Creighton Banged Up

[Johnny B]

Our guest comes in peace.  Let's be civil.  We are not exactly world beaters ourselves this year.

[Galway Eagle]

I've always wanted to ask a fan of a program like Creightons what it's like. I mean do you realistically hope to get to the second weekend or is it like being a bucks fan where you accept that your doomed to be out early? (Not trying to be a dick here just telling if from my perspective) I mean obviously yall have a nice tradition and some great players in the past but heck Id be ripping my hair out if just making the tournament was the goal every year.

[Jet915]

I think the crowds will hold up if we bounce back next year.  By insider accounts, Mo Watson and Cole Huff are the two best players on this current roster and they are both sitting out a transfer year.  Add a top 50 player in Justin Patton along with Isaiah Zierden and Toby Hegner and we have a nice complement of players.  We have one more scholarship for next year and many think it will either be Khyri Thomas (JC athletic wing) or a transfer.  Many Jay fans are hopeful that next year will be much better.

[CUJaysFan]

Obviously, attendance might drop off a bit if we really go in the tank this year. But any realistic CU fans knew this would be a transition year. We're still in the awkward position of playing MVC-caliber players in the Big East. Still, we do have a nice core of players on this team that will be back next year plus two very solid transfers in Huff and Watson.

As far as making the second round of the tournament--yes, very frustrating. Everyone thought last year was the year we would reach the S16 with Doug and Co. To get curb stomped by Baylor was pretty crushing.

Creighton has all the resources--unbelievable facilities, great fan support, financial commitment to basketball, excellent academics (not always a positive...). The only thing we don't have is a natural recruiting base. High school basketball in Nebraska is a joke, so we have to look elsewhere for players. We're still in the process of figuring out exactly where our recruiting ground will be most fertile.

[Golden Avalanche]

I've always wanted to ask a fan of a program like Creightons what it's like. I mean do you realistically hope to get to the second weekend or is it like being a bucks fan where you accept that your doomed to be out early? (Not trying to be a dick here just telling if from my perspective) I mean obviously yall have a nice tradition and some great players in the past but heck Id be ripping my hair out if just making the tournament was the goal every year.

Marquette is in the same situation. We're already one year out, likely a second in a row in six weeks. Zero guarantee of berths going forward. We're very much in a position where our most immediate goal is just making an NCAA Tournament. You better get out in front of this and call Bosley today.

[Galway Eagle]

Marquette is in the same situation. We're already one year out, likely a second in a row in six weeks. Zero guarantee of berths going forward. We're very much in a position where our most immediate goal is just making an NCAA Tournament. You better get out in front of this and call Bosley today.

Yes but I'll always have my main four college years of heart braking loss, sweet 16 sweet 16 elite 8 to remember till we're back up.  But I mean it sounds like everybody was going insane with the one sweet 16 (94) between 77 to 2003 I can't imagine the only ones being so old they're the stories that grandpa tells at thanksgiving.

[Coleman]

I've always wanted to ask a fan of a program like Creightons what it's like. I mean do you realistically hope to get to the second weekend or is it like being a bucks fan where you accept that your doomed to be out early? (Not trying to be a dick here just telling if from my perspective) I mean obviously yall have a nice tradition and some great players in the past but heck Id be ripping my hair out if just making the tournament was the goal every year.

Time to get some perspective, MU is much closer to being a program like Creighton than I think you realize. You were extremely lucky to attend MU the years you did.

Since the NCAA tournament was created 75 years ago MU has made it 30 times, less than 50% of the time. I think it is fair to say that for the overwhelming majority of MU's existence, just making the NCAA tournament was a reasonable goal, and at times maybe even an unrealistic goal. The only exceptions being the 1970s and arguably 2 years of Buzz Williams' tenure (recall that Buzz's first Sweet 16, MU was an 11th seed). Al McGuire and Buzz Williams are the only 2 MU coaches to make the tournament at least half the time. You have to understand they are the exceptions, not the rule. I attended MU from 2004-2008, and that stretch included an NIT, 3 NCAA births but a total of only one NCAA victory, and zero Sweet 16s. There were plenty of exciting moments, some brief stretches where we cracked the Top 25, but we were never elite. This is a much more realistic 4 year stretch for a random MU graduate to have experienced during their time at MU.

We are not a blue blood. We have tradition, but we also have a horrific 10 year stretch from 1983 to 1992 where we were under .500 and made zero NCAA tournaments. We will certainly not make the NCAA tournament every year. Making it 8 years in a row was an amazing experience, but if you expect that every decade going forward you will be disappointed. This is not to say I don't think Wojo can get us back to that level, but if he did it would be exceeding the average MU performance throughout history.

[CUJaysFan]

The NCAA Tournament is a crap shoot. It's inexplicable the teams that go on magical runs after having average or even disappointing regular seasons (e.g. UCONN last year).

For whatever reason, Creighton hasn't caught lightening in a bottle in the NCAA Tournament yet. The margin for error is razor thin in March. To illustrate, if Diener doesn't get a career high 29 against 14 seed Holy Cross, MU doesn't make the Final Four. If Hayward doesn't step on the baseline against Mizzou, MU had the squad to make a serious run in 2009.

Year after year we play great in the conference tournament and make the NCAA Tournament only to play like hot garbage when it really counts.

[Skatastrophy]

If Hayward doesn't step on the baseline against Mizzou, MU had the squad to make a serious run in 2009.

Bah, I shouldn't have read that right before I have to go to a meeting. Now I have a headache.

[Galway Eagle]

Time to get some perspective, MU is much closer to being a program like Creighton than I think you realize. You were extremely lucky to attend MU the years you did.

Since the NCAA tournament was created 75 years ago MU has made it 30 times, less than 50% of the time. I think it is fair to say that for the overwhelming majority of MU's existence, just making the NCAA tournament was a reasonable goal, and at times maybe even an unrealistic goal. The only exceptions being the 1970s and arguably 2 years of Buzz Williams' tenure (recall that Buzz's first Sweet 16, MU was an 11th seed). Al McGuire and Buzz Williams are the only 2 MU coaches to make the tournament at least half the time. You have to understand they are the exceptions, not the rule. I attended MU from 2004-2008, and that stretch included an NIT, 3 NCAA births but a total of only one NCAA victory, and zero Sweet 16s. There were plenty of exciting moments, some brief stretches where we cracked the Top 25, but we were never elite. This is a much more realistic 4 year stretch for a random MU graduate to have experienced during their time at MU.

We are not a blue blood. We have tradition, but we also have a horrific 10 year stretch from 1983 to 1992 where we were under .500 and made zero NCAA tournaments. We will certainly not make the NCAA tournament every year. Making it 8 years in a row was an amazing experience, but if you expect that every decade going forward you will be disappointed. This is not to say I don't think Wojo can get us back to that level, but if he did it would be exceeding the average MU performance throughout history.

It's 31 times on 32 bids.  With 16 sweet 16s that's a 50% rate of advancing (>50% if you go by how many times we've actually gone not just bids).  I agree it's not the norm.  If you remove 55, 59, 94, 03 you get two chunks where our success has been.  But that kinda removes the big back to the big stage year of the 90s the back to national prominence year of the 2000s and the two years that essentially started our basketball tradition so they're a bit important.  

[Galway Eagle]

Bah, I shouldn't have read that right before I have to go to a meeting. Now I have a headache.

While you're at it just start thinking of losing to the Lopez twins and quincy pondexter hitting that shot over Jimmy butler. (Talk about a rough three years in the final minute)

[hairy worthen]

I've always wanted to ask a fan of a program like Creightons what it's like. I mean do you realistically hope to get to the second weekend or is it like being a bucks fan where you accept that your doomed to be out early? (Not trying to be a dick here just telling if from my perspective) I mean obviously yall have a nice tradition and some great players in the past but heck Id be ripping my hair out if just making the tournament was the goal every year.

Whenever someone prefaces their statement with “I’m not trying to be a dick" ( or fill in the blank) It means that they really are a dick.

[mikekinsellaMVP]

Time to get some perspective, MU is much closer to being a program like Creighton than I think you realize. You were extremely lucky to attend MU the years you did.

Since the NCAA tournament was created 75 years ago MU has made it 30 times, less than 50% of the time. I think it is fair to say that for the overwhelming majority of MU's existence, just making the NCAA tournament was a reasonable goal, and at times maybe even an unrealistic goal. The only exceptions being the 1970s and arguably 2 years of Buzz Williams' tenure (recall that Buzz's first Sweet 16, MU was an 11th seed). Al McGuire and Buzz Williams are the only 2 MU coaches to make the tournament at least half the time. You have to understand they are the exceptions, not the rule. I attended MU from 2004-2008, and that stretch included an NIT, 3 NCAA births but a total of only one NCAA victory, and zero Sweet 16s. There were plenty of exciting moments, some brief stretches where we cracked the Top 25, but we were never elite. This is a much more realistic 4 year stretch for a random MU graduate to have experienced during their time at MU.

We are not a blue blood. We have tradition, but we also have a horrific 10 year stretch from 1983 to 1992 where we were under .500 and made zero NCAA tournaments. We will certainly not make the NCAA tournament every year. Making it 8 years in a row was an amazing experience, but if you expect that every decade going forward you will be disappointed. This is not to say I don't think Wojo can get us back to that level, but if he did it would be exceeding the average MU performance throughout history.

Nicely said, Bleuteaux.  I arrived a year after you, meaning last year was the first time since I arrived on campus that we did not Dance.  It also means I was a year shy of being party to the Western Michigan debacle, which will celebrate its ignominious 10-year anniversary this March.  All good things with perspective, my friends.

The NCAA Tournament is a crap shoot.

SHHHHH!  You'll rile up Lenny!

[Johnny B]

Time to get some perspective, MU is much closer to being a program like Creighton than I think you realize. You were extremely lucky to attend MU the years you did.

Since the NCAA tournament was created 75 years ago MU has made it 30 times, less than 50% of the time. I think it is fair to say that for the overwhelming majority of MU's existence, just making the NCAA tournament was a reasonable goal, and at times maybe even an unrealistic goal. The only exceptions being the 1970s and arguably 2 years of Buzz Williams' tenure (recall that Buzz's first Sweet 16, MU was an 11th seed). Al McGuire and Buzz Williams are the only 2 MU coaches to make the tournament at least half the time. You have to understand they are the exceptions, not the rule. I attended MU from 2004-2008, and that stretch included an NIT, 3 NCAA births but a total of only one NCAA victory, and zero Sweet 16s. There were plenty of exciting moments, some brief stretches where we cracked the Top 25, but we were never elite. This is a much more realistic 4 year stretch for a random MU graduate to have experienced during their time at MU.

We are not a blue blood. We have tradition, but we also have a horrific 10 year stretch from 1983 to 1992 where we were under .500 and made zero NCAA tournaments. We will certainly not make the NCAA tournament every year. Making it 8 years in a row was an amazing experience, but if you expect that every decade going forward you will be disappointed. This is not to say I don't think Wojo can get us back to that level, but if he did it would be exceeding the average MU performance throughout history.

Great attitude guess we should just expect wojo to get us a couple tourneys in a few decades and that will be fine with everyone, we should strive to become better than that. In all seriousness, Marquette is usually and will continue to be a regular at the tournament. Who cares about runs and skids of the past. The expectation is tournament here and the goal is realisticly at least s16 or more. If you want to find a team that's fine with just making the tourney once in a blue moon go root for the panthers next door.

[MU82]

Yes but I'll always have my main four college years of heart braking loss, sweet 16 sweet 16 elite 8 to remember till we're back up.  But I mean it sounds like everybody was going insane with the one sweet 16 (94) between 77 to 2003 I can't imagine the only ones being so old they're the stories that grandpa tells at thanksgiving.

As with everything in life, it's all a matter of perspective.

A teacher who gets a 3% raise and a few "attaboys" is thrilled with his/her situation while somebody in upper management at a Fortune 100 company who is accustomed to double-digit raises might be on a ledge -- or at least might be looking for another job -- if he/she "only" got 3%.

To a Kentucky fan, a good year is getting to the Final Four and a great year is winning the national title. Anything less sucks. To an N.C. State fan, a good year is getting to the NCAAs and a great year is reaching the Sweet 16. To a Creighton fan, a good year might be contending for a league title and a great year might be winning an NCAA tourney game. It's what one knows and what one has experienced that affects what one expects.

Even fans of the same team have different expectations. MU students whose four years included an NCAA bid, two Sweet 16s and an Elite 8 might have different expectations than students from the Dukiet era.

And God knows Cubbie fans have different expectations than Yankee fans do!

[Galway Eagle]

As with everything in life, it's all a matter of perspective.

A teacher who gets a 3% raise and a few "attaboys" is thrilled with his/her situation while somebody in upper management at a Fortune 100 company who is accustomed to double-digit raises might be on a ledge -- or at least might be looking for another job -- if he/she "only" got 3%.

To a Kentucky fan, a good year is getting to the Final Four and a great year is winning the national title. Anything less sucks. To an N.C. State fan, a good year is getting to the NCAAs and a great year is reaching the Sweet 16. To a Creighton fan, a good year might be contending for a league title and a great year might be winning an NCAA tourney game. It's what one knows and what one has experienced that affects what one expects.

Even fans of the same team have different expectations. MU students whose four years included an NCAA bid, two Sweet 16s and an Elite 8 might have different expectations than students from the Dukiet era.

And God knows Cubbie fans have different expectations than Yankee fans do!

I get it. I was just curious because all the other programs have eras where they were truly a great program whether for a handful of years or over a decade but Creighton has been consistently good but never great (tourny wise) and wanted to know that perspective.

Also for what it's worth I had to endure a fifth year at MU where we didn't even make the postseason.

[MarquetteBallin]

Injury update: Chatman and Zierden will play tomorrow. Zach Hanson is questionable, but it sounds like he's not going to be available.

[GooooMarquette]

While you're at it just start thinking of losing to the Lopez twins and quincy pondexter hitting that shot over Jimmy butler. (Talk about a rough three years in the final minute)

Don't forget Jean Felix!

[Texas Western]

Whenever someone prefaces their statement with “I’m not trying to be a dick" ( or fill in the blank) It means that they really are a dick.

Truer words were never spoken.

[swoopem]

While you're at it just start thinking of losing to the Lopez twins and quincy pondexter hitting that shot over Jimmy butler. (Talk about a rough three years in the final minute)

Those were my sophomore (Lopez), junior (Lazar), and senior (Pondexter) years. Oh, and my freshman year was when we scored about 10 points in the first half vs. Michigan State.

2006-2010 had a ton of great bball memories, but March was always a disappointment.

I know the 80s sucked, but at least you kinda expected it. I always had my hopes crushed in the worst ways.

[CreightonWarrior]

Think you guys will take this one. We simply haven't beent that competitive on the road outside of the Nebraska game (which is hilarious now). It will be interesting to see  how we play though. In most of our losses recently we have been jacking up 3s left and right at like a 30% clip or so. Thast not going to beat anybody. Against Seton Hall we played a lot more aggressive. I think that amped the energy on the team because the increase in effort level was noticeable. If we play with the energy we did against Seton Hall it could be a competitive game. If not then we're in trouble. Thats why they play the game though!

[keefe]

when we scored about 10 points in the first half vs. Michigan State.

The single most shameful 20 minutes of Marquette basketball

[Texas Western]

Yes but I'll always have my main four college years of heart braking loss, sweet 16 sweet 16 elite 8 to remember till we're back up.  But I mean it sounds like everybody was going insane with the one sweet 16 (94) between 77 to 2003 I can't imagine the only ones being so old they're the stories that grandpa tells at thanksgiving.

I think the reality is outside of the Bluest of Blue Bloods, most tradition rich programs have a profile similar to ours. Take Michigan State for example. They have had multiple periods comparable to the Dukiet Years here, in between their championship/ final four runs. Our goal every year is to make the tournament. Generally, if we are good enough to make it out of the Big East, with some luck we can win a few.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Injury update: Chatman and Zierden will play tomorrow. Zach Hanson is questionable, but it sounds like he's not going to be available.

That is unfortunate. 

[We R Final Four]

No longer a laugher, I guess.