For some reason........

[KipsBayEagle]

I just don't feel sad.  I was watching the game with the marquette club of new york last night, having a great time, thinking we had it in the bag.  Washington inched closer and closer until at the last second, they hit the dreaded go ahead basket.

 When this happened, yes all the air went out of the room, yes it was depressing, but for some reason, I didn't feel it.  I wasn't even sad, I didn't yell, I just kinda sat there and said to my roommate "Ok, lets finish this pitcher and go."  he kept telling me sorry we didn't pull that out, i just brushed it aside because, for some reason, I wasn't peeved in the slightest.  I couldn't understand why either.  I wanted to be angry, to start cursing and yelling like I did with almost every other loss this year.  I wanted to get mind bending drunk, which I was teetering close to at that point anyway, and start spewing nonsense, but it just didn't feel right.  I left the bar, for reasons beyond me, in a good mood.  I would have posted this last night, but I really wanted to sleep on it and try and decypher why it wasn't bothering me as much as I thought it should have.

 Today, as I sit here at work, i still don't really know why I am still in a good mood, but I do have some ideas.  

For one, I don't think NCAA tournament wins validate this team.  Not this year.  This team treated all of us to the most exciting ride of a season I have ever seen, and I think I will ever see in any sport.  Every game close, every game jubilation or heartbreak.  Win or lose, you turned off your tv or left the game thinking I just watched a great basketball game.  This team, from the old spice tournament where it knocked off Xavier and Michigan, to the big east tournament where it got to the semi's, constantly played a courageous style of basketball where they left their hearts and souls out on the court.

 Guys like Acker and Cubillian, who people thought would be dead meat as starters in the big east, in many ways played superior ball to the James Mcneal combo of last year.  no turnovers, great passing, and team play validated their careers at marquette, and now, instead of being bench players who played no real importance in the program, now will be remembered by many as the guards who, though undersized, played like they were 6'6.  not much more can be said about Lazar Hayward that hasn't already been said, but I will simply leave it that he was my favorite player at Marquette, and that no player that has ever worn a Marquette jersey, in my mind, has handled himself with more class and grace, and that as he came out of the shadow of the big three, he showed all of usthat not only was he one of Marquettes greatest players, he was also one of Marquette's greatest leaders.

 How lucky were we to have Buzz Williams as a coach?  Not only did we learn this year that he is one of the all time good guys in college basketball, and that he is such a great coach, but that hes also a great entertainer!  Theres a reason this guy is getting tons of press clippings and interviews, and that he has a youtube video with 1.7 million hits.  In buzz Williams, we have a coach that people want to be around, that want to hear him speak, and let him represent them.  We have found an excellent ambassador, not just for Marqeuette basketball, but for Marquette University, and we need to do everything we can to keep Buzz at marqeuette in the future, because something tells me theres gonna be a lot of schools that will have Buzz on their speed dial in a few years.

 In closing, i think the thing that made me feel ok leaving the bar last night was that this team felt like a family, and watching them made me feel like I was a part of that family.  This might not be the best Marquette team ever, or the most talented.  But this team seemed like the team that was willing to take a bullet for each other, and to work hard not to make them better, but to not let down the person on the left or the right of them.  While its sad now to think of the outcome, 63 teams will feel like we do during the next few weeks.  But instead of concentrating on the negative, lets look at all the positive things this team has done, and thank them for bringing such joy to all our lives these past 5 months.

edit: paragraphs added

[cw4mu]

I could not be in stronger agreement with this. Well said!

[NersEllenson]

Very well said...Send it along to the MU Athletic Department..seriously.  I'm as proud of this team, and coach, as one could possibly be - they were an amazing story this year, and a lot of fun to watch..though I did drop more f-bombs than ever before..as I felt so bad for these kids, in some of the cruel and heartbreaking losses they had this year -and they give me so much happiness when the win.  Win or lose, they were an amazingly hard working, entertaining, classy team and coaching staff all year long.  That said, I'd have loved for Buzz to have ripped the officials in his postgame conference!!

[New Era Warriors]

I just don't feel sad.  I was watching the game with the marquette club of new york last night, having a great time, thinking we had it in the bag.  Washington inched closer and closer until at the last second, they hit the dreaded go ahead basket.  When this happened, yes all the air went out of the room, yes it was depressing, but for some reason, I didn't feel it.  I wasn't even sad, I didn't yell, I just kinda sat there and said to my roommate "Ok, lets finish this pitcher and go."  he kept telling me sorry we didn't pull that out, i just brushed it aside because, for some reason, I wasn't peeved in the slightest.  I couldn't understand why either.  I wanted to be angry, to start cursing and yelling like I did with almost every other loss this year.  I wanted to get mind bending drunk, which I was teetering close to at that point anyway, and start spewing nonsense, but it just didn't feel right.  I left the bar, for reasons beyond me, in a good mood.  I would have posted this last night, but I really wanted to sleep on it and try and decypher why it wasn't bothering me as much as I thought it should have.  Today, as I sit here at work, i still don't really know why I am still in a good mood, but I do have some ideas. 
For one, I don't think NCAA tournament wins validate this team.  Not this year.  This team treated all of us to the most exciting ride of a season I have ever seen, and I think I will ever see in any sport.  Every game close, every game jubilation or heartbreak.  Win or lose, you turned off your tv or left the game thinking I just watched a great basketball game.  This team, from the old spice tournament where it knocked off Xavier and Michigan, to the big east tournament where it got to the semi's, constantly played a courageous style of basketball where they left their hearts and souls out on the court.  Guys like Acker and Cubillian, who people thought would be dead meat as starters in the big east, in many ways played superior ball to the James Mcneal combo of last year.  no turnovers, great passing, and team play validated their careers at marquette, and now, instead of being bench players who played no real importance in the program, now will be remembered by many as the guards who, though undersized, played like they were 6'6.  not much more can be said about Lazar Hayward that hasn't already been said, but I will simply leave it that he was my favorite player at Marquette, and that no player that has ever worn a Marquette jersey, in my mind, has handled himself with more class and grace, and that as he came out of the shadow of the big three, he showed all of usthat not only was he one of Marquettes greatest players, he was also one of Marquette's greatest leaders.  How lucky were we to have Buzz Williams as a coach?  Not only did we learn this year that he is one of the all time good guys in college basketball, and that he is such a great coach, but that hes also a great entertainer!  Theres a reason this guy is getting tons of press clippings and interviews, and that he has a youtube video with 1.7 million hits.  In buzz Williams, we have a coach that people want to be around, that want to hear him speak, and let him represent them.  We have found an excellent ambassador, not just for Marqeuette basketball, but for Marquette University, and we need to do everything we can to keep Buzz at marqeuette in the future, because something tells me theres gonna be a lot of schools that will have Buzz on their speed dial in a few years.  In closing, i think the thing that made me feel ok leaving the bar last night was that this team felt like a family, and watching them made me feel like I was a part of that family.  This might not be the best Marquette team ever, or the most talented.  But this team seemed like the team that was willing to take a bullet for each other, and to work hard not to make them better, but to not let down the person on the left or the right of them.  While its sad now to think of the outcome, 63 teams will feel like we do during the next few weeks.  But instead of concentrating on the negative, lets look at all the positive things this team has done, and thank them for bringing such joy to all our lives these past 5 months.

+1 you couldn't have said it any better.

[Aughnanure]

+1 you couldn't have said it any better.

Well, he could have broken up those paragraphs to make it easier on my eyes.

[KipsBayEagle]

Well, he could have broken up those paragraphs to make it easier on my eyes.

The tab button wasn't working, and for some reason, after u get a certain amount of lines, the text starts scrolling all over the place, makes it real hard to type, correct mistakes.

[ErickJD08]

I am in charge of writing a letter to the board about my thoughts on the successor of Father Wild.  I truly believe that Father Wild made basketball a priority at MU and I think it should continue to be a priority.  I think a good basketball program at MU is great for many reasons (revenues, alum unity, and national exposure... ya know I went to school in WI and not MI).  I agree with all feelings the original poster made and I think a lot of alums do too.  KipsBayEagle, if you don't mind, I will include some portions of this post on the letter.

[KipsBayEagle]

I am in charge of writing a letter to the board about my thoughts on the successor of Father Wild.  I truly believe that Father Wild made basketball a priority at MU and I think it should continue to be a priority.  I think a good basketball program at MU is great for many reasons (revenues, alum unity, and national exposure... ya know I went to school in WI and not MI).  I agree with all feelings the original poster made and I think a lot of alums do too.  KipsBayEagle, if you don't mind, I will include some portions of this post on the letter.

I am very flattered, thank you   Send me a private message or something, an I'll toss you my real name if you want.

[tower912]

I'm there with you.   Just another close loss in a season of almosts.  But the team, playing as a unit, so far exceeded their individual abilities that I still rank the season as the most entertaining season I can remember.   Great young men, great team ball, great memories. 

[GOO]

Very well said and agreed.  I wanted for us to win, but understand that we achieved all that we could (and more).  Marquette and the team are about more than just winning on the court.  Buzz gets that, like most of us do.
You should send a letter to Buzz.  He doesn't necessarily know what most of us think, and I'm sure he would appreciate it.

This probably didn't hurt your mindset: watching with/at the "marquette club of new york"

[mwbauer7]

Great post. I hurt for a while before falling asleep last night and again this morning from thinking about the disappointment these kids must be feeling right now--especially Zar, Mo and Cuby.

Reading the comments of fellow rational fans like those in this thread make it a little easier to take. Thanks.

[BrewCity83]

Dude, you almost made me cry with that eloquent piece.

[96warrior]

Agree whole heartedly. But I am seriously still depressed today. Not because we didn't get the W but for the empathy I feel for Lazar, Mo and David to have their college careers, especially this particular senior year, end with a heartbreaking loss in the first round. I've never seen Zar crumple like he did at the end of last night's game. My heart breaks for these guys, who left it all on the court. I hope in time they come around to feel the way we all seem to, as we all echo KipsBayEagle's remarks.

And thanks for this laugh, I needed it:

Well, he could have broken up those paragraphs to make it easier on my eyes.

[war1980rior]

Kips hit it on the head.  I said it in another post as well, but this was the most exciting team I've watched at Marquette.  Every game had me calling for a cardiologist.

[Daniel]

Great, great post Kips.  I feel better now too.  Not completely healed, but better.  Your post focuses on "all th eright stuff."  TY

[HoopsMalone]

Context is very comforting.  Great season.  Much to look forward to with MU's program going forward. 

[IAmMarquette]

Dude, you almost made me cry with that eloquent piece.

Careful. Some on this board might think you're pathetic.

[wojosdojo]

Agreed, to an extent. I just feel the sweet 16 was right there, and who knows what woulda happened against WV. Anyhow, I felt this way too watching the dagger go in. It felt as almost I told it to go in because you just knew it was gunna drop. I don't know if I didn't feel much because of the FSU, WV, Nova, DePaul, ND games that took out so much frustation. I feel I couldn't get mad because anymore because I've just done it more than I could imagine. Today, after watching Lazar talk my frustation came back because I feel so sorry for the guy (+Mo+Cubbie) who put every damn ounce of his heart into every game (even when fouled out). I hope someone in the NBA will realize what these MU players can do, id say Wes is proving people wrong.

[MUfan12]

In closing, i think the thing that made me feel ok leaving the bar last night was that this team felt like a family, and watching them made me feel like I was a part of that family.  This might not be the best Marquette team ever, or the most talented.  But this team seemed like the team that was willing to take a bullet for each other, and to work hard not to make them better, but to not let down the person on the left or the right of them. 

And THAT is why it was so devastating. You're right, this team was like a family. But so is Marquette. That's one of the things I love about MU, is that is truly is a family atmosphere. Because of that, these guys become people to us, not just players (or mercenaries as Buzz put it).

When you see these guys go through all the battles together, all the tribulations off the court, and to see it all slip from their grasp was so painful. I've watched every minute of Lazar's career at MU, and to see him fall to the floor at the end was heartbreaking. No other way to put it.

That said, I'm damn proud of this group. They represented MU with great class and dignity, and genuinely played for one another. A wonderful example of intensity, focus, and chemistry. For the same reason, I'm damn proud to call Buzz Williams our coach. He got this group to buy in, got them to play as one, and built a culture within the program that embodies what Cura Personalis is all about. I hope he's our coach for a long time.