Best four year stretch to have attended MU outside of Al? (basketball success)

[Galway Eagle]

We're in a pretty great stretch here but don't forget the young adults graduating started their MU years with a sub .500 bball team. So it got me wondering what the best 4 years would've been to go to MU for enjoyable basketball. Here's the contenders:

Currently, the seniors saw the school make a necessary change, get some life their sophomore year, go on a tear their junior year with the double championships, but ultimately flame out in 32. This years had some ups and downs but juries still out.

08-12, top 10 team that was derailed with injury. Still saw some tournament success as an upper classmen.

09-13, I'm biased here but a shockingly good freshman year, then 3 straight second weekend runs with a big east championship.

01-05, two unreal years of Wade, plus half a season of great basketball in 05 before injury, sandwiched around a horrific post FF slump. CUSA championship and FF.

92-96, your freshman year was the rebirth of MUBB, see a sweet 16, Great Midwest championship, a disappointing but fun run to the NIT finals and a 4 seed year with a conference tournament championship.

93-97, pretty much same as above but your senior year ends the brief rebirth MUBB had and people have alluded to that being felt around campus.

77-81, the first couple years would've been fun but you see a heck of a regular season (not a great March), then the last sweet 16 we'd have for a long time, but by the time you're graduating we've lumped into the tournament and missed it entirely. 

Thoughts? I'm just trying to distract from the last game disaster.

[MarquetteVol]

I can confidently say it was not my four years at MU (97-01). At least by the end you could see some glimmers of hope emerging. But my senior year was capped off with Reece Gaines and Louisville winning in either 2OT or 3OT, and then celebrating shirtless on the scorer’s table.

[wisblue]

As a season ticket holder (never an MU student) I would nominate 05-09. Not as much postseason success as we would have liked but the first four years in the Big East had many great games and entertaining teams.

[MUfan12]

05-09 would have been fun with the big three. Sure, not a ton of tournament success but some really great BE games to be at.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Everything looks better than my 4 year stretch in the Dukiet era from 1987 - 1991.
Although I got two seasons of Kevin O'Neill rebuilding so I saw hope by graduation.

[tower912]

84-88 may have been the nadir.    At least we had cheap beer and lots of bars.

[Norm]

84-88 may have been the nadir.    At least we had cheap beer and lots of bars.

Worst 4 year stretch at MU post WWII was '87-'88 to '90-'91.

[tower912]

At least there was hope at the end of 87-91.

[4everwarriors]

73-77 end of thread, that is all, aina?

[Scoop Snoop]

Worst 4 year stretch at MU post WWII was '87-'88 to '90-'91.

One of my nieces was at Marquette then. Her standard reply to anyone asking how the team looked was "they're rebuilding". 

[MDMU04]

01-05, two unreal years of Wade, plus half a season of great basketball in 05 before injury, sandwiched around a horrific post FF slump. CUSA championship and FF.

I'd go one season earlier, the 00-01 team through the 03-04 team.  That 04-05 team started off hot but they wound up being pretty bad, they didn't even finish the conference slate .500.  And the way that season ended was pretty embarrassing.  The 00-01 team had some pieces and they were good enough to sweep Cincinnati and almost beat Louisville in 3 OT at home in Denny Crum's last year.

I had public speaking class with D Wade my freshman year (00-01), while he was still ineligible.  His first speech was about basketball and he showed what must have been whatever recruiting highlight video he had put together during part of it.  Had a feeling right then that the next couple years were going to be pretty fun.

[Pepe Sylvia]

05-09 were my years, was a pretty good time. Still mad about that Stanford loss.

[Daniel]

73-77 end of thread, that is all, aina?

Well, those are EXACTLY the years I was about to post.   

[JustinLewisFanClubPres]

I was 03-06. Got the final four, 2 meh years, and the freshman year of the 3 amigos. All in all, pretty fun and 2 distinct eras of MU greats.

[BLWarrior91]

2001-05. Two years of Wade and a FF

2005-09.  The Three Amigos, Big East beginnings, four straight tourneys.  09 team was a legit FF team until James got hurt.

2009-13.  Four straight tourneys, two S16s and an E8.  Buzz’s high point.

2019-24.  School made the right right choice to move on from Wojo and Shaka has great success from the start.

[mileskishnish72]

Why is artificial intelligence excluded in this thread?

[The Thing]

I was there 86-90. It’s a wonder people from that era are even still fans.

[lawdog77]

I was there 86-90. It’s a wonder people from that era are even still fans.

i was there 86-90. The only thing worse in 86 was the drinking age change, which occurred Sep 1, 1986.

[Hards Alumni]

I'd go one season earlier, the 00-01 team through the 03-04 team.  That 04-05 team started off hot but they wound up being pretty bad, they didn't even finish the conference slate .500.  And the way that season ended was pretty embarrassing.  The 00-01 team had some pieces and they were good enough to sweep Cincinnati and almost beat Louisville in 3 OT at home in Denny Crum's last year.

I had public speaking class with D Wade my freshman year (00-01), while he was still ineligible.  His first speech was about basketball and he showed what must have been whatever recruiting highlight video he had put together during part of it.  Had a feeling right then that the next couple years were going to be pretty fun.

Ha, he was in my English class Freshman year in 00.  First day we went around the class and had to tell what our majors and aspirations were.  He went first and said he was going to be an NBA player.  Class sort of snickered since he wasn't even playing at the time.  Well he proved everyone wrong.  Dwyane was in a couple of my small groups.  Extremely nice dude.

[Skatastrophy]

I bet that if you look at marquette season ticket holders and fans participating in mubb's online community their years of attending MU overlap with the years MU was successful. Lifetime MU fandom is won with wonderful undergrad memories.

In the same vein that I bet we lost years of lifetime MU fans under Wojo.

[rocky_warrior]

73-77 end of thread, that is all, aina?

Doc, you gotta' work on reading the WHOLE question, or answer...  "Outside of Al".

[Jay Bee]

I was ‘93-97. Not bad, I guess. Running down Wisconsin Ave after beating Kentucky as a frosh was great. The NIT run was unexpectedly wonderful, including the S Fla game at the MECCA.

Frosh year, remember McIlvaine walking in front of me and almost looking like he was going to trip every few steps… but those older kids were great when I was a frosh.

Had Crawford in a class. Potty-mouth!

[Hards Alumni]

I bet that if you look at marquette season ticket holders and fans participating in mubb's online community their years of attending MU overlap with the years MU was successful. Lifetime MU fandom is won with wonderful undergrad memories.

In the same vein that I bet we lost years of lifetime MU fans under Wojo.

I'm not sure I agree.  For as much as Wojo is disliked around here he was a good guy at the University.  He had multiple 20+ win seasons and had us in a lot of positive conversations. 

Many people saw the weaknesses in his coaching, but I don't think he was disliked.  He had a lot of good players and put guys in the NBA.

I think most people around here would take Wojo over some of older coaches.

[MuggsyB]

2000-2004.  I had a lot to do with our success. 

[Galway Eagle]

This threads made me realize the only non Al players to make four ncaa tournaments are the 3 amigos, Lazar, Cubillian and Junior.

Am I right about that? 6 guys total who weren't Al's guys.

[swoopem]

05-09 were my years, was a pretty good time. Still mad about that Stanford loss.

I was 06-10. The big east was always awesome, but I don’t remember any non conference games other than Wisco, and we never made it to the second weekend. It was fun but I’d say 09-13 had it the best

[Goose]

I think the three year run with Buzz was the best era since Al, followed by Wade's time at MU.

[Jay Bee]

This threads made me realize the only non Al players to make four ncaa tournaments are the 3 amigos, Lazar, Cubillian and Junior.

Am I right about that? 6 guys total who weren't Al's guys.

Not sure it’s meaningful. There are a number of dudes who went every year they were at MU. 4 year guys not the norm

[Skatastrophy]

I'm not sure I agree.  For as much as Wojo is disliked around here he was a good guy at the University.  He had multiple 20+ win seasons and had us in a lot of positive conversations. 

Many people saw the weaknesses in his coaching, but I don't think he was disliked.  He had a lot of good players and put guys in the NBA.

I think most people around here would take Wojo over some of older coaches.

Yeah I can see your point.

I stopped going to games and stopped watching MU because Wojo's hero ball was a very frustrating viewing experience.

Just looked at average game attendance, and during the later Wojo years attendance dropped to levels not seen since the post-Final Four slump. Bad but not terrible like the pre-Crean years.

[4everwarriors]

Doc, you gotta' work on reading the WHOLE question, or answer...  "Outside of Al".

O, eye red dat as artificial intelligence, hey?

[Jay Bee]

Just looked at average game attendance, and during the later Wojo years attendance dropped to levels not seen since the post-Final Four slump. Bad but not terrible like the pre-Crean years.

#FakeNews #Lies

Bruh, wat is u talm bout?

[Skatastrophy]

#FakeNews #Lies

Bruh, wat is u talm bout?

Who knows, I'm deep into my 2022 vintage egg nog at this point

[Hards Alumni]

Who knows, I'm deep into my 2022 vintage egg nog at this point

Damn dude, I home made some in October and it's great.  I am not sure I'd have the will power to let it age a whole year.

[Skatastrophy]

Damn dude, I home made some in October and it's great.  I am not sure I'd have the will power to let it age a whole year.

I was trying to make a gross joke. That's awesome that you homemade some! I've had homemade irish cream before and it was wonderful... and aged poorly.

[Hards Alumni]

I was trying to make a gross joke. That's awesome that you homemade some! I've had homemade irish cream before and it was wonderful... and aged poorly.

Give it a try... its so easy. 

https://altonbrown.com/recipes/aged-eggnog/

[marqfan22]

Triple OT loss. Very dark four year stretch with zero NCAAs. My four years as well.

I can confidently say it was not my four years at MU (97-01). At least by the end you could see some glimmers of hope emerging. But my senior year was capped off with Reece Gaines and Louisville winning in either 2OT or 3OT, and then celebrating shirtless on the scorer’s table.

[Shooter McGavin]

I bet that if you look at marquette season ticket holders and fans participating in mubb's online community their years of attending MU overlap with the years MU was successful. Lifetime MU fandom is won with wonderful undergrad memories.

In the same vein that I bet we lost years of lifetime MU fans under Wojo.

There are many people on scoop who are obviously die hard fans from a terrible four year period.  Some who have stated they were there from 87-91.  And we/they all know many more die hard fans who support the program religiously from that era. 

I’m sure the same will happen with the Wojo era students who had an exponentially better competitive basketball experience than we did. 

[PJDunn]

'82 to '86 was highly entertaining. Got to see our last NCAA game for a decade and then watch Majerus absolutely implode.

[Skatastrophy]

There are many people on scoop who are obviously die hard fans from a terrible four year period.  Some who have stated they were there from 87-91.  And we/they all know many more die hard fans who support the program religiously from that era. 

I’m sure the same will happen with the Wojo era students who had an exponentially better competitive basketball experience than we did. 

I don't think scoop is a good sample of all mu alumni, but point taken.

[Nukem2]

‘64 to ‘68 was the beginning of it all…..!

[sodakmu87]

Oh I cannot say even when it was bad is was still good (Mae West RIP). 83-87.  I remember seeing Walter Downing in the McCormick hall dining room as a freshman.  The guy was huge!  Watching him play after the year off from transferring from DePaul swatting a ball away and then dislocating his shoulder was something else.  You are only young and in college once.  Enjoy what you have and had.  My Marquette team was OK at best.  But it was my Marquette!

[dgies9156]

I was 1974 to 1978 so I saw the best and the  beginning of the worst in MU basketball in the Miami of Ohio nightmare.

The best years since 1977 have been the 2.5 years since Coach Shaka came here. We have hope again. This guy is everything we could expect in a leader.

Looking for the best in Phoenix in April!

[BLWarrior91]

This threads made me realize the only non Al players to make four ncaa tournaments are the 3 amigos, Lazar, Cubillian and Junior.

Am I right about that? 6 guys total who weren't Al's guys.

Chris Otule was part of the program for five straight tournaments…but was redshirted during that run.

[jfp61]

Is 21-2024 an option yet?

[Lennys Tap]

I think most people around here would take Wojo over some of older coaches.

I would have taken Wojo over Al - Al had been dead for 13 or 14 years when Wojo arrived.

[StillAWarrior]

I would have taken Wojo over Al - Al had been dead for 13 or 14 years when Wojo arrived.

Yeah, but you’ve gotta admit it’s a pretty close call. Basically a coin flip.

[Scoop Snoop]

I would have taken Wojo over Al - Al had been dead for 13 or 14 years when Wojo arrived.

I would have taken a guy who was definitely dead over a guy who played dead. 

[#UnleashSean]

Without reading.... whatever buzz Era team went sweet 16, elite 8.

[PJDunn]

Those were great years, unless of course, you were a female student.

[brewcity77]

First, I think you have to rule some eras out. Anything pre-Al I wouldn't include. The best was probably 1952-55, but you've got two losing records in there and a single NCAA appearance (admittedly Elite 8 with 2 wins in the tourney).

I also think you have to rule out the first four years of Hank. Yes, you get the last #1 ranking and you get a Sweet 16, but it was clearly a downward trajectory. In terms of best runs, you want the program to be peaking as you leave school. I think that leaves you with four candidates.

4) 1991-1994: Kevin O'Neill - I wasn't there then, but I've talked to enough people that were to know there was a palpable buzz around the program on campus and after Dukiet, you could feel the positive momentum. Every year was better than the last and it culminated in a Sweet 16, beating Kentucky to get there, and only losing to national runner-up Duke. The downside, of course, is O'Neill leaving at the end of that year.

3) 2010-2013: Buzz Williams - You enter college with an established NCAA regular that overachieved as a scrappy underdog 2010 team, making the tournament after being on no one's radar, to a pair of Sweet 16s and culminating in the Elite 8. The senior year would end with an initial feeling that this was just the start of great things, because there was still a feeling that Buzz would be around, Marquette would be the team to beat in the new Big East, and as good as things were, they were just getting started.

2) 2000-2003: Tom Crean - This includes my time at Marquette (2002-04) and I think this is the correct answer at the moment of posting, but there's another candidate. The excitement on campus that was there for O'Neill was palpable from the start with Crean and he was an incredible program salesman. Then you go from two years of program building to program breakthrough to Final Four. Even after the Kansas loss, it felt like we would be back. Wade left, but Diener and Novak were still there, Dameon Mason was the heir apparent, it was seashells and balloons. I mean...we didn't stay there, like all things, but in the moment it was pretty close to feeling elite.

1) 2021-2024: Shaka Smart - This finishing as #1 all depends on March. But man, it's a strong contender. You go from the lowest of lows as a freshman, with a losing record program and a coach getting fired to an NCAA Tourney return as a sophomore, Big East double titles and a tourney win as a junior, and whatever this season ends up being as a senior. If Marquette reaches the Final Four, it's the uncontested answer. If they win the title, it is suddenly second to only 1974-77.

[MU82]

I arrived at Marquette in August 1978, 5 months after the Miami of Ohio fiasco. And since August 1978, I honestly think there is more excitement about Marquette basketball right now than at any other time. I know lots of alums who were only casual fans but who now eagerly anticipate every game. As brew said, all we need is a good long March run, and this will be remembered as an awesome stretch, even with Wojo's horrendous final season as the lead-in.

Otherwise, it's hard to top the basketball that the class that entered MU in August 2009 got to see, 4 NCAAT appearances, culminated by S16-S16-E8. Of course, any four-year stretch that included Wade's two seasons had a Final Four run and the chance to watch the best player in Marquette history play, and that ain't nuthin'.

[BrewCity83]

First, I think you have to rule some eras out. Anything pre-Al I wouldn't include. The best was probably 1952-55, but you've got two losing records in there and a single NCAA appearance (admittedly Elite 8 with 2 wins in the tourney).

I also think you have to rule out the first four years of Hank. Yes, you get the last #1 ranking and you get a Sweet 16, but it was clearly a downward trajectory. In terms of best runs, you want the program to be peaking as you leave school. I think that leaves you with four candidates.

4) 1991-1994: Kevin O'Neill - I wasn't there then, but I've talked to enough people that were to know there was a palpable buzz around the program on campus and after Dukiet, you could feel the positive momentum. Every year was better than the last and it culminated in a Sweet 16, beating Kentucky to get there, and only losing to national runner-up Duke. The downside, of course, is O'Neill leaving at the end of that year.

3) 2010-2013: Buzz Williams - You enter college with an established NCAA regular that overachieved as a scrappy underdog 2010 team, making the tournament after being on no one's radar, to a pair of Sweet 16s and culminating in the Elite 8. The senior year would end with an initial feeling that this was just the start of great things, because there was still a feeling that Buzz would be around, Marquette would be the team to beat in the new Big East, and as good as things were, they were just getting started.

2) 2000-2003: Tom Crean - This includes my time at Marquette (2002-04) and I think this is the correct answer at the moment of posting, but there's another candidate. The excitement on campus that was there for O'Neill was palpable from the start with Crean and he was an incredible program salesman. Then you go from two years of program building to program breakthrough to Final Four. Even after the Kansas loss, it felt like we would be back. Wade left, but Diener and Novak were still there, Dameon Mason was the heir apparent, it was seashells and balloons. I mean...we didn't stay there, like all things, but in the moment it was pretty close to feeling elite.

1)2021-2024: Shaka Smart - This finishing as #1 all depends on March. But man, it's a strong contender. You go from the lowest of lows as a freshman, with a losing record program and a coach getting fired to an NCAA Tourney return as a sophomore, Big East double titles and a tourney win as a junior, and whatever this season ends up being as a senior. If Marquette reaches the Final Four, it's the uncontested answer. If they win the title, it is suddenly second to only 1974-77.

I was there '79-'83...while we could later see that it was the start of The Great Decline, at the time we were all riding high on the wave that Al created, and Marquette was still very much in the national eye.  It was a fun time to be there, and we were still a big time program, maybe even a Blue Blood. 

But the team didn't win like Marquette had become used to.  So I think the current team ('21-'24), Crean/Wade's run, and Buzz's runs were clearly the peaks.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

I was 08-12 and that was pretty neat.

[Galway Eagle]

Surprised there's not many people pulling for the 93/94-96/97

Conference reg season champs and sweet 16 in 94 as a freshman, fun NIT finals as a sophomore, 4 seed your junior year. conference tournament champs in your senior year and a solid sprinkling of draft picks through those years.

Thought there'd be more people arguing that the consistent success outweighs the post FF slump.

[rocket surgeon]

I think the three year run with Buzz was the best era since Al, followed by Wade's time at MU.

  that would make you about what goose?  30's?  you look great man! no wonder, your lovely has herself a real "boy toy"
                                                       
                                                              EYN"A

for me?  biggest bummer was losing first round 1978-i think that's where the drinking got really heavy, but no worries, i've since reconciled    did oliver lee really show up at mccormick in a limo exiting a cloud of "smoke"...seriously?!?  larry hatchet was a great example of MU student athletes.  even the rick years were exciting with some interesting characters...then it was downhill as ya'll know.  still during my tenure we went 158-81

    had a blast at old milwaukee arena- that place rocked!!   never forget toilet paper gate in the dorms.  jim hegarty's(wants to see you) was the best good old fashioned MU sports bar where real warrior talk happened and everybody knew your name.  paul Q was the man! a little quirky if ya know what i mean but whata guy!  he introduced me to bret favre before anyone knew his name

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Surprised there's not many people pulling for the 93/94-96/97

Conference reg season champs and sweet 16 in 94 as a freshman, fun NIT finals as a sophomore, 4 seed your junior year. conference tournament champs in your senior year and a solid sprinkling of draft picks through those years.

Thought there'd be more people arguing that the consistent success outweighs the post FF slump.

I think everyone knew that the Deane era was going to have a cap on its success since the recruiting wasn't all that great. And yes, when the talent ran out, the poor results popped up.

[LongtimeFan]

A very good stretch was 69-70 to 72-73. Teams were ranked at season end 8,2,7 and 5. Season records were 26-3, 28-1, 25-4, and 25-4. In 69-70 Al McGuire declined an NCAA invitation and MU was the NIT champion. In the other 3 seasons MU lost their second game in the NCAA tournament.

I would also include 73-74( as I was still at MU in Grad School) end of season rank 3, 26-5 record, and runner up to NCAA champion.

I realize this was Al’s era, but what a great time to be a student and fan.

[Goose]

Rocket

Spot on with the boy toy, she is a lucky gal.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Man, the Gen Xers had a miserable basketball experience in their formative years.

[tower912]

Yes we did.  For me, last two years of Majerus, first two years of Dukiet.   Thankfully, I was of legal drinking age.

[Richie]

Man, the Gen Xers had a miserable basketball experience in their formative years.

'85 to '89 had Rick's last year and all 3 of Dukiet. It was miserable with pretty much no hope after Dukiet's first year, but we still had good, though losing, times. There was such hope for Gerald Posey and Corey Floyd, but we know how that all turned out.

Instead, it was Candelino and Nethan, the weekend doubleheader of Dayton and North Carolina in 1986, and the Bradley Center opening in 1988, that provided lasting memories.