Expectations for Next Year

[keefe]

With Buzz history says another elite 8.  Think about it two first weekend exits straight, two back to back sweet 16s, and an elite 8 next on the pattern is another elite 8.  Don't need any player stats or anything.

This is how Robinson Crusoe figured out there was someone else on his island...

[ChicosBailBonds]

Who are we playing the bracket?  Where are we playing?  What seed are we?   Can't answer the question until then.

[bilsu]

I voted sweet 16. Last year we made the elite 8, but we were lucky to win the first game.

[MattyWarrior]

Gotta be movin' on up every year, with better depth and talent with Buzz and company

[DoggyDaddy]

On the big shoulders of Oxtule we go with a serviceable dose of 3s from Jake and Mayo, and a dash of JWill when it counts. Elite Eight again next time and then The Final Four the following year.

[muwarrior69]

Who are we playing the bracket?  Where are we playing?  What seed are we?   Can't answer the question until then.

You left out perhaps the most important...if we make the tournament.

[IL Warrior]

Here are my expectations for the 2013-14 season:
*Complaints about students not going to a weeknight game against Southeast Central Valley State Technical College (or something like that)
*Widespread fear and panic after (name any player/coach/ballboy) tweets that he stubbed his toe on his bedpost
*Outrage after MU loses to a "subpar" opponent (who turns out to be not so bad in the end) and predictions of NIT or CBI
*Speculation Paranoia that Buzz is going to (insert underachieving state school here)
*Complaints along the lines of "take all of ______'s minutes and give them to ______"
*Harmless threads that morph into 5-page arguments about a certain former coach

Oh you meant how will the Marquette basketball team do next year... I said S16, but I consider E8 to be realistic. F4 may be a stretch. Hard to predict with this team.

[brewcity77]

Georgetown and us were 2 and 3 for winning the old Big East.  All other things being equal, I don't see where we get the in-conference wins to replace Syracuse, ND and 2x over Pitt and give us the same level of consideration.

If we finish the new big east as regular season champion with 8 or more total losses (4 or more in conference) and no tournament championship, we're not going to be seeded as highly as we were last year.

You're looking at it wrong. There also aren't losses to Louisville and Cincy in the conference slate. I think 16-2 is realistic, and if we finish with 6 total losses (3 non-con, 2 conference, 1 con tourney) to go along with 27-28 wins, I definitely think we are getting a 2/3 seed.

Besides, don't you always argue that it's more about aggregate wins and the rest will sort itself out? In-conference wins over 2x Creighton and 2x Butler should be just fine to replace the wins over Syracuse, 2x Pitt, and ND.

[Skatastrophy]

I honestly don't have high expectations.  That won't change until we identify a PG for next year.

[mileskishnish72]

I think it will all depend on how the Frosh do. Hope I'm wrong but don't think Mayo's going to show much more than what we've seen. Like many on this board I'm big on Steve Jr. My hope is that by March the diaper dandies will be playing like sooks.

[mileskishnish72]

er, playing like sophs.

[MU82]

Yes, we should have our best frontcourt in some time. But it's all about the backcourt, baby.

Taking care of the ball, getting the offense into a flow, penetrating and kicking, driving and finishing, hitting  threes. It was Vander's ascension that made this past season possible, and the team was at its best when Junior also excelled. Whose turn next?

MAYO: Aside from a dozen or so games his freshman season -- and precious few in Big East play -- he has shown only the ability to frustrate Buzz, fans and probably himself. Statistically, he isn't even mediocre. He has to play better and, perhaps most importantly, has to have a better all-around attitude, or he'll find himself on the bench again. Buzz definitely has established that he ain't gonna tolerate much silliness from Mayo.

DERRICK WILSON: It takes a complete leap of faith to expect him to be anything more than he has been for two years: a defense-first guy who is so careful with the ball that that he is a serious offensive liability as a PG. Serious contenders have PGs who can score at least some.

JJJ & DUANE: It would be nice if these frosh are 3/4ths as good as advertised, fantastic if they are as good as advertised and "Final Four Here We Come!" if they are better than advertised.

As difficult as it may be to make a prediction with all of those "ifs," "maybes" and "we'll sees," what the heck ...

Sweet 16, and hoping for more!

[PJDunn]

Derrick will become the 2nd coming of Mandy Johnson and we will get a least 2 wins in the dance.  Once Buzz gives him the keys to the car he will flourish.

[ChicosBailBonds]

You left out perhaps the most important...if we make the tournament.

I would be surprised if we didn't make the tournament.  How far we go is the crapshoot.

[Marqevans]

On the big shoulders of Oxtule we go with a serviceable dose of 3s from Jake and Mayo, and a dash of JWill when it counts. Elite Eight again next time and then The Final Four the following year.

Otule will truly play like a man among boys if he stays healthy another season.  He may play so well that Buzz will be forced to play Ox more at power forward to get him minutes.

[BCHoopster]

Otule will truly play like a man among boys if he stays healthy another season.  He may play so well that Buzz will be forced to play Ox more at power forward to get him minutes.

Physically, he will be a man against boys, but with his handicap I am not sure he will be force on the offensive end.  Now if the new guards can pass it inside more, he can possibly
average in double figures.  Derrick Wilson had a hard time passing into the block, so he will have to improve.  Vander never passed it inside so without him there might be more opportunities.
Duane Wilson will be key to this.

[dgies9156]

As a couple of posters already have commented about Todd Mayo, I'll be brief. This is His chance. If he is as good as originally advertised and gets his head on straight, the transition from Vander to Todd will be seamless.

Vander leaving is Todd's last best chance to make something of himself at the college level. If he does, hold on because we're a Final Four team. If he doesn't, we're probably a Sweet 16 team.

The thing that concerns me is that in the former Big East, we were battle tested every night. Our regular season was like an NCAA tournament. Our new conference won't be THAT good, so I wonder how ready we will be for the tournament. We'll still have the likes of Georgetown, Butler, Villanova and a rejuvenated St. John's, but losing UConn, Pitt, Syracuse, Loserville and Cincinnati takes something out of our schedule.

Still, Todd has to step up and our freshman have to live up to their promise. If they do, we have something really special -- like we did in 1976.

[tower912]

Tell me the numbers that JJJ and DuWilson put up and I will tell you my expectations.   If Blue and Anderson had stuck around, I would have been comfortable predicting a return trip to the Elite 8.   Now, likely needing a combined 16 ppg from JJJ and DuW, I wouldn't bet money on anything.   MU could very well have the best 5 man  frontcourt rotation in college basketball and have it not matter because the frosh don't step up.

[joe pop]

I do not think we will miss Vander as much as people might think.  No need for guys who cant shoot in college bball.  Duane and JJJ will make up for the loss.

[Bocephys]

I do not think we will miss Vander as much as people might think.  No need for guys who cant shoot in college bball.  Duane and JJJ will make up for the loss.

http://painttouches.com/2013/02/21/synergy-vander-blue-midrange-numbers-best-in-the-country/

[joe pop]

He had a good year, took good shots for the most part. His percentages from midrange were great which you cant sneeze.  Watching Duane live several times and seeing/hearing about JJJ make me not worried about Vander leaving.

[joe pop]

*sneeze at