Realistically....

[ErickJD08]

No player in the world can carry DWade's jockstrap!!  Other than LeBron, there is not a more efficient, effective player in the NBA/world.  DJO is the best guard at MU since D-Wade - he won't ever be as effective of slasher as DWade was, as DWade had a great body/lower center of gravity than DJO, which allowed DWade to get low to the ground and make unbelievable drives baseline/everywhere else.  But, DWade never had near the 3 point shot DJO did in his 2 years are Marquette.  DJO will be a major stud his senior year at MU, and will exceed what McNeal or Matthews accomplished as seniors.  I bet DJO is good for 20ppg and 6/7 assists per game as a senior.  He's already a better creator/passer than Jerel or Wes were..

I'll take McNeal as the best since DWade.  The guy is number one scorer at MU all time.  DJO still has alot to prove.  I will say that DJO's current skill set is more advanced that JM's at their respective years, but DJO still needs to improve. 

[Dawson Rental]

No player in the world can carry DWade's jockstrap!!  Other than LeBron, there is not a more efficient, effective player in the NBA/world.  DJO is the best guard at MU since D-Wade - he won't ever be as effective of slasher as DWade was, as DWade had a great body/lower center of gravity than DJO, which allowed DWade to get low to the ground and make unbelievable drives baseline/everywhere else.  But, DWade never had near the 3 point shot DJO did in his 2 years are Marquette.  DJO will be a major stud his senior year at MU, and will exceed what McNeal or Matthews accomplished as seniors.  I bet DJO is good for 20ppg and 6/7 assists per game as a senior.  He's already a better creator/passer than Jerel or Wes were..

I think that DJO has a ways to go defensively compared to McNeil.  When comparing the two as creator/passers its important to remember that Jerel only got to play for Buzz for one year and was playing for the anal retentive coach his other three years.  That being said DJO definitely can surpass McNeil, if he keeps working, especially on avoiding turnovers, especially when driving the lane.

[CanadianGyroEater]

DJO can't carry Wade's jockstrap.

Who would want to?

[Dawson Rental]

Who would want to?

I would, for one.  Think what you could get for it on Ebay!!!!

Especially if the sweat formed a picture of the face of some saint! 

[NersEllenson]

I'll take McNeal as the best since DWade.  The guy is number one scorer at MU all time.  DJO still has alot to prove.  I will say that DJO's current skill set is more advanced that JM's at their respective years, but DJO still needs to improve. 

Agree DJO still needs to improve, but my feeling is that his ceiling is much higher than Jerel's.  DJO is a much more explosive athlete than Jerel - Jerel could hardly dunk (one way to measure explosiveness).  Furthermore DJO already is a superior shooter to Jerel, - I checked stats and DJO shot better from the field as a sophomore, than Jerel did as a senior - 45.5% to 44.2%  from 3 he wins 47.4% to 39%.  I loved McNeal as a player, but just see DJO as a much better shooter and a more powerful, expolosive athlete.  That said, it is hard to argue against McNeal considering he is MU's all-time scoring leader.

[shiloh26]

Take into account Jerel's defense, and I don't even think its a close call.  I love DJO, and while he is certainly a better athelete, and after one season  looks to be a better jump shooter, Jerel could get to anywhere on the floor that he wanted to.  Until I see DJO shoot like that one more year, when there is no Lazar around, or until I see him contending for a Big East Defensive Player of the year, I'm going for Jerel.  DJO's offensive potential is not enough to put him past Jerel. 

[jsglow]

As to the original question, I think that MU has a chance to improve modestly over time to become a reasonably consistent top 6 team in the Big East with an occasional push for a top 3-4.  A reasonable goal for the program is an annual invitation to the NCAA (isn't it 5 straight now?) and a Sweet 16 possibility.  I think we kid ourselves if we believe that MU will be competing for a national championship.  Wasn't Villy the last Catholic school to win one 25 years ago?  Remember, we insist on having actual student athletes that graduate.  I'll take that over a dirty program any day.

I simply ask you guys to remember the 90s under Mike Deane or the late 80s under Bob Dukiet.  That's what we want to avoid.  I have no desire to return to the days of lousy basketball.  Much credit must go to Fr. Wild for his understanding of what hoops means to MU...... and for his decision to hire Buzz despite significant internal debate.  If I were on the search committee, one of my questions would be about any future President's commitment to basketball.

[79Warrior]

We're already playing down the expectations for next year?  There is no reason we can't be just as successful next year as we have been this year.  Losing Hayward and Acker will hurt, but it's not like they're being replaced with chopped liver.  The incoming class looks good.  We have some guys returning from injury in Junior and Otule.  We have a solid core in Butler and DJO, along with a hopefully improved senior Buycks and a nice role player in Fulce.  Williams might start to show some improvement.

I don't expect a Final Four, but I completely expect next year's team to accomplish at least what this year's team did: compete every game, stay in the top half of the Big East, and make the tournament.

and just who will replace Zar??? He is the biggest loss to the program in the last few years as he has been our only inside presence. We have been fortunate to reload our guards consistently. The front line is a completely different story.