This is progress

[1SE]

Regardless of what happens the rest of the way out, this has been progress over last season. Just the fact that it is March and we're still talking about THIS season is a huge improvement over the last 3 years. If we lose our next two and somehow don't make the NCAA that will be immensely disappointing, but still progress. If we get in straight to a Thurs/Fri game and, gasp, even win one or even two (this team is dangerous enough) that would be amazing.

I was on board after Creighton, was a bit disheartened after the G-town loss and dropping 4 of 5, but this team easily could have pulled an X, packed it in, and a$$-slid their way out of the season. Coming back and winning these 3 of 4 (really should be 4 of 4 UUUGGHH) is a testament to the players, and Wojo. Don't care that X is depleted, no easy outs in the BE. Winning 3 of 4, when we needed to, is huge.

Now if we lay an egg next year and post a losing record or something I'll be right back calling for warmth in the seat again. But this thing is trending the right direction (kudos to those of you who said that years ago, but I still think that was more a statement of faith than fact - I'm thrilled you've been right, but don't let it go to your heads too much  ).

Here's to hoping PC was the last L of the year.

[MU82]

Now if we lay an egg next year and post a losing record or something I'll be right back calling for warmth in the seat again.

I'm sure Wojo is relieved that some anonymous interwebs mope has given him a temporary stay of execution.

[1SE]

I'm sure Wojo is relieved that some anonymous interwebs mope has given him a temporary stay of execution.

He probably figures it can't hurt.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Last year Scoop was talking Vegas 16.  This year, Big Dance.  That right there reflects the progress made this year.

[Goose]

I would agree that there was some progress made in 2016 and even say beyond baby steps. Overall my grade for this season moved up to C+ based on the heart shown over last couple of weeks. I will add, several times last night our half court offense looked extremely good.

[dgies9156]

Agree with everything, there is progress. Consider:

1) The Hillbilly left us in the worst condition Marquette basketball had been in, at least since Dukiet and possibly EVER. The number of scholarship athletes we had in Wojo's first year was debilitating and it showed. The fact we won as many as we did was a testament to Wojo.

2) Last year we had a top 5 recruit and won 20 games, arguably on a weak schedule.  We had a lot of freshmen and it showed. The weaknesses on our team were largely due to inexperience.

3) We have a good team this year that's probably tournament bound. We did this despite losing our Top 5 recruit and knowing rebounding and power inside play would be a struggle. Our defense is much better and our guys are buying in.

4) Our recruits for next year fix the biggest single weakness on our team -- inside play. I'm thinking we may be one of the better teams in the conference if our freshmen gel next year.

Yeah, there are always things that we can do better. But I give Wojo credit because we're going where we are supposed to go. They just are.

[fjm]

And yet I feel over half the board (the trolls) would rather see the team go 0-30 as long as Wojo doesn't make the tourney.

This team is coming along nicely. I'm loving it.

[Bocephys]

I would agree that there was some progress made in 2016 and even say beyond baby steps. Overall my grade for this season moved up to C+ based on the heart shown over last couple of weeks. I will add, several times last night our half court offense looked extremely good.

What in the world were your expectations at the onset that this is a C+?

[Galway Eagle]

I would agree that there was some progress made in 2016 and even say beyond baby steps. Overall my grade for this season moved up to C+ based on the heart shown over last couple of weeks. I will add, several times last night our half court offense looked extremely good.

Out of curiosity what do you consider an A+? What grades were 11-12 and 08-09? What was 10-11?

[BM1090]

Out of curiosity what do you consider an A+? What grades were 11-12 and 08-09? What was 10-11?

Yeah I'm curious, because really 10-11 should be no higher than this year (at least at this point in the season)

[brandx]

Out of curiosity what do you consider an A+? What grades were 11-12 and 08-09? What was 10-11?

The only road to A+ is winning it all. Finishing 2nd in the BE would bring the grade to a B. Finishing 3rd? B-.  But there is still work to do for that.

C is average and we are 9-8. Easy choice for C+

[lohaus]

I feel much better about this years team. . . even though last year we had 20 wins.  We were a bad DePaul loss away from a 500 record in the conference and a 3 point Creighton loss from being 2 games  in the other direction.  More then likely that would be good enough for the NCAAs.

I can see the progress.  It used to be we were 6'6" (if that) swichables that couldn't shoot for crap or make free throws.  Now we are one of the best 3 point shooting teams in the country.  We have improved height.  Next year are are bringing ever more height and athleticism to the team.  Our guards are legit snipers.

Even though I keep reading or hearing that this win locked in an NCAA tourney. . . I will believe it when I see it!

[MUBigDance]

What is Great about this season is we have had some hugely disappointing close losses.

What I mean by that is we're still going to the tourney and with a couple of breaks and some more maturity we could be a solid 3 and even 2 in the BE.
Dare I say ranked??

I really think that will be corrected next year. Wojo is getting better...trial by fire. He will get it more and more. Next year we will see it. I just hope our nonconf schedule is better so we can prove it a bit more.

Final comment- Buzz was and is a good coach. I hope we meet and beat vaTech in the tourney.

[Galway Eagle]

The only road to A+ is winning it all. Finishing 2nd in the BE would bring the grade to a B. Finishing 3rd? B-.  But there is still work to do for that.

C is average and we are 9-8. Easy choice for C+

Too set in stone if you're expected to be terrible and play above expectations would that not warrant a higher grade given expectations?

[fjm]

Too set in stone if you're expected to be terrible and play above expectations would that not warrant a higher grade given expectations?

right, we were picked for 7th in BE and not even expected to be in the tourney discussion...
Granted we are 6th currently, but we are guaranteed a finish above 7th, and are 100% in the tourney discussion.

So improvement on expectations does not count as success. Apparently for some, success is only defined by championships. I'm sure this is the same guy that thinks any NFL QB without a super bowl ring shouldn't be in the HOF or their kid getting a B+ on a math test after getting a C- on the first one isn't progress, it's trash.

[Goose]

Bocephys

Expectations were for a C or C+ season, a bubble team or NIT team. Don't find that anything to get overly excited about. Gave them the + because they have shown a bit of grit the last couple of weeks. Overall, some exciting moments and some real downer moments. Biggest disappoint to me is complete lack of understanding on how to play D and not a great deal of player development.

That all adds up to a C+ in my book.

[MUCrew]

We are so far from the 14-15 season:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOIGSZ9jZyY

[Bocephys]

Bocephys

Expectations were for a C or C+ season, a bubble team or NIT team. Don't find that anything to get overly excited about. Gave them the + because they have shown a bit of grit the last couple of weeks. Overall, some exciting moments and some real downer moments. Biggest disappoint to me is complete lack of understanding on how to play D and not a great deal of player development.

That all adds up to a C+ in my book.

Got it, so the C+ is a global rating of a successful season for any team, not in relation to any Marquette specific expectations you had about this year specifically.  In that sense, it is fair.

[warriorchick]

The only road to A+ is winning it all. Finishing 2nd in the BE would bring the grade to a B. Finishing 3rd? B-.  But there is still work to do for that.

C is average and we are 9-8. Easy choice for C+

Wow.  Tough grader.

So only one student can get an A+, even if there are 351 kids in the class?

[bilsu]

The only road to A+ is winning it all. Finishing 2nd in the BE would bring the grade to a B. Finishing 3rd? B-.  But there is still work to do for that.

C is average and we are 9-8. Easy choice for C+

We were generally predicted to finish 7th in the league, so I would say a B rating.
Providence was generally expected to finish 9th, so I would give Cooly an A rating.
Butler head coach would get a B
Georgetown head coach would get a D leaning towards an F.
Xavier head coach a D
Villanova & DePaul a C. They did as expected.
St. John's a B
Seton Hall a C+
Creighton maybe a B for not falling apart like Xavier did.

[Bocephys]

Wow.  Tough grader.

So only one student can get an A+, even if there are 351 kids in the class?

The rest get to hang a banner!

[LAZER]

Bocephys

Expectations were for a C or C+ season, a bubble team or NIT team. Don't find that anything to get overly excited about. Gave them the + because they have shown a bit of grit the last couple of weeks. Overall, some exciting moments and some real downer moments. Biggest disappoint to me is complete lack of understanding on how to play D and not a great deal of player development.

That all adds up to a C+ in my book.

I have my concerns too, but results matter. If they can get to 10-8 top 4 in BE, and an NCAA bid, that's a really nice season.

[KampusFoods]

We were generally predicted to finish 7th in the league, so I would say a B rating.
Providence was generally expected to finish 9th, so I would give Cooly an A rating.
Butler head coach would get a B
Georgetown head coach would get a D leaning towards an F.
Xavier head coach a D
Villanova & DePaul a C. They did as expected.
St. John's a B
Seton Hall a C+
Creighton maybe a B for not falling apart like Xavier did.

Villanova a C?

[GB Warrior]

Wow.  Tough grader.

So only one student can get an A+, even if there are 351 kids in the class?

Everyone else gets a participant trophy.

[GoldenZebra]

Its pretty obvious the team is just that, a team. They need each other to win and its nice to see there isn't just one guy that MU needs to get consistent every game to do so. Team chemistry is probably the best I have seen in many years.