Last Year and This Year

[dgies9156]

One of the startling differences between last year -- or at least most of it -- and this year was yesterday. Last year, we lose this game. Like we did the Rodent in Red at home. Like we did Vanderbilt and like we did several Big East games we probably should have one.

This year we win. And while this portends relatively little since it is early in the season, it's very encouraging. This team seems more mature more battle hardened and less intimidated. These are all intangibles, but it is EXTREMELY encouraging. I was most impressed by the way we battled back when Wisconsin closed the gap to one point. Our team is poised and to do this in the Kohl Center is especially exciting.

I'm liking what I see this year -- so far. Hold on and as the commentator says... Huskies Evil. Must Be Destroyed.

[NersEllenson]

Think we are seeing the benefit of this being the first team Buzz has had where he RETURNED more guys to the roster, than he had new guys coming in...think about that for a minute.

Pretty remarkable...and when you think about how our freshman and sophomores played today, along with what we have coming in next year recruit-wise..then Deonte Burton in 2013 - genuinely believe we are poised for a return to a consistent, elite program...conference realignment being potentially the only thing that could dampen that...

[brewcity77]

I think the obvious difference is the defense. The offense is good, of course. The offense was always good, the offense will be good. But Buzz has been trying to install his defense for a few years and it was clear that there have been a lot of gaps. Because guys were learning. Now they're quicker on the rotations, it wasn't often that Bucky had open looks from three. Our tempo-free defensive rating is 13th now. We held Bucky below 30% from three and to less than 0.9 ppp. It was tough to see this with so many guys in and out the past two years. This year, most of the guys have 2+ years in the system, and the freshmen are all at least good one-on-one defenders.

I'm almost scared to say it, but to me, this feels like the beginning. This year, right now, this feels like the beginning of something great at Marquette. Our team is still so young -- of our current roster, 7/11 players will still be here (barring early entry) 2 years from now, and we've got solid recruits coming in both in 2012 and 2013.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think in 10 years, we'll look back at the 2011 Sweet 16, and the subsequent 2011-12 season as the time that Marquette made the turn back to being in the basketball elite. Enjoy this...

[Goose]

BewCity--I agree completely with all of your statement. This very well might be the foundation of a great run in upcoming years. Buzz knows how to recruit gifted athletes and that is the game today. For twenty years I have hoped for a team like this and actually feel like this is just the beginning. The depth allows for guys to make some mistakes and learn from it.

[Silkk the Shaka]

I'm almost scared to say it, but to me, this feels like the beginning. This year, right now, this feels like the beginning of something great at Marquette. Our team is still so young -- of our current roster, 7/11 players will still be here (barring early entry) 2 years from now, and we've got solid recruits coming in both in 2012 and 2013.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think in 10 years, we'll look back at the 2011 Sweet 16, and the subsequent 2011-12 season as the time that Marquette made the turn back to being in the basketball elite. Enjoy this...

TOTALLY AGREE!!! The best part is that Buzz understands to his very core that the life blood of a program is recruiting.  The pipeline is absolutely stacked with high major players - I doubt we'll be outside the top 25 a single week for the foreseeable future.  

Any Buzz doubters that are still out there, it's okay to admit you were wrong.  I thought he was a terrible hire and wanted him fired after the Dayton loss in year 1.  After that team got cooking in conference play before DJ went down I was sold.  He has maximized EVERY roster EVERY year, and now that he's finally playing with a full deck you can see that we have no ceiling anymore as long as he's on our sidelines.  I can't wait to see where he takes our program, and I hope he's here for 20 more years.  The best is yet to come!

[KipsBayEagle]

I think the biggest difference is that this team has an ATTITUDE.  In past years you got a sense that the teams were humble, by the book, kind of teams.  i don't know if its because of the intros, the trash talk during the wisco game, the hardened shakes after the game, or that it was vanders return home game, but this team has an attitude, dare I say a "Bad" attitude, and by bad, i mean good

[muwarrior69]

... but this team has an attitude, dare I say a "Bad" attitude, and by bad, i mean good

Glory Road here we come!

[HoopsMalone]

Buzz is also getting better.  He uses timeouts and rotates players in effectively.

The defense looks good for once too.  We won a road game where there was a lid on the basket.  MU got great shots in the paint but did not finish.  They did not knock down their threes either.

[dgies9156]

BewCity--I agree completely with all of your statement. This very well might be the foundation of a great run in upcoming years. Buzz knows how to recruit gifted athletes and that is the game today. For twenty years I have hoped for a team like this and actually feel like this is just the beginning. The depth allows for guys to make some mistakes and learn from it.

Brew and Goose -- I hope you're right. I told my maker that before I die, I wanted ONE MORE NCAA championship. See, Me and God got an agreement. I go to church periodically and (s)He keeps me alive long enough for one or more NCAA championships. I gotta die happy!

Seriously, I think last year's surprising and unexpected NCAA run was a watershed. It was both good that we overcome odds and demolished Syracuse and Xavier and, frankly, that we had body parts flyinge everywhere with North Carolina. One was a sign of how good we can be and the second was a sign of what it takes to compete with the very best consistently. We're getting there, faster than I thought!

[Buzz's Tin]

Buzz is also getting better.  He uses timeouts and rotates players in effectively.

The defense looks good for once too.  We won a road game where there was a lid on the basket.  MU got great shots in the paint but did not finish.  They did not knock down their threes either.

Couldn't agree more. It is obvious that Buzz has improved as a coach and his in-game management is much, much improved.

[#MUBB]

Couldn't agree more. It is obvious that Buzz has improved as a coach and his in-game management is much, much improved.

+1 on the name Tin