Interesting Question from Homer

[The Lens]

It would be closer than a lot of people think.  IMO college hoops was a lot, lot stronger back then.  Glenn Robinson & Grant Hill were each third year players.  Think about that.  No way that happens now.  A Top 25 team back then, could be Top 10 team in 2003. 

Jason Kidd as a sophomore was the only underclassmen taken in the Top 13.

Looking at who all stayed in school back then is crazy compared to today.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_NBA_draft

[Herman Cain]

I second that. The 1971 Warriors were truly special and yes, better than the 1974 and 1977 teams, though I loved them all.
Wade was indeed transcedent in 03 and tough to compare with the older teams. 
But Dean the Dream Memimiger was that way in 1971.
He was not the scorer of DWade, though he could score. The Dream controlled the ball for every game: smooth as silk, steady as they come, no turnovers.
The only game MU lost that year was when he fouled out on a cheap charging call by a Big 10 Ref. Yes, we were playing Ohio State in the regionals. It was the only game in the Dream's great MU career he ever fouled out of.       

Also I would point out the free throw shooting was bad in the Ohio State game that year.....

[Henry Sugar]

The same 2003 that got smacked by UAB in the Conf USA Tournament.  First round grind vs Holy Cross that was saved by Travis. 1994 would match-up pretty well.

I just looked up the UAB game. MU's turnover rate was 39% in that game, which is the worst in recorded (Pomeroy) history. That's incredibly bad.

Btw - for anyone saying it's a slam dunk for the 2003 team, remember that team had the 101st ranked defense. No team with a defense that bad wins 80% of their games against an experienced and tall 94 squad.

[Newsdreams]

Think Novak / Travis / Wade would be a lot to handle for that '94 team.

[JWags85]

The same 2003 that got smacked by UAB in the Conf USA Tournament.  First round grind vs Holy Cross that was saved by Travis. 1994 would match-up pretty well.

For those pointing out the Holy Cross game, that was an experienced team in their 3rd straight NCAA tourney, coached by a very respected and notable coach in Ralph Willard.  If I remember correctly, they had only lost 4 games all year and only 1 since the New Year.  It wasn't some fluke mid major we struggled with.

Also, a few years ago, I became very good friends with a HC alum through a wedding party.  We obviously talked about that game.  He was a soph at the time.  His roommate was a team manager and his freshman year roommate played on the team.  He said literally, they both told him the gameplan had been to take Wade out of the game and force Diener to beat them.  And beat them he did.  Pretty amazing to hear in retrospect.

[loid walden]

538's ELO rankings Top 10

1. 1976
2. 2008
3. 1977
4. 1971
5. 2002 (ha)
6. 2012
7. 2003
8. 1974
9. 1978
10. 2009
11. 1973
12. 2010
13. 2013
14. 1994

I think I got that right.

I agree....I've seen em all .........76 is the best

[thanooj]

The interview homer did was with Mac, tony miller, and DAMON KEY. Roney Eford was not interviewed.

I agree that 2003 wins. But...

Miller was at the top of college basketball in assists and Mac led the country in blocks.

Tony miller stops Diener from scoring. And Merritt cannot stop Damon Key. Makes it a closer game.

[Galway Eagle]

The interview homer did was with Mac, tony miller, and DAMON KEY. Roney Eford was not interviewed.

I agree that 2003 wins. But...

Miller was at the top of college basketball in assists and Mac led the country in blocks.

Tony miller stops Diener from scoring. And Merritt cannot stop Damon Key. Makes it a closer game.

Oops that's my bad everyone

[dgies9156]

I believe it was Efford who said after taking out Penny Hardaway, Wade wouldn't be a problem.

Tell that to the University of Kentucky.

[wadesworld]

People are forgetting about Robert Jackson.  He is, in my opinion, one of the most overlooked, underrated players in my time as a Marquette fan.

[Galway Eagle]

Tell that to the University of Kentucky.

They did, in the round of 32 lol

[GGGG]

People are forgetting about Robert Jackson.  He is, in my opinion, one of the most overlooked, underrated players in my time as a Marquette fan.

Exactly.  I mean I like Damon Key and all, but he wasn't Marquis Estill. 

[MarquetteDano]

People are forgetting about Robert Jackson.  He is, in my opinion, one of the most overlooked, underrated players in my time as a Marquette fan.

Agreed. Mac hated physical centers and that is exactly what Jackson was. RJ would not dominate JM but he would get his against him.

One thing to Sugar's point about the 2003 team's defensive ranking. They were not a  bad half court defense but that 2003 team was awful at transition defense. That 1994 team was not really built to take advantage of that.

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

The interview homer did was with Mac, tony miller, and DAMON KEY. Roney Eford was not interviewed.

I agree that 2003 wins. But...

Miller was at the top of college basketball in assists and Mac led the country in blocks.

Tony miller stops Diener from scoring. And Merritt cannot stop Damon Key. Makes it a closer game.

Yep that was a great defensive team.  And damon key was basically removed from the sweet 16 game

[The Lens]

I'll take KO over TC...

And '94 had Fr. Kelly in his prime

[Skitch]

They did, in the round of 32 lol

The entire MU/UK game from 94 is on YouTube if you want to check it out.

[buckchuckler]

Well that's the obvious answer to the question that wasn't asked and has nothing to do with the 94 or 2003 team.

Well aren't you a pleasant human being.

[Marqevans]

I was listening to the Marquette basketball hour where Homer was interviewing Jimmy Mac, Roney Efford and Tony Miller. Homer stated that for years he's felt that the 94 sweet 16 team was actually better than the 2003 Final Four team. To me that seems absurd, but maybe some of the older guys can validate that?

No, but the 74 team was definitely better than the 77 team.

[Afroman]

I stumbled across the 1994 Sweet 16 game against Duke on YouTube a while back and it made for interesting viewing. It's amazing how little I remember of that game (must say a lot about my college years).

A couple of observations:

-- It's too bad that Damon Key got into early foul trouble.
-- No MU team since then has been better. Just watching the game I couldn't help but think that on a good day, the 1993-94 team was a national title contender (great size, excellent point guard, good shooters).
-- It reminded me how much I hate the bat-sh** crazy substitution patterns that MU has employed in recent years.

[dgies9156]

No, but the 74 team was definitely better than the 77 team.

The 1977 team was one game better.

Or at least two technical fouls better