If I didn't know you better, I'd swear you knew what you were talking about
@Marquette, Sat., Feb. 10, 6p, FS-1
- Thread starter Knight
- Start date
The bottom line here is there are things a team needs to do that do not require talent but just will and determination, especially in close games. To date , this team has not proven that they have the will to do those things. Unless they do, they will have an extremely hard time winning a game like this. We’ll see.
Many of us wondered about the talent level on this team, although most of us expected we would be dancing come March.
None of us wondered about the desire and effort being there consistently. To me, that's the most disappointing part of this season.
We're due!
No doubt about it, very disappointing.
FriendofJohnnie
Active member
Let's put things in perspective- Rick had a very short-time to throw together a team with only 1 meaningful returning player (Joel). Somehow, he did it, but once again they are "his guys" to only a degree. He needed stop-gap grad players that could step in and play right away, most of these players have already "developed" and reached their peak. Its all "one last run" for most of the team except a few younger players. If we make the NCAA tournament, great. If we don't but win a game or 2 at Big East Tournament and make NIT, that's fine too. Its a process and once Rick "builds" a team his way we are going to see NCAA Tournaments and great, not good seasons. I think we even have a decent showing in the NIT that only helps Brady and Simeon.
With that being said- Marquette starters will prob be Jenkins, Dingle, Ledlum, Soriano and Luis/Brady.
With that being said- Marquette starters will prob be Jenkins, Dingle, Ledlum, Soriano and Luis/Brady.
We’d draw at least 4 technicals from talking trash. 86-6 final score.
carmineabbatiello
Well-known member
Disagree. There is one and only one positive outcome to the season and it's not "fine" if it's not achieved. What it would be is a sobering slap in the face and realization that even acquiring a legendary hall of famer is not enough to overcome our sucktitude.
just shows you how hard it is, starting from scratch. i don't at all think time has passed for Pitino. He will get us there at some point, not on your timeline, which I agree is frustrating, actually really frustrating.
Per SJ press release
“The Golden Eagles own a 10-1 record at home, including a 4-1 mark against BIG EAST opponents. Marquette’s lone home loss at Fiserv Forum came against Butler, falling 69-62 on Jan. 10. The Golden Eagles will play its first home game since defeating Seton Hall, 75-57, on Jan. 27.”
“The Golden Eagles own a 10-1 record at home, including a 4-1 mark against BIG EAST opponents. Marquette’s lone home loss at Fiserv Forum came against Butler, falling 69-62 on Jan. 10. The Golden Eagles will play its first home game since defeating Seton Hall, 75-57, on Jan. 27.”
FriendofJohnnie
Active member
We have not made a post-season tournament of any kind in about 5 years I believe. I think we need to take what we can this first year. He is a Hall of Coach, but I just don't see how having to throw so much together in such a short time that people had such high expectations for year 1, the NIT year 1 is acceptable with what we were stuck with getting. There are limits to what you can get at certain points in the recruiting cycle. Its all about relationships and he had none with super flashy recruits going into his hiring here. He has now got some solid ones for next year and will get more once season is over now that he has the year under his belt. I do think if Storr accepted his invite to stay we win at least 2 more games and are talking tournament lock but he did not so it is what it is.
The problem is- we could not program build because a string of bad admin decisions. Mullin should never have been hired here to coach. That was a ticket sale grab. Anderson should never have been hired, period. Pitino should have got the call a few years ago. Anderson was one of the big mistakes of this program and achieved nothing but set us back a few years. He did not have the local/national cred (and don't tell me never had a losing season means anything if you're coaching at Arkansas and barely had cups of coffee in NCAAs).
Its because we have a Hall of Fame Coach we can accelerate the rebuild faster than most but its still a rebuild nonetheless. Rick has not even scratched the surface as to what he can do here, be patient folks.
re: expectations for the year.
In a vacuum, that's fair. But in this new era, there's plenty of upheaval all across the country & those teams are able to make the tournament and make runs. We aren't the only team that had to replace 10+ guys or a rotation-worth. Pitino talked a huge game about winning a lot and winning right away, and an even bigger one about the culture of guys working hard. We have all of February to see if it comes to fruition, but I don't think its unfair to be disappointed this year.
In a vacuum, that's fair. But in this new era, there's plenty of upheaval all across the country & those teams are able to make the tournament and make runs. We aren't the only team that had to replace 10+ guys or a rotation-worth. Pitino talked a huge game about winning a lot and winning right away, and an even bigger one about the culture of guys working hard. We have all of February to see if it comes to fruition, but I don't think its unfair to be disappointed this year.
It really isn’t unfair to be disappointed if we come up short. The “Rick factor” gave us hope and in my case perhaps excessive optimism. Desperation sometimes clouds objectivity.
I will add next season is probably going to be more challenging than this, filling a lot of spots held by veterans and underclassmen still going through process of improvement. Happy Rick is here, really was our only shot to get out of a quagmire. I hope he can be patient and realize it may take until his third season to make hay. Can he pull rabbit out of hat next year? Conceivably, but challenging.
Whether we or Rick likes it or not, every year is going to be 4-6 new guys. Last year was extraordinary, but it's not going to be that different in other years. I hope he's ready for that.
Have we tried a hard hedge? I don't remember seeing that. Yes, it would move Joel or Zuby further away from the basket, but also forces the ball out of Kolek's hands if executed well. If they want to give the ball to Ighodaro above the foul line and force him to put the ball on the floor or make the pass to the wing left open by help defense, then I am fine with that as it won't be executed as well as it would with Kolek delivering the pass.
SJUWillRockNYC
Well-known member
Maybe Rick thinks his team isn't that hood, so why not launch the 3's and hope they go in.
but how many of those teams had a coach join as late as Rick did?
Plenty of coaches are hired in March. Jerome Tang from Kansas State was hired last year in March.
and they have a .500 conference record like us and 1 game better overall and last I checked they aren't projected to make the tourney.