Are We Really Going to Be As Good As Everyone Thinks?

[GGGG]

I'm not sure that's accurate. I remember talking with someone about that incident and hearing that DJO wasn't right there when it started, and that he went to pull Blue away once he saw it escalating. I have a vague memory of the conversation, but as I recall DJO pulled Blue outside, the guys followed and that's where the alleged shove happened.

I wasn't there, I can't say definitively, but I do remember at least one story about how DJO tried to de-escalate that situation.

OK, if that is the case then I am wrong.

[GGGG]

The arena of playing high major college ball is not the same as the work world Sultan.  Jamil is a very nice kid - he may be well liked by his teammates - but does he have the tenacity and toughness to lead in tough times?  Jamil is so gifted, that it is more difficult for a kid like him to develop the grit and toughness a Jimmy B, or Jae, or Lazar,has had to develop due to not being as gifted.

To me, the best leaders on sports teams have a grit, and almost surliness about them..the stems from their ultra-competitive drive:  Jordan, Kobe, Bird, Barkley, Favre, Aikman, etc.  Jamil is like a LeBron James - probably better as a Robin than a Batman...

First off, let's see how this season goes before we say that Jamil doesn't have the "grit" and "toughness" of those who came before him.  Also let's remember that he will be just a sophomore.

Second, on this theory that if you have a bunch of natural talent, that it stunts the growth of your "grit."  The you mention some of the best players in the history of their respective sports. 

And finally, I don't think we are that much apart here.  I said "perform well, work hard and be vocal."  "Grit" and "work hard" to me are identical traits.

I just don't want to write off Jamil without seeing the results on the court.

[BCHoopster]

College basketball is all about senior leadership, has to be Crowder and DJO.  They will be your number 1 and 2 scorer
next year.   I expect Otule and Cadougan to be slightly better, all I need from Wilson is some D, if he does that MU will
be fine.  This team reminds me of the 1977 team.  In saying that Wilson has to do the little things, if he does that they
might be very good.  The bench is young but talented, so it should be interesting, chemistry is the key.

[Marqevans]

I think DJO is the key. The team will go as he goes.

[dgies9156]

We were inconsistent last year, but our season largely came down to coin flips. What if we don't play like crap against Gonzaga? What if Vandy misses the last shot, or DJO hits the runner? What if we hold on against Loserville and Notre Dame? We just as easily could have been 27-10 last year as we were 22-15.

That's why I like our chances. I think we will be more consistent. While we lost 4 seniors, I think that we have a steadier hand at PG, just as good of senior leadership (I really like Jae as a leader), and enough improvement in returning players to offset the loss of JFB.

We'll have some disappointments, might have a few stinkers, but if we're healthy, I honestly expect a top-4 Big East finish and a top-4 seed. Predicting the NCAAs is always dicey, it's a match-up crapshoot, but I feel very good going into the season.

Brew, I don't disagree but I would also contest that the difference between very good and a great team is winning at Vanderbilt, vs. Gonzaga and against Notre Dame and Louisville. A great team wins these games.

We showed a lot of character in the NCAAs, but that has to be an everyday thing if we are to be champions.

[wojosdojo]

but we lost our scorer in Jimmy Butler.

Jimmy isn't the three amigos or Lazar. We seem to pick up pretty well from the pieces we've lost in the past.

[wildbillsb]

Put me in, coach.  I'm ready..........I think.

[brewcity77]

Brew, I don't disagree but I would also contest that the difference between very good and a great team is winning at Vanderbilt, vs. Gonzaga and against Notre Dame and Louisville. A great team wins these games.

We showed a lot of character in the NCAAs, but that has to be an everyday thing if we are to be champions.

And we weren't great last year. But I think we showed that we had the potential to be great. And we really didn't lose much from last year's team. Yes, JFB is a big loss, but with Wilson we have a ready replacement and if that doesn't pan out at least there are viable options like Blue, Jones, and Anderson. Buycks was a starter, but by the end of the season, did anyone want him logging more minutes than Cadougan at the point? Fulce unfortunately was hit again by injuries, and Frozena was Frozena.

Maybe I'm just a glass is half-full kind of guy, but I really think our 2011-12 team could be something special. All along I've been looking at 2012-13, but I am starting to believe this could be the year we make the jump. I really think DJO and Crowder will be ready, we have quality at the other positions, and enough depth to get by.

[dgies9156]

A
Maybe I'm just a glass is half-full kind of guy, but I really think our 2011-12 team could be something special. All along I've been looking at 2012-13, but I am starting to believe this could be the year we make the jump. I really think DJO and Crowder will be ready, we have quality at the other positions, and enough depth to get by.

I hope you are right. As a McGuire-era Marquette fan, nothing would thrill me more than looking at you in March 2012 and saying, "Brew, you were right..." There's a lot of good things happening now and it seems like Buzz will be locked down for years to come. I'm optimistic that "this time" we won't get to the threshold and have our coach leave us.

Frankly, I'd like to think we will have one of the problems Al did -- superstars leaving early! Usually, that portends more superstars behind them.

[GOO]

As I mentioned above, I am looking at this team as a potentially great team... maybe even top 10 for a while and with a chance to make a run in the NCAA's.

That said, the difference between a great team and a great year, and a not so great year, is razer thin.  Just look at last year, we were almost out of the NCAA's and a lot of fans were ready to jump ship, and were jumping on Buzz... then we win enough to secure a bid and we are a sweet 16 team.  The margin between a bad year and a great year was very thin and we walked right on that line for a while,... and then came out on the good side of the fence.  Could have gone either way.

So, I expect big things this year.  This comes from a guy who usually hedges negative on MU basketball.  I haven't felt this good about a team pre-season team in a long time.  That said, success is a razer thin margin, so anything can happen.