"Without Kevin O'Neill Marquette could have become Loyola of Chicago"

[Da 'Lanche]

That quote was attributed to Jimmy Mac on the post game radio comments regarding Kevin O'Neill and his impact on the MU hoops program.   I attended MU from 1984-1988 and watched the program go to hell in 4 short years.   I remember sitting in a bar in Phoenix watching MU upset Kentucky under O'Neill to get to the sweet 16 and raising a glass to an accomplishment that was not even remotely real during the time I was at Marquette and thinking what a heroic and difficult task O'Neill had coming as a top assistant at U of A to build up MU's program.    After that, his road map is very interesting to say the least, but, I will say this....I appreciate him for what he did to reverse the Dukiet years and bring in legitimate D-1 talent to MU and get us back on the map for college hoops.   It is truly a fine line between growing the program to where we are today and ending up like Loyola or even a Bradley (both were decent programs in my day)....or hell...even a DePaul.

For all the negativity, we are in such a better place than we have been in as a basketball program and with a top 10 recruiting class arriving next fall I think we are in great shape from a basketball perspective.   I only hope this conference realignment and recruitment business does not squash us from a national TV and power conference perspective.

Anyway, I, for one, give kudos to Kevin O'Neill tomorrow and will  hoist one in his honor as we trample his trojans....hopefully he can take some pride in knowing he had a hand in where MU Hoops is today.   

[AZWarrior]

Absolute great post.  The post Hank R era was really dark, and O'Neill pulled us out and made the program viable again.  He was a pivotal man in MU b-ball history.

[Pakuni]

Truth.

[jsglow]

Jimmy Mac had another great quote.  "KO was a guy you swore at for 4 years and then swore by the rest of your life."  KO's success was certainly a factor in Fr. Wild fully understanding the importance of MU hoops.  And while Mike Deane was a bit of a placeholder, we've had decent to outstanding success ever since.

I was fortunate enough to attend that Sweet 16 weekend in Knoxville courtesy of Mark Anglavar, then an assistant coach.  Great seats for MU, Big Dog, Grant Hill, followed by a night of drinking with Jimmy Mac's dad who knew his ship was about to come in. 

[NersEllenson]

Well said.  K.O.'s first (or second?) recruiting class set the stage with Mac, Key, Logtermann, and getting Ron Curry as a transfer.

[unforgiven]

KO added a lot of color. In game his language would make a harlot blush. Afterwards, his antics were renowned for their ingenuity and ferocity 

Kevin and Roberta O'Neill in Drunken Altercation with Arizona Fans & Booster

http://www.pointguardu.com/content/kevin-o-neill-drunken-altercation-arizona-fans-659/

Roberta O'Neill is a saucy Canadian temptress, 20 years Kevin's junior. Well done, KO!

http://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue/2008/03/19/80105-gimino-wife-is-o-neill-s-best-defender/

Many did not like KO while at MU for what they thought boorish behavior. Despite his obvious recruiting and coaching talent his acerbic personality and fondness for drink made him the target of increasing criticism by many MU faithful. As Ners points, however, he is singularly responsible for salvaging Marquette's sinking program.

[Goose]

KO saved the program and forever appreciated by this fan.

[GGGG]

I never thought I would say this given how he left, but I really hope that the MU fans give him a nice ovation during introductions.  I also hope there would be some way for them to acknowledge Tony Miller, one of my all-time favorites sitting on his bench.

[Avenue Commons]

KO saved the program and forever appreciated by this fan.

+1. KO's contributions to the program were huge at a critical time. His contributions to the annals of dickeshness were huge as well. But, hey, no one is perfect.

And for the record, Tennessee was never a step up from Marquette.

[dgies9156]

+1. KO's contributions to the program were huge at a critical time. His contributions to the annals of dickeshness were huge as well. But, hey, no one is perfect.

And for the record, Tennessee was never a step up from Marquette.

No argument on Tennessee. Marquette athlètes can read and write.

On KO, if he'd stayed, we probably would have at least one additional Final Four and maybe......

He is a great coach and AMEN to the folks who recognized what KO did to revitalize MU basketball.

[🏀]

Hopefully KO and Buzz have a nice discussion about grass and where it may or may not be greener.

[MerrittsMustache]

Hopefully KO and Buzz have a nice discussion about grass and where it may or may not be greener.

Perhaps KO could tell him, "That Texas team is awful. Stay far, far away from Austin when Barnes is fired in a few months."

[warriorchick]

+1. KO's contributions to the program were huge at a critical time. His contributions to the annals of dickeshness were huge as well. But, hey, no one is perfect.

And for the record, Tennessee was never a step up from Marquette.

And the Tennessee fans never warmed to him.  He certainly didn't fit the "good ole boy" type they like in their FB and BB coaches, especially back then.  And that Irish skin tone certainly didn't look good with the orange sport coat.

[GGGG]

Perhaps KO could tell him, "That Texas team is awful. Stay far, far away from Austin when Barnes is fired in a few months."

This is just silly...

Everyone knows that KO would say this: "That Texas team is f*ckin' awful. Stay far, far away from that sh*thole Austin when Barnes is fired in a few months."

[🏀]

This is just silly...

Everyone knows that KO would say this: "That Texas team is f*ckin' awful. Stay far, far away from that sh*thole Austin when Barnes is fired in a few months."

Well done.

[real chili 83]

I agree with what's said about KO's contributions.  

Spose it might not be important, but I am curious about why he left.  I know that he had the ability to swear like a sailor at games...loudly.  However, it sounds like he rubbed some people for reasons beyond his swearing, and then left MU in a manner that didn't sit well with some.

Would someone mind elaborating?

Again, his contribution to MU resurgance is huge.

[GGGG]

I think people were willing to put up with him.  He simply thought MU hit its ceiling and that Tennessee was a better program....the problem is that he had no problem saying that to everyone including the local media.

[LloydMooresLegs]

KO revived MU basketball.  More importantly, he enlivened the annual coach's lunch in Chicago.  The JMac comment on being sworn at for 4 years rings true, as he would RIP his players in colorful language, including calling one player (using hysterical examples), I think Anglavar, the dumbest human being he had ever met--with the player sitting right there.  

[4everwarriors]

I think people were willing to put up with him.  He simply thought MU hit its ceiling and that Tennessee was a better program....the problem is that he had no problem saying that to everyone including the local media.

It was all about the scheckles. KO said you could wipe your nose with his MU contract.

[Goose]

4ever

Correct you are. KO was about the green and made no bones about it. He delivered the goods at MU and chased the money. Long term maybe not right decision, but sure KO has done very well for himself. He is an original.

[bilsu]

I guess we do have to worry about history repeating itself. It is my understanding that a big reason for O'Neil leaving is that he wore himself thin with the administration. Especially, because you could hear shout profanities during games.

[Goose]

bilsu

KO obviously rubbed some folks the wrong way and that probably kept his contract where it was. Ultimately he chased the money and I think the #1 reason why he left.

[CTWarrior]

I can remember going to the Meadowlands and watching us just get hammered by a crummy Iona team in January of 1988 and thinking that we were done as a basketball school.  I had tickets to watch them play Fordham in NY (where my sister was attending) two weeks later and actually ate the tickets rather then watch us get hammered again by another crummy school (which is exactly what happened).  At the time, Calhoun was just starting to get UConn going after years of being a non-entity and I thought I'd have to latch onto them.

So I will forever be grateful to KO for reviving the program.  

[Goose]

It is fitting we are playing KO team day before Thanksgiving. Think all of us older guys are very thankful he made a stop at MU along the way.

[real chili 83]

bilsu

KO obviously rubbed some folks the wrong way and that probably kept his contract where it was. Ultimately he chased the money and I think the #1 reason why he left.

If scoop were around then, then this last summer would have been Hiroshima, part deaux.