Koshwal Gone

[Canadian Dimes]

Marquette84....

It seems to me that you just like to take the unpopular opinion on everything and then produce one stupid opinion after another to support it.  Then throw in a few facts that have nothing to do with it and beleive they actually support your opinion.

You are throwing out all these irrelavant attendance numbers.  

Listen.  Depaul was all over WGN and national television becuase they were a top 5 team loaded with future NBA talent a few of the teams were even season long #1's and undefeated.  If you honestly beleive a top 5-10 team would not be hugely supported in Chicago or any freaking town in American then you truly are freaking delusional!

[Marquette84]

Marquette84....

It seems to me that you just like to take the unpopular opinion on everything and then produce one stupid opinion after another to support it.  Then throw in a few facts that have nothing to do with it and beleive they actually support your opinion.

You are throwing out all these irrelavant attendance numbers.  

Listen.  Depaul was all over WGN and national television becuase they were a top 5 team loaded with future NBA talent a few of the teams were even season long #1's and undefeated.  If you honestly beleive a top 5-10 team would not be hugely supported in Chicago or any freaking town in American then you truly are freaking delusional!

Okay, genius. Explain this one . . .

With all the success MU has had over the past five years, why isn't MILWAUKEE transformed into a huge Big East town?

If MU cannot do it for the Big East in Milwaukee, why do so many think that DePaul would be able to shift opinions significantly in Chicago?

[MUPig]

DePaul needs either build an arena near campus or move the the United Center.  Their fan base is pathetic - and one of the reasons is the dump they play at is one of the worst facilities in the country and it is not easy for the students and fans to get to.  Then again, Chicago has a number of crappy facilities - Solider field, US Cellular field

[Goatherder]

There is no question that having all its games on WGN and shown nationwide was huge for DePaul.  And the comments about the pro teams getting better is true.  Chicago will go nuts for a DePaul team that is ranked #1 for most of the season, as they have been in the past, but that is not likely to happen.  It is just too difficult for any program to reach and sustain that level.  

That said, DePaul has an enormous alumni base in Chicago, and if they are successful, that fan base will come out.  And while Ray is no longer around, there is a great charm to DePaul for city residents.  Even the people who never went there know somebody who did.  The whole idea of the "little school under the El tracks," even if it is not really true, resonates for Chicagoans.  

I do not know that DePaul can reach the popularity it had at its highest point.  I do not know that Marquette can either.  However, I do think DePaul can be a successful program, and one of the better ones in the country.  

[d6]

US Cellular and Soldier Field as crappy facilities.  Have you been in them recently?  While the Cell may have been an eyesore when built back in 1990, the upgrades have been great.  They lopped off the top, built a fan-friendly concourse in the outfield, moved the bullpens, and have some of the best food in professional sports.  And Soldier Field, despite looking like an alien aircraft landed on it, doesn't have a bad seat in the house and is a great place to see a football game.

[MerrittsMustache]

Okay, genius. Explain this one . . .

With all the success MU has had over the past five years, why isn't MILWAUKEE transformed into a huge Big East town?

If MU cannot do it for the Big East in Milwaukee, why do so many think that DePaul would be able to shift opinions significantly in Chicago?

MU has had tons of success in the past 5 years?

[Pakuni]

I don't want top chicago players to have depaul as a legit option.  With our alumni base there we can be top of mind there, buzz gets us texas, and the big east gives us new york.  Keep buzz, stay in big east, and depaul stays down and the future is bright.

Marquette has landed exactly one "top" Chicago-area prospect in its last seven recruiting classes (and two since Dwyane Wade's class), yet has somehow managed to stay competitive.
That's what people in this whole DePaul argument seem to ignore ... we're very rarely competing with them for players. MU has had more key recruiting battles with Georgia Tech (Matthews, Shumpert, Taylor) in recent years than it has with DePaul. Perhaps we should be more concerned with the Yellow Jackets than the Blue Demons.

Getting Chicago players is great and certainly is a boost for MU, but having DePaul in the mix for a few of them won't make or break Marquette.

[Lennys Tap]

Okay, genius. Explain this one . . .

With all the success MU has had over the past five years, why isn't MILWAUKEE transformed into a huge Big East town?

If MU cannot do it for the Big East in Milwaukee, why do so many think that DePaul would be able to shift opinions significantly in Chicago?

Comparing our last 5 years with DePaul's golden era is absurd. Being a 6 seed three times, a  7 once and an 8 once doesn't come close to Depaul of the late 70's/early 80's.

[Marquette84]

MU has had tons of success in the past 5 years?

Yes, we have.

How many other NCAA teams
--Have been to 5 straight NCAA tournaments
--won 10+ conference games in the big east or similar league
--Have four or more players in the NBA
--Have been consistently among the top 15/20 in attendance
--Have won 20+ games 
--Play in one of the elite conference that regularly draw top 10 opponents to their home court.
--Gone into the last month of the season with a decent chance at a league title.

If you don't think that's success, there probably 325 other Division 1 programs that would swap places with us in a heartbeat.

Now, if given all that, if Marquette---with a far stronger tie to the local community and far less entertainment competition in the metro area--if WE haven't been able to move the needle on Big East interest in Milwaukee (which outside of its own fans, it hasn't), how in the world is DePaul going to do so in Chicago?

There is no way, no how, no matter how good DePaul ever gets that they stand a chance at getting Chicagoans to care more about Georgetown/Providence, USF/Cincinnati or Syracuse/UConn than they do about Purdue/Michigan State, or Illinois/Indiana, or Michigan/Ohio State.  Period.
Its ain't gonna happen.  Chicago isn't a Big East town.

[MerrittsMustache]

Yes, we have.

How many other NCAA teams
--Have been to 5 straight NCAA tournaments
--won 10+ conference games in the big east or similar league
--Have four or more players in the NBA
--Have been consistently among the top 15/20 in attendance
--Have won 20+ games 
--Play in one of the elite conference that regularly draw top 10 opponents to their home court.
--Gone into the last month of the season with a decent chance at a league title.

If you don't think that's success, there probably 325 other Division 1 programs that would swap places with us in a heartbeat.

Now, if given all that, if Marquette---with a far stronger tie to the local community and far less entertainment competition in the metro area--if WE haven't been able to move the needle on Big East interest in Milwaukee (which outside of its own fans, it hasn't), how in the world is DePaul going to do so in Chicago?

There is no way, no how, no matter how good DePaul ever gets that they stand a chance at getting Chicagoans to care more about Georgetown/Providence, USF/Cincinnati or Syracuse/UConn than they do about Purdue/Michigan State, or Illinois/Indiana, or Michigan/Ohio State.  Period.
Its ain't gonna happen.  Chicago isn't a Big East town.

And you think that's comparable to DePaul in the Mark Aguirre era?

Why do you keep bringing up the conference? Why does Chicago need to become a "Big East town" for them to follow DePaul? Indianapolis rallied behind Butler. Does that mean basketball fans in Indy have become huge supporters of the Horizon League? Are they eagerly anticipating next season's clash between Cleveland State and UWGB?

Marquette has seen a HUGE surge in popularity in Milwaukee in the last 10 years or so. Do you remember the Mike Deane era or the early Crean years when the team was playing in a half-empty arena and even played a few games at The Mecca?

If DePaul wins, Chicago will get behind them. Period. That doesn't have to mean that Chicagoans will all race home to watch St. John's and Cincy play on Big Monday.

[Marquette84]

And you think that's comparable to DePaul in the Mark Aguirre era?

Why do you keep bringing up the conference? Why does Chicago need to become a "Big East town" for them to follow DePaul? Indianapolis rallied behind Butler. Does that mean basketball fans in Indy have become huge supporters of the Horizon League? Are they eagerly anticipating next season's clash between Cleveland State and UWGB?

I bring up conference because that was exactly the argument that I disagreed with:

• DePaul is the Big East's most underutilized (potential) asset.  I think that the DePaul administration now realizes the need to improve the program, the more important question is do they have a clue as to how to do it.  We'll see.
  

Just as you claim Butler's success won't translate into general interest in the Horizon, I don't believe DePaul's success will translate into any general interest in the Big East.

As you point out, Marquette has seen a HUGE surge in popularity in Milwaukee in the last 10 years or so.  It has not translated into a surge of popularity for the Big East.

Therefore, I think its fair to say that DePaul is not an "asset" that the Big east can "leverage".

[mugrad99]

As you point out, Marquette has seen a HUGE surge in popularity in Milwaukee in the last 10 years or so.  It has not translated into a surge of popularity for the Big East.

What about all of the Syracuse, Georgetown etc, gear bought on the days Marquette has home games against these teams by UW and UWM fans?

[Knight Commission]

The days of believeing the success of a college basketball team is directly correllated with the size of the market in which the school recruits are gone. Most D1 programs recruit natioanlly, internationally. With recruiting budgests, assistants, etc, the reach of a program is much broader. Evidence Northern Iowa having a better team this year than St Johns and DePaul, UCLA. The Big east model developed in the early 80's should be reconsidered. I hate to say it but there is a bigger correlation with the size of the bball budget and success than the size of the market and success. The budget is influenced by conference.

If Vermont was in the Big East, it could compete with the DePaul after several years...