Win Game 1

[DoctorV]

We Are Champions.

We Are Marquette.

Win Game 1.

The biggest game of Coach Shaka's, and TyKo's, and Kam's, and Oso's and every current Marquette players tenure is next Thursday or Friday's game.

Celebrate being Champions, that is now and forever in the history of Marquette folklore.

Then turn the attention to the ultimate prize.
Please win game one, it's been a decade.
Coach, team, and the entirety of Marquette nation all need it badly.

Bring on the Big Dance

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I'm usually big on regular season championship meaning more than a first round game....but it will leave a very sour taste on the season if we don't get the next win. We need to get this monkey off our collective back.

I have full confidence that our back will be monkeyless this time next week

[muwarrior69]

So Columbus or Des Moine?

[MuggsyB]

I fully expect this team to be ready to go Dr.V.  It's the NCAA tournament, as we know anything can happen, but you will see a highly, highly motivated MU squad.  It's time to seize a tremendous opportunity. 

[MU82]

I am supremely confident that this team will be playing in the second weekend.

[HutchwasClutch]

So Columbus or Des Moine?

Des Moines.  An hour closer.  They've earned that location. 

[real chili 83]

DEE MOYN
DEE MOYN

Hotel is booked. Working on tix next.

[HutchwasClutch]

Tournament and matchup's always mean anything can and of course does happen.  Especially for young teams like they are.  Remember the '03 team had to fight like crazy and didn't put away 14 seed Holy Cross away until late.

But they haven't come this far to play flat or uninspired the first weekend.  It's not in this team's DNA either. Shaka and these guys will take care of business Thursday or Friday.  I'm convinced program and Shaka will end tournament drought they each have. 

I believe they'll go on to the second weekend as well, regardless the opponent.  But the tournament is too crazy for me to say that with certainty.  But this team has made me a believer a national title is really possible. 

What a ride so far!!

[dgies9156]

Des Moines.  An hour closer.  They've earned that location.

Orlando?

A guy can wish, can't he? I know it probably aint going to happen!

[HutchwasClutch]

Orlando?

A guy can wish, can't he? I know it probably aint going to happen!

Right, much preferable from a fan's perspective to go down to the warm and fun of Orlando. But what a horrible disrespect to our team that would be.

[Goose]

We have to win game 1 and continue with the same urgency. This program will make major strides with real success in March.

As for Hutch saying winning a NC is a possibility, it is the best chance since 1978 based off of how they performed for an entire season.

A lot has to go right, but sitting here today I believe it this their best chance on selection Sunday in nearly fifty years.

[wisblue]

So Columbus or Des Moine?

Yes.

But, seriously I think it might come down to whether MU passes Baylor on the seed list.

My expectation is that MU will get to number 8 and be placed in Des Moines.

[Daniel]

Hopefully the epselectiin committee has some respect for Marquette this year and we don't get paired with another under-seeded team like UNC last year, etc.

Goo Marquette!

[wadesworld]

Whenever and however this season ends, there will be no sour taste in my mouth. Big East and regular season and tourney champs in a season picked to finish 9th in the league. 3 All BE players, including POY. BE COY and 6th Man of the Year. A probable All American.

I'm confident this team and coach have the right mindset and will take care of business in however many games we have less. But this season will always be an incredible memory.

[Scoop Snoop]

Hopefully the epselectiin committee has some respect for Marquette this year and we don't get paired with another under-seeded team like UNC last year, etc.

Goo Marquette!

If the epselectin committee does that, they have some 'splaining to do.

[MU82]

We have to win game 1 and continue with the same urgency. This program will make major strides with real success in March.

As for Hutch saying winning a NC is a possibility, it is the best chance since 1978 based off of how they performed for an entire season.

A lot has to go right, but sitting here today I believe it this their best chance on selection Sunday in nearly fifty years.

Since I started filling out NCAAT brackets many decades ago, the only time I picked Marquette to win the national title was 2003. Got pretty darn close!

As I've already said, I'm picking them again in 2023. We have everything we need in the locker room, on the floor and in the coach's seat to be the last team standing.

[Goose]

82

DWade will likely remain the greatest player in MU history for a very long time and he gave them a chance. Tyler Kolek might end proving to be an all time great college player in MU history and I think this is a better chance than '03 going into the tournament.

Going in this year, we are a better overall team, a better season resume, better seeding and superior head coach. I would not bet against them playing for several more weeks.

[MU82]

82

DWade will likely remain the greatest player in MU history for a very long time and he gave them a chance. Tyler Kolek might end proving to be an all time great college player in MU history and I think this is a better chance than '03 going into the tournament.

Going in this year, we are a better overall team, a better season resume, better seeding and superior head coach. I would not bet against them playing for several more weeks.

Agree, agree, agree, agree.

[DoctorV]

82

DWade will likely remain the greatest player in MU history for a very long time and he gave them a chance. Tyler Kolek might end proving to be an all time great college player in MU history and I think this is a better chance than '03 going into the tournament.

Going in this year, we are a better overall team, a better season resume, better seeding and superior head coach. I would not bet against them playing for several more weeks.

Yep, we've got the squad and head coach to do it.

The NCAA tournament is so amazing because of its single elimination anything can happen style, and it takes a lot of stars to align to make the Final Four and win the thing, even for good/elite teams.

This years team has progressed from very good to elite within the last month.
They have the horses to do it, but it'll take a lot of stars to align.

It would be so unbelievably amazing if this team made the Final Four, and it would make this season better than 2003.
I was starting to think it would be very hard to see a season better than 2003, but if things go well we could be 2 weeks away, and that's just amazing.

[Goose]

Doctor

This season has already surpassed '03 for me, but understand others not agreeing with that. To me, it exceeded that year because the program is just getting started. I have no doubt that this program will continue to improve in the upcoming years and that has me very jacked up.

I said after they lost do Kansas that the next year was the most important year in the post Al era and Crean failed miserably. That was an opportunity to up recruiting and build on success. A golden opportunity was lost and do not think that will be repeated.

[DoctorV]

Doctor

This season has already surpassed '03 for me, but understand others not agreeing with that. To me, it exceeded that year because the program is just getting started. I have no doubt that this program will continue to improve in the upcoming years and that has me very jacked up.

I said after they lost do Kansas that the next year was the most important year in the post Al era and Crean failed miserably. That was an opportunity to up recruiting and build on success. A golden opportunity was lost and do not think that will be repeated.

I see where you're coming from, even though I don't feel the same.

2003 was special for me in just so many ways- I was a wet behind the ears frosh at Marquette, and it was far and away some of the most memorable times of my life.
There's literally very few ways to have a better start in college.
That season developed this lifelong passion.

So, it would take a lot for a season to surpass that.
National Championship obviously.
Another Final 4 I would've said wouldn't do it because of how special that one was, but when you couple in the double championships already won, the Shaka effect, and how unbelievably awesome this team has been along with the lessons learned in the resurgence of Marquette basketball after a decade of no NCAA wins, this year would definitely surpass 2003 if Marquette gets to Houston.

First things first though, one tough must win elimination game at a time.

[Viper]

Doctor

This season has already surpassed '03 for me, but understand others not agreeing with that. To me, it exceeded that year because the program is just getting started. I have no doubt that this program will continue to improve in the upcoming years and that has me very jacked up.

I said after they lost do Kansas that the next year was the most important year in the post Al era and Crean failed miserably. That was an opportunity to up recruiting and build on success. A golden opportunity was lost and do not think that will be repeated.

Final Four. My take is that MU has done nothing so far this season to exceed that. But...regardless of how this season plays out...and a F4 or better is not an outlandish thought, I do think MU has another F4 or more in its near future. My hunch is this is just the start of high level sustained success. It's probably how fans in the early 70's felt w/Al.

[Scoop Snoop]

Final Four. My take is that MU has done nothing so far this season to exceed that. But...regardless of how this season plays out...and a F4 or better is not an outlandish thought, I do think MU has another F4 or more in its near future. My hunch is this is just the start of high level sustained success. It's probably how fans in the early 70's felt w/Al.

Yep. Let's hope for a deep run. If not this year, the stage is set for future years. Shaka has built this Marquette on rock, not sand.

[PointWarrior]

Where's all the "the tourney is a crapshoot" know it alls - you are disappointing me.

[DoctorV]

Just heard a nightmarish stat on ESPN that I probably shouldn't post here, but it definitely goes to showing the importance of game #1.

It's honestly a stat that is pretty unbelievable.

According to ESPN:
—18 of 34 teams that started the season UR and finished in AP top 10 and got a 1 or 2 seed didn't make it out of first weekend.
—14 of the 22 two seeds didn't get to the sweet 16.

BOTH Marquette and Purdue started UR and are in the top 10.

I know folks don't like the cliche, but gotta concentrate on that first game.

Let's beat down Vermont.