My post title is in reference to the absolute garbage threads that have been started. Wojo made NCAA last year. May miss this year. But continues to trend up from where he started. And continues to recruit at an elite level.
I'm 100% on board for the long haul
I'm all in too.
I'm in until next season. If we aren't comfortably in the tournament next year than Wojo will have not met my personal expectations...and the expectations that I believe he sold the university on in his 5 year plan. If he doesn't make expectations, he will probably get the sixth year to rectify, but it his butt will be pretty toasty.
Quote from: jesmu84 on February 03, 2018, 06:59:36 PM
My post title is in reference to the absolute garbage threads that have been started. Wojo made NCAA last year. May miss this year. But continues to trend up from where he started. And continues to recruit at an elite level.
I'm 100% on board for the long haul
Well, Wojo didn't exactly start in a competitive environment. Getting the program to a winning record isn't exactly the bar we want to set. Trending upward isn't much of an accomplishment from his starting point.
2 weeks ago, we looked to be a lock for a tourney bid; now we're in a really bad spot. Wojo has had flashes where he's been good, but he's tripped up a lot in his first 4 years. We can't even pull out a must-win game at home. We just aren't the same caliber program we were prior to his arrival. That sucks for the fans. Period.
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on February 03, 2018, 07:21:03 PM
I'm in until next season. If we aren't comfortably in the tournament next year than Wojo will have not met my personal expectations...and the expectations that I believe he sold the university on in his 5 year plan. If he doesn't make expectations, he will probably get the sixth year to rectify, but it his butt will be pretty toasty.
You are very reasoned... I haven't really ever stopped to wonder where I stand on it, but I trust your knowledge/judgment. I hope the university also takes a reasoned approach...
Also, it's hard to agree with someone that from the beginning wanted Wojo fired, and only seem to crop up when we lose or mistakes occur. You can't just lie and wait for things that only support your "argument" and ignore all else.
I don't think that Marquette Basketball is trending up, more like a major pullback that is needs to be shorted!
Quote from: skianth16 on February 03, 2018, 07:26:03 PM
We just aren't the same caliber program we were prior to his arrival. That sucks for the fans. Period.
Really? Are we remembering Buzz's last year differently?
Quote from: jesmu84 on February 03, 2018, 07:38:23 PM
Really? Are we remembering Buzz's last year differently?
Nothing like using the exception and painting it the rule
Quote from: NickelDimer on February 03, 2018, 07:41:23 PM
Nothing like using the exception and painting it the rule
I mean, MU was 17-15 the year before Wojo got the job. You can't really hold Wojo to some standard and then ignore what he was given to start at.
Quote from: wadesworld on February 03, 2018, 07:48:32 PM
I mean, MU was 17-15 the year before Wojo got the job. You can't really hold Wojo to some standard and then ignore what he was given to start at.
That's beside the point though. No one can say we're at the caliber under Wojo that we were before Wojo. Lots of reasons(excuses?) for that but the point remains
Quote from: NickelDimer on February 03, 2018, 08:13:03 PM
That's beside the point though. No one can say we're at the caliber under Wojo that we were before Wojo. Lots of reasons(excuses?) for that but the point remains
Then we also weren't at the caliber that we were before Wojo...well, before Wojo.
If people can't see that Wojo took over a roster that had 0 high major caliber contributors in year one and look at the roster that is set to be here next season and see the progress being made by Wojo then there's nothing worth debating.
Thankfully the people in charge of making important decisions at Marquette do see the progress being made.
Quote from: wadesworld on February 03, 2018, 08:34:43 PM
Then we also weren't at the caliber that we were before Wojo...well, before Wojo
huh?
Quote from: NickelDimer on February 03, 2018, 08:37:50 PM
huh?
Exactly. Before Wojo we were 17-15. So if that's not what we were "before Wojo" then neither was whatever we were "before Wojo."
Quote from: NickelDimer on February 03, 2018, 08:37:50 PM
huh?
Buzz packed it in mid season and left us with Derrick Wilson, Juan Anderson and an undeveloped JJJ to leave the charge.
Without Car3no (A Wojo recruit) that team doesn't win double digit games. Same thing next year, Wojo had nothing because Hill and Shayok bailed but still got Hank.
Last year, we saw a ridiculously improved JJJ while starting two freshman and made he NCAA. This year is bad, but if you're going to rip Wojo a new one this year, you have to give him credit for last season.
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on February 03, 2018, 07:21:03 PM
I'm in until next season. If we aren't comfortably in the tournament next year than Wojo will have not met my personal expectations...and the expectations that I believe he sold the university on in his 5 year plan. If he doesn't make expectations, he will probably get the sixth year to rectify, but it his butt will be pretty toasty.
I agree with this 100%. I have zero issues with the players he's brought in (although I think there is a glaring PG hole right now). I have many other concerns about his actual coaching ability. Next year will be all his players (again) but with a roster that on paper should be a tournament lock.
Quote from: wadesworld on February 03, 2018, 09:07:52 PM
Exactly. Before Wojo we were 17-15. So if that's not what we were "before Wojo" then neither was whatever we were "before Wojo."
Buzz's entire tenure is what we were "before Wojo" and he hasn't come close to that standard. Buzz's one poor season doesn't define the level of our program reached under him
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on February 03, 2018, 07:21:03 PM
I'm in until next season. If we aren't comfortably in the tournament next year than Wojo will have not met my personal expectations...and the expectations that I believe he sold the university on in his 5 year plan. If he doesn't make expectations, he will probably get the sixth year to rectify, but it his butt will be pretty toasty.
Do you think Haanif could have made a difference if he stayed? I mean we only lost by 2 today and the games against X and Nova at home were within 1 or two possessions. I think his defense could have made the difference in one or two games this season, but what do I know.
Quote from: wadesworld on February 03, 2018, 08:34:43 PM
Then we also weren't at the caliber that we were before Wojo...well, before Wojo.
If people can't see that Wojo took over a roster that had 0 high major caliber contributors in year one and look at the roster that is set to be here next season and see the progress being made by Wojo then there's nothing worth debating.
Thankfully the people in charge of making important decisions at Marquette do see the progress being made.
This is quite the exaggeration. When Wojo took over he had a top 10 recruiting class that was entering their sophomore year. Once Luke joined for the 2nd half of the season, that team had something like 6 or 7 top 100 recruits on that roster. Wojo's 2nd year we had a 5 star one and done along with something like 6 top 100 recruits.
How many top 100 recruits have come through Marquette in the last 4 seasons? How many programs in the country have had more? Maybe 10-15? It looks like there's going to be one NCAA tourney game to show for it over 4 years. IMO, each and every one of Wojo's teams have underachieved just based on the raw talent we've had.
Next year should be better, but a lot is going to depend on who they are able to land for another guard. I see the possibility of another unbalanced roster.
So all of you arguing Buzz's last season was a one-off and not the beginning of a trend are confident to say if buzz would have stayed, that the next season he would have had that team in the NCAA?
Quote from: muwarrior69 on February 03, 2018, 09:35:09 PM
Do you think Haanif could have made a difference if he stayed? I mean we only lost by 2 today and the games against X and Nova at home were within 1 or two possessions. I think his defense could have made the difference in one or two games this season, but what do I know.
Personally I agree with you. While not a PG, he was a tall guard who could at least be counted on to help with the press. While not a lockdown defender, I think he was a the 3rd best defender on this team (not saying much) and could have been worth a few points in all of our games. He could have given us two or three more wins. Or might not of. All academic at this point
Quote from: jesmu84 on February 03, 2018, 09:48:40 PM
So all of you arguing Buzz's last season was a one-off and not the beginning of a trend are confident to say if buzz would have stayed, that the next season he would have had that team in the NCAA?
I have wondered this often. What would have Buzz' next season have looked like if he stayed?
You keep the 2015 recruiting class, specifically Ahmed Hill and Marial Shayok who both ended up being nice players. I have heard from multiple people that JJJ and Teve were gone if Buzz stayed. Mayo would have still been given the boot. I think Deonte still leaves after his mother passes....not sure about Dawson. I think he thought a new coach would play him in front of Derrick and transferred when he realized that wasn't happening. If that's true, than he probably wouldn't stick around a second year knowing Buzz was going to start Derrick. Does Car3no still come here? My understanding is that it was more his family MU connection than specifically Wojo that got him to MU.
Lineup would have probably looked like:
PG: Derrick Wilson
SG: Car3no (no guarantee he still comes here but for this exercise let's say it was his family connection that got him here)
SF: Ahmed Hill
PF: Juan Anderson
C: Luke Fischer (no idea who would have started first semester)
Bench:
Duane Wilson (started Hill and Juan over him for size)
Marial Shayok
Sandy Cohen
Satchel Pierce
The roster seems too small, too shallow, and not talented enough to go dancing to me. But I have no idea if those four transfers would actually happen or not. No way of knowing. We also have no idea what (if any) grad transfers, late blooming freshmen, or jucos Buzz would have landed to replace JJJ and Teve's schollies.
I think this hypothetical Buzz squad would have definitely been better than Wojo's first squad....but I still think they miss the NCAA...probably the NIT too.
Quote from: jesmu84 on February 03, 2018, 09:48:40 PM
So all of you arguing Buzz's last season was a one-off and not the beginning of a trend are confident to say if buzz would have stayed, that the next season he would have had that team in the NCAA?
Is anyone going to argue that Buzz has done a better job at Va Tech in his time there, then Wojo has at MU in the same time frame?? Buzz didn't exactly have a who's who of talent at Va Tech when he took over either.
TAMU
You will be in the Wojo bandwagon twenty years from now. I have no problem with that, but you are a Wojo homer at the highest level.
Quote from: Goose on February 03, 2018, 10:23:50 PM
TAMU
You will be in the Wojo bandwagon twenty years from now. I have no problem with that, but you are a Wojo homer at the highest level.
You have either mistaken me or are calling me a liar. The only way I am on the Wojo bandwagon in 20 years is if we have been enjoying two decades of elite level MU basketball and Wojo has somehow not been hired away in that time.
Let me be as clear as I can. My expectations for Wojo next season are that we are "comfortably" in the tournament. Let's call that a top 7 seed. If they do not achieve this, Wojo will not have met my expectations for the first season and I will be concerned.
My expectations for the following season is another "comfortably" in the tournament. If Wojo misses a second time I will be on the "fire Wojo" bandwagon.
The one exception I will make for this is if we have a devastating injury that turns a surefire tourney team into a bubble team or worse (think Edmond Sumner last season).
These have been my expectations from Day 1. I looked at what we had and saw a 5 year rebuild in order to get to a level of success that is appropriate for Marquette. You can back and check my posting history if you want. Feel free to bookmark this and remind me in two years if you don't think I am telling the truth.
If you like, I invite you to give your expectations and what it would take to get you "onto the Wojo bandwagon" as you put it.
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on February 03, 2018, 11:10:42 PM
You have either mistaken me or are calling me a liar. The only way I am on the Wojo bandwagon in 20 years is if we have been enjoying two decades of elite level MU basketball and Wojo has somehow not been hired away in that time.
Let me be as clear as I can. My expectations for Wojo next season are that we are "comfortably" in the tournament. Let's call that a top 7 seed. If they do not achieve this, Wojo will not have met my expectations for the first season and I will be concerned.
My expectations for the following season is another "comfortably" in the tournament. If Wojo misses a second time I will be on the "fire Wojo" bandwagon.
The one exception I will make for this is if we have a devastating injury that turns a surefire tourney team into a bubble team or worse (think Edmond Sumner last season).
These have been my expectations from Day 1. I looked at what we had and saw a 5 year rebuild in order to get to a level of success that is appropriate for Marquette. You can back and check my posting history if you want. Feel free to bookmark this and remind me in two years if you don't think I am telling the truth.
If you like, I invite you to give your expectations and what it would take to get you "onto the Wojo bandwagon" as you put it.
This is reasonable, but I'd just up the timeframe. Depending how the rest of this season and next season play out, I'd say he should be gone next year if we miss NCAA this year and next. I'd say that's a sufficient sample to see what he can do, and if he hasn't done it by then, I'd rather just get on with it than waste another year.
TAMU
You predicted a 20 win season and NCAA bid this season prior to the season. So, this season I guess you are giving him a pass. If they do not make it comfortably next season, you feel the heat should be on in year six? As I said, it is not a bad thing, but you are giving him a great deal of rope.
As for me getting on the Wojo train, I think you know that answer. I have noted my bar for success at MU many, many times. To be honest, under Wojo I have lowered that bar and they still are light years away.
Quote from: Goose on February 04, 2018, 03:22:48 AM
TAMU
You predicted a 20 win season and NCAA bid this season prior to the season. So, this season I guess you are giving him a pass. If they do not make it comfortably next season, you feel the heat should be on in year six? As I said, it is not a bad thing, but you are giving him a great deal of rope.
As for me getting on the Wojo train, I think you know that answer. I have noted my bar for success at MU many, many times. To be honest, under Wojo I have lowered that bar and they still are light years away.
I did. And my prediction specifically was to be in Dayton. I thought 20 wins would be needed for that but I was wrong, underestimated our SOS. I actually thought I predicted 19 wins but might be misremembering.
And to further clarify, I don't think he should wait till year six to "feel the heat" if he doesn't make his goal next year
then he should feel the heat immediately. I just don't believe in firing someone the first year they don't make their end of year goal.
And youll have to forgive me Goose, but I have no idea what your expectations are. But that could be a memory problem on my part. I know you have made vague statements about having to "win at a high level" and "matching the money invested" but not what that looks like specifically.
T-rank ran the 2019 numbers and we were 38th. Not really comfortably in. Close are close losses. I'm way more concerned that we were bad in the 1st half against Butler and somehow came out worse in the 2nd half.
TAMU
A year ago I would have wanted to match Xavier success as a program. At this point I think that is far fetched expectation for Wojo to accomplish. How about being Butler or Creighton and see how that goes?
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on February 04, 2018, 04:44:31 AM
I did. And my prediction specifically was to be in Dayton. I thought 20 wins would be needed for that but I was wrong, underestimated our SOS. I actually thought I predicted 19 wins but might be misremembering.
And to further clarify, I don't think he should wait till year six to "feel the heat" if he doesn't make his goal next year
then he should feel the heat immediately. I just don't believe in firing someone the first year they don't make their end of year goal.
And youll have to forgive me Goose, but I have no idea what your expectations are. But that could be a memory problem on my part. I know you have made vague statements about having to "win at a high level" and "matching the money invested" but not what that looks like specifically.
Well we at least know that Goose's lowest bar is meeting Rick's SLU team results. He's been pretty clear that 2011 SLU is a minimal bar.
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on February 03, 2018, 07:21:03 PM
I'm in until next season. If we aren't comfortably in the tournament next year than Wojo will have not met my personal expectations...and the expectations that I believe he sold the university on in his 5 year plan. If he doesn't make expectations, he will probably get the sixth year to rectify, but it his butt will be pretty toasty.
Yup, wait until next year....and then wait until next year...repeat and rinse.
Quote from: Goose on February 04, 2018, 06:56:44 AM
TAMU
A year ago I would have wanted to match Xavier success as a program. At this point I think that is far fetched expectation for Wojo to accomplish. How about being Butler or Creighton and see how that goes?
Still not very specific but I'll take it. If I'm reading this right, you want us to be at "Xavier level success."
Over the past three seasons, Xavier has gone:
14-15: 11 seed, 6th place Big East Finish
15-16: 2 seed, 2nd place Big East Finish
16-17: 11 Seed, 7th Place Big East Finish
I think we can match that in the next three years.
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on February 03, 2018, 10:06:43 PM
I have wondered this often. What would have Buzz' next season have looked like if he stayed?
You keep the 2015 recruiting class, specifically Ahmed Hill and Marial Shayok who both ended up being nice players. I have heard from multiple people that JJJ and Teve were gone if Buzz stayed. Mayo would have still been given the boot. I think Deonte still leaves after his mother passes....not sure about Dawson. I think he thought a new coach would play him in front of Derrick and transferred when he realized that wasn't happening. If that's true, than he probably wouldn't stick around a second year knowing Buzz was going to start Derrick. Does Car3no still come here? My understanding is that it was more his family MU connection than specifically Wojo that got him to MU.
Lineup would have probably looked like:
PG: Derrick Wilson
SG: Car3no (no guarantee he still comes here but for this exercise let's say it was his family connection that got him here)
SF: Ahmed Hill
PF: Juan Anderson
C: Luke Fischer (no idea who would have started first semester)
Bench:
Duane Wilson (started Hill and Juan over him for size)
Marial Shayok
Sandy Cohen
Satchel Pierce
The roster seems too small, too shallow, and not talented enough to go dancing to me. But I have no idea if those four transfers would actually happen or not. No way of knowing. We also have no idea what (if any) grad transfers, late blooming freshmen, or jucos Buzz would have landed to replace JJJ and Teve's schollies.
I think this hypothetical Buzz squad would have definitely been better than Wojo's first squad....but I still think they miss the NCAA...probably the NIT too.
Good summary. I would add however , that we had Todd Mayo too and it's possible he would have stayed with Buzz. Which may have pushed Derrick to a lesser role and discouraged Carlino from showing up. Deonte and Dawson would have stayed with Buzz. Buzz was very high on Deonte and understood what Dawson brought to the table . Also Ahmed Hill is a shooting guard at VT. The whole fiasco of starting Sandy over Deonte would not have happened under Buzz.
Quote from: muwarrior69 on February 03, 2018, 09:35:09 PM
Do you think Haanif could have made a difference if he stayed? I mean we only lost by 2 today and the games against X and Nova at home were within 1 or two possessions. I think his defense could have made the difference in one or two games this season, but what do I know.
I think we miss Traci Carter and/or Duane Wilson a lot more. A competent PG to take minutes and help keep Rowsey and Howard out of foul trouble would be big for this team.
Quote from: Herman Cain on February 05, 2018, 05:31:00 AM
Good summary. I would add however , that we had Todd Mayo too and it's possible he would have stayed with Buzz. Which may have pushed Derrick to a lesser role and discouraged Carlino from showing up. Deonte and Dawson would have stayed with Buzz. Buzz was very high on Deonte and understood what Dawson brought to the table . Also Ahmed Hill is a shooting guard at VT. The whole fiasco of starting Sandy over Deonte would not have happened under Buzz.
Mayo was still gone no matter who was coach. He couldn't have stayed if he wanted to. Everything I have heard about Deonte was that his mother's death was the reason for his transfer, maybe Buzz could have convinced him to stay.
I wanted to wait until the weekend was over to post in hopes that the doomsday-ers and trolls would be gone to say this, but I'm extremely proud of the way this team played Saturday. Out of the 200 minutes, 171 were played by underclassmen, compared to just 70 for Providence. If you take off the blue and gold glasses that stat alone will tell you how well this team played. Unless you're Kentucky or Duke you will lose more games than you win with a discrepancy that large. Our defense, while still not good, only gave up 77 points which isn't terrible considering that Providence shot 38 free throws (the free-throw margin was mostly skewed by us extending the game).
My two main concerns coming into this year were in-game management and player development. Other than the terrible play we ran out of the timeout with 50 seconds left, which appeared busted from the start because Sacar didn't know what to do, we closed the game about as well as possible. We didn't wait to start fouling, we never got burned long on an inbounds play, we did a decent job of denying Cartwright the ball and made White shoot the free throws, and we didn't just jack up threes, we actually drove. Had Markus been able to take the ball coast to coast on the last play, we're all taking about the way a young team rebounded after a terrible performance against Butler to at least force OT (which would have been a toss-up with Rowsey, Sacar, Young, and Bullock all fouled out). You can say that we should have won since we won the reverse fixture, but consider that it took one of their Seniors being out with the flu that he got from a teammate who may or may not have fully recovered, it took OT, and it took the greatest single game performance in 100+ program history.
As far as player development, it's really been hit of miss with Wojo. JJJ improved, but Duane either spun his tires or regressed, Luke wasn't much better when he graduated than when he first arrived, possibly due to injury, Sandy, Haanif, Traci, all peaked their Freshman year. KR, Carlino, and Hank weren't around long enough to improve or regress, and Matt's improvement can mostly be attributed to Todd Smith. Not a great track record. However, anyone that says that Theo, Jamal, Greg, and Sacar haven't improved since the start of the year are crazy. Wojo has to make sure that they take the next step though, and don't become another Sandy/Haanif.
This team is young, and played an experienced team close. Wojo has at least two more seasons to prove he can develop players and evolve as an in game coach, however if Markus and Sam both graduate (yes they'll both be here four years) without at least 3 NCAA appearances and at least one sweet 16 appearance it will likely be time to move on from Wojo.
#5YearsToJudge
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on February 03, 2018, 11:10:42 PM
Let me be as clear as I can. My expectations for Wojo next season are that we are "comfortably" in the tournament. Let's call that a top 7 seed. If they do not achieve this, Wojo will not have met my expectations for the first season and I will be concerned.
My expectations for the following season is another "comfortably" in the tournament. If Wojo misses a second time I will be on the "fire Wojo" bandwagon.
This is about where I am. Even if this season falls into an absolute tailspin and we win 7 or 8 Big East games, I still want to give Wojo at a bare minimum next season. I think the expectation for next season should be a top 3-4 finish in the Big East and a 7 seed or better, as TAMU said. Anything short of that is going to be a disappointment in my book. I'd even go so far as to say if MU misses the tournament next season, it may be time to move on.
My biggest concern about a coaching change, even if with a bad 18-19 season, is the make-up of the roster. Wojo has built a roster that
SHOULD be a top 25 team next season, and the entire roster returns for 19-20 (sorry Matt). That 19-20 team is going to be loaded with upperclassman - Sam, Markus, Harry, Morrow, and Sacar - and this year's freshman class as juniors. I worry that moving on from Wojo at any point in the next 18 months could be devastating to that roster, especially considering we know Morrow, Harry and Sacar will all be potentially grad transfer eligible, and it wouldn't be surprising in Markus finished his undergrad in 3 years with summer classes based on what we know. For that reason, I'd really like to give Wojo at least 2 more seasons, especially if next season is a disappointment, but we still qualify for the NCAA tournament.
But on the flipside, if next season is a disaster and we miss the dance, clearly something has gone wrong. The talent is there to be a top 25 team all year, and if that talent flops, I am going to be much more open to a change. But I tend to think that's a pretty far-fetched scenario.
I am still of the belief that Wojo is the right man for the job, the last 2 games be damned. The program's arrow is clearly pointing up (IMO) and moving on from the coach now would be a disaster. Thankfully I think the BOT is on the same page, and will give him at least 2 more years barring some unforeseen disaster next season.
Quote from: Jay Bee on February 05, 2018, 12:37:48 PM
#5YearsToJudge
Some prove they can coach in less than 5 (Al, Buzz). Some prove they can't in less than 5 (Dukiet). Jury still out on Wojo.
Jamil,
I want to make sure I understand your post correctly. You feel, and hope the BOT agrees, that barring a major, major hiccup that Wojo should be given a minimum of two more years from this season? I am assuming from your post that you believe they will have top 25 talent next year, but a bit of wiggle room on actual performance. What would be considered an on court disaster next year and the following year in your opinion.
For the record, I thought your post was quite good and I want to understand points accurately.
Quote from: Goose on February 05, 2018, 04:01:45 PM
Jamil,
I want to make sure I understand your post correctly. You feel, and hope the BOT agrees, that barring a major, major hiccup that Wojo should be given a minimum of two more years from this season? I am assuming from your post that you believe they will have top 25 talent next year, but a bit of wiggle room on actual performance. What would be considered an on court disaster next year and the following year in your opinion.
For the record, I thought your post was quite good and I want to understand points accurately.
Sure.
I do think that MU will have top 25 talent next season. And I think Wojo will be given at a bare minimum next season to see how that plays out. If the 18-19 team misses the dance next season, I think Wojo will be on the hot seat, and rightfully so. My concern with doing anything before the end of next season is that we have a roster in place to be very, very good the next two seasons. But if somehow next season is a bust (completely missing the tourney would fit that bill), clearly something went wrong. That could be due to a bunch of unforeseen departures, or just the team not being as good as its individual parts. I personally don't see that scenario playing out, but if it did, I'd be OK with the BOT deciding to move in a different direction. If the team busts next year because a handful of key contributors get hurt and miss a bunch of time, I don't necessarily put that on Wojo.
What I would hate to see happen is a coaching change blow up what should be legitimately a top 10-15 team in 19-20, and a very good team next season. If the roster is blown up between now and the end of next season anyways, and MU misses the dance next season, the calculus changes.
As I have said before, FTR, I don't think Wojo's seat is the slightest bit warm at the moment. Nor do I think it should be. But next season is huge.
I am usually the eternal optimist and while I didn't quite have MUFINY expectations for this year, I did think a top half Big East finish and NCAA bid was possible. I still think the latter is possible, but the NIT is probable. As I would've been happy with NIT last year, I'm okay with going there this year though I would much prefer a NCAA trip. Postseason is postseason, and I don't think we'll be going to the Final Four so the rest of the NCAA is pretty much a wash for me.
Next year, I think at worst top-4 in the Big East and a comfortable NCAA seed (4-6) should be the expectation. If we are a bubble team next year, that might be enough for me to say it's time to cut the cord. I fully believe this was always a five year plan and Wojo deserves the fifth year simply on the basis that the regular excuses (too young, too small, too inexperienced, etc) will be invalidated. Get the job done in 2018-19, at least to the point where it looks like we have arrived and have the wherewithal to stay, and Wojo should be safe. Fail to do that and we may need to turn the page.