We're going to be good next year

[CrazyEcho]

Not to be myopic, but we're going to be really good.  Let's look at the worst case scenario:

DJames leaves for the NBA draft (probably 50/50 at this point) and we lose T. Taylor and Nick Williams.  That'll hurt a bit in two years, but not next year. 

The only recruit we really need for next year is O'Tule (who, by my calculations will be approximately 8'7'' by the time he finally arives at campus).

With Jerel, Wesley, Lazar, Burke/O'Tule, we should be pretty darned good.

[ErickJD08]

Way to point the obvious. No one is really too worried about next year.  Its the future of the program that we are all worried about.

[77ncaachamps]

Way to point the obvious. No one is really too worried about next year.  Its the future of the program that we are all worried about.

Second that.

[CrazyEcho]

1. Based on the general, "the sky is falling" posts that have been appearing for the last 24ish hours, I'm not sure that the statement is obvious to everyone. 

2. Sometimes people forget things that seem obvious once they are reminded of them (the case here).

3. Since keeping Buzz meant keeping O'Tule (the one recruit we need to really compete next year), we're going to be better next year with Buzz than with any other coach.

4.  It's really, really difficult to predict 2 or more years into the future of a college basketball program.  We have no idea how the program is going to look 2 years from now, or how it would have looked 2 years from now with a different coach.  The one thing we can be fairly certain of, however, is that we're going to be pretty good next year.

5. Success next year will help the program in future years.  Once other recruits see that Crean leaving Marquette didn't cause us to go to the bottom of the BE, I think some confidence in the program will be restored and we'll benefit tremendously from that.   

[ChicosBailBonds]

1. Based on the general, "the sky is falling" posts that have been appearing for the last 24ish hours, I'm not sure that the statement is obvious to everyone. 

2. Sometimes people forget things that seem obvious once they are reminded of them (the case here).

3. Since keeping Buzz meant keeping O'Tule (the one recruit we need to really compete next year), we're going to be better next year with Buzz than with any other coach.

4.  It's really, really difficult to predict 2 or more years into the future of a college basketball program.  We have no idea how the program is going to look 2 years from now, or how it would have looked 2 years from now with a different coach.  The one thing we can be fairly certain of, however, is that we're going to be pretty good next year.

5. Success next year will help the program in future years.  Once other recruits see that Crean leaving Marquette didn't cause us to go to the bottom of the BE, I think some confidence in the program will be restored and we'll benefit tremendously from that.   

Just remember Echo, we had a lot of people THIS year saying we wouldn't be good this year, so take those folks with a grain of salt.

Next we should be very competitive but if Trevor does leave, then that really makes things dicey in the interior.

[The Lens]

1. Based on the general, "the sky is falling" posts that have been appearing for the last 24ish hours, I'm not sure that the statement is obvious to everyone. 

2. Sometimes people forget things that seem obvious once they are reminded of them (the case here).

3. Since keeping Buzz meant keeping O'Tule (the one recruit we need to really compete next year), we're going to be better next year with Buzz than with any other coach.

4.  It's really, really difficult to predict 2 or more years into the future of a college basketball program.  We have no idea how the program is going to look 2 years from now, or how it would have looked 2 years from now with a different coach.  The one thing we can be fairly certain of, however, is that we're going to be pretty good next year.

5. Success next year will help the program in future years.  Once other recruits see that Crean leaving Marquette didn't cause us to go to the bottom of the BE, I think some confidence in the program will be restored and we'll benefit tremendously from that.   

Just remember Echo, we had a lot of people THIS year saying we wouldn't be good this year, so take those folks with a grain of salt.

Next we should be very competitive but if Trevor does leave, then that really makes things dicey in the interior.

Who said we wouldn't be good this year?  I think everyone was very optimistic considering we returned a back-to-back NCAA team and only lost Lott & Kinsella.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Go back early in the conference season and read all the yahoos who said we were going to the NIT.  Or go back when we lost to ND and how we would be lucky to win 2 or 3 games tops.

It was comical, but plenty of people pushing that nonsense.

[ErickJD08]

Its easy to see where our program is going in a few weeks. 

Are our recruits coming to MU?  I would love to see those guards come in and have James and McNeal ease them into their roles. 

If Trevor is leaving, Burke and Otule become huge points of emphasis.  I am very scared at the thought of relying on Burke but he has size and MAYBE Buzz or a good assistant can help him make that next BIG step.  It would be a BIG step because he looked flat out silly at some points of last season.

I hope Christopherson stays because he seems like the only player left on the team that COULD be a lights-out three point shooter.

SOO, here goes what my prediction is... Lets say all of our players stay (recruits and all), we have a great season, barring injuries, and MU could make it to the sweet sixteen and all.  If this all happens, Buzz gets a TC-type buzz and get can start pulling in stronger recruits and the ball starts rolling and I AM VERY HAPPY.  If Trevor leaves, I imagine Buzz will ride Burke during the whole offseason and we will have to wait and see.  I would still anticipate a strong season.  IF recruits and players start leaving (which is a possibility), I am going to buy season tickets and keep them until I die and hope in twenty years I will have center court seats for a great team.  Basically, I am anticipating the worst.  Being a ND Football fan, I am anticipating REALLY BAD!

[The Lens]

Ok Chicos, I thought meant pre season picks.  I was at the Louisville game where we got ran off the floor, that coupled w/ @ UL, @ UConn & @ West Va caused some warranted concern.  Thankfully we rebounded to play one of our better Februarys of TC's tenure.

[TallTitan34]

Next year my biggest fear is down low as well.  If we do lose O'Tule (I think he will stay with the Buzz hiring) our guy to go to if Burke picks up some fouls would be Hazel. 

[Falkinator]

i hate to put so much pressure on the kid, but if its true that mbawke is leaving, O'tule is going to have to be absolutely HUGE for us next year.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Success next year will be Fool's Gold! Do you guys understand who we just hired? It's beyond comprehension!

[TJ]

Success next year will be Fool's Gold! Do you guys understand who we just hired? It's beyond comprehension!

Are you really going to continue this before the guy even coaches one game?  We all knew you would hate the next coach eventually, but this is ridiculous.

Remember, you got everything you wanted.

[THEGYMBAR]

While I voiced my displeasure on the hire all day yesterday I would like to point one thing out. We were/are going to struggle in 2 years regardless of coach. The important question is how are we going to go from struggling to contender.

My reservations remain. I think it will be an uphill battle. He needs to recruit hard and quickly. Anyone know if Wilson or Lacy talked about the hire?

[jficke13]

um... O'Tule is a 2 star player. Just because he's tall doesn't mean he's Yao Ming. Anyone remember Greg Clausen?

[Henry Sugar]

Way to point the obvious. No one is really too worried about next year.  Its the future of the program that we are all worried about.

I'm worried about next year.  We still don't know what kind of coach Buzz is on the floor.

[Warrior1969]

Those of you thinking or hoping OTule will do much of anything are just plain wrong.  According to Buzz him self (interview wi Buzz on Rivals a week or two ago) this guy is a project.  He is OZ with a little more upside maybe?