Where does this regular season rank?

[frozena pizza]

I can't help but wonder whether this team is really that good, or the conference is just really down this year.  Probably some of both.  But it's hard to make comparisons to '08-'09 (the year of James' injury) because the Big East was absolutely loaded that year.  I'm just hoping we can finish strong and get DG back at some point, but I have my doubts.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Pish posh.

Wade and 4 other guys got us 0 NCAA wins in 2001-02.

R-JAX and 4 other guys got us to the Final Four the next year.

I actually thought that 01-02 team was really, really good. Blankson and Henry with Wade, Diener and Merritt. What a Disappointing loss in the tourney that year. Get past that game and I thought they had a real chance to make some noise.

[Henry Sugar]

High in regards to entertainment and meeting preseason expectations. As for the big picture, not all that high in my mind. We are top ten for nearly a decade and those teams peformed night in and night out. Plus we were everyone's biggest game back then.

I think this team is exceeding preseason expectations, and agree with everything else you wrote.

What's amazing is that this team may actually finish with a two seed.  That's a level that MU has not been since the 70's.  I don't know if I'm ready to think of Marquette as being at that level.

One last point... as for the 2003-2012 comparisons, Jae Crowder is playing like one of the top five most valuable players in the nation.  In 2003, DWade was playing like one of the top five most valuable players in the nation.

[Golden Avalanche]

I can't help but wonder whether this team is really that good, or the conference is just really down this year.  Probably some of both.  But it's hard to make comparisons to '08-'09 (the year of James' injury) because the Big East was absolutely loaded that year.  I'm just hoping we can finish strong and get DG back at some point, but I have my doubts.

It is a bit of both.

I was bullish on this squad early because I saw how the situation would unfold and it was clear to see that with Crowder, Odom, and a rounded cast there was no reason for this team not to be contending for the title. They very well could have if not for the toe stub early on so they are placing right where I expected.

As for the end all and be all of the NCAAs (as it is for some) people can hide behind the cliche of it being all about match-ups but this squad is clearly one of the 10 best in the nation and I'd certainly expect them to make it through a few games next month. Being done before St. Patrick's would be a major disappointment.

[Lennys Tap]

First, I confess that I tend to be cautious in my preseason prognostications. I thought that the Big East coaches were about right (6th) and when we lost Otule I feared it would be worse.

Turns out we are better than advertised and some in the Big East (UCONN, Pitt) aren't as good, but I never dreamed we could be a top 10 team without either of our centers. I worry that the lack of size/depth will cost us down the road - but I'm a worrier.

[JoBo2756]

Seeing this team fall behind horrible teams like DePaul and many others this season has made it really hard to take a deep drink of that koolaid. Honestly, I haven't been able to do that until after seeing the West Virginia game and watch Jae totally soldier on with a depleted team.

I think the Big East is the worst it's been since we joined. In other years, I think we would have been between 4th and 6th place. Just my POV with Otule and Gardner out.

A healthy Gardner who can pop in for 15 mins a game and score 10 pts. along with our other players firing on all cylinders (sp?) makes us downright scary. Give us anybody in that situation and it's a serious game.

[Hoopaloop]

Love this team and love this season.

However, this will be an interesting thread to revisit if/when MU loses in the tournament.

For a lot of people, the tournament is the only measure of success, and if these guys don't make the elite 8, there will be a lot of hand ringing.

THIS. IS. SO. TRUE.

I went with 2003 over this season but it is not complete yet.  2003 was a great season, conference championship, most amazing player I have seen at Marquette along with some young but wonderful mates along with him that made the season extremely special by the Final Four run.  This team is ranked higher, will likely get a better seed.  It's a great season this year and nothing will take away from that, but to put it over the 2003 season they would have to do something special with that seeding.  I am not a post season or nothing guy, but to say this season is better than 2003 they have to equal what 2003 team accomplished.  That seems fairly elementary to me.

1976 would be my ultimate choice.  Better team than 77, but Indiana could not be stopped that year.