Looking at the upcoming Season - PREVIEW THREAD

[aughnanure]

Marquette is a consistent tournament team, that is true. To say they are "always in it" I guess would be true, if you ignore that the last time they went past the Sweet 16 (2003) like they did last year, they followed that up by losing some important players and missing two consecutive tournaments.

I think the cupboard is a little more empty than others do at Marquette this season. Not saying their current guys can't develop, but on paper I don't have them in my top 3.

We were a very different program in 2003 with a very different coach. He did a poor job of recruiting post Wade, and he has never been, and still isn't, an outstanding game coach. I wouldn't be surprised if Crean never goes further in the tourney than he did in 2003, despite the massive resources of Indiana. Buzz has recruited a top 10 class for next year, has a solid returning core (look more closely at the numbers and you will see little difference between our starters and backups), and has never missed the tournament since he took the reigns. Marquette will be just fine.

While kind of true, the reasons we missed the tournament are almost entirely due to Diener getting injured for significant time both years and Crean never having recruited a legitimate backup.

[aughnanure]

Just for the record, no BE team has been to more NCAA's in the last decade than X.
(Marquette has the same number of appearances...8).
No BE team has been to more S16's in the last decade than X...5.

Now, if we can just figure out how to get to the Final Four.

Xavier if by far the most prepared (and best) program coming into the Big East. You guys had to take some steps back b/c of the brawl and transfers, but you'll be fine soon. If this was 3-4 years ago, I'd be picking you guys top 4 easily - but Providence nad StJ have really stepped up their talent recently and I think there will be an adjustment period the 1st year for the newcomers.

[GumbyDamnit!]

Just for the record, no BE team has been to more NCAA's in the last decade than X.
(Marquette has the same number of appearances...8).
No BE team has been to more S16's in the last decade than X...5.

Now, if we can just figure out how to get to the Final Four.

Paulxu, why are you not giving your new conference mates at Villanova any love? 8 NCAA appearances in the past decade as well, and albeit only 4 S16's in that time but also 2 elite 8's and a FF as well.

[Bill Marsh]

Let me say something about Marquette, they are always in it. It doesn't matter who they lose, who gets hurt, etc., they are always in it. So if you ask me, they will be in the NCAA tourney in march because I have yet to see a reason why they wouldn't be.

Marquette is a consistent tournament team, that is true. To say they are "always in it" I guess would be true, if you ignore that the last time they went past the Sweet 16 (2003) like they did last year, they followed that up by losing some important players and missing two consecutive tournaments.

I think the cupboard is a little more empty than others do at Marquette this season. Not saying their current guys can't develop, but on paper I don't have them in my top 3.

Marquette is not rebuilding. This is the same crap people threw around last year when we lost DJO and Jae Crowder. Ya know, the Big East POY and another 1st teamer. But somehow losing a player who didn't even average 15 points (DJO and Jae averaged more than 17), a point guard who couldn't shoot from the outside, and a one-year role player (Lockett) = we lose everything.

I don;t think you have looked at your team if you think the cupboard is bare. We will have a top 10 frontcourt, a better PG, and better outside shooting (hell we were the lowest ranked 3-point shooting team that made the tourney). Plus, we play defense and have the best recruiting class coming in - PLUS an All-American JUCO (and if you havent noticed, our JUCOs turn out to be damn good usually)

When a team loses 3 starters, you are by definition rebuilding - especially when those 3 are your leading scorer, your leading rebounder, & your assists leader. The cupboard doesn't have to be bare for it to be a rebuilding year.

You're making claims about what Marquette will have when the fact is that you really don't know what yo have when these recruits with big reps actually get on the court and when the new team forms its own chemistry. last year's team was greater than the sum of its parts. Next year's may also, but we just don't know that yet. It may also be less than the sum of its parts.

Just think of how Kentucky won a national championship 2 years ago largely with freshman one-and done's. They brought in an equally impressive recruiting class last year and went to the NIT. The fact that they ran through the competition with underclassmen in 2012 did not mean that they would do the same thing in 2013 with another batch of highly touted underclassmen. And they didn't. It's a classic example of why you actually have to see how the new team comes together before evaluating it. Until then, the future is unknown and any claims about that bunch are pure speculation.

Buzz is a great coach. No doubt. But he's not a miracle worker. Calipari is a great coach too. But when any coach is dealing with a bunch of teenagers, it's impossible to take anything for granted.

[Bill Marsh]

Buzz will be fine. Marquette is in great shape.

They are rebuilding this year though. Just making the tourney would be nice.

No, just making the tournament would not be "nice". Not making the tournament would be hugely disappointing.

Not once in the Old Big East did Marquette not make the tourney, so in this new format w/ no Cuse, Uconn, ND, Pitt, Cincy, Ville - it would be quite disappointing to not make it in.

You're building yourself up for a big let down.

BTW, you faced the likes of Cuse, UConn, ND, Pitt, and Cincy once each in a typical season in the old Big East. The new Big East is double round robing. So, it'll be Georgetown and Villanova twice each.

BTW, Cincy was no world beater in the old Big East. Missed the tournament 5 straight years and last year barely made the tournament. If UConn hadn't been ineligible, they probably wouldn't have made it. Their record in the last 10 games, something on which the committee puts a lot of emphasis, was abysmal.

[paulxu]

Just for the record, no BE team has been to more NCAA's in the last decade than X.
(Marquette has the same number of appearances...8).
No BE team has been to more S16's in the last decade than X...5.

Now, if we can just figure out how to get to the Final Four.

Paulxu, why are you not giving your new conference mates at Villanova any love? 8 NCAA appearances in the past decade as well, and albeit only 4 S16's in that time but 2 elite 8's and a FF as well.

Gumby, damn it, I screwed up. Sorry.

[GumbyDamnit!]

Just for the record, no BE team has been to more NCAA's in the last decade than X.
(Marquette has the same number of appearances...8).
No BE team has been to more S16's in the last decade than X...5.

Now, if we can just figure out how to get to the Final Four.

Paulxu, why are you not giving your new conference mates at Villanova any love? 8 NCAA appearances in the past decade as well, and albeit only 4 S16's in that time but 2 elite 8's and a FF as well.

Gumby, damn it, I screwed up. Sorry.

No issue Paul. Really looking forward to building a rivalry with you guys this year.

[PeteXU]

The brawl didn't set Xavier back really at all. Sure maybe the regular season, but they still made a S16. Xavier also focuses quite a bit on transfers, and have consistently hit on them. The down year last year was because our administration basically railroaded our best player in Dez Wells.

[X-man]

The brawl didn't set Xavier back really at all. Sure maybe the regular season, but they still made a S16. Xavier also focuses quite a bit on transfers, and have consistently hit on them. The down year last year was because our administration basically railroaded our best player in Dez Wells.

Dez was railroaded. XU also kicked Lyons to the curb, and he had another year of eligibility. The Lyons release I understand, but the Wells expulsion was ridiculous. With one or both of those players last season, along with Reynolds and Davis who were both ineligible under very questionable circumstances, Xavier would have had a much better season. Look for a season-ending powerhouse in Cincinnati once all the new players have gotten used to each other. The Muskies will struggle a bit OOC, but should contend in the Big East....and in the post-season.

[aughnanure]

Buzz will be fine. Marquette is in great shape.

They are rebuilding this year though. Just making the tourney would be nice.

No, just making the tournament would not be "nice". Not making the tournament would be hugely disappointing.

Not once in the Old Big East did Marquette not make the tourney, so in this new format w/ no Cuse, Uconn, ND, Pitt, Cincy, Ville - it would be quite disappointing to not make it in.

You're building yourself up for a big let down.

BTW, you faced the likes of Cuse, UConn, ND, Pitt, and Cincy once each in a typical season in the old Big East. The new Big East is double round robing. So, it'll be Georgetown and Villanova twice each.

BTW, Cincy was no world beater in the old Big East. Missed the tournament 5 straight years and last year barely made the tournament. If UConn hadn't been ineligible, they probably wouldn't have made it. Their record in the last 10 games, something on which the committee puts a lot of emphasis, was abysmal.

It also means two games against DePaul and two against Seton Hall. We also normally played Georgetown and Nova twice. Especially GTown. The point is, the Old Big East was better regardless.