Marquette 1977, Indiana 1976 and Virginia 2019

[auburnmarquette]

Much less important than our Net rating or wearing masks for the next game - but was just updating my instructions the Value Add Basketball Game (posted here
http://www.pudnersports.com/2021/12/quickstart-for-value-add-basketball-game.html) and came across an interesting calculation on the 1977 National Champions.

Our player cards calculate or estimate the three traditional defensive stats (blocked shots, steals and defensive rebounds) and then based on how tough the overall defense was, they all get a team defensive factor. Basically all the "other things" a defense does that you can't measure (forcing non-steal turnovers, contesting shots to hold down opponent's shooting percentages etc). Anyway, the Marquette 1977 team ended up tied for the best defensive adjustment with the team that beat us before - Indiana's undefeated 1976 - and Virginia 2019.

I unfortunately was still in grade school so only saw the final 4 games on TV since we didn't get Marquette games in Virginia, but fun fact.

[tower912]

Class of 88.  Nice graduation picture in the Hilltopper.

[oilcan]

Oh what a beautiful day!!

[GooooMarquette]

Oh what a beautiful day!!

Woot!

I was in Section 122, Row R, Seat 12. 18 rows up from the MU bench.

[mug644]

Class of 88.  Nice graduation picture in the Hilltopper.

Tower, you're spending too much time looking at our class of '88 Hilltopper. Better to reminisce about the old times without actually seeing them!

[tower912]

The hair.    I marvel at it and miss it.

[dgies9156]

Oh what a beautiful day!!

Indeed it was. Was on campus that night and was an incredible thrill.

We had been so close for so long. Had just missed a couple of times. After some of the losses that year, nobody gave us a chance at anything.

But we made it. Our team, our students and our fans showed the world what "We are Marquette" meant, as we shoved it down their throats  .

[dgies9156]

The hair.    I marvel at it and miss it.

I miss my hair too, not to mention the youthful look and the youthful waistline!