Marquette Basketball thread 2021-2022

[patrickgpe]

they played Creighton very tough. The big east is a very strong conference this season. It gets a little easier next week with Georgetown and DePaul, but not much.

 

looking at conference RPI's, Big East is second to the Big 10.

[patrickgpe]

Marquette's next 6 opponents are nationally ranked, obviously this stretch that starts tomorrow will be a good indication on how this season will go. Their final 7 opponents are currently outside the top 25.

[nate82]

Marquette's next 6 opponents are nationally ranked, obviously this stretch that starts tomorrow will be a good indication on how this season will go. Their final 7 opponents are currently outside the top 25.

 

If they go 2-4 they should be ok and get a 8-10 seeding assuming they go 5-2 in the final 7 games. They need to win at least one of the 6 games otherwise I think it is the NIT for them.

 

I think this is a good first year with a new coach.

[patrickgpe]

 

I think this is a good first year with a new coach.

and with a roster than only brought back 2 players that contributed last season

[Joseph Zarr]

Just posting to help the Marquette thread gain some balance with Bucky basketball.

 

Smart has an extremely tough task inheriting a previously average program then contending with many a departure, playing in a very tough conference, having to integrate and implement an entirely new system and program. I think you have to be extremely content they are at least playing 0.500 ball in their first year. This being said, Marquette basketball as a whole has been playing to this type of overall record since Woj. The real testament to any positive influence and meaningful direction will rear its head in the next few years. Hopefully, the program and the Program's key supporters have the patience to allow Smart, his staff, and his recruits some time to turn it around.

[stalton]

And just like that Marquette beats their first of 6 against ranked opponents.

[patrickgpe]

Was a great win. Lights out in the 1st half. Shots didn’t fall in the 2nd but they still kept the energy on defense. Made enough clutch shots to win down the stretch.

 

Losing that Creighton game on New Year’s Day stings, but if they can split these 6, they will be in great shape in March. All they have to do is win their home games during this stretch.

[LouisEly]

Yeah, I hope that Creighton game doesn't come back to bite them come tourney selection time. Up three with less than three seconds left... you have to coach your team to foul if they have to in order to not allow a 3-point attempt. Ighodaro got the guard on the switch and the guard dribbled away; he had an opportunity to foul on the floor and prevent the 3-point shot, forcing them to miss a free throw, get a rebound, and make another shot to tie in less than two seconds.

[patrickgpe]

They have no “bad losses” so far which helps them. I agree with everything you said about the Creighton game. The good news is in the big east, there are plenty of opportunities for statement wins for the committee to see.

[patrickgpe]

2-0 in this stretch. This team is getting better down the stretch, unlike under the past coach where they always faded

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

Wow. What a win at Villanova. I thought Marquette was toast when they went down 45-36.

 

I know it's way too early to judge the Shaka hire, but I always thought Marquette was pretty much the perfect school for him. He can get a higher caliber player than he could at VCU, but he can run his system with more buy-in and less ego than at Texas. It just seems like a great fit, and, though I certainly root for UW when the schools play, I love the basketball-first Big East, and Marquette being a perennial tourney team would make the conference and basketball in Wisconsin better.

 

Count me in the Shaka fan club, is what I'm saying.

[patrickgpe]

It’s too early but the results are solid. Marquette can clearly get higher quality recruits than VCU. At Texas he was always #2. He will have whatever he needs at Marquette to win. The fact that he was able to put together this team with only 2 significant returning players coming back and almost all of his top Texas recruits followed him has me excited

[patrickgpe]

Also first win ever at vilanova’s on campus arena is amazing and surprising it took so long

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

It’s too early but the results are solid. Marquette can clearly get higher quality recruits than VCU. At Texas he was always #2. He will have whatever he needs at Marquette to win. The fact that he was able to put together this team with only 2 significant returning players coming back and almost all of his top Texas recruits followed him has me excited

 

Yeah, the idea of being at a basketball-first school, where the athletic department is totally structured around MBB is something I'm surprised more coaches don't consider. I get it in terms of the money--Texas and other big-time schools can just offer more. But Big East jobs feel really underrated to me. And Marquette's probably the third-best job in the conference, after Nova and UConn. Depending on how you feel about Xavier, anyway.

[patrickgpe]

I can't find the link, but I believe Buzz and/or Crean was a top 10 coach as far as total compensation (endorsements, etc) at one point. Marquette's boosters really only have one program to support and can make life very good for the head coach if they are successful. Nova is clearly the top job in the conference but I think there are a bunch that are very close and Marquette is in that group.

[nate82]

It also helps that Marquette plays in an NBA sized arena. At least this probably helps with recruiting?

[thebruce44]

It’s too early but the results are solid. Marquette can clearly get higher quality recruits than VCU. At Texas he was always #2. He will have whatever he needs at Marquette to win. The fact that he was able to put together this team with only 2 significant returning players coming back and almost all of his top Texas recruits followed him has me excited

 

Yeah, the idea of being at a basketball-first school, where the athletic department is totally structured around MBB is something I'm surprised more coaches don't consider. I get it in terms of the money--Texas and other big-time schools can just offer more. But Big East jobs feel really underrated to me. And Marquette's probably the third-best job in the conference, after Nova and UConn. Depending on how you feel about Xavier, anyway.

 

It may not be the case at the moment, after the down years, but MU has historically been a top spender. At one point, I think they were second only to Duke (don't ask me for evidence).

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

It’s too early but the results are solid. Marquette can clearly get higher quality recruits than VCU. At Texas he was always #2. He will have whatever he needs at Marquette to win. The fact that he was able to put together this team with only 2 significant returning players coming back and almost all of his top Texas recruits followed him has me excited

 

Yeah, the idea of being at a basketball-first school, where the athletic department is totally structured around MBB is something I'm surprised more coaches don't consider. I get it in terms of the money--Texas and other big-time schools can just offer more. But Big East jobs feel really underrated to me. And Marquette's probably the third-best job in the conference, after Nova and UConn. Depending on how you feel about Xavier, anyway.

 

It may not be the case at the moment, after the down years, but MU has historically been a top spender. At one point, I think they were second only to Duke (don't ask me for evidence).

 

Good to know.

 

I would imagine Power 5, football conferences are a bit more awash in TV money and that helps increases payouts for MBB coaches these days, but, yeah, Marquette's a great job.

 

Honestly, I can think of a couple reasons someone might prefer Texas to Marquette (mainly $$$ and location), but I sure wouldn't. Constantly being on the hot seat and needing to regularly win random tournament games in order to make deep runs and relieve the pressure just sounds like an unhealthy amount of stress. Not that the Big East doesn't have schools with fanbases who really want to win, but I just think it comes with a decrease in pressure that more than offsets the drop from 5 mil in annual salary to 3 mil or whatever. Plus, who needs Austin traffic anyway?

[LouisEly]

At Texas you're third fiddle to football and baseball. Plus, Texas is the USC of the midwest - super-wealthy alumni and boosters who are never satisfied and get coaches fired every four years.

[LouisEly]

Why were the Villanova fans getting on Kolek's case?

[folly412]

Why were the Villanova fans getting on Kolek's case?

 

Not sure, but he gave them a goodbye kiss

 

It could just be college kids finding a player to pick on, but between that and him singing Country Roads on the court against WVU, I wouldn't be surprised if he did something to provoke them. With any luck, the entire conference will grow to hate him for three more years.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

Big opportunity to validate that Nova win this afternoon. I'd take Marquette plus the 2.

[Cool Hand Lucroy]

Tough schedule coming up, but Marquette looks really good for a decent seed. Could they get really hot and end up a 4? Probably not, but if they can, it would be fun to have both UW and Marquette scheduled at Fiserv. What a great day for Wisconsin hoops that would be.

 

Long shot, but might as well dream while both programs are having quality seasons.

[PinaMadness]

So will they finally get ranked this week? They should.

[nate82]

So will they finally get ranked this week? They should.

 

Marquette is now ranked coming in at 22.

 

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/college-basketball-rankings-auburn-no-1-for-first-time-in-school-history-in-updated-ap-top-25-poll/