The State of Our Program After Depaul

[ChicosBailBonds]

But those guys all were far better than anything we have now. Chones might have been a one and done today. All were incredible and while they started, not sure they starred as freshmen.

Not playing as a freshman did a lot of guys good.  I have little doubt the same was true for MU.

Meminger had a very good Sophomore year, we'll never know how good he would have been as a freshman.  He certainly got better statistically each year he was at MU.  Chones, likely a one and done either way.  Thompson, also very good his sophomore year.    More the exceptions than the rule in college basketball.

Bo started as a freshman.  Statistically I'd rate him as a solid solid freshman, but not a star.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Wrong. Al filled holes with transfers and Jucos often. On the national championship team the starting center was a Juco and the starting point guard a transfer. And most of his stars from high school were stars from their first day of eligibility at MU.

And Wojo has gone after jucos and successfully landed transfers. Notice you said filled holes. Al built his teams with freshmen and developed them.

I dont think everyone of Als stars were stars from Day 1. He also had the advantage of basically a forced redshirt in the early years. Didnt have to play freshmen.

You are also remembering the end of Als career, after he had built a powerhouse. How did he build that powerhouse? Those kids he recruited in 1964 were hardly stars from day 1, but they grew up and were NIT runner ups in 67 and made the sweet 16 in 68.

[vogue65]

And Wojo has gone after jucos and successfully landed transfers. Notice you said filled holes. Al built his teams with freshmen and developed them.

I dont think everyone of Als stars were stars from Day 1. He also had the advantage of basically a forced redshirt in the early years. Didnt have to play freshmen.

You are also remembering the end of Als career, after he had built a powerhouse. How did he build that powerhouse? Those kids he recruited in 1964 were hardly stars from day 1, but they grew up and were NIT runner ups in 67 and made the sweet 16 in 68.

So very correct, before McGuire there was a team but no program, we were independents looking for acceptance.   After McGuire the program gradually disintegrated into a midmajor world of also-rans.

There is more to a successful program than even a coach.  It takes fans, facilities, a league, ballers in the NBA, paraphernalia, and history.   Not to mention the most important ingredient, good unselfish players.  I am getting to realy love these kids, does that fit into the equation?

[Lennys Tap]

Bo started as a freshman.  Statistically I'd rate him as a solid solid freshman, but not a star.

Bo started every game as a freshman on a team that went to the final four and lost the championship game. Second leading scorer and rebounder on the team (12.1 and 8.5 - only 3 points and 2 rebounds shy of Maurice Lucas). Shot 53.5% (best on the team by far) from the field, 72.1% from the line. And he was our best defensive player.

Solid? LOL. He was a star.

[willie warrior]

Bo started every game as a freshman on a team that went to the final four and lost the championship game. Second leading scorer and rebounder on the team (12.1 and 8.5 - only 3 points and 2 rebounds shy of Maurice Lucas). Shot 53.5% (best on the team by far) from the field, 72.1% from the line. And he was our best defensive player.

Solid? LOL. He was a star.

Absolutely!! There were several stars on that great team. Oh what we had under Al!

[Lennys Tap]

Meminger had a very good Sophomore year, we'll never know how good he would have been as a freshman.  He certainly got better statistically each year he was at MU.  Chones, likely a one and done either way.  Thompson, also very good his sophomore year.    More the exceptions than the rule in college basketball.

1. Chones wasn't a one and done. He was an instant star but didn't leave until almost the end of his junior year.
2. Of course we'll never KNOW how good Meminger would have been as a freshman, but I saw him put up 44 against the best freshman team ever at Notre Dame (Austin Carr, Sid Catlett and Collis Jones, among others) and he dominated the guards who led us to the NIT finals in practice so I think we can venture an informed opinion. Similar stuff with George.

[slingkong]

The State of Our Program After DePaul......  It's still in Wisconsin, right?

Silly. Everyone knows Marquette is in Michigan. Why, just last week I had a guy from northern Wisconsin tell me that he's positive that I'm wrong about my alma mater being in Milwaukee.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Silly. Everyone knows Marquette is in Michigan. Why, just last week I had a guy from northern Wisconsin tell me that he's positive that I'm wrong about my alma mater being in Milwaukee.

LOL!  30 minutes I was speaking to someone at work and this person said "You went to Marquette --- in Michigan?"