Look to the left on this page, last place fellas!

[79Warrior]

Not placing any blame, but this really sucks. When the hell was the last time we were last?

Love my Warriors and this just pisses me off.

It's a bloody Valentine Day for us MU fans, thats for sure.

[willie warrior]

Ah yes. Remember the Dukiet.

[tower912]

Every prognosticator predicted MU between 7th and 9th.   And that was with Dawson, Burton, and a healthy Carlino.   As one of those who predicted 10-14 wins in a preseason poll, my question continues to be...what the hell did you expect?    I will make another prediction.   Next year isn't going to be an instant return to glory.     

[79Warrior]

Every prognosticator predicted MU between 7th and 9th.   And that was with Dawson, Burton, and a healthy Carlino.   As one of those who predicted 10-14 wins in a preseason poll, my question continues to be...what the hell did you expect?    I will make another prediction.   Next year isn't going to be an instant return to glory.     

I agree. Next year equally as challenging

[Dawson Rental]

I agree. Next year equally as challenging

Equally?

[ChicosBailBonds]

Hopefully addition by subtraction....we'll see.

[Lennys Tap]

Equally?

Unless (maybe even if) Wojo whiffs on all four open scholarships next year will be better.

[NotAnAlum]

A few hours ago Villanova played Butler for first place in the Big East.
Last year Butler finished the BE season at 4-14.
Three years ago Villanova turned in a 5-13 BE mark.
This to shall pass.

[We R Final Four]

10th place is much better for our deep BEast tourney run than 8th or 9th,aina?

[MU82]

A few hours ago Villanova played Butler for first place in the Big East.
Last year Butler finished the BE season at 4-14.
Three years ago Villanova turned in a 5-13 BE mark.
This to shall pass.

This.

[Earl Tatum]

To '79Warrior Same Sentiments. This really SUCKS! Yep, Dukiet was bad. What happened
to the great MU Tradition? Nothing but puiss poor coaches after Al and Hank. Even Slick Rick. Hopefully Wojo can restore it and put us on the recruiting map.

[BM1090]

A few hours ago Villanova played Butler for first place in the Big East.
Last year Butler finished the BE season at 4-14.
Three years ago Villanova turned in a 5-13 BE mark.
This to shall pass.

This somehow made me feel so much better.

[brandx]

Not placing any blame, but this really sucks. When the hell was the last time we were last?

Probably the last time we had 7 players with no Jrs. or Srs. that can play.

Our 3 upperclassmen would be 5-8 minute players at best on a quality squad.

[tower912]

My prediction of 10-14 wins was based on a first time coach, new system, no returning height, no returning depth, no proven scoring, no one used to being the man at the college level.   Our experience isn't talented and our talent isn't experienced or proven.    Right now, a team without scoring has had to play without its one proven scorer.   

This season has been exactly what I expected.    Actually, I am pleased on one level because I wasn't expecting so many competitive losses against good teams.    I was expecting a lot more blowouts. 

[brewcity77]

Sure, it sucks, but we knew this year would be tough. Given the number of close losses and neat misses I'm still encouraged about the future. Honestly, this somewhat mirrors the start of Wojo's playing career at Duke. As a freshman, the Duke program, one year removed from the NCAA finals and two titles in the previous four years went 2-14 in conference and 13-18 overall. Before he left they were back in the Elite Eight.

Whether he'll have a similar turnaround remains to be seen, but one bad (yet competitive) year isn't the end. It only makes it more satisfying when we're back on top.

[Tugg Speedman]

My prediction of 10-14 wins was based on a first time coach, new system, no returning height, no returning depth, no proven scoring, no one used to being the man at the college level.   Our experience isn't talented and our talent isn't experienced or proven.    Right now, a team without scoring has had to play without its one proven scorer.   

This season has been exactly what I expected.    Actually, I am pleased on one level because I wasn't expecting so many competitive losses against good teams.    I was expecting a lot more blowouts. 

This ...

All this thread shows is how delusional this board is after 20+ games.  When are you going to to realize this is not a good team because it lacks talent?  It always has.

[MU82]

My prediction of 10-14 wins was based on a first time coach, new system, no returning height, no returning depth, no proven scoring, no one used to being the man at the college level.   Our experience isn't talented and our talent isn't experienced or proven.    Right now, a team without scoring has had to play without its one proven scorer.   

This season has been exactly what I expected.    Actually, I am pleased on one level because I wasn't expecting so many competitive losses against good teams.    I was expecting a lot more blowouts. 

You and me both, tower.

[willie warrior]

A few hours ago Villanova played Butler for first place in the Big East.
Last year Butler finished the BE season at 4-14.
Three years ago Villanova turned in a 5-13 BE mark.
This to shall pass.

That is one way to look at it. Another way: last year we were 9-9, this year 3-10. Going in the wrong direction. Yes, we sure as hell hope this will pass.

[Tugg Speedman]

That is one way to look at it. Another way: last year we were 9-9, this year 3-10. Going in the wrong direction. Yes, we sure as hell hope this will pass.

You're only as good as next year's recruiting class ... and that class is one of the highest ever.

[tower912]

No, you are only as good as what you have coming back.   If you are pinning your hopes on kids currently in high school in Wisconsin, a whole raft of them, all contributing immediately, you may get lucky, but you are more than likely whistling past the graveyard.   

[Da 'Lanche]

I attended Marquette between 1984-1988...by the time I left we had about as much talent as UW-Stout.    And...no hope on the horizon.    This sure feels different to me.    One recruiting class does not an upswing make...but it sure is a good start.   I knew this would be a transition year (or two) and am still disappointed in the results this year as we left a lot of wins on the table in close games, but, I am more hopeful than ever going forward.  That may not pan out, but, I choose to give Coach and the program my optimism and look forward to washing this eyesore of a season out of my memory.

[NersEllenson]

Given what the roster complexion was at the start of this season, this year has been a disaster.  Wojo's allocation of roster resources/talent and playing time awarded paved the way for this disaster.

And let's stop with all the talk of next year's recruiting class.  Virtually every poster here who continues to make excuses for Wojo has said all year long recruiting rankings don't matter.

[UticaBusBarn]

Of the coaches at Marquette, going back to Hickey, there have only been two who have made constant adjustments to try and get more from the team. One was Hank. The other is Wojo.

Wojo continues to make adjustments - different mixes on defence and different offensive sets - from game to game, and during games. Wojo tries to adapt his offence and defence, within the limits of the eight players on the team. He always puts together good game plans.

We all know it has not worked. We all know with one more physical inside player (Otule, or Gardner, for instance), this would be a totally different team. This could be skinniest team in the Big East. But, I think there is something else.

During the first one-third of the BE season the Warriors lost some games they should have won ... DePaul, the one inch game at home against Georgetown, etc.

The fact that they didn't win, I believe, left a mark on this team. They have a good coach, a good game plan, they play hard, but deep down it does not seem they have the confidence in themselves because of these earlier loses. As a result, they often implode and lose.

So, add it up ... no talent, no point guard, no inside bangers, no confidence, only two players who have any court sense, their best scorer is out three games, and a coach who is doing everything possible to get the most out of them.

In the end, it is not X's and O's, it is players. And, this year the team is short of players.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Given what the roster complexion was at the start of this season, this year has been a disaster.  Wojo's allocation of roster resources/talent and playing time awarded paved the way for this disaster.

And let's stop with all the talk of next year's recruiting class.  Virtually every poster here who continues to make excuses for Wojo has said all year long recruiting rankings don't matter.

When you get guys rated 50 to 100....a bunch of them don't pan out.  Plenty of examples at MU over the years and many other places.  You get fewer misses when you are 25 to 50, or 1 to 25....but rankings are what they are...subjective.  We'll see how it goes.

As for the allocation of resources and talent, all I can say is Buzz and Wojo BOTH have made the same decision on the PG position.  I have no doubt Wojo wants to upgrade the position in a material way, plus bring in shooters (which Buzz seemed to never really give a crap about...just "out athlete" them and all will be fine).

This is why judging coaches in the first year or even years is a fool's errand.

[NersEllenson]

When you get guys rated 50 to 100....a bunch of them don't pan out.  Plenty of examples at MU over the years and many other places.  You get fewer misses when you are 25 to 50, or 1 to 25....but rankings are what they are...subjective.  We'll see how it goes.

As for the allocation of resources and talent, all I can say is Buzz and Wojo BOTH have made the same decision on the PG position.  I have no doubt Wojo wants to upgrade the position in a material way, plus bring in shooters (which Buzz seemed to never really give a crap about...just "out athlete" them and all will be fine).

This is why judging coaches in the first year or even years is a fool's errand.

Please remind me of recruits in Top 25-75 who haven't been good at MU?  Burton, JJJ, Duane, Luke all were in the 25-50 range by different services - all of them in Top 75 by any composite ratings.

And yes, Wojo and Buzz came to the same conclusion regarding PG playing time.  And both turned in crap coaching performances..