MU - a Light Blue Blood.

[Benny B]

During last night's game vs. Florida, Len made a comment that MU has fifteen Sweet 16 appearances, one less than Indiana.  IU actually has 21, but I think Len meant Michigan State.  In any event, Len's implication was why Marquette isn't considered one amongst Blue Blood programs.  Who then are the blue bloods... well, look no further than the all-time leaders in NCAA tourney bids:

52 Kentucky
43 North Carolina
42 UCLA
41 Kansas
38 Louisville
36 Indiana
36 Duke
35 Syracuse
32 Notre Dame
31 Villanova
30 Connecticut
30 Marquette
30 Texas
30 Temple

History and tradition are on Marquette's side.  Since MU joined the Big East in 2005, it has been one of the most successful programs in the country.  Is Marquette a Kentucky or North Carolina.... heck no.  But apparently being in the Big East has put MU back into the conversation.

But Benny... what happens when the Big East implodes?

Simple.  Marquette, Georgetown and Villanova will ALWAYS be welcome somewhere.  Conference realignment is about one thing -- money, and the Big East will receive a check this year for $9M on account of MU's, GTown's, and Nova's tourney appearances over the last six years.  And here's the best part: even if MU, G-Town and Nova fail to make the tournament over the next five years, the Big East will STILL be paid over $22M on account of MU's, GTown's, and Nova's tourney appearances from 2008-2012.

$9M in 2012.  $30M total guaranteed over the next six years... and even be more if MU, G-Town and Nova continue earning tournament bids and wins.  If the Big East blows up (which it likely will not... ever), any conference would love to have three schools with whom you do not have to share any football revenue but who will bring in $10M annually in tourney revenue alone.

Marquette is back on the map, and a combination of moderate success going forward and conference greed will keep it there for a long time.

[lab_warrior]

Dude, dude... light blue is NOT the preferred nomenclature.  VALOUR blue, please.   

[Henry Sugar]

great post.  really enjoyed reading it.

[BrewCity83]

Based on this criteria, this is how I would split them:

Blue Bloods:

52 Kentucky
43 North Carolina
42 UCLA
41 Kansas
38 Louisville
36 Indiana
36 Duke
35 Syracuse

Light Blue Bloods (or Valour Blue, or Vander Blue Bloods):

32 Notre Dame
31 Villanova
30 Connecticut
30 Marquette
30 Texas
30 Temple

If we can get UConn, ND and Louisville to stick around in the conference for awhile, it will only help matters.

[frozena pizza]

I'd say we are solidly second tier with a big group of other programs.  Villanova is a pretty close comparison.  Better than Temple, but not up there with UConn.  I'd probably put Florida ahead of us based on their recent success.

I'm pretty sure Len Elmore also said that Louisville beat us both times this year so I don't put much stock into what he says.

[Henry Sugar]

Top 2% of programs cuts off at 36 appearances
Top 5% of programs: 28
Top 10% of programs: 23

Blue Bloods
Kentucky
North Carolina
UCLA
Kansas
Louisville
Indiana
Duke

Valour Bloods
Syracuse
Notre Dame
Villanova
Connecticut
Marquette
Texas
Temple
Arkansas
Illinois
Arizona
Georgetown

Seems like a fair representation of program strength.  But I want back in the Blue Blood group.

[madtownwarrior]

Don't forget about SMU      Silly little SMU...

[muwarrior69]

Does the 30 bids include the one Al turned down? If not then it should be 31 bids albeit 30 appearances.

[Warriors4ever]

How about Baby Blue Bloods?

[muwarrior69]

In the thread "legendary" I learned that Red Hickey also turned down a bid in the Fifties because he thought we were not good enough. Wow! The only school to tell the NCAA no thanks. Twice!

[bilsu]

This is over the entire history.

UCLA is no longer a blue blood.
Michigan State is.
Uconn with three titles in the last 12 or so years is, but they ar going to fall off a cliff.

[77ncaachamps]

How about Blue Bloods since 1980? That would really crimp MU's station since it leaves out the AL years.

Where would MU belong?

[BrewCity83]

How about Blue Bloods since 1980? That would really crimp MU's station since it leaves out the AL years.

Where would MU belong?

You sound like a Badger fan...."how about blue bloods since basketball was invented in 2000?"

[Hoopaloop]

This is over the entire history.

UCLA is no longer a blue blood.
Michigan State is.
Uconn with three titles in the last 12 or so years is, but they ar going to fall off a cliff.

UCLA has three Final Fours in the last 6 years.  As down as they have been the last two years, hard to say they aren't a blue blood especially with 11 national titles.  The three Final Fours in the last 6 years is more than Syracuse, Louisville, Kansas, Indiana in the last decade.

[brewcity77]

UCLA has three Final Fours in the last 6 years.  As down as they have been the last two years, hard to say they aren't a blue blood especially with 11 national titles.  The three Final Fours in the last 6 years is more than Syracuse, Louisville, Kansas, Indiana in the last decade.

+1 zillion

UCLA is absolutely a blue blood. Along with UNC, Kansas, Kentucky, and Duke, they are one of the choicest of choice jobs. Why else would pundits constantly be saying Smart turned down Illinois so he can take UCLA next year? They are still pulling in top-10 recruiting classes and have more recent success than virtually any other program. Definitely a top-5 job, and if I were ranking, I'd say 3 behind UNC and UK.

[JD]

No credibility if you don't put UCONN as a Blue Blood.

How can you not?!