How important is the 2nd weekend to you?

[MU82]

I want a title before I shed this mortal coil. Considering how rare opportunities like this are, when these seasons come along, until we get one, I'm title or bust. Last year was all house money because while I thought we were good, we exceeded my expectations. Next year, with likely a lesser roster, I'll have lower expectations so S16 would probably blow me away. But any year we're in that NC mix (until we win one) I'm going to sadly be looking at that as the only success. Which sucks, because even when you're the best team in the country, winning a 6-game single-elimination tournament is incredibly unlikely.

I guess I don't know what you mean by "I'm title or bust."

What will the consequences be from brewcity77 if we don't win it all this season?

I'm pretty sure you're not gonna stop being a Marquette basketball fan and you're not gonna call for Shaka's head. But a term like "title or bust" suggests something more than just being disappointed.

[dgies9156]

Such impatience.

While expectations are sky high this year, keep in mind that three years ago, we were a nobody program spinning toward the depths of irrelevancy. DePaul we weren't likely to be, but Loyola (sans Sister Jean), St. John's, Syracuse, Pitt or UCLA? Very possible.

I'm grateful for Shaka and where we're headed. But I'll remind anyone who will listen that even in the Coach McGuire days, we had a legacy of choking. The years 1969, 1971, 1973 and 1976 stand out as years that could have been... but weren't. The 1971-1972 and 1974-1975 seasons also were marred by losing a core part of our team (Jim Chones and Maurice Lucas, respectively), thus becoming mini-chokes.

Today's NCAA is a crapshoot. Much depends on seed and match-ups. If we draw something favorable, we could catch lightening in a bottle. But, if we're cold shooting and get a team like Wisconsin, keep the plane back to Milwaukee warm!

[brewcity77]

I guess I don't know what you mean by "I'm title or bust."

What will the consequences be from brewcity77 if we don't win it all this season?

I'm pretty sure you're not gonna stop being a Marquette basketball fan and you're not gonna call for Shaka's head. But a term like "title or bust" suggests something more than just being disappointed.

No consequences, but the thread is asking how important the second weekend is to me. For me, the only importance to the second weekend is you have to go there before you win the title. And ultimately, that's the only goal I have left for the program in my lifetime.

That doesn't mean I won't be able to look back fondly on a second weekend appearance after we eventually win a title, but any time we have the capability we do this year, there will be a permanent sting and feeling that the year was ultimately unfulfilled until we cut nets at the Final Four.

[romey]

Such impatience.

While expectations are sky high this year, keep in mind that three years ago, we were a nobody program spinning toward the depths of irrelevancy. DePaul we weren't likely to be, but Loyola (sans Sister Jean), St. John's, Syracuse, Pitt or UCLA? Very possible.

I'm grateful for Shaka and where we're headed. But I'll remind anyone who will listen that even in the Coach McGuire days, we had a legacy of choking. The years 1969, 1971, 1973 and 1976 stand out as years that could have been... but weren't. The 1971-1972 and 1974-1975 seasons also were marred by losing a core part of our team (Jim Chones and Maurice Lucas, respectively), thus becoming mini-chokes.

Today's NCAA is a crapshoot. Much depends on seed and match-ups. If we draw something favorable, we could catch lightening in a bottle. But, if we're cold shooting and get a team like Wisconsin, keep the plane back to Milwaukee warm!

I was just going to post something similar.  1976 was a year we were absolutely loaded and ran into the undefeated Hoosiers.
Then in 1978 - again, loaded, defending champs - lose our opening game.

I'm still a die hard fan.  Imagine that.

[DoctorV]

Dgies, Wisconsin sucks.

[MuMark]

I will be disappointed if we don't get to the Final Four ... just as I was last year. And when we get to the Final Four, I'll be disappointed if we don't win the title.

Like all fans, I always want more.

I'm also realistic and I understand the nature of the NCAA Tournament. I won't like a first-weekend exit (or a second-weekend exit, for that matter).  I'll be grumpy for a day or 3. But as is the case with most here (I hope), my happiness in life isn't defined by what my alma mater's basketball team does. I'll get over it, I'll have a great summer with my family and friends, and I'll be psyched for next season to begin.

Well said........the players will put it all out there......as will the staff.......sometimes you just don't play well.....or it's a bad matchup......or the other team shoots the lights out.....

Dominant teams don't typically worry about matchups........MU is not a dominant team. They can lose at anytime or they can make a deep run.

I never thought a Championship was likely with how this team was built......too small, not enough depth and don't shoot it well enough.

MU has got to out execute opponents......that is how they win......it's hard to do that for 6 games in a row.....

[Shooter McGavin]

Agreed.  Good post.

[DoctorV]

Some good points MuMark.

Marquette isn't a dominant team and that's why opponents do matter.

One of the nice things about the next 6 games is that Shaka can work on making them a more dominant team by introducing some new wrinkles for the end of the season run.
The identity is set, but what happens when push comes to shove in an elimination game?

Pressure can either bust pipes or create diamonds.
I'd like to see one big wrinkle- now that the team has the bodies and is fairly healthy again.
More pressure, more havoc, more 1-3-1 press.
This is one of this Marquette squads biggest strengths- turning teams over and getting out on fast paced big runs. Breaking the opponents spirit.
If nothing else, it puts pressure on and tires the opponent, gives them less time to get in the half court and less energy to crash the O glass, especially if you are out and running.

Of course it can also tire our guys out, so need a heavier dose of the bench to do that. Get it going now, get guys comfortable and see how it goes, for those times where that unique identity becomes a necessity

[brewcity77]

But a term like "title or bust" suggests something more than just being disappointed.

It's more that I'm not going to be satisfied with the trappings along the way until we reach that destination. That doesn't mean I can't enjoy the process, or eventually appreciate the lesser accomplishments, but I'm not going to come out of a S16 finish saying "great, they got that monkey off the back, now I'm happy". I've seen numerous S16s. I'd rather have it than not, but there's really only one thing that will leave me thinking "yes, the season was an unquestioned success."

[wadesworld]

For everyone who says teams are remembered for their March success, I'd argue that unless you  make a Final Four, nobody is really remembered for that.

Outside of Creighton (because it happened last year), can you name Big East teams that have lost in the Sweet 16/Elite 8 since the start of the New Big East?  Or even the previous version of the Big East?

I can't.  Maybe it's because very few Big East teams make the 2nd weekend without making it to the Final Four.  But while I may not be able to tell you the exact year, I typically can tell what programs were awesome throughout a full year or two or three year stretch even if they didn't make a deep NCAA Tournament run.

In 3 years, I bet very few Big East fans outside of Omaha will remember Creighton was in an Elite 8.  But I bet most Big East fans will remember Marquette was awesome in 2022-2023.

[FairWeatherEagle]

So I cant answer the poll because of the Shaka-clausees added.

I would be "Missing the 2nd weekend would be a major disappointment"  but I like Shaka and no issues with him.

So no answer for me.

[Pakuni]

This thread is getting borderline COLE.

[BM1090]

Nothing this year would change my opinion about Shaka being the forever guy, but I'd be disappointed if we didn't make the second weekend. Barring a collapse we're going to be a 2 seed again. It's time to get to the second weekend.

But I also have complete faith that this staff will keep the team top 25 next year even losing Tyler and Oso, which is a really good place for your program to be.

[MochaJoe]

For everyone who says teams are remembered for their March success, I'd argue that unless you  make a Final Four, nobody is really remembered for that.

Outside of Creighton (because it happened last year), can you name Big East teams that have lost in the Sweet 16/Elite 8 since the start of the New Big East?  Or even the previous version of the Big East?

I can't.  Maybe it's because very few Big East teams make the 2nd weekend without making it to the Final Four.  But while I may not be able to tell you the exact year, I typically can tell what programs were awesome throughout a full year or two or three year stretch even if they didn't make a deep NCAA Tournament run.

In 3 years, I bet very few Big East fans outside of Omaha will remember Creighton was in an Elite 8.  But I bet most Big East fans will remember Marquette was awesome in 2022-2023.

Tournament moments and performances definitely resonate more than regular season success for the every day fan. A player like Marquis Nowell is a tournament player I'll never forget or dunk city from FGCU. Those examples are what casual fans remember, not finishing second with some great road performances in the regular season Big 12.

[The Sultan]

Why should I care what the "casual fan" thinks about Marquette? I get no satisfaction by some other fanbase remembering Marquette's performance during the regular season, the BET or the NCAA.

[MochaJoe]

Why should I care what the "casual fan" thinks about Marquette? I get no satisfaction by some other fanbase remembering Marquette's performance during the regular season, the BET or the NCAA.

Stronger national perception from a wider audience improves our brand.

[Galway Eagle]

For everyone who says teams are remembered for their March success, I'd argue that unless you  make a Final Four, nobody is really remembered for that.

Outside of Creighton (because it happened last year), can you name Big East teams that have lost in the Sweet 16/Elite 8 since the start of the New Big East?  Or even the previous version of the Big East?

I can't.  Maybe it's because very few Big East teams make the 2nd weekend without making it to the Final Four.  But while I may not be able to tell you the exact year, I typically can tell what programs were awesome throughout a full year or two or three year stretch even if they didn't make a deep NCAA Tournament run.

In 3 years, I bet very few Big East fans outside of Omaha will remember Creighton was in an Elite 8.  But I bet most Big East fans will remember Marquette was awesome in 2022-2023.

Agree with paragraph one.

I know X made an elite 8 potentially an additional sweet 16. butler at least one sweet 16. Providence made a sweet 16 as well. I doubt if we polled 99% of fans they have that knowledge and if it weren't for seemingly everybody in the NBE except nova flaming out for so long I doubt I'd remember all that.

[dgies9156]

This thread is getting borderline COLE.

Brother Pakuni:

You neglect to see the difference between what we expect to see and how we view our beloved Warriors.

Objectively, I think our ceiling is Final Four, though it would take a very good seeding/draw to get there. I can see us potentially making the championship but I think beating Houston, Purdue or UConn will be extremely tough. But, as I noted above, if we get the wrong team or someone gets extraordinarily hot, we could be toast. Likewise, maybe Purdue and UConn lay an egg along the way and we end up with a very nice path to a Natty!

In 1973, we were a heck of a better team than Indiana. The only notable on their team was Quinn Buckner. Our team had four future NBAers. We were ranked fifth in the nation. Indiana barely cracked the Top 10. Guess who won? Guess who was REALLY disappointed!

We won't even talk about 1978.

Crap happens. We're not COLE, we're realists. As I said, Coach Shaka is doing a great job and I'm all-in on him. I'm excited but have been down the "Meet me in St Louis" path (MU 1978) one time too many!

[wadesworld]

Tournament moments and performances definitely resonate more than regular season success for the every day fan. A player like Marquis Nowell is a tournament player I'll never forget or dunk city from FGCU. Those examples are what casual fans remember, not finishing second with some great road performances in the regular season Big 12.

Sure.  The little guys for the programs that almost never have success you remember for their March performances.  But we are almost certainly never going to be a 15 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Why should I care what the "casual fan" thinks about Marquette? I get no satisfaction by some other fanbase remembering Marquette's performance during the regular season, the BET or the NCAA.

You can care about whatever you want to.  But the idea that Marquette's 2011 season was more enjoyable because they won an extra NCAA Tournament game than last year is wild.

[MochaJoe]

Sure.  The little guys for the programs that almost never have success you remember for their March performances.  But we are almost certainly never going to be a 15 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

You can care about whatever you want to.  But the idea that Marquette's 2011 season was more enjoyable because they won an extra NCAA Tournament game than last year is wild.

Those are two examples but there are many more from successful larger programs.

To your response to semantics - for me, it's a toss up. The NCAA tournament is the post season and post season success is weighted much more heavily in my mind. Winning single elimination games to ultimately compete for a championship trumps and sort of accomplishments (or lack there of) during the regular season.

[#UnleashSean]

Can I have a different poll result of. Extremely disappointed, but not willing to say Shaka might not be the guy?

[The Sultan]

Stronger national perception from a wider audience improves our brand.

Why do I care about that?  Seriously, our brand is fine. I don't care one bit what Joe Schmoe from Podunk, Nebraska thinks about our brand.

[The Sultan]

You can care about whatever you want to.  But the idea that Marquette's 2011 season was more enjoyable because they won an extra NCAA Tournament game than last year is wild.

I agree with you completely. Last year was great!

[Galway Eagle]

You can care about whatever you want to.  But the idea that Marquette's 2011 season was more enjoyable because they won an extra NCAA Tournament game than last year is wild.

I do think it's debatable that 2012 or 2013 were more enjoyable than last year due to the extra game and two games respectively but 2011 is the prime example of why I'd much much rather have consistently great regular seasons and it'd take quite some time before I got antsy for march success.

[MochaJoe]

Why do I care about that?  Seriously, our brand is fine. I don't care one bit what Joe Schmoe from Podunk, Nebraska thinks about our brand.

Winning consistently in March improves the perception of the basketball team and the university. How many people knew who/what/where a Gonzaga is before their sustained NCAA tournament success?

If lots of Joe Schmoe's care, that helps our cherished schools long term viability.