"A Golden Moment"

[Dr. Blackheart]

https://youtube.com/v/9gQ4qeAAz2Y

[Cheeks]

Thank you for sharing.  About 5 seconds in the middle of this video had a special meaning for me that I get to share with my family.  Appreciate you putting this up.

[Goose]

Al sure knew how to get blue chippers to MKE. Awful lot of talent on that squad.

[Hards Alumni]

Al sure knew how to get blue chippers to MKE. Awful lot of talent on that squad.

Milwaukee also had a lot more national pull during the 70s.  It was just outside the top 10 for most populous cities in the US.  Currently, Milwaukee is something like 30+.

[Nukem2]

Milwaukee also had a lot more national pull during the 70s.  It was just outside the top 10 for most populous cities in the US.  Currently, Milwaukee is something like 30+.

Suspect it was Al rather than the pull of MKE.   

[The Sultan]

You think recruits care about the size of the city?  That's probably why St Johns and DePaul are so good and Kansas and Kentucky suck.

[Herman Cain]

Watching those guys play so brilliantly is such a treat . 

[Scoop Snoop]

Thanks so much for posting this. I remember when UNC went to the "Four Corners" offense in the title game. My sister called right after the game ended. I screamed WE WON! so loudly my throat hurt for hours afterwards. The thrill of winning a National Championship will stay with those of us who experienced it for the rest of our lives.

RIP Jerome Whitehead. And Al. 

You made my day Doc. I hope this serves as a truce between the warring parties on Scoop for at least an hour or two....OK, OK...., how about 22 minutes?

[Windyplayer]

This was so fun to watch. I was not around for the run so to hear all these tidbits and accounts is incredible. Lost the last 3 home games, Al booed after the L to Wichita State at The Mecca, 5 games on the road to end season/clinch berth, close game against KSU in 2nd round, and even that full court pass and finish by JW against UNC-Charlotte. Wow. Awesome, awesome stuff.

(Think of all the meltdowns on Scoop we could have experienced during that season!)

[Cheeks]

Al sure knew how to get blue chippers to MKE. Awful lot of talent on that squad.

Yup, hit gold with a special person.  Big East not yet formed, which would have hurt, television of college hoops in its infancy, only 32 teams made it back then, scholarships allowed good teams to horde players, etc,

The world is vastly different now, and even Al wanted out several times from MU and hung it up early in life from coaching.

[GooooMarquette]

Great memories. Thanks for posting Doc!

[Daniel]

The that was so fun to watch.  Thanks for posting!

[Lennys Tap]

Thanks for sharing, Doc - great video.

I know that some of the young (and not so young) Scoopers who weren't around for the Al era tire of hearing about the "good old days". They say things have changed (they always do) but much has remained the same. There were 5 elite programs during Al's era - Marquette, UCLA, N Carolina, Kentucky and Indiana. There are 7 today - N Car, KY, Duke, Michigan St, Kansas, Villanova and Gonzaga. Virginia is poised to be #8. Two constants - Kentucky and UNC.  What did Marquette, UCLA and Indiana have that Duke, MSU, Kansas, 'Nova, Gonzaga and Virginia didn't? Al McGuire, John Wooden and Bob Knight.  What do the "new elite" have now that Marquette, UCLA and IU don't? K, Izzo, Self, Wright, Few and Bennett.

"It" coaches are hard to find. Rick had some "it" but he wasn't ready. Buzz could be an "it" guy if he stays in one place long enough. Nobody else we've hired has shown that potential. "Power 6" Conference, TV deals, facilities, $ to spend, etc., are great - but without the "it" guy maybe one poster's hopes (Providence + with some really cool history) is our fate.

[BCHoopster]

Thanks for sharing, Doc - great video.

I know that some of the young (and not so young) Scoopers who weren't around for the Al era tire of hearing about the "good old days". They say things have changed (they always do) but much has remained the same. There were 5 elite programs during Al's era - Marquette, UCLA, N Carolina, Kentucky and Indiana. There are 7 today - N Car, KY, Duke, Michigan St, Kansas, Villanova and Gonzaga. Virginia is poised to be #8. Two constants - Kentucky and UNC.  What did Marquette, UCLA and Indiana have that Duke, MSU, Kansas, 'Nova, Gonzaga and Virginia didn't? Al McGuire, John Wooden and Bob Knight.  What do the "new elite" have now that Marquette, UCLA and IU don't? K, Izzo, Self, Wright, Few and Bennett.

"It" coaches are hard to find. Rick had some "it" but he wasn't ready. Buzz could be an "it" guy if he stays in one place long enough. Nobody else we've hired has shown that potential. "Power 6" Conference, TV deals, facilities, $ to spend, etc., are great - but without the "it" guy maybe one poster's hopes (Providence + with some really cool history) is our fate.

Lenny, very good points.  Al had Jay Feinberg in New York feeding the MU program, then Jim Chones came on board, and he really lifted the program to new heights,
then Chicago came on board with Bo Ellis.  It is to bad the money then is not the same as now.  Al was all about the money.  He would have never left, then another
5 good years with Mark  Aquirre, Terry Cummings, Scooter and Rodney McCray.  It would not have mattered what the changing of the landscape did if Al was here. 

[Herman Cain]

Thanks for sharing, Doc - great video.

I know that some of the young (and not so young) Scoopers who weren't around for the Al era tire of hearing about the "good old days". They say things have changed (they always do) but much has remained the same. There were 5 elite programs during Al's era - Marquette, UCLA, N Carolina, Kentucky and Indiana. There are 7 today - N Car, KY, Duke, Michigan St, Kansas, Villanova and Gonzaga. Virginia is poised to be #8. Two constants - Kentucky and UNC.  What did Marquette, UCLA and Indiana have that Duke, MSU, Kansas, 'Nova, Gonzaga and Virginia didn't? Al McGuire, John Wooden and Bob Knight.  What do the "new elite" have now that Marquette, UCLA and IU don't? K, Izzo, Self, Wright, Few and Bennett.

"It" coaches are hard to find. Rick had some "it" but he wasn't ready. Buzz could be an "it" guy if he stays in one place long enough. Nobody else we've hired has shown that potential. "Power 6" Conference, TV deals, facilities, $ to spend, etc., are great - but without the "it" guy maybe one poster's hopes (Providence + with some really cool history) is our fate.

We would have stayed elite, if we hired Denny Crum, who was interested, that would have put us into the category of teams that were elite beyond just one coach. I consider that mistake among the three big strategic mistakes of MU history.

[WarriorDad]

Feels like yesterday.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Cheeks., I'll have to look for that spot.  Glad everyone enjoyed.  While we can all get the Al Generation love on Scoop, what amazes me is that some of the most ardent Scoopers were Piano Man Era.  Not only did hoops suck, so did the university admin. 

High expectations connect us through great times.

[Nukem2]

We would have stayed elite, if we hired Denny Crum, who was interested, that would have put us into the category of teams that were elite beyond just one coach. I consider that mistake among the three big strategic mistakes of MU history.

Yep.  Hank was a real gentleman and a good X's and O's guy, but he simply just did not have "it" at all.  A slow slide from Hank to a Rick who was not ready for prime time yet to, ugh, the Piano Man.  Dukiet was good, though, for piano entertainment at those MU Minutemen gatherings.

[jesmu84]

We would have stayed elite, if we hired Denny Crum, who was interested, that would have put us into the category of teams that were elite beyond just one coach. I consider that mistake among the three big strategic mistakes of MU history.

What are the other 2?

[Herman Cain]

What are the other 2?

Discontinued Football
Gave up Medical School

[Shooter McGavin]

Thanks for sharing, Doc - great video.

I know that some of the young (and not so young) Scoopers who weren't around for the Al era tire of hearing about the "good old days". They say things have changed (they always do) but much has remained the same. There were 5 elite programs during Al's era - Marquette, UCLA, N Carolina, Kentucky and Indiana. There are 7 today - N Car, KY, Duke, Michigan St, Kansas, Villanova and Gonzaga. Virginia is poised to be #8. Two constants - Kentucky and UNC.  What did Marquette, UCLA and Indiana have that Duke, MSU, Kansas, 'Nova, Gonzaga and Virginia didn't? Al McGuire, John Wooden and Bob Knight.  What do the "new elite" have now that Marquette, UCLA and IU don't? K, Izzo, Self, Wright, Few and Bennett.

"It" coaches are hard to find. Rick had some "it" but he wasn't ready. Buzz could be an "it" guy if he stays in one place long enough. Nobody else we've hired has shown that potential. "Power 6" Conference, TV deals, facilities, $ to spend, etc., are great - but without the "it" guy maybe one poster's hopes (Providence + with some really cool history) is our fate.

j

Very good post and insight.  You are right "it" coaches are hard to find.  We may never have one again, unfortunately.  We are in a difficult position, as are many other programs,  of having to hope that our coach can develop into something special and then want to stay once he does.  Here's hoping for another miracle! 

[tower912]

'It' coaches are good coaches who stay.     Current 'It' coaches.    Izzo, K, Jay, Roy, Cal, Self (ish?)      K and Jay both had slow starts at their current teams, requiring years of patience before they became 'it'.    Izzo followed Heathcote.      Cal and Self made their bones before landing.    Roy was inevitable at UNC.     350 other schools are looking for 'it'.    Some know they will never find or keep 'it'.    They know they are low majors and if a coach appears to have 'it', they will be moving on.     There is just not a supply to keep up with demand.     See:   UCLA, SJU.    Was Chris Beard 'it' 5 years ago?

All a long way of saying that Wojo is currently the best chance MU has of being elite anytime in the next 10 years.      I am not saying it is impossible that if he were fired that MU would land the unicorn coach that will transform the program and stay.    I'm saying that it is extremely unlikely.    There just aren't that many out there.   But if, and it is a huge if, the 19-20 season is actually better than 18-19, and Wojo is able to land a strong 20 class, maybe.......

And it would damned foolish to fire a coach who won 84 games in years 2-5 of his career.   

[GooooMarquette]

Discontinued Football
Gave up Medical School

Yep. Short-sighted decisions that saved us money for a few years, but will cost us much more for decades....

[The Sultan]

What exactly did dropping football cost Marquette?  The university has a healthy enrollment, a good endowment, a successful basketball program, etc.  I understand the medical college thing, but the football thing?  It would have been a second class program and a drain on resources - playing in the AAC or the MAC at best.

[wildbillsb]

Discontinued Football
Gave up Medical School

I know.  I was there for both of them.  Ouch squared!