Top Programs since 2000

[Mu2323]

Pretty cool to see Marquette in there at 23 despite their struggles. I guess a final four in 2003 and back to back to back sweet sixteens will do that with an elite 8. There were some really bad years sprinkled between the final four and elite eight from a few years ago but this just proves how desperately we need to turn this program around.


http://ncaa-basketball-teams.pointafter.com/stories/8716/best-ncaa-basketball-programs-since-2000?utm_medium=cm&utm_source=outbrain&utm_campaign=ao.cm.ob.dt.8716&utm_content=3335193#3-Marquette-Golden-Eagles

[Ellenson Guerrero]

There were some really bad years sprinkled between the final four and elite eight from a few years ago

Did I black out for these years?

[Mu2323]

I was referring to 2004 when we lost at home to W.Michigan in the NIT.  Couple that with loses in the opening round vs Alabama, and Michigan st. Maybe not really bad years but not years that I would brag about.

[naginiF]

though heavily weighted towards the end the BEast has a very good showing with Xavier, Butler, Georgetown, 'Nova and Gonzaga also on the list

[GooooMarquette]

Interesting to see Pitt so high (#12) without a single Final Four.  The only two other teams on the list without a Final Four are Gonzaga (#16) and Xavier (#25).  Notably, both UCLA (3 Final Fours) and Ohio State (2) are both behind Pitt.

To me, Pitt is the classic case of a team that consistently plays great ball from November to early March, then checks out.

[Golden Avalanche]

I was referring to 2004 when we lost at home to W.Michigan in the NIT.  Couple that with loses in the opening round vs Alabama, and Michigan st. Maybe not really bad years but not years that I would brag about.

Marquette started three Freshmen the year they lost to Alabama. With the year we're having now, it's funny to read an MU fan not wanting to discuss a Freshmen-dominated squad that actually made the NCAA Tournament. Oh, the horror.

[The Lens]

Marquette started three Freshmen the year they lost to Alabama. With the year we're having now, it's funny to read an MU fan not wanting to discuss a Freshmen-dominated squad that actually made the NCAA Tournament. Oh, the horror.

Wesley got hurt and Chapman started most games.  Plus Novak, a senior, was our best player.  When you best player is not an upperclassmen, it throws things off.  One of the reasons I was bullish on this season, was i expected a lot more out of Duane.  As a 3rd year-in-the-program player he could have the gravitas to command respect and lead by example.

[Benny B]

I would hardly qualify any year in which MU made the tourney as an at-large as a "bad year," especially 2006 where Alabama sandbagged their way into the tourney and 2007 where MU's all-time leading scorer was injured vs. Moo U.

[Mu2323]

Marquette started three Freshmen the year they lost to Alabama. With the year we're having now, it's funny to read an MU fan not wanting to discuss a Freshmen-dominated squad that actually made the NCAA Tournament. Oh, the horror.

You can say what you want but outside of the final four run in 2003 and the 3 straight years we were in the s16 this team has been average if that. In 16 seasons they made the s16 4 times. Im sorry but from what this program used to be to me that is a big disappointment. I understand rebuilding is a big factor in our program but i feel a second weekend in march should be the absolute worst we accomplish.

[Mu2323]

I would hardly qualify any year in which MU made the tourney as an at-large as a "bad year," especially 2006 where Alabama sandbagged their way into the tourney and 2007 where MU's all-time leading scorer was injured vs. Moo U.

I have tried to block standford/Missouri out of my memory. 

[Golden Avalanche]

Wesley got hurt and Chapman started most games.  Plus Novak, a senior, was our best player.  When you best player is not an upperclassmen, it throws things off.  One of the reasons I was bullish on this season, was i expected a lot more out of Duane.  As a 3rd year-in-the-program player he could have the gravitas to command respect and lead by example.

I remembered Matthews starting at the end of the year after his injury but I'm wrong. I'll disagree on Novak. DJ was the best and most dynamic player on that team.

[Golden Avalanche]

You can say what you want but outside of the final four run in 2003 and the 3 straight years we were in the s16 this team has been average if that. In 16 seasons they made the s16 4 times. Im sorry but from what this program used to be to me that is a big disappointment. I understand rebuilding is a big factor in our program but i feel a second weekend in march should be the absolute worst we accomplish.

Well, thanks for letting me say what I want. Here's another, you're clearly an old dude who romanticizes the past and hasn't reconciled that that $hit doesn't continue unabated for your entire life. I'm sorry your perspective on what is successful is 40 years out of date. Try to enjoy the sun a little more.

[Mu2323]

Well, thanks for letting me say what I want. Here's another, you're clearly an old dude who romanticizes the past and hasn't reconciled that that $hit doesn't continue unabated for your entire life. I'm sorry your perspective on what is successful is 40 years out of date. Try to enjoy the sun a little more.

You must be a badgers fan.

[brewcity77]

Well, thanks for letting me say what I want. Here's another, you're clearly an old dude who romanticizes the past and hasn't reconciled that that $hit doesn't continue unabated for your entire life. I'm sorry your perspective on what is successful is 40 years out of date. Try to enjoy the sun a little more.

Maybe a tad harsh, but +1. You can't base all of a program's success on tourney results. Our teams in 06, 07, 08, and 09 were all very good teams. Unfortunately they never made the second weekend. Our team in 10 overachieved massively and would've had a legit shot at the Elite Eight if not for a collapse against Washington. We've had a lot of good times, but most of them were in the regular season. The past few years, not so much.

But it's not the 1970s anymore, and frankly, anyone who hasn't come to grips with that must not have been paying a ton of attention when we practically vanished from the NCAA landscape during the Majerus and Dukiet years, and after O'Neill used us as a stepping stone only to see us step right back under Deane. The past 15 years are as close as we've been to the results of Al since, well, Al. I'd think people would see that as a good thing, not a negative.

[RushmoreAcademy]

Interesting list.  Two positive I take away are how strong I view all the programs ahead of us, as well as seeing that we aren't the only ones in a little bit of a down swing at the moment.

[wadesworld]

I remembered Matthews starting at the end of the year after his injury but I'm wrong. I'll disagree on Novak. DJ was the best and most dynamic player on that team.

Novak was 21 and 9 while shooting 50% from 3 (on 10 attempts per game) and 48% from the field (and 98% from the free throw line).  James was 15, 4, and 5 while shooting 43% from the field, 30% from 3, and 64% from the line.  Novak was clearly our best player his senior year.

[Lennys Tap]

Novak was 21 and 9 while shooting 50% from 3 (on 10 attempts per game) and 48% from the field (and 98% from the free throw line).  James was 15, 4, and 5 while shooting 43% from the field, 30% from 3, and 64% from the line.  Novak was clearly our best player his senior year.

Novak was an ungodly shooter and our best offensive player but IMO DJ was our best all around player.