Realistic Expectations

[Ron Swanson]

I will be the first to say that I am extremely disappointed in the performance today.  That said, I am also very proud of players that represent Marquette University currently.  By all accounts they go about things the right way on and off the court.  The discussions here about Wojo, Buzz, Wardle etc...got me thinking.  I feel Wojo is doing exactly what the BOT wants, with the cleanliness of the basketball program.  I believe in that aspect, it is a breath of fresh air from the Buzz era.  However, on the court there seems to be a general lack of toughness, athleticism and junkyard dog attitude, that we became accustom to during Buzz's tenure. 

Is it possible in this day and age of college basketball to have both a clean program and a program full of players with those traits of a Buzz team (athleticism, switchables, toughness)?  A few programs come to mind, most notably Villanova, but there really aren't many of them.  This has me wondering if as a fan I need to make the decision if I want the program to win at all cost and deal with the drama off the court or have a squeaky clean program that doesn't win as much as I'd like.

My question to the board, is it possible for Marquette, in its current situation in the Big East, to find that balance of the Buzz era and the Wojo era? 

[tower912]

A good question.   Wojo has recruited good citizens with basketball skills.    He got his clock cleaned today by faster kids.    McEwen, Greg, and Akanno are for sure going to be at MU next year.    Torrence, too, if Markus leaves, IMO.   That will be a lot of big athletic guards.    We will see if it makes a difference. 

[#UnleashSean]

A good question.   Wojo has recruited good citizens with basketball skills.    He got his clock cleaned today by faster kids.    McEwen, Greg, and Akanno are for sure going to be at MU next year.    Torrence, too, if Markus leaves, IMO.   That will be a lot of big athletic guards.    We will see if it makes a difference.

I think tonight proved how far Markus is away from an NBA player.

[nyg]

A good question.   Wojo has recruited good citizens with basketball skills.    He got his clock cleaned today by faster kids.    McEwen, Greg, and Akanno are for sure going to be at MU next year.    Torrence, too, if Markus leaves, IMO.   That will be a lot of big athletic guards.    We will see if it makes a difference.

McEwen should start at point and Sacar come off bench.  Can't go thru another season like this and turnovers by the guards. Markus will not leave, unless he wants to play in Europe early.  Maybe this Akanno is a diamond in the rough find. 

[Warrior1969]

Realistic expectation?   How about winning a dam ncaa game???  Five years a ZERO!  Wojo has more resources then any other MU coach and this is what we get.  If this was buzz or Creans first 4 or 5 years would they have been fired???  I think so.

[Ron Swanson]

You didn't answer the question.   The question was, do we as fans have to sacrifice some squeaky clean for some off the court drama and more wins?  Buzz and Wojo are complete opposites, Is there a middle ground, and is it possible at MU in this day and age to be squeaky clean and still have the athleticism and toughness that the current team is sorely missing?

[Guy Fieri's Dad]

Would rather be dirty and good than squeaky and s**^^y

[tower912]

You didn't answer the question.   The question was, do we as fans have to sacrifice some squeaky clean for some off the court drama and more wins?  Buzz and Wojo are complete opposites, Is there a middle ground, and is it possible at MU in this day and age to be squeaky clean and still have the athleticism and toughness that the current team is sorely missing?

It has been asked and answered before.    And I believe it is. 

[skianth16]

Lots of thoughts here...

It seems like schools with legit issues are the rarity, not the norm. Remember, there are over 350 college teams, and only a handful make the news each year.

Will athletes get themselves into trouble from time to time? Sure, they're college kids with bigger than normal egos. So there might be a fight here or there, or maybe drinking/drugs, but I don't see that as anything more than normal college kid stuff. For schools to have a zero tolerance policy seems over the top, in my opinion. There's definitely a big, and perfectly fine, middle ground between Louisville and Villanova.

Running a clean program and running a winning program are certainly not mutually exclusive. And breaking the rules doesn't all of a sudden make you any better. I think it's more of the concept that those willing to cheat or break the law are just more willing to do anything to win.

I think Buzz was successful because he was willing to take risks on kids that others passed up.  That earned him a ton of loyalty and respect from his players. And it also showed that he was willing to take risks to win. Being too conservative can limit a coach at this level.

[Ron Swanson]

It has been asked and answered before.    And I believe it is.

I am not so sure and I don't know what the logical argument is that it is possible, the only program that comes to mind is Villanova.....Even Coach K has dramatically changed the type of kids he recruits from the early days of Grant Hill, Bobby Hurley and Christian Laettner.  He has had significantly more issues off the court in the last 10 years than he did the first 10 years.  I believe he made that decision that it was worth it.......Unfortunately I believe MU will have to make that decision as well.

[Mike Deane's Seat Belt]

The issues during the buzz era were no different than many competitive programs with a few rough players that do stupid things off the court

Its kind of ironic that a catholic university is super concerned with having a squeaky clean athletic program when its very institution the RCC is a complete disaster of scandal that makes the 90s UNLV teams look like angels. 

[Uncle Rico]

I am not so sure and I don't know what the logical argument is that it is possible, the only program that comes to mind is Villanova.....Even Coach K has dramatically changed the type of kids he recruits from the early days of Grant Hill, Bobby Hurley and Christian Laettner.  He has had significantly more issues off the court in the last 10 years than he did the first 10 years.  I believe he made that decision that it was worth it.......Unfortunately I believe MU will have to make that decision as well.

What issues off the court?

[WolfganghisKhan]

Compete for a tourney berth most years and win a couple games in the tourney every couple years. Thus, not winning a game in how long is a disappointment. I'm not asking for a lot here.

[Cheeks]

Would rather be dirty and good than squeaky and s**^^y

Find another program, university isn't going to go for that.  Period.

[Ron Swanson]

What issues off the court?

Corey Maggette, Marvin Bagley, Lance Thomas.....

[fjm]

Would rather be dirty and good than squeaky and s**^^y

Haha wait.

Really? Is this where MU fans and MU grads are at mentally?

Today SUCKED BALLS. I get it. And I am annoyed.

But this... whoever agrees... can go F off dude. Seriously.

[fjm]

Would rather be dirty and good than squeaky and s**^^y

Ps your son is a dumb looking idiot.

[Uncle Rico]

Corey Maggette, Marvin Bagley, Lance Thomas.....

Corey Maggette was there in 1999. Bagley's family connections to Nike?  Nike kids have been going to Duke for years

[Lennys Tap]

The issues during the buzz era were no different than many competitive programs with a few rough players that do stupid things off the court

Its kind of ironic that a catholic university is super concerned with having a squeaky clean athletic program when its very institution the RCC is a complete disaster of scandal that makes the 90s UNLV teams look like angels.

Amen, Brother Mike.

[WhiteTrash]

Ps your son is a dumb looking idiot.

Wow! I thought 13 year olds were only on Snapchat.

[Guy Fieri's Dad]

Find another program, university isn't going to go for that.  Period.

Which is why our university treads water

[jonny09]

I don't wanna hear crap about Sacar being an elite defender.  Wojo didn't even consider going man right from the start.  If Sacar was elite he would have given him the opportunity from the get go.  Listen, JA would have made a lot of people look silly, but not giving out "best" defender an opportunity to lock down out of the gates says a lot.

[Guy Fieri's Dad]

I don't wanna hear crap about Sacar being an elite defender.  Wojo didn't even consider going man right from the start.  If Sacar was elite he would have given him the opportunity from the get go.  Listen, JA would have made a lot of people look silly, but not giving out "best" defender an opportunity to lock down out of the gates says a lot.

+1000

[fjm]

Wow! I thought 13 year olds were only on Snapchat.

Dude. Guy Fieri looks stupid as hell. No offense.

[shoothoops]

Realistic expectations?

1) Make NCAA's (almost) annually.
2) Mix in 2nd weekend every few years.
3) Mix in better than that every long while.
4) Top 5 league finish often.
5) Compete for league title every few years.
6) Better conference tourney results.
7) Competitive, successful results v rivals, big games.
8) Limit off court issues/problems...be good citizens, graduate players.