Interesting Question from Homer

[Galway Eagle]

I was listening to the Marquette basketball hour where Homer was interviewing Jimmy Mac, Roney Efford and Tony Miller. Homer stated that for years he's felt that the 94 sweet 16 team was actually better than the 2003 Final Four team. To me that seems absurd, but maybe some of the older guys can validate that?

[GGGG]

I was listening to the Marquette basketball hour where Homer was interviewing Jimmy Mac, Roney Efford and Tony Miller. Homer stated that for years he's felt that the 94 sweet 16 team was actually better than the 2003 Final Four team. To me that seems absurd, but maybe some of the older guys can validate that?

It was not.

Duane Wade was far better than anyone on that team.  Diener was a better scoring option than Miller at point.  That team never cracked the top 20 in the AP poll until the last week of the season and was a 6 seed in the tournament.  The 2003 team was top 10 at the end an a 3 seed.

[warriorchick]

I was listening to the Marquette basketball hour where Homer was interviewing Jimmy Mac, Roney Efford and Tony Miller. Homer stated that for years he's felt that the 94 sweet 16 team was actually better than the 2003 Final Four team. To me that seems absurd, but maybe some of the older guys can validate that?

Might be a little flattery for his guests.

[brewcity77]

The only two teams in recent memory that might have been better than the 2003 team are the 2009 team (when fully healthy) and the 2012 team.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Yeah, no.  Much as I loved those guys for getting us back on the map, they weren't anywhere near as good due to the transcendent player that DWade was.

[Galway Eagle]

It was not.

Duane Wade was far better than anyone on that team.  Diener was a better scoring option than Miller at point.  That team never cracked the top 20 in the AP poll until the last week of the season and was a 6 seed in the tournament.  The 2003 team was top 10 at the end an a 3 seed.

not to nitpick but it's Dwyane Wade. And thanks for the input, I'm sure Mac Efford and Miller were just talking themselves up but they seemed to agree that they could've taken him. I believe it was Efford who said after taking out Penny Hardaway, Wade wouldn't be a problem.

[wadesworld]

It was not.

Duane Wade was far better than anyone on that team.  Diener was a better scoring option than Miller at point.  That team never cracked the top 20 in the AP poll until the last week of the season and was a 6 seed in the tournament.  The 2003 team was top 10 at the end an a 3 seed.

And Dwyane Wilson is almost as good as that Wade guy.

[GGGG]

not to nitpick but it's Dwyane Wade. And thanks for the input, I'm sure Mac Efford and Miller were just talking themselves up but they seemed to agree that they could've taken him. I believe it was Efford who said after taking out Penny Hardaway, Wade wouldn't be a problem.

Well then you gotta score more than 49 point v. Duke in the S16 then.

[bradley center bat]

The same 2003 that got smacked by UAB in the Conf USA Tournament.  First round grind vs Holy Cross that was saved by Travis. 1994 would match-up pretty well.

[manny31]

I think 2003 wins 8 out of 10 games. This thread got me thinking about HEllenson. While I think most will agree that he is and will continue to be a great basketball player I never saw the one and done player. This is Wade's fault. I always thought one and done guys just dominate games. I have been comparing HEllenson to Wade vs Pitt and Wade vs Kentucky in the run up to the final 4. That Kentucky game was an epic dismantling of an overall 1 seed. I guess that isn't the correct measure for what a one and done guy should look like.

[muwarrior69]

Our '71 team was better than our National Championship team.

[Galway Eagle]

Our '71 team was better than our National Championship team.

Well that's the obvious answer to the question that wasn't asked and has nothing to do with the 94 or 2003 team.

[warriorchick]

There is also the possibility that Homer was stroking these guys a little bit.

[Galway Eagle]

There is also the possibility that Homer was stroking these guys a little bit.

I could see that. Just on the off chance he wasn't I figured I'd see if the general consensus was that the 94 team is severely underrated.

[DoggyDaddy]

Well that's the obvious answer to the question that wasn't asked and has nothing to do with the 94 or 2003 team.

I second that. The 1971 Warriors were truly special and yes, better than the 1974 and 1977 teams, though I loved them all.
Wade was indeed transcedent in 03 and tough to compare with the older teams. 
But Dean the Dream Memimiger was that way in 1971.
He was not the scorer of DWade, though he could score. The Dream controlled the ball for every game: smooth as silk, steady as they come, no turnovers.
The only game MU lost that year was when he fouled out on a cheap charging call by a Big 10 Ref. Yes, we were playing Ohio State in the regionals. It was the only game in the Dream's great MU career he ever fouled out of.         

[MU82]

not to nitpick but it's Dwyane Wade. And thanks for the input, I'm sure Mac Efford and Miller were just talking themselves up but they seemed to agree that they could've taken him. I believe it was Efford who said after taking out Penny Hardaway, Wade wouldn't be a problem.

Oh no you didn't ... just go out of your way to correct the spelling of a fellow Scooper and then misspell Eford's name ... twice!

As for Eford's quote, yes, I'm sure he also would have kept Wade from being an NBA All-Star ... if only Eford had been good enough to get into an NBA game and defend anybody, let alone Wade. Hilarious.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

I second that. The 1971 Warriors were truly special and yes, better than the 1974 and 1977 teams, though I loved them all.
Wade was indeed transcedent in 03 and tough to compare with the older teams. 
But Dean the Dream Memimiger was that way in 1971.
He was not the scorer of DWade, though he could score. The Dream controlled the ball for every game: smooth as silk, steady as they come, no turnovers.
The only game MU lost that year was when he fouled out on a cheap charging call by a Big 10 Ref. Yes, we were playing Ohio State in the regionals. It was the only game in the Dream's great MU career he ever fouled out of.       

There is another thread for comparing MU's best teams ever.

[GGGG]

The same 2003 that got smacked by UAB in the Conf USA Tournament.  First round grind vs Holy Cross that was saved by Travis. 1994 would match-up pretty well.

Sure the 1994 team would match up well - it was a top 25 team that made the Sweet 16.  The 1994 team wasn't better though in my opinion. 

[Galway Eagle]

Oh no you didn't ... just go out of your way to correct the spelling of a fellow Scooper and then misspell Eford's name ... twice!

As for Eford's quote, yes, I'm sure he also would have kept Wade from being an NBA All-Star ... if only Eford had been good enough to get into an NBA game and defend anybody, let alone Wade. Hilarious.

not sure an extra "F" is the same as completely misspelling the name of our all time most recognizable basketball star though I do see the irony and chuckled.

[GGGG]

not to nitpick but it's Dwyane Wade. And thanks for the input, I'm sure Mac Efford and Miller were just talking themselves up but they seemed to agree that they could've taken him. I believe it was Efford who said after taking out Penny Hardaway, Wade wouldn't be a problem.

Penny Hardaway was a fantastic college basketball player.  However those Memphis teams weren't great.  The first year, Marquette went 1-1 against them.  Memphis went on a little run all the way to the regional finals.

The second year Memphis started the season ranked top 10, lost their first three games, finished the season unranked and losing in the first round of the tournament.

The 2003 Marquette team was head and shoulders better than both of these Memphis teams.

[#UnleashSean]

I think the best time in my life time was the 2012 team.

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

1994 team was huge, old,  tough As nails and had three future NBA players on the roster.  Also had a few other outstanding collegiate players that did not make NBA.
Really enjoyed that team but were not as gifted as the 2003 team.

[GGGG]

1994 team was huge, old,  tough As nails and had three future NBA players on the roster.  Also had a few other outstanding collegiate players that did not make NBA.
Really enjoyed that team but were not as gifted as the 2003 team.

I forgot that Crawford was a freshman on that team.

[MUDPT]

538's ELO rankings Top 10

1. 1976
2. 2008
3. 1977
4. 1971
5. 2002 (ha)
6. 2012
7. 2003
8. 1974
9. 1978
10. 2009
11. 1973
12. 2010
13. 2013
14. 1994

I think I got that right.

[MU82]

not sure an extra "F" is the same as completely misspelling the name of our all time most recognizable basketball star though I do see the irony and chuckled.

Thanks for taking it in the manner it was intended.