If you can't compete, flee the Big East

[AlumKCof93]

My first year at MU was O'Neill's first year and I have followed the program closely ever since.  ONeill built the program back to respectability and I agree that he deserves a lot of credit for its current success.
I disagree that Dean brought the program down.  He had success with ONeills players and I think he won 100 games in 5 years.  When he was let go, MU and Cords were criticized in many circles for it, memorably in an article by Decourcy in the Sporting News. But ultimately, it was proved that Cords made the right decision by letting Dean go before the program really suffered and then by hiring Crean.  In my mind, O'Neill was instrumental in bringing the program back to life, and then Cords built the bridge to Crean who has done a terrific job in his 9 years.  Now if only he could win a few games in the tournament . . . .

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Come on. We were lousy, but we were never Loyola-Chicago. They were playing in a gym that was the equivalent to our Old Gym for like 50 years. We were never in that predictament. We just had a few down years under Dukiet. Loyola is now in a nicer facility...but the Al McGuire Center is far superior to their home gym -- the Gentile Center.

Incidentally, if you're looking for an inexpensive college basketball experience in Chicago -- check out the Ramblers. You can take the El there and see a decent team like Butler, Wright State or UIC. I don't think Loyola is very good this year, though. They were decent last year.

[1990Warrior]

My first year at MU was O'Neill's first year and I have followed the program closely ever since.  ONeill built the program back to respectability and I agree that he deserves a lot of credit for its current success.
I disagree that Dean brought the program down.  He had success with ONeills players and I think he won 100 games in 5 years.  When he was let go, MU and Cords were criticized in many circles for it, memorably in an article by Decourcy in the Sporting News. But ultimately, it was proved that Cords made the right decision by letting Dean go before the program really suffered and then by hiring Crean.  In my mind, O'Neill was instrumental in bringing the program back to life, and then Cords built the bridge to Crean who has done a terrific job in his 9 years.  Now if only he could win a few games in the tournament . . . .

With respect to Dean, he was good at Xs and Os but I think I (and most others) remember him making a statement that we should be happy with NIT appearances with an occasional NCAA bid.  That completely turned me off to him.

[tower912]

We used to schedule Fordham, Iona, Niagara and worry about beating them at our place.   We joined the MCC and considered it a step forward.   Yes, we were that bad.   Thanks, Coach Dukiet.

[RJax55]

Incidentally, if you're looking for an inexpensive college basketball experience in Chicago -- check out the Ramblers. You can take the El there and see a decent team like Butler, Wright State or UIC. I don't think Loyola is very good this year, though. They were decent last year.

PRN, agree 100%. Saw Loyola play Bulter last year at the Gentile Center and had a great time. Terrific game (went into OT) and the Gentile Center was packed.

[Final Four or Bust]

My first year at MU was O'Neill's first year and I have followed the program closely ever since.  ONeill built the program back to respectability and I agree that he deserves a lot of credit for its current success.
I disagree that Dean brought the program down.  He had success with ONeills players and I think he won 100 games in 5 years.  When he was let go, MU and Cords were criticized in many circles for it, memorably in an article by Decourcy in the Sporting News. But ultimately, it was proved that Cords made the right decision by letting Dean go before the program really suffered and then by hiring Crean.  In my mind, O'Neill was instrumental in bringing the program back to life, and then Cords built the bridge to Crean who has done a terrific job in his 9 years.  Now if only he could win a few games in the tournament . . . .

With respect to Dean, he was good at Xs and Os but I think I (and most others) remember him making a statement that we should be happy with NIT appearances with an occasional NCAA bid.  That completely turned me off to him.

I don't think that people would disagree that his goals and ceiling for the program weren't our goals (and frankly that given a few more years we might have fell more), but he did win and we never dropped that far back under him.  Those were some pretty decent years.

O'Neill did leave us, but he resurrected the program, IMO.  Interestingly, didn't he say his departure to take the UT job was a bad decision and he wouldn't do it again in hindsight (given the current state of the program)?  I thought I read that recently.

[chefrad]

Getting into the Big East was a HUGE deal. Assuming Marquette can remain a top tier conference player for a couple years, some recruits will start finding MU on their own. Look at the latest batch: a few celebrated names go elsewhere (it happens— I mean, Shumpert tuned dow UNC too!) yet Crean is able to fill in right away with what looks to be some decent talent.

Love your state as much as you want, don't start thinking there is enough native talent to sustain UW and MU among the nation's elite.

Many years back UW recruited the entire 1st-team all-state team (to much JOURNAL acclaim). McGuire's multi-state team flat crushed them. I can still picture that 7' stiff from ? Wis, his glasses crooked from some MU baller dunking on the top of his head. Anyone remember who those in-state guys were? Was MUHS' Chuck Nagle on that team? Was he the only one to stick?

[Avenue Commons]

My first year at MU was O'Neill's first year and I have followed the program closely ever since.  ONeill built the program back to respectability and I agree that he deserves a lot of credit for its current success.
I disagree that Dean brought the program down.  He had success with ONeills players and I think he won 100 games in 5 years.  When he was let go, MU and Cords were criticized in many circles for it, memorably in an article by Decourcy in the Sporting News. But ultimately, it was proved that Cords made the right decision by letting Dean go before the program really suffered and then by hiring Crean.  In my mind, O'Neill was instrumental in bringing the program back to life, and then Cords built the bridge to Crean who has done a terrific job in his 9 years.  Now if only he could win a few games in the tournament . . . .

His comments also involved saying that no blue chip prospect wanted to come to Milwaukee. I was not a fan of Deane.

With respect to Dean, he was good at Xs and Os but I think I (and most others) remember him making a statement that we should be happy with NIT appearances with an occasional NCAA bid.  That completely turned me off to him.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Arguably EVERY coach and EVERY player who have been a part of the program are owed something.

O'Neil did do a good job and brought in some talent, but really didn't stay to see it to fruition.

Deane is a good "coach", but college hoops (for better or worse) isn't all about "coaching basketball" (I think Al proved that and always said that Hank was really the mastermind).

Anyways, I think MU is in a great place and the current administration and coaching staff deserve a ton of credit for it. MU could/will have some ups and downs... but so far the current coaches and administration have proven to me that they run a very strong program that we can all be proud of.