Not Much Love from ESPN

[Desert_Eagle]

With ESPN.com as my homepage, I was surprised at how little coverage we got on the website after our huge win at the Kohl Center. Although we were the top men's hoops video on the College Basketball home page, there wasn't a link to the post game article. Then the ESPN/Coaches poll comes out today and we're only #13? I know its early in the season and the rankings don't matter, but really? Come on. I think handing Bo his 6th loss ever at home deserves a little love.

I also just found this on the newest edition of the weekly watch:

Marquette: The Golden Eagles had an impressive win over Wisconsin at the Kohl Center in Madison. And don't think for a second that this was just another game for Marquette's Tom Crean. Because of the always heated in-state recruiting battles and bragging rights associated with this match up, Crean probably wanted this game more than any other on his schedule. - Andy Katz

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/notebook?page=notebook/weeklywatch05

Seems like a back-handed complement to me, although I'm not surprised considering who wrote it.

[NCMUFan]

It's that sports writers opinion.  I think maybe Wisconsin wanted this one real bad and they wanted Marquette to feel this games was as important to us.  Which in my opinion is true.

[HarveysWallbangers]

With ESPN.com as my homepage, I was surprised at how little coverage we got on the website after our huge win at the Kohl Center. Although we were the top men's hoops video on the College Basketball home page, there wasn't a link to the post game article. Then the ESPN/Coaches poll comes out today and we're only #13? I know its early in the season and the rankings don't matter, but really? Come on. I think handing Bo his 6th loss ever at home deserves a little love.

I also just found this on the newest edition of the weekly watch:

Marquette: The Golden Eagles had an impressive win over Wisconsin at the Kohl Center in Madison. And don't think for a second that this was just another game for Marquette's Tom Crean. Because of the always heated in-state recruiting battles and bragging rights associated with this match up, Crean probably wanted this game more than any other on his schedule. - Andy Katz

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/notebook?page=notebook/weeklywatch05

Seems like a back-handed complement to me, although I'm not surprised considering who wrote it.

What? How can you take that as "back-handed?"

[Doctor V]

I wont take MU as an example but this is how bunk this poll is right now, even though its early and everything should fall into place.

Our beloved Duke, who I dislike just as much as the next guy, is playing some of the best basketball this season. Correct me if Im wrong. Yet, Duke is behind Wash St, Texas, Georgetown, and Kansas.

Kansas beat USC and Arizona so thats fine. Texas is also playing some of the best ball around and won at UCLA and crushed Tennessee, so thats fine

Wash St? are you kidding me? ok they won at Gonzaga

Georgetown? good for the BE, but they won at a weak Bama. Still hope they trounce Memphis, the conference can use it

Duke -beat Ill, Marq, Wis, Davidson. I know ill is not who they were, but still a nice win. Davidson cant win, but playing everyone close.

They should atleast be ranked higher than wsu, prob even gt. watching them play is convincing enough. That said I dont think they will have as good of a year as most think 

[RawdogDX]

wow, good point.  when was the last time duke was underrated?

[mwbauer7]

What? How can you take that as "back-handed?"

Katz is a Madison grad.

[thisists]

it sounds more like the truth though.  im sure crean really wanted this one.  a win (esp at the kohl) can give him major leverage to sway instate players toward mu.  sure its a non-conference game, but it has more implications for future seasons than any one conference game. 

[augoman]

the truly back-handed articles were in the JS on Sunday.  Wolf's article was more an analysis of what's wrong w/ UW bball.  Nobody sang MU's praises as they should have.  All took pains to point out the oddest stats ("UW has won 6 of the last nine meetings...").  Noone pointed out that MU owned UW like its' bitch up until the fabulous Dukiet era.  Piss poor reporting, but typical.

[1990Warrior]

it sounds more like the truth though.  im sure crean really wanted this one.  a win (esp at the kohl) can give him major leverage to sway instate players toward mu.  sure its a non-conference game, but it has more implications for future seasons than any one conference game. 

In the end, I don't think the W is as important as the glaringly obvious contrast in styles of play.  I strongly suspect that Wilson would rather play for us and our style than them after watching Sats game (unfortunately, there are some other teams in the running).  The fact that we won is secondary to this.  The other thing that a recruit might consider is where the two programs are going to be in the future.  Unless Wis. has recruited another Tucker, I see us as being way ahead of them next year.  Does anyone know if they have someone good coming in next year?

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

What? How can you take that as "back-handed?"

Katz is a Madison grad.

Everybody knows Katz is a Wisconsin graduate. The paranoia about everything he writes is way over the top. Crean is one of his most trusted sources!

[mufan924]

That writer's name on JSOnline is really Michael Hunt? That's unfortunate.

[Coobeys Oil Depot]

No surprise about ESPN. Glockner (editor) is not a big Marquette fan at all and he hasn't been the last couple of years. If anyone listens to the ESPN college basketball podcast they've heard him be dismissive of MU and on the lates episode he claimed that West Virginia is the second best team in the Big East and no one is close to Georgetown (though the Hoyas get the benefit of the doubt from him -- for reasons unknown). The funny part is that if MU scores 7 more points against Duke they'd easily be the best team in the conference.

Katz is fine. He tends to be a bit fluffy but he's been as complementary to MU as he has been a detractor. Gottlieb is hot and cold with Marquette. At times, he loves the guard play but at other times he dismisses them as an elite (top 15) team. You know Digger will always be nice and I think guys like Hubert Davis and Tom Brennan are non-commital. The big fan is Jay Bilas and considering his exposure it's a good fan to have.

In essence, we have our fans in Bristol but when the editor of the College BB website is not a fan of your program don't expect to see the AP feed on top, don't expect to see a feature story until it's warranted, and don't expect effusive praise until we open 7-0 in BE play.

[BuzzSucksSucks]

The current ESPN Power 16 poll totally supports what you say about Glockner:  No mention of MU at all.  http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3143303

[Big Papi]

What? How can you take that as "back-handed?"

Katz is a Madison grad.

Everybody knows Katz is a Wisconsin graduate. The paranoia about everything he writes is way over the top. Crean is one of his most trusted sources!

I really don't think Katz has any agenda.  Personally I think he gets bashed here for no good reason.  I don't hear anyone complaining around here about the man love that Bilas has for MU.  He raves about MU and TC every chance he gets. 

The season is still very young.  MU hasn't proved anything yet this year other than at this point in time we are a pretty good team that should be ranked somewhere in the top 25 but lets table the chat about respect and rankings until late February when we have a few more intense battles.   Now we just need to keep up the intensity over the next couple of cupcakes and get healthy heading into the New Year.

[mwbauer7]

What? How can you take that as "back-handed?"

Katz is a Madison grad.

Everybody knows Katz is a Wisconsin graduate. The paranoia about everything he writes is way over the top. Crean is one of his most trusted sources!

I really don't think Katz has any agenda.  Personally I think he gets bashed here for no good reason.  I don't hear anyone complaining around here about the man love that Bilas has for MU.  He raves about MU and TC every chance he gets. 

The season is still very young.  MU hasn't proved anything yet this year other than at this point in time we are a pretty good team that should be ranked somewhere in the top 25 but lets table the chat about respect and rankings until late February when we have a few more intense battles.   Now we just need to keep up the intensity over the next couple of cupcakes and get healthy heading into the New Year.

Why would we complain about man love shown to a place we all love?

[Coobeys Oil Depot]

The current ESPN Power 16 poll totally supports what you say about Glockner:  No mention of MU at all.  http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3143303

Exactly. And especially obvious considering that Marquette is easily in the rankings for every other contributor except Katz who has them at 15.

It will be interesting to see this week. They really glossed over the win in Madison which surprised me considering Katz is a Badger alum so he knows how dominant Ryan has been in that building. My guess is Glockner reluctantly puts Marquette in at 14.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

The current ESPN Power 16 poll totally supports what you say about Glockner:  No mention of MU at all.  http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3143303

I don't know what we should be ranked...and frankly the only one I care to follow is Lunardi...but not including us in the top 16 is ridiculous.

[79Warrior]

With ESPN.com as my homepage, I was surprised at how little coverage we got on the website after our huge win at the Kohl Center. Although we were the top men's hoops video on the College Basketball home page, there wasn't a link to the post game article. Then the ESPN/Coaches poll comes out today and we're only #13? I know its early in the season and the rankings don't matter, but really? Come on. I think handing Bo his 6th loss ever at home deserves a little love.

Solid win for MU, but hardly huge. This same Wis team was destroyed by Duke. I think we get more excited because it is Wisconsin, but nationally Wisconsin is not turning any heads

[romey]

The current ESPN Power 16 poll totally supports what you say about Glockner:  No mention of MU at all.  http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3143303

Exactly. And especially obvious considering that Marquette is easily in the rankings for every other contributor except Katz who has them at 15.

Schlareth doesn't have us ranked either - as if his opinion matters.

[5YearsatMU]

More love from Bilas on his blog (insider):

Bilas' Weekly Honor Roll:

• First Team
Tyler Hansbrough, UNC -- Completely dominant and leading for player of the year
Jordan Hill, Arizona -- Career game against Illinois
Dominic James, Marquette -- played every facet of the game in a win at Wisconsin
Joe Alexander, WVU -- 26 points, six rebounds and six assists against Duquesne
Brian Roberts, Dayton -- 28 points, five rebounds and three assists against Louisville
Leemire Goldwire, Charlotte -- 34 points against Davidson, 24 points against Southern Illinois

. . . 2nd team honors

. . . story about LSU's meltdown, then:

Kohl survivor: Tom Crean and Marquette had a great win at Wisconsin and in the process, ended the Badgers' 28-game home winning streak. The Marquette-Wisconsin rivalry is unique and every bit as bitter as Duke-North Carolina or Ohio State-Michigan. It is clear that those two fan bases simply don't like each other, and for some of the fans, the rivalry has caused them to spew venom. What is equally clear is that those two programs should have great respect for each other. Bo Ryan has done a remarkable job in Madison to make the Badger program a national contender. Tom Crean has done exactly the same thing at Marquette, taking the program to the 2003 Final Four and having the Golden Eagles ranked in the Top 25 for a longer period than any other coach in the school's history. If you spend time with Ryan, you cannot help but like him. The same is true of Crean. Both coaches believe passionately in the way they coach and teach, and both will never give an inch. You don't have to like either one, but you do have to respect them, and you should acknowledge that basketball in the state of Wisconsin has been at the highest level since those two started butting heads against each other.

• Great road performance: Marquette's guards were truly outstanding against Wisconsin. Dominic James put up 20 points, five rebounds, six assists and two steals. Jerel McNeal added 14 points, five rebounds and five steals.

The Golden Eagles pressured Wisconsin all over the floor, forced turnovers and attacked the Wisconsin defense off the bounce. But, Marquette could not have won without great contributions from its frontcourt players, especially Dwight Burke, who battled the bigger Wisconsin frontline for 12 points, nine rebounds (seven offensive) and two blocks. Marquette actually outrebounded Wisconsin by seven and grabbed 21 offensive boards. The Badgers came into the game having outrebounded its first seven opponents. Wisconsin has had its struggles with super athletic guards, and it will have issues with the speed and athleticism of Texas on December 29. But, make no mistake. Wisconsin is and will be good this year. Ryan's crew is trying to figure each other out and also trying to integrate a new and inexperienced point guard into the fold. Trevon Hughes scored 16 points, but was 4-for-15 from the field with four of Wisconsin's 18 turnovers. As Hughes figures things out, Wisconsin will improve.

[Coobeys Oil Depot]

The current ESPN Power 16 poll totally supports what you say about Glockner:  No mention of MU at all.  http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3143303

Exactly. And especially obvious considering that Marquette is easily in the rankings for every other contributor except Katz who has them at 15.

Schlareth doesn't have us ranked either - as if his opinion matters.

Are you thinking Schlabach? If so, he had MU at #10.

[romey]

The current ESPN Power 16 poll totally supports what you say about Glockner:  No mention of MU at all.  http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3143303

Exactly. And especially obvious considering that Marquette is easily in the rankings for every other contributor except Katz who has them at 15.

Schlareth doesn't have us ranked either - as if his opinion matters.

Are you thinking Schlabach? If so, he had MU at #10.

Oops.  Yeah, you're right.