Will MU give Diener some love?

[SqueallyDRyan]

I was just wondering if and when you guys think Diener will get his jersey retired.  I could make my case much more extensively but I think that no doubt he should have his jersey retired.  What do you guys think?

[Chili]

a great player but i am not sure if he is worthy of having his jersey retired.

[spartan3186]

A pretty convincing case could be made...
#3 All-Time with 1691 points
#2 in 3-pointers made
#5 in 3-point percentage
#3 in free-throw percentage
#2 in assists

[MUFan07]

A pretty convincing case could be made...
#3 All-Time with 1691 points
#2 in 3-pointers made
#5 in 3-point percentage
#3 in free-throw percentage
#2 in assists

He is only 82 points behind George Thompson for first all time.  Had he not been injured for a good portion of his senior year he would have easily passed that mark.  I think it would be very hard to NOT retire his jersey.  I'm not sure how far he ended up behind in three pointers and assists, does anyone know?

[77ncaachamps]

I think based on his MU #s, his jersey will be retired. On the other hand, I think MU is waiting for him to do SOMETHING in the NBA.

I mean, if you're going to retire someone's jersey based on what they did at MU, then Diener is a lock. But if you include their NBA career, Doc Rivers and Tony Smith have to get more play than Diener.

[herboturbo]

When he graduated Travis was #1 in threes, but that was broken by Novak the next year.  Travis is #2 for assists but he is way behind Tony Miller about 350 off or so as TMiller has around 950 assists and Trav is just over 600.  In order for someone to break Millers record they would have to play 35 games a year and average 6.8 assists a game staying in school all four years.  In other words, that record is gonna be around for a while. 

If you ask me though Tony Smith is someone that should have had their number retired by now.  Top 5 in scoring and assists but its like hes the forgotton man of MU hoops as he played during the dark times.  Its about time Damon Key gets some love too.

[Mayor McCheese]

I love Travis Diener, the way he played made you want to watch not only MU hoops but college hoops, he deserves to have his number retired, it will happen soon enough, or atleast should

[downtown85]

A couple of observations: 

Diener graduated.  That is a plus.

Also, Diener might not be doing much in the NBA but he has played in more games this year than JJ Redick, who just got his number retired at Dook.

I think that Diener was as important a contributor to our program as Reddick was to Duke's.  He just didn't have the ESPN and national media hype that Reddick had his senior year. 

Diener should be given the same honor as Wade.  The only question is when to do it. 

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

I definitely think Diener should be honored. I think what might hurt him is that fact that we've gone jersey retirement crazy in the last few years with Tatum, Lucas and Rivers, in addition to Wade. I, personally, think Wade was the only one deserving of the honor. Diener certainly had better numbers than the other three.

[WashDCWarrior]

Diener is a lock.

Novak is debatable, but I'd give it to him based on his performance in the final four run, his 3-pt and ft records, and his play in MU's first year in the Big East.  Remember we were 50/50 to make the Big East tourney last year and got a bye!  Instant credibility in a new league.  However, I think JMac will get his number (excuse me, jersey) retired first.  Any thoughts on others: Smith, Hutchins, Wardle, Henry, etc.  I don't think any of them will. (but Smith was before my time, so no real opinion)

It's too early to call if any current players will get their jerseys retired.  Probably will be based on if we make a good NCAA run or 2 while their here.  Nobody has my vote yet but all of the big 3 have a shot.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

There is NO WAY Jim McIlvaine deserves to have his jersey retired. He was a decent college player, but not even close to the kind of player who should have his jersey hanging from the rafters. In fact, on that Sweet 16 team, he was probably the 4th best player behind Miller, Key and Eford. There were times in the tournament that I felt better with McCaskill on the floor.

Ironically, Tony Smith, McIlvaine and Diener all wore the same number.

[WashDCWarrior]

There is NO WAY Jim McIlvaine deserves to have his jersey retired. He was a decent college player, but not even close to the kind of player who should have his jersey hanging from the rafters. In fact, on that Sweet 16 team, he was probably the 4th best player behind Miller, Key and Eford. There were times in the tournament that I felt better with McCaskill on the floor.

Ironically, Tony Smith, McIlvaine and Diener all wore the same number.

I think more plays into it with McIlvaine.  He is still very active with Marquette through broadcasting and working with the team.  His record for career blocks (399) might never be broken.  McCaskill is second with 175.

[mosarsour]

The only two players that I feel deserve their jerseys retired are Tony Smith and Travis Diener.  And this is based on their playing careers here at Marquette and the fact that they both graduated (if I'm not mistaken).  Smith carried the team on his back in the late 80's.  His number's during his senior year were ridiculous!

                       MIN  FG%   3P%    FT%  RPG   APG  BPG  SPG   PPG
89-90 Marquette 39.0  49.5   41.4    85.6   4.7   5.8    0.6   1.8  23.8

Travis was one half of the greatest backcourt in Marquette history and his career numbers, which have already been posted, are worthy of his inclusion as well.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

There is NO WAY Jim McIlvaine deserves to have his jersey retired. He was a decent college player, but not even close to the kind of player who should have his jersey hanging from the rafters. In fact, on that Sweet 16 team, he was probably the 4th best player behind Miller, Key and Eford. There were times in the tournament that I felt better with McCaskill on the floor.

Ironically, Tony Smith, McIlvaine and Diener all wore the same number.

I think more plays into it with McIlvaine.  He is still very active with Marquette through broadcasting and working with the team.  His record for career blocks (399) might never be broken.  McCaskill is second with 175.

I understand that McIlvaine is now involved with the basketball program. But apparently, so is Robert Jackson. Are we going to retire his jersey? What about Marc Marotta? Isn't he somewhat involved with the university? Ulice Payne is on the BOTs, should we retire his jersey? The line has to be drawn somewhere. McIlvaine is obviously a decent guy, was a decent player and is a good announcer. That's it. If you're going to retire Mac's number for blocked shots, then put Tony Miller up there. His assists record is more impressive than Mac's blocked shots and he was clearly the better player for MU. Again, I like Jim, but you have to set some pretty high standards!

I agree with the other poster. For those of you around MU when Smith was a senior, it was ridiculous. He was absolutely a one-man wrecking crew, although Powell was decent as well. In my opinion, he deserves recognition ahead of Diener. It's a glaring omission.

[Chili]

There is NO WAY Jim McIlvaine deserves to have his jersey retired. He was a decent college player, but not even close to the kind of player who should have his jersey hanging from the rafters. In fact, on that Sweet 16 team, he was probably the 4th best player behind Miller, Key and Eford. There were times in the tournament that I felt better with McCaskill on the floor.

Ironically, Tony Smith, McIlvaine and Diener all wore the same number.

I think more plays into it with McIlvaine.  He is still very active with Marquette through broadcasting and working with the team.  His record for career blocks (399) might never be broken.  McCaskill is second with 175.

I understand that McIlvaine is now involved with the basketball program. But apparently, so is Robert Jackson. Are we going to retire his jersey? What about Marc Marotta? Isn't he somewhat involved with the university? Ulice Payne is on the BOTs, should we retire his jersey? The line has to be drawn somewhere. McIlvaine is obviously a decent guy, was a decent player and is a good announcer. That's it. If you're going to retire Mac's number for blocked shots, then put Tony Miller up there. His assists record is more impressive than Mac's blocked shots and he was clearly the better player for MU. Again, I like Jim, but you have to set some pretty high standards!

I agree with the other poster. For those of you around MU when Smith was a senior, it was ridiculous. He was absolutely a one-man wrecking crew, although Powell was decent as well. In my opinion, he deserves recognition ahead of Diener. It's a glaring omission.

Found this quote in an old JS story re. Miller and his number:

"There is a movement on campus to get Miller's number retired, but athletic director Bill Cords has said the school will wait until Miller graduates and see how he fares in the community after school."

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4207/is_19950303/ai_n10187430


I too think it should be retired and agree with PRN over Travis. Anyone know if Tony M. graduated?

[spartan3186]

While I do think both Travis and Tony Miller deserve to have their jersey's retired, I believe we need to be a little careful. We can not just go retiring jerseys willy nilly because if we do we will lose the honor that is attached to it. It is a huge thing to get honored in that way and we dont want to lose that by retiring anyone who puts up some decent but not great numbers

[augoman]

I find myself unable to argue against diener, miller, smith, and so on, but totally agree; the honor will be diminished if it becomes routine.  Tony Smith was outstanding.  Tony Miller was huge!  Diener would have been a household name nationally, if not for the injury.  The greatest disappointment I can recall was Tony Miller NOT making the all-classic team his senior year.  He was outstanding.  Hutchins did make it, I thought, in his place.  Btw, Jimmy Mac led the nation in blocked shots and carried MU into national defense rankings.