A positive note from our own history

[The Lens]

In 2010, the year of Lazar and the Midgets, we started out 2-5 in conference after dropping an inexplicable loss to DePaul in Rosemont.  MU went on to go 11-7 in Conference and make the NCAAs.

2-5
DePaul

Perhaps history will repeat itself. 

That's all I got.

[tower912]

Buzz's best coaching job.

[Lennys Tap]

In 2010, the year of Lazar and the Midgets, we started out 2-5 in conference after dropping a inexplicable loss to DePaul in Rosemont.  MU went on to go 11-7 in Conference and make the NCAAs.

2-5
DePaul

Perhaps history will repeat itself. 

That's all I got.

I remember it well. Chico was apoplectic, all over Buzz. Kiss the tourney goodbye, unprepared, etc.. Then we won 9 of our next 11 and got a 6 seed in the tournament. Best coaching job I 've seen in my 50 years as a Marquette fan.

I'll root for a repeat, but nothing I've seen this year or last from the players or the coaches makes me think that it's possible.

[brewcity77]

More experienced coach, more experienced team, and those 5 losses had come by a combined 11 points, including four top-10 teams.

It's a nice thought, but this doesn't feel anything like 2010. While both were frustrating, we weren't playing like a doormat that year.

[MUfan12]

I remember it well. Chico was apoplectic, all over Buzz. Kiss the tourney goodbye, unprepared, etc.. Then we won 9 of our next 11 and got a 6 seed in the tournament. Best coaching job I 've seen in my 50 years as a Marquette fan.

Amazed at the toughness of that group. Won three straight road OT games.

This season feels more like Crean's second year to me. Had a strong freshmen class with a still green head coach. Won a road game at Cincy they weren't supposed to. Lost some games at home. Fans kinda beat down after two down years.

I just wish we had a future HOF shooting guard waiting to become eligible.

[The Lens]

Amazed at the toughness of that group. Won three straight road OT games.

This season feels more like Crean's second year to me. Had a strong freshmen class with a still green head coach. Won a road game at Cincy they weren't supposed to. Lost some games at home. Fans kinda beat down after two down years.

I just wish we had a future HOF shooting guard waiting to become eligible.

Rowsley?

[frozena pizza]

That was an amazing season.  5 of our first 7 conference games were against teams ranked in the top 12 and we lose at DePaul on a last second shot.  I went to the game at Seton Hall that year and will be going there again this year, so there's also that.

[Norm]

Nice thought, but that's not going to happen with this years team. The midgets could shoot the 3, this team can't. They were also much tougher as a group. It's gonna be a bumpy ride the rest of the season.

[tower912]

By the way, how experienced was that 2010 team?   How many freshmen saw significant minutes that year?

[WI inferiority Complexes]

If I remember correctly, JFB won two games in OT on the road in 09-10.  That's going to be hard to duplicate.

[rocky_warrior]

Lets go back an relive history from that night...

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=17424.0

[GoldenZebra]

I can only hope that this season turns out as well as that Zar team. But unfortunately, I dont see the same leadership. Lazar and jimmy were probably some of the best players their senior years. We dont have any of that this year.

[SaveOD238]

There were also FOUR future NBA players on that team, including an all-star: Jimmy, Zar, DJO, and Buycks.

Who are the four future NBAers on this team? Henry for sure. Luke might catch on as big-man depth, maybe Haanif can be a good-sized point someday, but I'm not ready to buy either of them as future NBAers at this point

[CTWarrior]

There were also FOUR future NBA players on that team, including an all-star: Jimmy, Zar, DJO, and Buycks.

Who are the four future NBAers on this team? Henry for sure. Luke might catch on as big-man depth, maybe Haanif can be a good-sized point someday, but I'm not ready to buy either of them as future NBAers at this point

Back then I'm not sure any of us thought any of those guys would be NBA players, either.  Maybe DJO and Zar as end of bench guys.  Jimmy Butler's progress from where he was as a soph at MU to where he is today is miraculous.  That guy deserves all the credit in the world.

I'm not saying this team can replicate what that team did though.  We have a few too many holes.

[manny31]

You can always hope, but the team we have today isn't half as tough as Zar and the midgets. The lack of consistency kills me, I think MU guys are soft, you can tell them to be tough and they go after loose balls for a bit but then soften again. Wally is the only guy that plays tough. Until MU gets guys that are Big East tough we will continue to lose to teams like Seaton Hall and De Paul at home. We will yearn for the Mike Deane days. Dark Days

[MarquetteDano]

Nevermind

[keefe]

That was an amazing season.  5 of our first 7 conference games were against teams ranked in the top 12 and we lose at DePaul on a last second shot. I went to the game at Seton Hall that year and will be going there again this year, so there's also that.

I wore the same pair of skivs for about two weeks during that streak where we didn't lose. Of course, I was in Tora Bora and had no idea Marquette won all those games but I like to think my lucky skivs had something to do with the magic of that Sweet Sixteen season

[CTWarrior]

You can always hope, but the team we have today isn't half as tough as Zar and the midgets. The lack of consistency kills me, I think MU guys are soft, you can tell them to be tough and they go after loose balls for a bit but then soften again. Wally is the only guy that plays tough. Until MU gets guys that are Big East tough we will continue to lose to teams like Seaton Hall and De Paul at home. We will yearn for the Mike Deane days. Dark Days

I don't know if soft is the right word.  HE and Luke just don't have great reflexes and aren't quick and get beat to balls a lot just because of that.  We lack strength and quickness, which can be perceived as lacking toughness.   Wally plays "tough" because he is quick and athletic.

[MUDPT]

I don't recall DJO & Buycks on that team. That was the next year.

DJO and Buycks both played that season.  The reason they were successful is because everyone was an outside threat and they barely turned it over.  Things that are lacking currently.  Look at the clip against Villanova, a team they played to an equal score across 3 games. Nova was a 2 seed that season.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/6WuDpV3CnOo

Look at all of the spacing, the ability to get the basket because the defenders can't pack the lane against the outside shooters.  If there is one problem with this current team, is that the coaching staff underestimated their outside shooting capabilities.  If we had shooters, it would free the bigs in the post more (our best offensive option) and also free the lane for more drives.  The offense's goal right now is to get to the basket and how many times last night were there 4 guys in the lane to help? 

[Dawson Rental]

Lets go back an relive history from that night...

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=17424.0

Genius posting.  Perspective is a good thing.

A lot of those posters have faded away....

[GooooMarquette]

I wore the same pair of skivs for about two weeks during that streak where we didn't lose. Of course, I was in Tora Bora and had no idea Marquette won all those games but I like to think my lucky skivs had something to do with the magic of that Sweet Sixteen season

Time to get those skivs back on.  Take one for the team, man!

[Dawson Rental]

More experienced coach, more experienced team, and those 5 losses had come by a combined 11 points, including four top-10 teams.

It's a nice thought, but this doesn't feel anything like 2010. While both were frustrating, we weren't playing like a doormat that year.

Lens' positiveness is a nice change of pace, but I've got to think that your analysis is much closer to the mark. 

I haven't read everything, but I doubt anyone has mentioned Matt Heldt and his growth or Anim's again getting minutes as positives from last night. 

[Dawson Rental]

Time to get those skivs back on.  Take one for the team, man!

Take one for the team?

He's not in-country anymore, so you just might be talking about divorce.  On the other hand, not washing the skivs does make standing for extended periods of time easier.