MU's Top 10 History - Updated Through Feb 27, 2023

[Dr. Blackheart]

Fire Heise!!!

[tower912]

There will be other years.    And I am bullish about next season.    But 18-19 remains the best stretch in recent and intermediate memory.   

[Heisenberg]

The first post has been updated

[dgies9156]

Recall what happened in 2019 after the 2/25/19 #10 ranking ... MU was leading the Big East. They were playing at Nova. They were leading with 5 minutes to go.

A win would have given them at least a share of the Big East title. They collapsed the rest of the game and lost. Then MU lost the next four remaining conference games. They went 1 and 1 in the BET and lost in the first round of the NCAA.

So, after leading at Nova with 5 to go, they lost that game, beginning a 1 and 6 stretch to end the season.

But it gets worse!

Preseason polls for 2020 had MU as high as #2 the next season. Then the Hausers wrote a letter and transferred.

All told, it was one of the great college basketball program collapses of all time.  Wojo lucked out as the 2020 season was screwed up with the COVID shutdown, and 2021 was played in front of no fans. Without these "distractions," Wojo might have been shown the door 18 months earlier.

What this fails to understand is that team was very different than the team we have now. There was probably far more talent on it than we have, but they didn't play well together. Had a crappy point guard, as I recall, and the team's slogan, unlike Tyler's "F@@k 'em" was "Let Markus Do It!"

Difference was coaching and commitment to team rather than individual goals.

[The Sultan]

What this fails to understand is that team was very different than the team we have now. There was probably far more talent on it than we have, but they didn't play well together. Had a crappy point guard, as I recall, and the team's slogan, unlike Tyler's "F@@k 'em" was "Let Markus Do It!"

Who was the "crappy point guard?"

[SaveOD238]

Updated as of February 20, 2023

In 1977/1978 season MU reached a peak ranking of #1 (AP)

When Bama hit #1 earlier this season there was a bit of chatter about the 20-year gap since the last time they were #1.  Norlander did a column about how there have been other longer streaks between #1 rankings, the longest being 45 season for Ohio St between '62 and '07.

When Marquette climbs back to #1 we will own the record for longest stretch between #1 rankings.

I'm thinking we run to the E85 this year, are top 5 preseason next year, win Maui, and are #1 by Thanksgiving 2023.

[The Sultan]

When Bama hit #1 earlier this season there was a bit of chatter about the 20-year gap since the last time they were #1.  Norlander did a column about how there have been other longer streaks between #1 rankings, the longest being 45 season for Ohio St between '62 and '07.

When Marquette climbs back to #1 we will own the record for longest stretch between #1 rankings.

I'm thinking we run to the E85 this year, are top 5 preseason next year, win Maui, and are #1 by Thanksgiving 2023.

That would be a gas.

[MU82]

We'll be #1 on April 3.

[Shooter McGavin]

We'll be #1 on April 3.

Nice!  Looking forward to partying with you all!

[GoFastAndWin]

That would be a gas.

Will D Wade do calisthenics to The Rolling Stones?

[brewcity77]

When Bama hit #1 earlier this season there was a bit of chatter about the 20-year gap since the last time they were #1.  Norlander did a column about how there have been other longer streaks between #1 rankings, the longest being 45 season for Ohio St between '62 and '07.

When Marquette climbs back to #1 we will own the record for longest stretch between #1 rankings.

I'm thinking we run to the E85 this year, are top 5 preseason next year, win Maui, and are #1 by Thanksgiving 2023.

Exactly 45 years ago today we were ranked #1. February 20, 1978 is the last time we were at #1 in the AP Poll. I looked up that Ohio State stretch as well. They were ranked #1 on March 12, 1962, then not again until February 26, 2007. It was actually just short of 45 years, checking in at 16,422 days. Marquette was last ranked #1 16,436 days ago, so when we next move to #1, we will break that record. I expect it will be in fall of this year.

[Lennys Tap]

Al's last 7 seasons - 2#1s, 3#2s, 2#3s and 1#5. Not bad.

[Lennys Tap]

There will be other years.    And I am bullish about next season.    But 18-19 remains the best stretch in recent and intermediate memory.

As long as you don't count the last 7 games of the season.

[tower912]

I am looking forward to a better regular season stretch than 20-2.   Best in the 40 years I have been a MU fan.

[MU82]

There will be other years.    And I am bullish about next season.    But 18-19 remains the best stretch in recent and intermediate memory.

Depends on how one defines "stretch."

The 2018-19 team had a heck of a 3-month stretch -- 20-2. Wins over 4 ranked teams (including Madison and defending national champ Villanova); 12-1 in the conference; two 8-game winning streaks; got into the top 10 for the first time in almost a decade; was led by an All-American player and good supporting cast. Unfortunately, the way the season ended obviously sullied that season.

Last season's team was 8-1 during the month-long stretch that began Jan. 4. Wins over 5 ranked teams, including a sweep of eventual Final Four team Villanova. Again, that team unfortunately faded down the stretch.

This season's story hasn't been fully written yet. Lots of nice wins; two 5-game winning streaks; no bad stretches. And who knows ... maybe our best stretch began with Wednesday's win over X!

[brewcity77]

And who knows ... maybe our best stretch began with Wednesday's win over X!

Who doesn't love a 15-game winning streak to end the season?

[Lennys Tap]

I am looking forward to a better regular season stretch than 20-2.   Best in the 40 years I have been a MU fan.

Where does the rest of the season (4-8 win the wins being home games against Maryland Baltimore County, Bethune Cookman and Presbyterian and a neutral against 7th seeded St John's) rank? For me, worst in 57 years of watching MU basketball.

As Chuckie Dickens once said, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, but given the way it finished it sucked"

[tower912]

Sorry.   I was there for the last two years of Majerus and the first two of Dukiet.    20-2 was glorious.    24 wins is always a good year.   
There have not been that many in the last 40 years.   So I won't say that one stunk or doesn't count

[mileskishnish72]

As long as you don't count the last 7 games of the season.

Well, we're counting one of them for sure!

[Skatastrophy]

Bump to update the thing!

[Heisenberg]

Updated for this week's 6th place ranking

[Skatastrophy]

The last time MU was ranked better than 8th was March 6, 1978, when they were #3 (FYI, February 20, 1978, MU was #1)

#1 song on that date? Andy Gibb - Love is Thicker than Water

https://www.youtube.com/v/RU6WKPB82nQ

[Heisenberg]

The Harry Styles of 1978

Also, the inflation rate in February 1978 was 6.4%.  Today it is 6.4%.

Coincidence????