb in basketball lore and when he retires will have a resume similar to Coach K, Phil Jackson, Wooden, Lombardi and others. No coach both identifies and develops talent better than Buzz Williams. Many have said that Dwyane Wade made dopey Tom Crean a million dollars but Buzz Williams in turn has made multiple players a million dollars who didn't have NBA talent before Buzz Williams pushed it out of them.....those including Wes Matthews, Jimmy Butler, Lazar Hayward, Jae Crowder, Dwight Buycks, etc.....none of those players would be collecting NBA paychecks this year without Buzz Williams tutelage. Vander Blue was a great player for us but our stud newcomers/freshmen need playing time and they collectively will more than replace the void left by Vander's 32 minutes per game. Much like when Dameon Mason left the three amigos came in and needed minutes and more than made up for what we thought would be a key loss.
Marquette will overwhelm teams this year with our depth, speed, athletes, and even size with both Otule and Gardner clogging up the inside (ignore the silliness that slow and one dimensional Creighton will challenge us or anyone else for the conference title). We'll roll through a watered down conference due to a combination of how good we are and due to a weaker schedule (sure wish we would have gotten UCLA on the schedule this year too) but come tournament time we'll be a 1 seed and our combination of freshmen playing loose and our seniors playing with a purpose will bring MU it's 2nd national title. The following players will be impact players (everyone else will be nice role players, this year anyways):
Jamil Wilson
Duane Wilson
Steve Taylor
Jameel McKay
Deonte Burton
Davante Gardner
Todd Mayo
JaJuan Johnson
Chis Otule
Whether Buzz Williams then bolts for another job that makes him a Brad Stevens contract offer (an unheard of 6 year guaranteed contract in the NBA for example) is anyone's guess. Maybe he'll try to get Diamond Stone and try to win another one to show it was no fluke.....I personally think he'll leave at that point as the challenge of Marquette will have been completed and will no longer want to fight against the tide of a dying conference.
The man is a living legend already.....just look at this video which is only 2 years old already and so telling with an entire roster of full 3/4 star recruits busting their butt at 5 am in October from a crazy like a fox taskmaster.....almost all so far have become college stars and then NBA players (DJO drafted, Crowder - starter, Buycks - guaranteed contract, Butler - future All-star.....others like Vander, Jamil, Davante, Otule (if he only had 2 eyes) - could soon follow???....I wouldn't bet against any Buzz Williams coached player as they all seem to become better than anyone of us ever imagined.
Enjoy the year.....it's going to be fun!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC7QEOa_MCo
I like the optimism, but the realist in me says you picked a good handle.
By chance, are you related to Brew 77? If so, then sign me up.
I agree with everything you say. Except it is absurd that you don't include Juan Anderson as a impact player.
Let's relax here... one day at a time.
Just a national title?
What? We're not gonna be undefeated, too?
Quote from: Lighthouse 84 on August 25, 2013, 05:09:32 PM
I like the optimism, but the realist in me says you picked a good handle.
+1
Quote from: MU82 on August 25, 2013, 09:14:21 PM
Just a national title?
Yeah, we're gonna be so good they better come up with an International - no, wait, Interplanetary - championship for us.
Is it dark out now or is that just flying pigs blocking out the sun?
I've said for a long time that a National Title is within reach this year. A lot of things have to go right, but the title is possible and the dream that died in Indianapolis in 1978 might finally be fulfilled.
I agree with the original poster that the Big East is watered down. But I also think we have more talent and more depth than at anytime since I had hair and weighed 50 pounds less than I do now. This team has the potential to be really, really good. If it gels, this could be one of the three or four best in MU history.
There's a lot of "ifs" here, but we have a great young coach, more talent than we know what to do with and a very good mix of mature and emerging athletes. I think by January that Todd Mayo is going to be having us ask, "Vander who?"
There are a lot of "ifs," but I for one am excited and think this team could be something really special.
Flashes of Jimmy the Alpha Dog at 4:22
No wonder Reggie Smith transferred! lol
Quote from: mixINaWILSON on August 25, 2013, 09:08:23 PM
Let's relax here... one day at a time.
Wait, I thought I was supposed to be concerned about Buzz's use of Twitter!
So what's the bad news?
Damn! We are some bored people. So bored we're starting to get hysterical.
Quote from: dgies9156 on August 25, 2013, 10:50:00 PM
I've said for a long time that a National Title is within reach this year. A lot of things have to go right, but the title is possible and the dream that died in Indianapolis in 1978 might finally be fulfilled.
I agree with the original poster that the Big East is watered down. But I also think we have more talent and more depth than at anytime since I had hair and weighed 50 pounds less than I do now. This team has the potential to be really, really good. If it gels, this could be one of the three or four best in MU history.
There's a lot of "ifs" here, but we have a great young coach, more talent than we know what to do with and a very good mix of mature and emerging athletes. I think by January that Todd Mayo is going to be having us ask, "Vander who?"
There are a lot of "ifs," but I for one am excited and think this team could be something really special.
Biggest if....point guard play. If we don't get it, the reach isn't there.
Quote from: Sunbelt15 on August 26, 2013, 12:18:13 PM
Damn! We are some bored people. So bored we're starting to get hysterical.
I was nearly hysterical enough to believe it!
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on August 26, 2013, 02:01:37 PM
Biggest if....point guard play. If we don't get it, the reach isn't there.
I would say perimeter play in general. The front court is talented, skilled and experienced. The perimeter group is physically talented but......?
Don't worry guys worst case we just have Davante play point.
My quick run-down of competitors:
OSU - LaQuinton Ross is going to be good.i like their team this year. Very solid all around.
Duke - they will be damn good this year. They were young last year and now have some experience with a ridiculous recruiting class coming in.
UConn - dark horse. Great guards and a team that cut out the cancers.
Kansas - loaded.
Syracuse - didn't lose much. Added a ton of depth. Zone could continue its nasty ways from tourney.
Quote from: Atticus on August 26, 2013, 05:16:09 PM
My quick run-down of competitors:
OSU - LaQuinton Ross is going to be good.i like their team this year. Very solid all around.
Duke - they will be damn good this year. They were young last year and now have some experience with a ridiculous recruiting class coming in.
UConn - dark horse. Great guards and a team that cut out the cancers.
Kansas - loaded.
Syracuse - didn't lose much. Added a ton of depth. Zone could continue its nasty ways from tourney.
I should add IU. Vonley is a legit one and done. I'm concerned about their coaching tho...
Zing!
Quote from: Atticus on August 26, 2013, 05:16:09 PM
My quick run-down of competitors:
OSU - LaQuinton Ross is going to be good.i like their team this year. Very solid all around.
Duke - they will be damn good this year. They were young last year and now have some experience with a ridiculous recruiting class coming in.
UConn - dark horse. Great guards and a team that cut out the cancers.
Kansas - loaded.
Syracuse - didn't lose much. Added a ton of depth. Zone could continue its nasty ways from tourney.
This definitely is what August is for: naming the few teams that could get in the way of Marquette's Championship Express.
Chuga-chuga-chuga-chuga ... woo-woo!
I must say that a National Title is good news. I see nothing wrong with the original post :)