The good things to look at

[KipsBayEagle]

With all the horrible things that have gone on this off season, it may be easy to get down on the team that originally had such high hopes.  

The Cadougan injury was a big blow, as are losing out on some of the recruits that we have over the past few months.  But that doesn't mean we should all of a sudden get a little down on the off season, which other then a few hiccups, has actually been quite good for marquette.  

Let me list some things why.  

1)  The cadougan injury was a freak thing that happens.  While it is bad luck, it is completely outside of anyones control.  All that it means now is we simply have a red shirt top 50 player that will have 4 years of eligibility after this season, which looks more and more like a rebuilding year anyway.  

2)  The Monterale Clark story (For the record, I feel very awkward talking about it in these terms)  could have been much worse for Marquette had this not happened and he had come in and done something just as stupid and horrid while he was at marquette.  While it is bad press for the school, it is nothingf compared to what it would have been had he done something like this while he was actually at Marquette.  if theres any good news to come out of this situation its that Marquette  seems to have cut itself lose early of something who really could have destroyed the program.

3)  Even with Cadougan out, we still have a tremendous amount of talent coming in.  Hayward and Butler are legit top tier big east players, all reports on Maymon so far indicvate that he will be a beast, and Buycks was recruited by Kansas and Tenneesse, which has to tell you he can come in immediately andf contribute.  Add in DJO, and revamped Chris Otule, and another top 100 plater in Eriik Williams, and you have the potential to be a team much better then what all the pre season rankings seem to indicate, even without Cadougan.

 4) And finally, don't count Buzz out of the recruiting war just yet.  In his first year recruiting, he has probally already brought in the best recruiting class in Marquette history according to highschool rankings and recruiting websites.  

Even with the absence of Rosemboro and Bowens, I have a feeling the remaining spots will be filled not only with players, but with great players none the less, including some that will probally come out of left field.  While it may seem that there is a lot to be upset about, i still think Mu's Basketball future is as bright as ever.

edit: added paragraph breaks

[bilsu]

Good luck vs bad luck.

It seems that fate is evening things out for Buzz. He was very lucky to be in place to replace Crean.  Since then he has had an amazing run of bad luck.

Christopherson transfers
Williams transfers
Taylor transfers
Embakwe jumps ship just before school starts.
McMorrow breaks foot taking away developement year and practice player.
Otule breaks foot wastes freshmen year.
Fulce knee problem wastes freshmen year.
Hazel screws up which results in loss of sub for last half of year.
James breaks foot.
That is a lot of bad luck to effect his first season. Given all of that he did a very good job winning 25 games.

Second season

McMorrow cannot play
Hazel transfers
Roseboro transfers
DJO injury
Cadougan injury
Mbao eligibility?

Third season

Bowen decommits
Clark screws up big time

Not everything is equal, but it is a lot to overcome.

Hopefully the bad luck steak is about to end.

[KipsBayEagle]

While it is true there is bad luck involvd, not all is what it seems.  mbakwe leaving may have been a blessing in disguise after what we are hearing about him now.  If Rosemboro left because he was not a big east talent, we might as well replace him with someone who is, which is a prudent move rather then bad luck.  Christopherson never would have played.  The injurys are bit concerning though.

[dsfire]

For some reason I expected this thread to be about cheerleaders.

I'm looking forward to this season - not because of high expectations, but from the standpoint of "let's see what these guys can do."

[groove]

For some reason I expected this thread to be about cheerleaders.

yes, very disappointed

[4everwarriors]

Here's another glass half full scenerio:

No one has peed in your Cheerios this morning.


Get real, it all sucks and so does the economy.

[Tommy Brice for Coach]

yes, very disappointed

Me three... MUScoop you really let me down on this one

[Kramerica]

For some reason I expected this thread to be about cheerleaders.

Are we talking about Marquette Cheerleaders? When I was there during the Wade era, our cheerleaders were not good looking.  I'm thinking of one in particular who wasn't attractive, yet always seemed to be front and center whenever the TV cameras were getting their back from commercials cheerleader shots.  I hope things have changed since then.

[T-Bone]

Are we talking about Marquette Cheerleaders? When I was there during the Wade era, our cheerleaders were not good looking.  I'm thinking of one in particular who wasn't attractive, yet always seemed to be front and center whenever the TV cameras were getting their back from commercials cheerleader shots.  I hope things have changed since then.

I'm convinced we have two sets of cheerleaders.  The regular heifers and then the Ms. Racine County runners-up we gather for nationally televised games.

KBE - I still think that Lazar's leadership will be what drives this team through this adversity and a mid-tier BE finish.  There's a lot to be said about him and the effect that he will have on the new players.   This is his team.  Maybe even more so than Buzz.  He's spending 24 hours a day with them and Buzz only has them during practice. 

Next season, I think Butler will take on the lead role.  Maybe not through on-court achievement, but through preparation and working your ass off every minute out there.  He seems to have the personality for it.

[Daniel]

Season 1: With all that adversity, we were 5 seconds away from a Sweet Sixteen spot

Season 2: Tough times for sure, but despite all that, we will have a competitive team, and Mbao will get cleared, later rather than sooner, but he will get cleared.  Roseboro?  We will do better. DJO - he is key - he needs to repair well.  And we still might have a near 100% Fulce, a better Otule.

Season 3: Clark would have been good, and Bowen created some excitement when we signed him.  That said, Buzz will contineu to work hard to briing in great players, and the open slots will be filled with talent - I don't doubt it.

So, all in all?  Who knows how we will do this season?!  But it will be exciting.....

[77ncaachamps]

*knocks on wood*