To the Rafters

[We R Final Four]

A well deserved recognition for each.  Hope that each gets their own day/celebration though. 

They could have Crean's during the (diet) Pepsi Challenge.

[TallTitan34]

Those guys are nearly 40. I would hope they would have greater perspective on life than still being pissed that their college coach left for a different job.

Also, many were present when Crean was inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame.

[tower912]

They could have Crean's during the (diet) Pepsi Challenge.

Diet Pepsi challenge?  I'm in.

[Billy Hoyle]

What players do we think show up to celebrate Crean? Wade, Deiner, Novak, Chapman, Fitzgerald sure. But do guys like McNeal Wes Dom Lazar and Cubillion celebrate him or feel abandoned by him?

Was it feeling "abandoned" or more blindsided when John Harbaugh went on Bloomington radio and said it was happening before Crean could tell the players? IIRC (and it's been a long time) Wes confronted Crean about how they found out, which wasn't Crean's intent and TC was pissed off at his BIL for leaking it.

[tower912]

I was dumped by an ex girlfriend 35 years ago.  I am still bitter about how it went down.

Yup, sounds about the same.

[WhiteTrash]

Those guys are nearly 40. I would hope they would have greater perspective on life than still being pissed that their college coach left for a different job.

I could be wrong, but I don't remember anyone, players or fans, being upset that he left for IU.

I do remember a lot of pissed people about the way he left.

I was pissed about how it went down, but it was not unforgivable and I moved on fairly quickly.

[Pepe Sylvia]

I could be wrong, but I don't remember anyone, players or fans, being upset that he left for IU.

I do remember a lot of pissed people about the way he left.

I was pissed about how it went down, but it was not unforgivable and I moved on fairly quickly.

I moved on about a month after Crean's inevitable firing. Was rooting for him at Georgia, but not Indiana.

[Scoop Snoop]

I could be wrong, but I don't remember anyone, players or fans, being upset that he left for IU.

I do remember a lot of pissed people about the way he left.

I was pissed about how it went down, but it was not unforgivable and I moved on fairly quickly.

I read somewhere that his BIL publicly spoke about the new position before Crean had a chance to tell the team personally, but whether or not this is true, I do not know.

[Billy Hoyle]

I read somewhere that his BIL publicly spoke about the new position before Crean had a chance to tell the team personally, but whether or not this is true, I do not know.

That's what happened: John Harbaugh dropped it during an interview on an interview with a Bloomington or Indy station.

[jfp61]

I don't think that this is very well thought through. We had 3 drafted seniors, on top 5-10 teams, who now need jersey retirements before 2028 and 2029.

[Shaka Shart]

When are they retiring John "Magic" Dawson's jersey

[wadesworld]

I don't think that this is very well thought through. We had 3 drafted seniors, on top 5-10 teams, who now need jersey retirements before 2028 and 2029.

Why 3?  I love Oso, but if he's getting one then so should Lazar, Dominic James, Travis Diener, Brian Wardle, Tony Smith, Wes Matthews, DJO, Steve Novak, Aaron Hutchins, Cordell Henry, Jim McIlvaine, Jimmy Butler, Jae Crowder (he actually should) etc.  And why before 2028 and 2029?

[The Sultan]

I don't think that this is very well thought through. We had 3 drafted seniors, on top 5-10 teams, who now need jersey retirements before 2028 and 2029.

Are you suggesting that Marquette is going to retire Oso's and OMP's numbers? Because I can't see why for either. McNeal was at least the program's leading scorer at one point.

[CTWarrior]

Boomers aghast

Yup.  0 Conference Titles, 0 conference tournament titles, 0 conference tournament finals (1 Big East tournament win against a team with a .500 or better conference record) two NCAA tournament wins between the two players out of 8 seasons.  Three top 25 AP finishes (all Jerel), and they were 20, 23 and 25.  In both cases we had better four year stretches than any time they were here beginning the second season after they left.  If these guys are all-time MU greats, why didn't they win more?

Seriously, I am happy for all getting inducted.  Markus was a first team All-American, our all-time leading scorer and one of the top 20 Division I scorers of all time.  He certainly deserves it.  Jerel is our second leading all time scorer and a great defender.

One other point is that although Jerel scored a lot more points, I really don't think he was better than James or Matthews while they were here.  If he was going to go in, I would have liked to see all three of them get their jerseys retired together.  I guess since jersey digits higher than 5 are now allowed, we can retire more numbers without running out.

[jfp61]

Why 3?  I love Oso, but if he's getting one then so should Lazar, Dominic James, Travis Diener, Brian Wardle, Tony Smith, Wes Matthews, DJO, Steve Novak, Aaron Hutchins, Cordell Henry, Jim McIlvaine, Jimmy Butler, Jae Crowder (he actually should) etc.  And why before 2028 and 2029?

My point is markus feels expedited.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

What players do we think show up to celebrate Crean? Wade, Deiner, Novak, Chapman, Fitzgerald sure. But do guys like McNeal Wes Dom Lazar and Cubillion celebrate him or feel abandoned by him?

I spoke with Jerel at a Marquette NYC Circles event during the BET 2024.  Mike Broeker has been his soundboard for a very long time and the university means a lot to him.  I'd be very surprised if he no showed.

[Nukem2]

Yup.  0 Conference Titles, 0 conference tournament titles, 0 conference tournament finals (1 Big East tournament win against a team with a .500 or better conference record) two NCAA tournament wins between the two players out of 8 seasons.  Three top 25 AP finishes (all Jerel), and they were 20, 23 and 25.  In both cases we had better four year stretches than any time they were here beginning the second season after they left.  If these guys are all-time MU greats, why didn't they win more?

Seriously, I am happy for all getting inducted.  Markus was a first team All-American, our all-time leading scorer and one of the top 20 Division I scorers of all time.  He certainly deserves it.  Jerel is our second leading all time scorer and a great defender.

One other point is that although Jerel scored a lot more points, I really don't think he was better than James or Matthews while they were here.  If he was going to go in, I would have liked to see all three of them get their jerseys retired together.  I guess since jersey digits higher than 5 are now allowed, we can retire more numbers without running out.

The jerseys are being retired not the numbers. Markus and Jerel had stellar careers, so they are deserving. As one of the original boomers, I am not aghast at TC being honored. He brought the program back after Deane took it down to Krunti Hester level, recruited DWade, was only the 2nd MU coach to get to the F4 and was instrumental in MU successfully getting The Al funded and built while helping getting MU in position to get into the BE.

[Uncle Rico]

Yup.  0 Conference Titles, 0 conference tournament titles, 0 conference tournament finals (1 Big East tournament win against a team with a .500 or better conference record) two NCAA tournament wins between the two players out of 8 seasons.  Three top 25 AP finishes (all Jerel), and they were 20, 23 and 25.  In both cases we had better four year stretches than any time they were here beginning the second season after they left.  If these guys are all-time MU greats, why didn't they win more?

Seriously, I am happy for all getting inducted.  Markus was a first team All-American, our all-time leading scorer and one of the top 20 Division I scorers of all time.  He certainly deserves it.  Jerel is our second leading all time scorer and a great defender.

One other point is that although Jerel scored a lot more points, I really don't think he was better than James or Matthews while they were here.  If he was going to go in, I would have liked to see all three of them get their jerseys retired together.  I guess since jersey digits higher than 5 are now allowed, we can retire more numbers without running out.

Thank you

[avid1010]

Not a fan of this, but I'll survive.  If you were starting an all-time great MU team, where would you draft Markus? 

[wadesworld]

Not a fan of this, but I'll survive.  If you were starting an all-time great MU team, where would you draft Markus? 

Where would I draft the guy who shot 43% from 3 on 8 attempts per game for his career in today's game?  A 2 time consensus All American?  A Big East Player of the Year?  The leading scorer in the history of the Big East (think about that)?  One who would've had at least 2 more games to add to that total had COVID not shut the season down?  Pretty dang high.

[tower912]

All time leading MU scorer, all time leading Big East scorer.   Pretty high.

[romey]

Not a fan of this, but I'll survive.  If you were starting an all-time great MU team, where would you draft Markus? 

What???

[Billy Hoyle]

Yup.  0 Conference Titles, 0 conference tournament titles, 0 conference tournament finals (1 Big East tournament win against a team with a .500 or better conference record) two NCAA tournament wins between the two players out of 8 seasons.  Three top 25 AP finishes (all Jerel), and they were 20, 23 and 25.  In both cases we had better four year stretches than any time they were here beginning the second season after they left.  If these guys are all-time MU greats, why didn't they win more?

Seriously, I am happy for all getting inducted.  Markus was a first team All-American, our all-time leading scorer and one of the top 20 Division I scorers of all time.  He certainly deserves it.  Jerel is our second leading all time scorer and a great defender.

One other point is that although Jerel scored a lot more points, I really don't think he was better than James or Matthews while they were here.  If he was going to go in, I would have liked to see all three of them get their jerseys retired together.  I guess since jersey digits higher than 5 are now allowed, we can retire more numbers without running out.

Travis and Tony Miller should be raised up there first.

I guess the rafters are for all time really goods now.

[tower912]

I would take Markus over either.  Maybe not Jerel.

[The Sultan]

Travis and Tony Miller should be raised up there first.

I guess the rafters are for all time really goods now.

I would take Markus over both. Tony Miller?