Coach K is coming to town!

[Lennys Tap]

Everyone focuses on basketball but a compelling factor is that Duke is a much better university and matriculation conveys significant benefits that will accrue over the rest of one's life. Long after the basketball residuals peter out a Duke grad will continue to enjoy advantages from having been graduated from that school.

If Looney stays 4 years and graduates he will have disappointed as a player.

[keefe]

100% agree. When Al walked out of the Omni on that rainy night in Georgia, MU basketball lost its status as an Elite program. We've had moments since, but only moments. Buzz is the first coach to bring sustained excellence and has us knocking on the door. If he stays I think he kicks it in.

Lenny

We were still elite and Hank was given a gift wrapped opportunity to sustain it. I think we knew it was over when Bowie, the McCray's, Aguirre, etc... told Hank no.

[Goose]

Lenny and Keefe I think you both are right. Anyone that was close to the program knew the race had been run. The whole thing started to cave in shortly after the December day announced he was done. Recruits that were ours would ultimately go elsewhere.
Buzz has chance to make and keep us elite. When all said and done it comes down to recruiting studs every year. Buzz will get high level players on regular basis.

[keefe]

Lenny and Keefe I think you both are right. Anyone that was close to the program knew the race had been run. The whole thing started to cave in shortly after the December day announced he was done. Recruits that were ours would ultimately go elsewhere.
Buzz has chance to make and keep us elite. When all said and done it comes down to recruiting studs every year. Buzz will get high level players on regular basis.

Goose

You are correct. I recall that December day vividly. A lot of us thought it was a joke, at first. How could there be a Marquette without Al? Clearly, a lot of recruits asked the same question. We were in on a lot of blue chips under Hank, many of whom would have signed with Al. Instead we were getting our second and third options. Hank did bring in some talent - Rivers, Trotter, the Johnsons but it was not anywhere close to what Al got. For every Doc Rivers there were twenty Schlundts.

[muvanwilder]

Lenny and Keefe I think you both are right. Anyone that was close to the program knew the race had been run. The whole thing started to cave in shortly after the December day announced he was done. Recruits that were ours would ultimately go elsewhere.
Buzz has chance to make and keep us elite. When all said and done it comes down to recruiting studs every year. Buzz will get high level players on regular basis.

I agree. Buzz has the program very close and on the right track of becoming an elite like Duke. Why not?

The track record is there getting talent to the nba and winning. I think all it takes is landing that blue chip elite athlete like a Looney, and then I could honestly see this program taking off and being able to recruit the elites with the big dogs. I mean Buzz is so close already in his short time here.

We'll never be like Kentucky, but I could see us being able to land the 5 star every yr or every other. At least I hope!

[ChicosBailBonds]

???

We beat the team that finished ahead of Duke in the ACC standings and won the ACC Tournament.

They beat Louisville once this year, who won the national championship.  They beat Davidson by 17

[ChicosBailBonds]

Everyone focuses on basketball but a compelling factor is that Duke is a much better university and matriculation conveys significant benefits that will accrue over the rest of one's life. Long after the basketball residuals peter out a Duke grad will continue to enjoy advantages from having been graduated from that school.

Yup, I think I mentioned in my post that Duke as a school clobbers MU.

[Lennys Tap]

Yup, I think I mentioned in my post that Duke as a school clobbers MU.

And Kansas and Indiana.

[ChicosBailBonds]

And Kansas and Indiana.

Yup, not by as much but still much better

[Lennys Tap]

They beat Louisville once this year, who won the national championship.  They beat Davidson by 17

Meaningless. They beat Louisville in November (Dieng didn't play). Probably were every bit as good as the Cardinals then. In November. When it really didn't matter. By the time March rolled around and the games really did matter, Louisville was 22 points better. The idea is to peak in March when the stage gets bigger. The teams that do that (deservedly) are called the better/best.

[Lennys Tap]

Yup, not by as much but still much better

Not enough difference between a 19 point loss and a 20 point loss for anyone to worry about.