Prepare yourselves

[Ari Gold]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y7IxieFmVA 


All of us really need to just start mentally preparing ourselves for that final game that the trio and d-burke will play in the BC in their MU colors. I started tearing up just watching the video, so I think if we all watch this video a minimum 10-20 times a day, we may only need one box of kleenex for the cuse game 

[wadesworld]

Will there be video taken and available online at the Senior Night game?  I'll be driving down to Florida.  I really wish I could be there for the last home game of these seniors.

[bradforster]

I am preparing myself for a tough Senior day as well.  It's going to be hard to watch this one. 

[MUfan12]

Saturday is going to be incredibly emotional. I'm getting sad just thinking about the fact that it'll be the last time I'll get to see them take Al McGuire court in an MU uniform 

It's rare to have a group like that for four years, we've been very lucky to have them!

[Tom Crean's Tanning Bed]

It seems just like yesterday I was sitting in my living room in Campustown after the Western Michigan NIT loss in 2005 trying to tell my roommates about these three HS kids, DJ, Jerel, and Wes, that were going to start from day 1 and bring Marquette back (Burke had yet to commit by this point, so I'm not ignoring him).

92 wins later, I think they've brought us back. 

Some may say these seniors have underachieved when you evaluate in terms of conference championships and postseason success.  But if you consider their 4 years in terms of what they have done towards laying a foundation for our success in the Big East (4 10+ win seasons, a feat only shared by Pitt since 2005) and leading us to 4 straight NCAA Tournament bids for the first time since 1979-1980, it's remarkable all they have accomplished.  And on individual levels, Dom, Jerel, and Wes's accomplishments are all over the top 10 of nearly every category in Marquette's record books. 

These guys have had to play thru a coaching change, poorly-timed injuries, and the lack of a true post presence.  A Sweet 16 bid would sure be a nice send-off for these guys, but even if that does not come to fruition, there is no denial that they have played like warriors for 4 years and have been truly some of the best ambassadors Marquette University could have ever hoped for.  We have been so blessed to have them, and we will truly miss them more than many of us can ever express. 

[Marquette_g]

Some may say these seniors have underachieved when you evaluate in terms of conference championships and postseason success.  But if you consider their 4 years in terms of what they have done towards laying a foundation for our success in the Big East (4 10+ win seasons, a feat only shared by Pitt since 2005) and leading us to 4 straight NCAA Tournament bids for the first time since 1979-1980, it's remarkable all they have accomplished.  And on individual levels, Dom, Jerel, and Wes's accomplishments are all over the top 10 of nearly every category in Marquette's record books. 

Three Big East tournament wins and one NCAA tournament win is underachieving if we are truly regarding this as one of the great classes in the history of our program.  Statistically they have been awesome, but in terms of winning big games in March the numbers do not lie.

They will be missed certainly, but the run of the last four years is not something that can't be repeated.  We'll take our lumps next year, but there is a lot of light on the horizon that things will be even better.

[AlumKCof93]

I don't think it can be said that these 3 underachieved in anyway.  No, they have not had the run in the NCAA's we would like to have seen, but I don't think you can blame these players.  Their best team was arguably their first when Novak was on the team.  Their soph year McNeal got hurt.  Last year, they had a tough matchup due to recruiting mistakes by their former coach and came within a second of advancing to the Sweet 16 with a good chance of advancing further.  This year, the coaching change (due to the impact of the incoming freshman class), and Dom's injury have made it very difficult.
I don't think it can be said that these guys underacheived in any way.  I think it can be said that unfortunate injuries and the former coach's inability to bring in some help - beyond Hayward - are to blame.

[Buzz Williams' Spillproof Chiclets Cup]

That's the thing is you look at their four tournament runs.

Two of them had a key player go down in the closing weeks of the regular season to be out for the year. (Jerel in 07, DJ in 09)

The other two years where everyone was healthy, we were within a ball hair of moving on to the next round (Novak's wide-open miss against Bama in 06, OT against Stanford in 08).

[MR.HAYWARD]

Has this class under acheived in the post season....absolutely!  But i think it is unfair to blame these 4 players for that, IMO the blame goes to the jagbag in Bloominton who over the course of 4 season never had the ability to surround these guys with the front court we needed.  one of the greatest injustices ever in MU basketball was the followup classes Tommy naismith signed in the two years after their class.  Not going to name them but simply look at those recruitng classes and tell me those are not mid major classes at best!!  Size and ability wise

[Marquette_g]

I just don't think you can have it both ways.  If these 3 are so great shouldn't they have been able to overcome the lack of supporting players?

I am not saying these guys weren't really good, and great guys too, I'm simply saying that in terms of what they have actually done when it matters most is pretty unimpressive.

[Ari Gold]

Has this class under acheived in the post season....absolutely!  But i think it is unfair to blame these 4 players for that, IMO the blame goes to the jagbag in Bloominton who over the course of 4 season never had the ability to surround these guys with the front court we needed.  one of the greatest injustices ever in MU basketball was the followup classes Tommy naismith signed in the two years after their class.  Not going to name them but simply look at those recruitng classes and tell me those are not mid major classes at best!!  Size and ability wise

+1

They still made MU hella fun to watch though

[RawdogDX]

I just don't think you can have it both ways.  If these 3 are so great shouldn't they have been able to overcome the lack of supporting players?
.

No, what part of team sport don't you understand.  Not only did they not have a supporting cast, there were only two years that the three were healthy. 
Are you blaming them for their freshman year?  Can't expect three freshmen to take you on a final 4 run.  That leaves last year where a 3 seed with two 7 foot first round NBA draft picks needed two miracle shots at the buzzer to beat us in OT. 
If they had been healthy every year and not made a deep run you'd have a point.  But you can't expect that from them their freshman year.  They were hurt two others.  So realistically they had 1 chance to make a deep run and I'm not discounting their entire career because a lottery pick sank a prayer in OT.

[Marquette_g]

So if we can't look at tournament wins, or conference titles, or conference tournament titles, what are we basing the fact that they are so successful on?  The fact that they scored a ton of points, and finished in the top half of their conference? 

Again I'm not saying they aren't good/very good, but I do not believe that they have been some transcendent group, the likes of which we will never see again. 

[3Mer]

So if we can't look at tournament wins, or conference titles, or conference tournament titles, what are we basing the fact that they are so successful on?  The fact that they scored a ton of points, and finished in the top half of their conference? 

Again I'm not saying they aren't good/very good, but I do not believe that they have been some transcendent group, the likes of which we will never see again. 

+1

This has been an entertaining group to watch, but for whatever reasons (e.g., injuries, lack of supporting casts, questionable coaching, etc.) their teams have not achieved to perceived potential.  Without DJ, they're going to have to get some favorable NCAA match-ups to even makle their first Sweet 16.

[Coleman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y7IxieFmVA 


All of us really need to just start mentally preparing ourselves for that final game that the trio and d-burke will play in the BC in their MU colors. I started tearing up just watching the video, so I think if we all watch this video a minimum 10-20 times a day, we may only need one box of kleenex for the cuse game 

The only thing in that video that made me want to cry was hearing Dwight try to sing

[RawdogDX]

So if we can't look at tournament wins, or conference titles, or conference tournament titles, what are we basing the fact that they are so successful on?  The fact that they scored a ton of points, and finished in the top half of their conference? 

Again I'm not saying they aren't good/very good, but I do not believe that they have been some transcendent group, the likes of which we will never see again. 

No we base it on the fact that we are one of two teams to win ten games a year during their 4 years they were here.  And ranked in the top ten for 3 of those 4 years and consitently in the top 25.  By the way top 4 is actually top 3/4 of the conference not 1/2.  Pretty impressive for a team with 0 front court in what many consider the best conference ever.

Who does believe that they are a "transcendent group, the likes of which we will never see again"?
OH... you were just disagreeing with a statement you made up and that no one thinks?  That's cool normal internet move.  

[Marquette_g]

No we base it on the fact that we are one of two teams to win ten games a

Who does believe that they are a "transcendent group, the likes of which we will never see again"?
OH... you were just disagreeing with a statement you made up and that no one thinks?  That's cool normal internet move.  

Fine the word Transcendent was not used, but in reading posts on a variety of threads the fawning over this group - to me - seems a little over done. 

[AlumKCof93]

Matthews, McNeal and James did not underachieve - they played to their abilities and gave everything they had.  They improved every year, played with a passion and represented the university very well both on and off the court.
These three did not fail Marquette, Crean failed them by not bringing in reinforcements and then leaving prior to their senior year.  I understand Crean had a right to leave and I don't regret the fact that he's gone, but he certainly didn't do these 3 any favors by doing so. 

[jaygall31]

no matter whether this was our best class ever or not, you still need some type of post presence this year. Even if Barro would have played this year we're a top 5 team.

[Wade for President]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y7IxieFmVA 

Holy crap is that hilarious.  Love DJ and Wes's facial expressions when they see Jerel belt out Boys 2 Men. 

What is this salty discharge coming from my eyes?