Are MU Games More Enjoyable Than Years Past?

[Tugg Speedman]

You agree or disagree with the following ....



I find this team more enjoyable to watch than any team in recent years.  Their style of play is very entertaining.

The Buzz teams that were going to S16, S16 and E8 were exciting because they were winning.  But the paint touch 40 points a game style was ... boring.

I remember being stunned when Crowder would score 30 points.  Now, this happens almost every game.

I remember how wild the crowd went when wild when Jake Thomas hit a three and was fouled against Syracuse for a 4 point play.  Now Rowsey might do this more than once a game.

I remember how this board blew up in excitement when some player hit 4 or 5 threes in a half.  Now it is disappointed if someone does not hit 4 or 5 in a half.

Yes, I would rather have this team ranked 10 to 15 like a lot of those teams, but I cannot deny I am as interested in this year team as those teams.

[MUfan12]

For me, the gold standard for enjoyment was the 08-09 team. They had a gear that few teams could match. DJO and Jae's senior year was a fun team as well. I'd prefer those two over this one. They could score it, but were tough as hell, and took pride in guarding guys.

While I look back at the year fondly, the Elite 8 team was difficult to watch at times. Just couldn't throw it in the ocean for long stretches.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

This team is one of the most enjoyable to watch in recent memory. We are rarely "out of games."

[MuMark]

Yes......love the style of play and the kids on the team.

Win or lose I'm almost always entertained.

[CTWarrior]

Agreed that they are fun to watch.  85-82 is much more entertaining than 55-52.

[Big tuna]

Very fun to watch our team hoist up 3's and score so many points.

Not very fun when the announcers after Villanova game matter of factly state "Marquette defense was awful!"

This season is on the brink with tonight's game.
Defend or it's over.  Fun,  but not a winning formula. 

[mu_hilltopper]

Watching MU score 80-90+ points is fun.

Watching opponents score 80-90+ points .. not so much.

[Goose]

I find this team entertaining to watch on offense and frustrating on defense. To me, it all comes down to winning for my enjoyment. I had a great time and the X and 'Nova games without a doubt. That said, going home with a loss takes away some of my enjoyment.

I got bashed last year for saying I had little interest in spending money going to games last season, and I meant it. This year, while may have lost two great games, I was not pissed off blowing some dough on the game. Lastly, winning is best entertainment in my book.

[Dr. Blackheart]

The last two seasons were two of three best offensively in likely 101 years of Marquette basketball.  They are also likely two of the worst defensively.  So no, not more enjoyable overall, but light years over many years in the past 40 years for sure.

Despite my harping on here about paint defense, I was not a fan of the KO and Deane teams. Slogging basketball was hard to get jazzed about.  If this team had just a mediocre defense, they would be as elite overall as their offense. This makes the Vichy Defense of the rim harder to watch, though.  When MU needs a stop, they better make their return trey.

I really enjoyed the Midgets year.  No margin of error. No match-up advantage.  Don't turn it over.  Find a vulnerability. Defend the paint at all costs. Shoot treys. Every game was a surprise.

[frozena pizza]

Having a good, highly ranked team is fun, regardless of how they do it.  For example, Virginia is routinely scoring in the 60s and winning games comfortably.  That's impressive.

Agreed that our shooting prowess is fun to watch.  But seeing 'Nova run straight line drives from 25 feet for layups and fouls all day was pretty damn painful to watch.

[skianth16]

For me, the gold standard for enjoyment was the 08-09 team. They had a gear that few teams could match. DJO and Jae's senior year was a fun team as well. I'd prefer those two over this one. They could score it, but were tough as hell, and took pride in guarding guys.

I'm with you on both points. I went into every game in 08-09 thinking we had a pretty good shot at winning, which is always a great feeling as a fan. We had good athletes that were able to finish at the rim and score on fast breaks while also playing strong defense. I'd love to get back to that style of play and have that caliber of athletes again. We may be close in 2 years.

This year's team is fun because you always know they can go on a run with their shooting ability, but the bad defense can be awfully frustrating at times. I'll take a team that can get a steal and finish a fast break with a dunk over a team that can shoot the lights out any day. Personally, I find college basketball much more enjoyable than the NBA specifically because of the effort on defense. Scoring in the 80's can be fun; holding teams under 70 is more fun IMO.

[Slim]

They must be! I brought my future son-in-law to the game Saturday. During an exciting time of the game, he turned to me and said, " When you die and go to heaven, there's going to be a Marquette game everyday, isn't there?"

I must have been in my happy place.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

At the end of the day I have more fun when we are playing as part of the top 20, against the top 20 and have just as much chance to win then lose.  So, layup drill cancels out fun of 90 point performances.

Agree with Dr. B on the midgets - always in it, always down the the last possession - seemingly no matter the opponent.  I nearly didn't survive that season but it was fun in hindsight. 

[jesmu84]

Very fun to watch our team hoist up 3's and score so many points.

Not very fun when the announcers after Villanova game matter of factly state "Marquette defense was awful!"

This season is on the brink with tonight's game.
Defend or it's over.  Fun,  but not a winning formula.

Congrats. You're a twitter celebrity now thanks to ScoopTakes

[MU82]

This season is on the brink with tonight's game.
Defend or it's over.

Comically hyperbolic - and ultimately inaccurate.

[Nukem2]

Comically hyperbolic - and ultimately inaccurate.

Yes, though it is a very important game in the grand scheme of things.

[hairy worthen]

I find this team entertaining to watch on offense and frustrating on defense. To me, it all comes down to winning for my enjoyment. I had a great time and the X and 'Nova games without a doubt. That said, going home with a loss takes away some of my enjoyment.

I got bashed last year for saying I had little interest in spending money going to games last season, and I meant it. This year, while may have lost two great games, I was not pissed off blowing some dough on the game. Lastly, winning is best entertainment in my book.

I am guessing that most people would trade entertaining style of play for final four appearances. Wisconsin under Bo is a good example.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

They must be! I brought my future son-in-law to the game Saturday. During an exciting time of the game, he turned to me and said, " When you die and go to heaven, there's going to be a Marquette game everyday, isn't there?"

I must have been in my happy place.

Comforting to know your future son-in-law is already thinking of your death.

[MU82]

First, thanks to Smuggles for starting an interesting thread.

I have "enjoyed" many eras of MU basketball.

Obviously, Al gave us teams that basically said: "We're here to turn the basketball world on its head. Deal with it." Very entertaining, cocky style, coached by an entertaining, cocky man.

KO gave us a couple of enjoyable seasons with the likes of Miller and McIlvaine. Blocked shots can be exciting, too!

I wasn't a big fan of the playing style under Crean, but he gave us arguably the greatest player in school history, one who was immensely enjoyable to watch, as well as some pretty entertaining supporting players.

Buzz came the closest to replicating Al's "vibe." He recruited JUCO kids who had chips on their shoulders, and I do enjoy hard-played, defensive games in which players from both teams get floor burns galore.

And yes, with the exception of Wojo's first-year, bare-cupboard team, I have generally enjoyed watching his lads play.

Most of us are guilty of recency bias at times, so it's human nature to focus on the frustrating moments when we watch the current group. But all of the above MU teams gave fans plenty of frustrating moments. Hell, Scoop would have been apoplectic watching most of the 1976-77 season, and our site would have featured many topics started about it being time for Al to go!

Obviously, winning makes everything more enjoyable. I love being ranked, seeing our scores all season long on the bottom lines on ESPN, FS1, CBSSN, etc.! The chest does get puffed out a little more. OK, a lot more. I love the feeling of playing for a high seeding rather than hoping to be on the right side of the bubble.

Wojo is on the right track. The 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons have the promise of successful teams that also are extremely entertaining. Here's hoping!

[Disco Hippie]

I am guessing that most people would trade entertaining style of play for final four appearances. Wisconsin under Bo is a good example.

No doubt about it!  If WOJO changed course and adopted a Bo's Slows style of play that would be A OK with me as long as it works.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Yes, though it is a very important game in the grand scheme of things.

Some might say it's the biggest game of the year.....

Wades?  That's your cue

[Goose]

hairy

I'd take winning over entertaining any day of the week. This year I will take the entertainment factor as a positive. I did not want to have another season of disappointment and have enjoyed the crazy individual scoring this season.

[KampusFoods]

Some might say it's the biggest game of the year.....

Wades?  That's your cue

Please don't bring that back

[Oldgym]

I am guessing that most people would trade entertaining style of play for final four appearances. Wisconsin under Bo is a good example.

Hell yes.  If I need a little eye bleach to get through watching us punch a ticket to second weekend on a 50-45 win, fine.  Way more fun than the NIT.

[MerrittsMustache]

To answer the initial question...No!

Winning ugly beats losing pretty.

In the recent past, I remember thinking that MU had a very good chance to win going into every single game, regardless of the opponent or their ranking or their stars or the game location. I now go into far too many games (for my liking) with the mindset, "If they can keep it close, who knows?"