Why the Al??

[Mr. Nielsen]

I just listened to coach and he asked our 'real fans' to come out.  Chick and I intend to.  I guess you can turn in your membership card.

I get it.  You're bitter.  We've both been around long enough to remember some really bleak basketball.  Not sure why I understand your multiple rants today.  But so be it.  The NIT can produce some great hoops for us these next couple of weeks and I intend to enjoy it.  I hope you enjoy the off season that officially began at 5p for you.

I'm looking forward to Wednesday night.

[WarriorDad]

I just listened to coach and he asked our 'real fans' to come out.  Chick and I intend to.  I guess you can turn in your membership card.

I get it.  You're bitter.  We've both been around long enough to remember some really bleak basketball.  Not sure why I understand your multiple rants today.  But so be it.  The NIT can produce some great hoops for us these next couple of weeks and I intend to enjoy it.  I hope you enjoy the off season that officially began at 5p for you.

We are hoping to drive up for the game, need to adjust some meetings to make it work. 

[Nukem2]

I just listened to coach and he asked our 'real fans' to come out.  Chick and I intend to.  I guess you can turn in your membership card.

I get it.  You're bitter.  We've both been around long enough to remember some really bleak basketball.  Not sure why I understand your multiple rants today.  But so be it.  The NIT can produce some great hoops for us these next couple of weeks and I intend to enjoy it.  I hope you enjoy the off season that officially began at 5p for you.

Yup, we will be there.

[Billy Hoyle]

I loved the NIT game in the mid-90's at MECCA.  Aaron Hutchins was awesome if I remember correctly

Brutal game offensively until OT. Fortunately Chuck Atkins' FT to win it rimmed out in the final seconds (my eyes were covered, couldn't watch it). Hutch with a clutch 3 and then Eford with the steal and 3 point play to clinch it. I remember Deane coming up the stairwell in the 1212 Building to thank us for waiting in line for tickets showing off a NIT lapel pin on his sport coat.

The Al should be an awesome atmosphere. I remember GTown and Seton Hall playing NIT games in their on campus gyms. It will look great on TV too.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

I just listened to coach and he asked our 'real fans' to come out.  Chick and I intend to.  I guess you can turn in your membership card.

I agree with your sentiment - if MU makes MSG I will be there. 

I'm glad that coach has decided who can go and not go though.  Odd

[bilsu]

I was told at the half-time of the Creighton game that MU could not play an NIT game at BMO Harris, because MU's contract ended with them with the Creighton game.

I am excited to see how Howard and Rousey shoot at the Al. Their comfort level should be very high with them playing on their practice court. Throw in an opponent that is not familiar with them and I am anticipating big offensive games out of both players.

[Goose]

I will be there and hope they win.

[Nukem2]

I was told at the half-time of the Creighton game that MU could not play an NIT game at BMO Harris, because MU's contract ended with them with the Creighton game.

I am excited to see how Howard and Rousey shoot at the Al. Their comfort level should be very high with them playing on their practice court. Throw in an opponent that is not familiar with them and I am anticipating big offensive games out of both players.

Actually, it's not their practice court.  That's downstairs.

[jsglow]

I was told at the half-time of the Creighton game that MU could not play an NIT game at BMO Harris, because MU's contract ended with them with the Creighton game.

I am excited to see how Howard and Rousey shoot at the Al. Their comfort level should be very high with them playing on their practice court. Throw in an opponent that is not familiar with them and I am anticipating big offensive games out of both players.

1) Interesting.  Hadn't considered that.

2) They actually practice downstairs in the Kasten gym but no doubt all have played enough upstairs and will likely all this week.

[GooooMarquette]

Kudos to those who are going.  I can't make it to Milwaukee in time for the 6pm start, but I will be there in spirit. 

Things could be better...but they could also be so much worse.

Go Marquette!

[79Warrior]

I just listened to coach and he asked our 'real fans' to come out.  Chick and I intend to.  I guess you can turn in your membership card.

I get it.  You're bitter.  We've both been around long enough to remember some really bleak basketball.  Not sure why I understand your multiple rants today.  But so be it.  The NIT can produce some great hoops for us these next couple of weeks and I intend to enjoy it.  I hope you enjoy the off season that officially began at 5p for you.

Wojo needs to get a grip.

[NorthernDancerColt]

But what about all of those cheap, short flights between Milwaukee and Portland?

If we face the Ducks in rd2, will the Portland area viewing party be held in Milwaukie? It's only a 6.5 mile drive .

[Lennys Tap]

I'm in Florida so will only watch on TV. Guess that means I'm not a "real fan" in Wojo's eyes. Whatever.

[BM1090]

I'm in Florida so will only watch on TV. Guess that means I'm not a "real fan" in Wojo's eyes. Whatever.

You know damn well that's not what he meant.

[dgies9156]

I just listened to coach and he asked our 'real fans' to come out.  Chick and I intend to.  I guess you can turn in your membership card.

I get it.  You're bitter.  We've both been around long enough to remember some really bleak basketball.  Not sure why I understand your multiple rants today.  But so be it.  The NIT can produce some great hoops for us these next couple of weeks and I intend to enjoy it.  I hope you enjoy the off season that officially began at 5p for you.

Glow, you're right. My off-season began at 5:13 p.m., Sunday.

The worst thing that could happen to the program is that we revert to the mean of the Dukiet or even Deane years.  Marquette does not have a huge endowment and basketball means a lot in terms of revenue, interest in the university and support. What will that mean in terms of interest, exposure and income to do the things the university needs to do? I can't imagine it would be good. Our minimum goal should be the NCAA tournament.

Look, I want Wojo to succeed. But I'm concerned that if he doesn't, the implication for our program and our university is not good. I think we're at an inflection point and hopefully a good one, but there are still lots of questions that going to the NIT won't resolve.

Finally, I'm not turning in my membership card. True fans are critical fans when things are not going well. As I have said elsewhere in here, I'm also a Cardinals fan, which is a very successful baseball team in a non-major market. I believe the Cardinals have been good for a long time because their ownership knows that if the team goes bad for more than a year or two, the fan interest will wane significantly -- as it did in the late 1970s and early 1980s. 

I've followed Marquette since the 1960s, before most of the people on this board were born. I went to games in the Arena and Bradley Center and expect to be at the Warrior Center next fall. We've done a lot of things for MU that go well beyond fandom as well and I'll be there regardless. Not flying from Florida to Milwaukee doesn't mean I'm not a true Warrior fan.

I'm not bitter. I'm frustrated that we're not living up to our potential.

[MU82]

If I lived within 100 miles of Milwaukee, I'd go for sure.

I'll be watching on TV and rooting on our lads.

To those unwilling to do either, that's cool. Whatever floats your boats - including anger.

[dgies9156]

-

[esotericmindguy]

Wojo needs to get a grip.

I agree. School spends around a million dollars per player each year. It's fine to expect more. It's year 4 and it was ugly. 293rd in the country in eFG%...that's not acceptable. Team is soft.

[4everwarriors]

So a thousand fans are going to pay the 1-day-notice airfare and burn two days of vacation to fly 2/3 of the way across the country to watch a first-round NIT game?

Shame dey kant due WN, aina?

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Wojo needs to get a grip.

Not really. Watch the interview. He was upbeat. Seemed like the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders. Disappointed for sure, but ready to get his team to go out and compete.

[mu03eng]

#NoRed and I will be there for sure. 6PM game in a gym where we can be close to the action for what should be a good game from an MU standpoint and a stave off the cold hard reality of a summer without MU basketball....I'm so in.

[jsglow]

Glow, you're right. My off-season began at 5:13 p.m., Sunday.

The worst thing that could happen to the program is that we revert to the mean of the Dukiet or even Deane years.  Marquette does not have a huge endowment and basketball means a lot in terms of revenue, interest in the university and support. What will that mean in terms of interest, exposure and income to do the things the university needs to do? I can't imagine it would be good. Our minimum goal should be the NCAA tournament.

Look, I want Wojo to succeed. But I'm concerned that if he doesn't, the implication for our program and our university is not good. I think we're at an inflection point and hopefully a good one, but there are still lots of questions that going to the NIT won't resolve.

Finally, I'm not turning in my membership card. True fans are critical fans when things are not going well. As I have said elsewhere in here, I'm also a Cardinals fan, which is a very successful baseball team in a non-major market. I believe the Cardinals have been good for a long time because their ownership knows that if the team goes bad for more than a year or two, the fan interest will wane significantly -- as it did in the late 1970s and early 1980s. 

I've followed Marquette since the 1960s, before most of the people on this board were born. I went to games in the Arena and Bradley Center and expect to be at the Warrior Center next fall. We've done a lot of things for MU that go well beyond fandom as well and I'll be there regardless. Not flying from Florida to Milwaukee doesn't mean I'm not a true Warrior fan.

I'm not bitter. I'm frustrated that we're not living up to our potential.

Have a nice summer.

[fjm]

I'll be there fo sho.

[dgies9156]

Have a nice summer.

Hope you and Chick have a nice one as well.

[MerrittsMustache]

I'm absolutely disappointed in the way that this season turned out and I honestly feel like MU is in Year 4 of "but we're going to be really good next year."

That said, I'll be bringing the family to the NIT game because we enjoy going to MU basketball games. I'd obviously rather be heading to an NCAA Tournament game but I'm not going to turn down a chance to see my team play because I wish that they were on a bigger stage.