What would it take for Buzz to reach Al

[Galway Eagle]

Last night around a bonfire me an some friends got into a little debate about whether buzz could ever get to or surpass Al's level.  And I was curious what everybody thought.  I mean obviously Al took a program that was reletively unknown and turned us into a powerhouse whereas Buzz took over in a different situation.  But I'm just curious what it would take in all of your minds.  

[Aughnanure]

Win a National Championship.

[muwarrior69]

Win a National Championship.

Win 2 National Championships or more....for Marquette of course.

[MU82]

It is more than championships.

Al was AL! even before he won his title in his final year. He got to a Final Four, losing to one of the great teams of that era. He elevated Marquette to "blue blood" status; we were considered legitimate national title contenders throughout the '70s. He brought in recruits that routinely would be taken high in the draft. He had a certain style that made him special.

Oh, and was there ever even a hint he would leave Marquette to go elsewhere? If so, I never heard about it. He was Mr. Marquette, through and through.

Buzz is on his way to becoming BUZZ!, a brand name in college basketball. He has a long way to go to be mentioned seriously with Al, but not nearly as long a way as he had just a couple years ago.

[tower912]

Al had MU at a level second only to UCLA during the final years of Wooden.  Nearly a decade.    It is not possible for Buzz to get MU to the level where they are the best team in the country year in and year out.   Very good, a final four contender....well, MU/Buzz is close to that right now. 

[MuMark]

The Bucks tried to hire him and he wanted to take it IIRC....don't know all the details about why it didn't happen.

It is more than championships.

Al was AL! even before he won his title in his final year. He got to a Final Four, losing to one of the great teams of that era. He elevated Marquette to "blue blood" status; we were considered legitimate national title contenders throughout the '70s. He brought in recruits that routinely would be taken high in the draft. He had a certain style that made him special.

Oh, and was there ever even a hint he would leave Marquette to go elsewhere? If so, I never heard about it. He was Mr. Marquette, through and through.

Buzz is on his way to becoming BUZZ!, a brand name in college basketball. He has a long way to go to be mentioned seriously with Al, but not nearly as long a way as he had just a couple years ago.

[Galway Eagle]

Al had MU at a level second only to UCLA during the final years of Wooden.  Nearly a decade.    It is not possible for Buzz to get MU to the level where they are the best team in the country year in and year out.   Very good, a final four contender....well, MU/Buzz is close to that right now. 

According to 50 in 50 (I'd say is a pretty fair point system) we were third to UCLA and Kentucky.

[GGGG]

According to 50 in 50 (I'd say is a pretty fair point system) we were third to UCLA and Kentucky.

And I think it is safe to say that given the current economics of college sports, it would be a near miracle for MU to get to that level again.

[ResidentBrown]

A championship.

[4everwarriors]

The Bucks tried to hire him and he wanted to take it IIRC....don't know all the details about why it didn't happen.

Buck Raynor wouldn't let him out of his contract.

[GOO]

Given how much more exposure college basketball gets now.  It is no longer a niche product, but rather part of the general culture especially during the NCCA tournament.  Given, that there are more teams and more money involved, etc.  If Buzz keeps doing what he has been doing for another 4 or 5 years, the impact/exposure on the University will be equal or greater than Al's.  Maybe not amongst the diehards, but the overall impact.

To truly match Al on the court, he probably needs to win a championship.   There is more competition now for the top spots and it is harder to achieve success year in and year out.

If he does what he has done for another 4 or 5 seasons, I would think it is nothing short of amazing and the impact will be equal to Al's.

[MU82]

The Bucks tried to hire him and he wanted to take it IIRC....don't know all the details about why it didn't happen.

Thanks, I didn't know that.

[tower912]

According to 50 in 50 (I'd say is a pretty fair point system) we were third to UCLA and Kentucky.

Kentucky had a better run than MU did during Al's years at MU?    Color me skeptical. 

[Goose]

MU was #2 in winning % for a decade behind UCLA.

[Dawson Rental]

Buck Raynor wouldn't let him out of his contract.

Thanks, I didn't know that.

I believe Al's line about being held to his contract was something like: "The Jesuits take a vow of poverty and they expect everyone else to, too."  Later Al admitted that he didn't think he would have been successful coaching "players who were making more than I was".

[Marqevans]

The Bucks tried to hire him and he wanted to take it IIRC....don't know all the details about why it didn't happen.

I heard he turned down the Notre Dame job too.

[tower912]

And in an interesting bit of symmetry, Digger tried to get the MU job after Al retired......or so I've heard. 

[swoopem]

Yeah and we were about to get Denny Crum from L'ville. Now that would have been sweet

[4everwarriors]

Yeah, and Bobby Knight took the job only to back out after the news leaked.

[augoman]

Yeah, and Bobby Knight took the job only to back out after the news leaked.

I didn't know that!!!

[augoman]

I guess he'd have to keep Marquette ranked in the top ten for ten years straight like Al did, have us picked top 5 preseason most years, and then win a national championship.  It would be a huge accomplishment, but I still don't think he'd be revered as Al was.  Al was Al. 

[Dr. Blackheart]

57 more home wins in a row

[dgies9156]

Buzz can't reach Al. Al will always be Marquette's past. A wonderful time when we were "arrogant and obnoxious" and atop the world. He defined an attitude that permiated us all.

Buzz needs to be Buzz. He needs to reach maximum "Buzzness," which I hope is at leasst two or more national championships!

Revere the past but live in the present.

[Aughnanure]

Buzz can't reach Al. Al will always be Marquette's past. A wonderful time when we were "arrogant and obnoxious" and atop the world. He defined an attitude that permiated us all.

Buzz needs to be Buzz. He needs to reach maximum "Buzzness," which I hope is at leasst two or more national championships!

Revere the past but live in the present.

If he wins 3 Championships he will.

[Galway Eagle]

Kentucky had a better run than MU did during Al's years at MU?    Color me skeptical.  

Just for the 70s they have two less tournament appearances, same number of sweet 16s, three more elite 8s same final fours, 1 runner up 1 title.  Ill look at the end of the 60s but the more Adolph Rupp time you add the less promising it'll be.

Edit: yeah if you add in the 60s portion of Al's tenure vs Kentucky they get another sweet 16 another elite 8 and another runner up.  While we get an elite 8 and sweet 16