If we lose Saturday, is the season a dissapointment?

[CarlCarlson]

Just kidding.  

The fact the we get to play another game this season, for a Final Four berth no less, is flat out unbelievable.  This season is an absolute GIFT from the basketball gods and it already has me excited for next year and the teams to come.  With 93 seconds left in the Davidson game, Vegas likely would have given you 100,000-1 odds against MQ making the Final Four.  Now it's 50-50.  I truly believe that if we play those last 93 seconds 500 times, we lose 499 of them.  One of the most amazing come-backs I have ever witnessed in the game of basketball, especially considering that they did not "choke" the game away by missing FT's.   Enjoy the ride, this has been a special year and a special tournament.

As exhilarating as an Elite 8 berth is, we are only halfway to the promised land.  One more win would go a long way to validating the rebirth of Marquette as a perennial national powerhouse.  Elite 8's are great when trying to justify the status of your program versus others.  Final Four teams are remembered for years.  Banners are hung.  5 stars are signed.  You could make a compelling argument that our 2003 Final Four is the biggest reason that we are currently in the lofty position we find ourselves in.  For that reason, I will never be able to truly dislike Tom Crean.

So keep the champagne on ice for one more day.  For a program like Marquette that has an enormous amount of positive momentum going, this game could be the spark that bring us one step closer to a delusional fan base that expects (and usually gets) Final Four appearances and Championships on a regular basis (see: Kansas).  Any rational fan with rational expectations has to be thrilled with this season, even in defeat, but it is within reach.  And I want to be delusional.

Grind together, Shine together

[keefe]

Final Four teams are remembered for years.  Banners are hung.  5 stars are signed.  You could make a compelling argument that our 2003 Final Four is the biggest reason that we are currently in the lofty position we find ourselves in.  For that reason, I will never be able to truly dislike Tom Crean.

Yep. Tanned Tommy cashed in that Final Four chip and signed a slew of 5 stars then took us right back to the...NIT. He did hang a sh1tload of stupid banners, though.

Crean has nothing to do with the success of the past few years. Nothing.

[klyrish]

Just kidding. 

The fact the we get to play another game this season, for a Final Four berth no less, is flat out unbelievable.  This season is an absolute GIFT from the basketball gods and it already has me excited for next year and the teams to come.  With 93 seconds left in the Davidson game, Vegas likely would have given you 100,000-1 odds against MQ making the Final Four.  Now it's 50-50.  I truly believe that if we play those last 93 seconds 500 times, we lose 499 of them.  One of the most amazing come-backs I have ever witnessed in the game of basketball, especially considering that they did not "choke" the game away by missing FT's.   Enjoy the ride, this has been a special year and a special tournament.

As exhilarating as an Elite 8 berth is, we are only halfway to the promised land.  One more win would go a long way to validating the rebirth of Marquette as a perennial national powerhouse.  Elite 8's are great when trying to justify the status of your program versus others.  Final Four teams are remembered for years.  Banners are hung.  5 stars are signed.  You could make a compelling argument that our 2003 Final Four is the biggest reason that we are currently in the lofty position we find ourselves in.  For that reason, I will never be able to truly dislike Tom Crean.

So keep the champagne on ice for one more day.  For a program like Marquette that has an enormous amount of positive momentum going, this game could be the spark that bring us one step closer to a delusional fan base that expects (and usually gets) Final Four appearances and Championships on a regular basis (see: Kansas).  It is within reach.  I want to be delusional.

Grind together, Shine together

Great first post.

[warriorchick]

Found this by accident today.... the preseason polls:

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings/_/year/2013/poll/1/week/1

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings/_/year/2013/poll/2/week/1

If I counted correctly, the writers predicted we would come in 34th, and the coaches predicted we would be 37th.  How could anyone be disappointed in our performance, especially compared to expectations?

Also, with the exception of Louisville ranked 2nd in preseason, these polls are completely wacky and basically have no correlation to what actually happened.  Kentucky #3?  NC State #6?  It was a crazy, crazy year.

[Windyplayer]

Just kidding. 

The fact the we get to play another game this season, for a Final Four berth no less, is flat out unbelievable.  This season is an absolute GIFT from the basketball gods and it already has me excited for next year and the teams to come.  With 93 seconds left in the Davidson game, Vegas likely would have given you 100,000-1 odds against MQ making the Final Four.  Now it's 50-50.  I truly believe that if we play those last 93 seconds 500 times, we lose 499 of them.  One of the most amazing come-backs I have ever witnessed in the game of basketball, especially considering that they did not "choke" the game away by missing FT's.   Enjoy the ride, this has been a special year and a special tournament.

As exhilarating as an Elite 8 berth is, we are only halfway to the promised land.  One more win would go a long way to validating the rebirth of Marquette as a perennial national powerhouse.  Elite 8's are great when trying to justify the status of your program versus others.  Final Four teams are remembered for years.  Banners are hung.  5 stars are signed.  You could make a compelling argument that our 2003 Final Four is the biggest reason that we are currently in the lofty position we find ourselves in.  For that reason, I will never be able to truly dislike Tom Crean Dwyane Wade.

So keep the champagne on ice for one more day.  For a program like Marquette that has an enormous amount of positive momentum going, this game could be the spark that bring us one step closer to a delusional fan base that expects (and usually gets) Final Four appearances and Championships on a regular basis (see: Kansas).  It is within reach.  I want to be delusional.

Grind together, Shine together

[The Equalizer]

Crean has nothing to do with the success of the past few years. Nothing.

1. Crean hired Buzz at MU and strongly reccomended that MU hire Buzz as his replacement
2. Otule is the last holdover Crean recruit and was a big part of this year's success
3. That nice facility that Buzz uses to train (and leverages as a recruiting tool) is there because Crean is a salesperson that got wallets to open

You might not like the guy, but without him we're nothing but the perennial NIT team that the sauced swiller from Siena wanted us to become.

[mu_hilltopper]

1. Crean hired Buzz at MU and strongly reccomended that MU hire Buzz as his replacement

Has that ever been confirmed, or has that just been repeated so often, it became thought of as true?

It's possible Cords and Fr. Wild didn't give a crap what Crean had to say to them, once they listened to ESPN telling them their coach had taken another job...

Just curious if anyone actually knows the truth.

[drewm88]

1. Crean hired Buzz at MU and strongly reccomended that MU hire Buzz as his replacement
2. Otule is the last holdover Crean recruit and was a big part of this year's success
3. That nice facility that Buzz uses to train (and leverages as a recruiting tool) is there because Crean is a salesperson that got wallets to open

+1

[jmayer1]

1. Crean hired Buzz at MU and strongly reccomended that MU hire Buzz as his replacement
2. Otule is the last holdover Crean recruit and was a big part of this year's success
3. That nice facility that Buzz uses to train (and leverages as a recruiting tool) is there because Crean is a salesperson that got wallets to open

You might not like the guy, but without him we're nothing but the perennial NIT team that the sauced swiller from Siena wanted us to become.

The truth is somewhere between Keefe's unabashed hate of the former coach and SJS's unabashed love of the former coach.

I loathe the former coach nearly as much as anyone else here, but he did get Wade to come here (with a little bit of luck), and Dwyane is the #1 reason MU is in the position they are today. I firmly believe that if Wade never came to MU, we would have never made the tourney before the former coach was let go and there's close to 0% chance of the AL being built or MU being in the old/new BE.

But, less than 24 hours away, I'd rather focus on how MU is going to contend with the Cuse zone or how they will stop their multifaceted offense. GO WARRIORS!!!

[GGGG]

Otule was exclusively recruited by Buzz using his connections.  I don't think Crean deserves much credit at all for that.

Crean deserves credit for bringing Buzz here...that's it.

[The Equalizer]

Otule was exclusively recruited by Buzz using his connections.  I don't think Crean deserves much credit at all for that.

I originally thought so as well, but according to Goodman's recent article on Otule. Buzz had the relationship with Otule's HS coach, not Otule himself. Both Crean and Buzz went on the recruiting visit together.

Besides, the HC gets the credit (or takes the blame) for recruting. I've never heard you say that Isaac Chew exclusively recruited JaJuan Johnson, and that you don't think Buzz doesn't deserve much credit.   

[JD]

I originally thought so as well, but according to Goodman's recent article on Otule. Buzz had the relationship with Otule's HS coach, not Otule himself. Both Crean and Buzz went on the recruiting visit together.

Besides, the HC gets the credit (or takes the blame) for recruting. I've never heard you say that Isaac Chew exclusively recruited JaJuan Johnson, and that you don't think Buzz doesn't deserve much credit.   

Actually, i give 80% of the credit to Chew.  If you read what Johnson says, he said that "Chew never gave up, and that meant a lot to him"

[dgies9156]

I'll be happy when Junior and Davante hold the National Championship trophey over their heads as a vanquished Loserville looks on!!!!

[AlienWarrior]

No excuse for not beating the cuse

[keefe]

No excuse for not beating the cuse

Correct. It will be a contest but Marquette should win. Buzz has Whiner's number. What more fitting way to send Skinny Jim off to the ACC.

[keefe]

sauced swiller from Siena

Good Old Deano

[AlienWarrior]

Correct. It will be a contest but Marquette should win. Buzz has Whiner's number. What more fitting way to send Skinny Jim off to the ACC.

Correct, we beat them when we couldn't shoot so we should beat them now as we have improved, plus we defend the 3 as well as any team in the country offsetting their improved shooting.

[wardle2wade]

If MU were to lose, it would be a disappointment for what could have been, but will be a huge success for what was expected of the season and this squad.

[Goose]

Great post to start thread. How can this season be a disappointment in anyway possible? Sure if we lost heartbreaker it will be disappointing and make you wonder "what is" all off season. Hell of a year win or lose. Was extremely jacked yesterday and might be reaching new level for tomorrow. Hats off to the whole group known as the Marquette Univversity Men's Basketball program.

[tower912]

May the day come that a conference championship and elite 8 appearance is considered a disappointment.    Until that day......

[Lennys Tap]

Found this by accident today.... the preseason polls:

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings/_/year/2013/poll/1/week/1

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings/_/year/2013/poll/2/week/1

If I counted correctly, the writers predicted we would come in 34th, and the coaches predicted we would be 37th.  How could anyone be disappointed in our performance, especially compared to expectations?

Also, with the exception of Louisville ranked 2nd in preseason, these polls are completely wacky and basically have no correlation to what actually happened.  Kentucky #3?  NC State #6?  It was a crazy, crazy year.

Wow. 10 of the top 14 made the Sweet 16. I thought the preseason polls were supposed to be worthless.

[Otule's Glass Eye]

If MU were to lose, it would be a disappointment for what could have been, but will be a huge success for what was expected of the season and this squad.

My thoughts exactly. Whenever we lose, if we lose, I will be sad and disappointed, because we could've  gone further. But, with the expectations I had coming in there's no way this season could be a disappointment.

[patso]

I've heard Deane was a good game coach but he could only recruit for a small time school and he was in over his head. Didn't he do good with the players he inherited but then did not stock the coffers? Didn't know he was swiller but more power to him.

[AlienWarrior]

With the way our team is playing NOW, not achieving the final four would be a disappointment. However, if the season started today, a final four appearance would have been an amazing expectation.

[Aughnanure]

Yep. Tanned Tommy cashed in that Final Four chip and signed a slew of 5 stars then took us right back to the...NIT. He did hang a sh1tload of stupid banners, though.

Crean has nothing to do with the success of the past few years. Nothing.

We can hate him all we want but this, right here, is completely 100% wrong. If we don't go to the Final Four, if we don't get Dwyane Wade, if we dont start off our Big East membership on such a strong foot, we may not be here. Hard to say if without Crean revitalizing the program that we would be even in the Big East. If you don't think getting into the Big East has been absolutely huge for where this program is than I don't know what to tell you.