Shaka's Bar: 5 Year Yah-ka expectations

[RushmoreAcademy]

My expectations for MU basketball have never changed:
- almost always in the top 25
- Always in the NCAA tournament
- 1-2 wins in NCAA tournament each year, with occasional "better" runs
- Win the Big East tournament when it's your only chance to get in the big dance
- Clean program
- fun to watch

Great list, with the exception of winning the BEast tournament when it’s our only chance to get in.
I’m actually curious, had MU ever done that?

[Uncle Rico]

Great list, with the exception of winning the BEast tournament when it’s our only chance to get in.
I’m actually curious, had MU ever done that?

Not in the Big East but they did in ‘97 when in Conference USA

[WarriorFan]

Great list, with the exception of winning the BEast tournament when it’s our only chance to get in.
I’m actually curious, had MU ever done that?

I put it there because I've never been a big fan of conference tournaments in any case because they wear out legs/create opportunity for injury/take huge time right before the very important tournament.  As a result, the only years when the BEAST tournament is important for me is a year when MU is not already in the tournament, because then they must win the BEAST tournament in order to get in the NCAA Tournament.  Top 3/4 in the BEAST going into the tournament is the place to be. 

[The Lens]

The bare minimum is hang a banner at the Al / schedule a reunion.

Do that by doing 1 of the following in your tenure:

Winning Conference Title
• Kevin
• Tom
• Buzz
Winning a Conference Tournament
• Mike
Making a Sweet 16
• Kevin
• Tom
• Buzz

Before Wojo, our last 4 coaches met this bare minimum, yes even Crean.  I don’t think it’s asking too much. 

And as crap shooty as Conf tournament  / NCAA Tournament success is, it allows the Marquette community to come together and celebrate as one like few other ways the University can create.  Basketball is a marketing play, we need to make sure our marketing is working. 

[f/k/a humanlung]

At this point I would be thrilled to see halftime adjustments.

[GooooMarquette]

The team always has the talent to win, even against top-10 opponents.
The coach makes sound in-game adjustments and very rarely is said to have been outcoached.
The players represent the university with dignity (as they have the past seven years).
Tickets become a precious commodity.

If we accomplish all that, the NCAA bids, conference titles, and occasional deep runs in March will just fall into place.

[Skatastrophy]

At this point I would be thrilled to see halftime adjustments.

Timeouts with strategy instead of coach speak

[StillAWarrior]

I’ll also post this here since it will be easier to find in five years if I have the opportunity to gloat...or for Blackhat to find if he has the opportunity to remind me of my over-the-top optimism.

We just hired the Big 12’s Steve wojocjoezski.

What the hell...this may age badly, but I’ll give it a shot.

I predict that five years from today, the following will be true:

• MU will have finished in the top half of the Big East at least four times.
• MU will have finished top three in the Big East at least twice.
• MU will have played in the BET semi finals at least twice.
• MU will have played in the BET finals at least once.
• MU will have qualified for the NCAA tournament at least three times.
• MU will have won at least three NCAA games.
• MU will have been at least a four seed.
• MU will have been ranked in at least two seasons.
• Most fans will be really happy with Shaka as our coach.
• The post quoted above will have aged worse than this post.

Overly optimistic. Probably. But we’ve got this.

[pbiflyer]

A team that’s fun to watch again.

[dgies9156]

Brothers and  Sisters, you are aiming way too low. We are Marquette means something. It means we are the meanest SOBs in the Valley.

It means we should eyeball Jay Wright and say, We are coming for you ... and look out! It means teams like UConn, Creighton and Xavier should be afraid ... Very Afraid.

It means a Natty should be within our grasp.

Anything less is just Badger feed.

[Judge Smails]

I’d like to see the turnover problem fixed. I know Shaka is great at creating turnovers, but did his teams take care of the ball at UT/VCU?

[MU82]

I put it there because I've never been a big fan of conference tournaments in any case because they wear out legs/create opportunity for injury/take huge time right before the very important tournament.  As a result, the only years when the BEAST tournament is important for me is a year when MU is not already in the tournament, because then they must win the BEAST tournament in order to get in the NCAA Tournament.  Top 3/4 in the BEAST going into the tournament is the place to be.

I would much rather win the BEast regular-season title, as we did in 2013, than win the postseason title. One shows season-long excellence, the other a hot 3-4 day stretch.

I wouldn't hate winning the postseason conference title, mind you, I just don't think it measures excellence anywhere close to what a regular-season title does.

Here's hoping Shaka gets us several of those.

[Big Papi]

I would much rather win the BEast regular-season title, as we did in 2013, than win the postseason title. One shows season-long excellence, the other a hot 3-4 day stretch.

I wouldn't hate winning the postseason conference title, mind you, I just don't think it measures excellence anywhere close to what a regular-season title does.

Here's hoping Shaka gets us several of those.

It doesn't measure season long excellence but I never understood the conference tournament hate.  Tired legs? Injuries?  BS.  In it to win it.  Be talked about being a favorite to win it, before and during the conference tournament.  Win a championship.  Be a higher seed in the NCAA tournament.  Final is on a Saturday, lots of rest time.  Brings excitement to the players and program and fan base.  Otherwise don't play it.

I hate having to play the first day and rarely making a semi-final game.  I want Big East regular conference and tournament conference titles.

[The Lens]

Saturday night in New York City at Madison Square Garden.  I’ll take that shift. 

[swoopem]

In 2013 I was all fired up and flew out to NYC for the Big East tournament, even got hook hooked up with court side seats. We got rocked by ND. It sucked.

Would love if Shaka could change our Big East tournament curse

I want to cut down nets

[1SE]

I would much rather win the BEast regular-season title, as we did in 2013, than win the postseason title. One shows season-long excellence, the other a hot 3-4 day stretch.

I wouldn't hate winning the postseason conference title, mind you, I just don't think it measures excellence anywhere close to what a regular-season title does.

Here's hoping Shaka gets us several of those.

A S16 shows a hot 3 day stretch too - do you discount that to a conference title? I'd put them at least on par if not a favoring to the S16.