22-23 W-L Predictions

[The Sultan]

I'm not looking at this season as any kind of barometer on Shaka's fit for the program or capability at MU.  My feeling is he learned from Texas that the one and done's aren't necessarily the players and type of program that he most desires to build.

Shaka seems to truly enjoy the relationships with his players, seeing their development through on and off the court, and not having a turnstyle type of program. 

I think it's possible Shaka could have added some additional transfers this past off-season, but he likes his guys and is committed to their development.

Getting us to the NCAA in Year 1 was a phenomenal job.  Perhaps in Year 2 we take a slight dip.  I tend to think we will be a team that finishes similar to last year's - borderline NCAA team.  However, I feel that in Year 3 and 4 we will start to see the dividends paid on the retention, continuity, and culture fronts.  If by the end of Year 4 we are still a fringe NCAA team, then perhaps we need to reconsider.  Yet, at some point, we may need to just realize that the ceiling at MU might very well be Sweet 16s and the norm the 8-9 seed NCAA tournament team.

The ceiling for Marquette basketball are national championships. Period.

If Nova can do it, Marquette most certainly can. Not that it is easy, and not that a coach should be fired if they fall short of that lofty goal, but Villanova has no more advantage than Marquette does.

Now, I will be happy with Sweet 16s no doubt.  But don't give me that the ceilings are Sweet 16s when St. Peters made the E8 last year and Loyola a F4 just a few years ago.

[Goose]

Elon

If MU's ceiling is S16 I have wasted way too much of my life on scoop. I'm sure how far Shaka can take the program, but my expectations are higher than S16 ceiling. IF, and I say IF, MU can keep Shaka for 10+ years I think he is going to build something special. Much of my excitement over the hiring of Shaka is I believe this is a guy that can be here for the long haul. More importantly, it is a guy that I believe will be considered a top ten level coach down the road.

[brewcity77]

The ceiling for Marquette basketball are national championships. Period.

If Nova can do it, Marquette most certainly can. Not that it is easy, and not that a coach should be fired if they fall short of that lofty goal, but Villanova has no more advantage than Marquette does.

Now, I will be happy with Sweet 16s no doubt.  But don't give me that the ceilings are Sweet 16s when St. Peters made the E8 last year and Loyola a F4 just a few years ago.

QFT

[DienerTime34]

I'll judge the success of the season much more on how we finish than caring if we go 17-14 or 15-16. The March slide is part of the DNA of the program at this point. Show progress in March, steal a game in the Big East Tournament, get me believing in the direction of the program. That's what this season is about. Also, beat DePaul both times.

[Warrior Code]

22-23? 22 wins is usually a decent season but I guess not when you're playing 45 games

#cole

[dgies9156]

Elon

If MU's ceiling is S16 I have wasted way too much of my life on scoop. I'm sure how far Shaka can take the program, but my expectations are higher than S16 ceiling. IF, and I say IF, MU can keep Shaka for 10+ years I think he is going to build something special. Much of my excitement over the hiring of Shaka is I believe this is a guy that can be here for the long haul. More importantly, it is a guy that I believe will be considered a top ten level coach down the road.

10-4 good buddy.

You had to have been there! I know that's a well-worn phrase but nothing made us more proud of Marquette University than in March 1977, when we were national champions. What it did for our morale; for the university community; and, for the university was unparalleled. It's perhaps a bit trite but nothing else Marquette University ever did gave us the national exposure and recognition that the 1977 championship did.

People talked to us because there was an implied presumption that like our basketball team, we were good. Obnoxious, perhaps. But good! Our university was in the national spotlight.

And then came that stupid, sad and moronic Miami of Ohio game a year later. We have to get back. We just have to!

[bilsu]

Elon

If MU's ceiling is S16 I have wasted way too much of my life on scoop. I'm sure how far Shaka can take the program, but my expectations are higher than S16 ceiling. IF, and I say IF, MU can keep Shaka for 10+ years I think he is going to build something special. Much of my excitement over the hiring of Shaka is I believe this is a guy that can be here for the long haul. More importantly, it is a guy that I believe will be considered a top ten level coach down the road.

This depends on your time frame. I think it is unlikely, but MU's ceiling this year is probably a S16.
It took Al 11 years to make the final four and 13 years to win the title. The ceiling is higher than a S16, if Shaka lasts at MU 10 years.

[romey]

Milwaukee Arena

[GoldenEagles03]

I think it is more likely that this team finishes with a record not good enough to get an NIT bid than it is for them to make the NCAA tournament, but I'm still excited for development.

Only 1 Senior on the roster and it's a guy who's never played D1 basketball. Could be a really long year for those expecting to dance but a really fun year for those entering with limited expectations.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I think it is more likely that this team finishes with a record not good enough to get an NIT bid than it is for them to make the NCAA tournament, but I'm still excited for development.

Only 1 Senior on the roster and it's a guy who's never played D1 basketball. Could be a really long year for those expecting to dance but a really fun year for those entering with limited expectations.

Completely disagree on this one.  That's not to see I'm confident in a NCAA tourney berth but I think that's more likely than failing to qualify for the NIT. 

[Jay Bee]

Completely disagree on this one.  That's not to see I'm confident in a NCAA tourney berth but I think that's more likely than failing to qualify for the NIT.

There are not a lot of NIT slots available to a team like us in most years.

[dgies9156]

This is a fairly optimistic group based on the observations so far.

67 percent of those answering the predictions think we're going to the NCAA Tournament. What's more, about 45 percent of respondents think we're going to break our decade-long win drought.

Wow. The median record from this group is 19-12, as is the average. That's out of 24 responses. Only two of us, WadesWorld and Mileskishnish72, think we will lose more than we win.

Here's the rundown:

Scooper   Wins   Losses   NCAA   Comments
TAMU   20   11   Yes   Win 1
MUFAN 12   20   11   Yes   Win 1
Wades World   15   16   Nope   Home
Golden Warrior 11   19   12   Yes   Lose
Uncle Rico   20   11   Yes   Elite 8
JFP61   18   13   Yes   Last 4
FJM   17   14   Nope   NIT
Real Chili   31   0   Yes   Natty
BrewCity 77   23   8   Yes   Sweet 16
Golden Eagles 03   16   15   Nope   NIT
Dark Warrior   21   10   Yes   Win 1
MuggsyB   20   11   Yes   Win 1
Mileskishnish72   15   16   Nope   NIT
YoungMUFan 4   17   13   Nope   NIT Runnerup
Viper   18   13   Yes   Loss
Scoop Snoop   19   12   Yes   Win 1
Eye   21   10   Yes   Win 1
MarqKarp   18   13   Yes   Win 1
Dgies9156   21   10   Yes   Win 1
Lawdog   22   9   Yes   Final 4
TV Director   19   12   Yes   Win 1
GurneeHitchkr   19   15   Unk   Nope
Accredo Joe   17   14   Nope   NIT
MarquetteDano   17   16   Nope   Home
            
Median    19     12       
Average    19     12       

[mileskishnish72]

Good work, dgies.

[MU82]

Well, we should improve year over year. Players should improve significantly from soph to jr year and from frosh to soph year. All the coaches and players should have the system down pat in Year 2, with a full offseason to prepare and bond.

That's why Marquette dumped Wojo, why we brought in Shaka, and why MU pays Shaka handsomely.

Time to take the next step, a forward step.

[fjm]

This is a fairly optimistic group based on the observations so far.

67 percent of those answering the predictions think we're going to the NCAA Tournament. What's more, about 45 percent of respondents think we're going to break our decade-long win drought.

Wow. The median record from this group is 19-12, as is the average. That's out of 24 responses. Only two of us, WadesWorld and Mileskishnish72, think we will lose more than we win.

Here's the rundown:

Scooper   Wins   Losses   NCAA   Comments
TAMU   20   11   Yes   Win 1
MUFAN 12   20   11   Yes   Win 1
Wades World   15   16   Nope   Home
Golden Warrior 11   19   12   Yes   Lose
Uncle Rico   20   11   Yes   Elite 8
JFP61   18   13   Yes   Last 4
FJM   17   14   Nope   NIT
Real Chili   31   0   Yes   Natty
BrewCity 77   23   8   Yes   Sweet 16
Golden Eagles 03   16   15   Nope   NIT
Dark Warrior   21   10   Yes   Win 1
MuggsyB   20   11   Yes   Win 1
Mileskishnish72   15   16   Nope   NIT
YoungMUFan 4   17   13   Nope   NIT Runnerup
Viper   18   13   Yes   Loss
Scoop Snoop   19   12   Yes   Win 1
Eye   21   10   Yes   Win 1
MarqKarp   18   13   Yes   Win 1
Dgies9156   21   10   Yes   Win 1
Lawdog   22   9   Yes   Final 4
TV Director   19   12   Yes   Win 1
GurneeHitchkr   19   15   Unk   Nope
Accredo Joe   17   14   Nope   NIT
MarquetteDano   17   16   Nope   Home
            
Median    19     12       
Average    19     12

Awesome man. Thanks for throwing that together.

[Scoop Snoop]

Thanks dgies!

I'm pleased to see a system being built at Marquette and that takes time. Once during a halftime show two years ago, Charles Barkley said (something like) "Marquette has no identity. They need an identity." I do not remember what game it was, but I do remember Marquette looked awful in the first half and I thought "Barkley nailed it!". To me, identity is just another word for system.

If we finish around 6th place again, patience! I think we will be somewhere in the top 3-4 in Shaka's 3rd season, but if my "predictions" for this coming season prove to be far too conservative, great! I'd love that.

[wadesworld]

Thanks dgies!

I'm pleased to see a system being built at Marquette and that takes time. Once during a halftime show two years ago, Charles Barkley said (something like) "Marquette has no identity. They need an identity." I do not remember what game it was, but I do remember Marquette looked awful in the first half and I thought "Barkley nailed it!". To me, identity is just another word for system.

If we finish around 6th place again, patience! I think we will be somewhere in the top 3-4 in Shaka's 3rd season, but if my "predictions" for this coming season prove to be far too conservative, great! I'd love that.

The only games that Barkley would've been doing halftime for an MU game would be NCAA Tournament games.  Timeline must be off, because two years ago we weren't playing in an NCAA Tournament.

[Elonsmusk]

Well, we should improve year over year. Players should improve significantly from soph to jr year and from frosh to soph year. All the coaches and players should have the system down pat in Year 2, with a full offseason to prepare and bond.

That's why Marquette dumped Wojo, why we brought in Shaka, and why MU pays Shaka handsomely.

Time to take the next step, a forward step.

True that we should have improvement, just as it is true of every other program.  My feeling is the 2023-2024 season will be the one where we take a big leap assuming we return everyone from this year's roster (except Wrightsill of course.)

I would also say that Wojo wasn't canned because his 2nd season team failed to show improvement.  He got canned because he never once exceeded expectations, never won an NCAA game, and in Year 7 the team finished 13-14.

I'm optimistic about this season yet am not going to jump off the Shaka bandwagon if we have an NIT caliber year.  I think Scoop is pretty on target with its aggregate prediction of 19-12.

[panda]

True that we should have improvement, just as it is true of every other program.  My feeling is the 2023-2024 season will be the one where we take a big leap assuming we return everyone from this year's roster (except Wrightsill of course.)

I would also say that Wojo wasn't canned because his 2nd season team failed to show improvement.  He got canned because he never once exceeded expectations, never won an NCAA game, and in Year 7 the team finished 13-14.

I'm optimistic about this season yet am not going to jump off the Shaka bandwagon if we have an NIT caliber year.  I think Scoop is pretty on target with its aggregate prediction of 19-12.

Don't forget his teams only finished above .500 twice in seven years in conference.

[Scoop Snoop]

The only games that Barkley would've been doing halftime for an MU game would be NCAA Tournament games.  Timeline must be off, because two years ago we weren't playing in an NCAA Tournament.

You are correct. My timeline is obviously off.

His point was valid though.

[real chili 83]

This is a fairly optimistic group based on the observations so far.

67 percent of those answering the predictions think we're going to the NCAA Tournament. What's more, about 45 percent of respondents think we're going to break our decade-long win drought.

Wow. The median record from this group is 19-12, as is the average. That's out of 24 responses. Only two of us, WadesWorld and Mileskishnish72, think we will lose more than we win.

Here's the rundown:

Scooper   Wins   Losses   NCAA   Comments
TAMU   20   11   Yes   Win 1
MUFAN 12   20   11   Yes   Win 1
Wades World   15   16   Nope   Home
Golden Warrior 11   19   12   Yes   Lose
Uncle Rico   20   11   Yes   Elite 8
JFP61   18   13   Yes   Last 4
FJM   17   14   Nope   NIT
Real Chili   31   0   Yes   Natty
BrewCity 77   23   8   Yes   Sweet 16
Golden Eagles 03   16   15   Nope   NIT
Dark Warrior   21   10   Yes   Win 1
MuggsyB   20   11   Yes   Win 1
Mileskishnish72   15   16   Nope   NIT
YoungMUFan 4   17   13   Nope   NIT Runnerup
Viper   18   13   Yes   Loss
Scoop Snoop   19   12   Yes   Win 1
Eye   21   10   Yes   Win 1
MarqKarp   18   13   Yes   Win 1
Dgies9156   21   10   Yes   Win 1
Lawdog   22   9   Yes   Final 4
TV Director   19   12   Yes   Win 1
GurneeHitchkr   19   15   Unk   Nope
Accredo Joe   17   14   Nope   NIT
MarquetteDano   17   16   Nope   Home
            
Median    19     12       
Average    19     12

Go big....

[Newsdreams]

Go big....

Or go bald.... 

[MU82]

True that we should have improvement, just as it is true of every other program.  My feeling is the 2023-2024 season will be the one where we take a big leap assuming we return everyone from this year's roster (except Wrightsill of course.)

I would also say that Wojo wasn't canned because his 2nd season team failed to show improvement.  He got canned because he never once exceeded expectations, never won an NCAA game, and in Year 7 the team finished 13-14.

I'm optimistic about this season yet am not going to jump off the Shaka bandwagon if we have an NIT caliber year.  I think Scoop is pretty on target with its aggregate prediction of 19-12.

I'm not a bottom-line, black-and-white guy. Stuff happens in a season, and sometimes it's out of a coach's control. I realize that it's possible that we see a lot of improvement but that the record won't exactly reflect it. I am in no way saying Shaka should be fired next season if our record's not as good as it was last season.

You're correct on why Wojo was canned. I oversimplified.

I will say that if we go 10-22 like Shaka did in his second year at Texas, I'll be more than a little disappointed ... but I obviously think we'll be much better than that.

[Elonsmusk]

I'm not a bottom-line, black-and-white guy. Stuff happens in a season, and sometimes it's out of a coach's control. I realize that it's possible that we see a lot of improvement but that the record won't exactly reflect it. I am in no way saying Shaka should be fired next season if our record's not as good as it was last season.

You're correct on why Wojo was canned. I oversimplified.

I will say that if we go 10-22 like Shaka did in his second year at Texas, I'll be more than a little disappointed ... but I obviously think we'll be much better than that.

100%!  That would exceed any level of disappointment I had under Wojo as coach!  I think it is going to be a fun year with some memorable wins and a lot of very competitive games.  19-12 and an NCAA again with a first round win - I'd be thrilled.

[NolongerWarriors]

I'm not a bottom-line, black-and-white guy. Stuff happens in a season, and sometimes it's out of a coach's control. I realize that it's possible that we see a lot of improvement but that the record won't exactly reflect it. I am in no way saying Shaka should be fired next season if our record's not as good as it was last season.

You're correct on why Wojo was canned. I oversimplified.

I will say that if we go 10-22 like Shaka did in his second year at Texas, I'll be more than a little disappointed ... but I obviously think we'll be much better than that.

If MU goes 10-22 (or anything approaching that), Shaka should be fired the day after the season ends.  But I would love to read his fanboys here defending that record.