More Disappointing: Marquette or SJ?

[Friarfan2]

It is easier to reload and stay at the top of the conference out of the atlantic 10. Much more difficult in deeper/more balanced leagues.

Very few big east teams were able to make 7 or 8 tourneys in a row. Pitt and nova did it, but I'm not sure if calhoun ever went more than 6, and boeheim may have done it in the late 80's/early 90's but hadn't done it recently.

A rebuilding year in a power conference is tougher than in a mid-major conference. Bob huggins would not have made 14 straight ncaa tournaments out of the big east. John chaney would not have made as many ncaa tournaments out of the big east either.

[aughnanure]

Marquette didn't just lose their best player, they lost their three most productive players. That was a lot to make up for.

I thought marquette would be slightly better than they are, but I had them as a borderline bubble team entering the season.

But we had done that a few times before. Most people would say losing Crowder and DJO in 2013 was worse, or Wesley Matthews, Dom James and Mcneal in 2009.

Also, Cadougan and Lockett were more productive that Gardner and Wilson?

I don't disagree with the doubting or picking another team to win (preseason), but I think because there was not another team head and shoulders above the rest and that every team had question marks about them, Marquette seemed like a safe pick to be one of the favorites and compete for the title. We just have no offense which is amazing for Buzz team, and we end up falling behind good teams in close games cause we can't keep up in crunch time(OSU and Creighton not withstanding).

But hey, we at least got some good news with that Luke Fischer transfer from IU!

[JAY DOG]

FF2,
Count the number of posts that you have in this additional premature/goofy thread the first week of the Conf season!?
Just one thread where you are diarrhea posting (Bad Day for AAC)?
It is far too many threads, but it is obvious you have far too much time on your hands so keep it up,

I was just making a polite observation and request.

[XUFan09]

It is easier to reload and stay at the top of the conference out of the atlantic 10. Much more difficult in deeper/more balanced leagues.

Very few big east teams were able to make 7 or 8 tourneys in a row. Pitt and nova did it, but I'm not sure if calhoun ever went more than 6, and boeheim may have done it in the late 80's/early 90's but hadn't done it recently.

A rebuilding year in a power conference is tougher than in a mid-major conference. Bob huggins would not have made 14 straight ncaa tournaments out of the big east. John chaney would not have made as many ncaa tournaments out of the big east either.

When you schedule as tough as Xavier did in the non-conference did, you ended up getting tested quite a bit, just in the first half of the season (so players in new roles actually have less time to gel before playing the majority of their tough games). And that doesn't account for what Xavier did in the tournament against other good teams, with multiple Sweet 16s, two Elite Eights, and plenty of tournament wins...all in what were usually getting labeled "rebuilding years" in the off-season.

In addition, they kept efficiency metrics at a good level, despite defections: Kenpom #35, #18, #20, #17, and #39 in 2007 through 2011. Quite simply they put out good teams each of those years, and it's not like those good teams would have had a tougher time making the tournament or winning games in the tournament because a majority of their tough games were in the second half of the schedule and not the first. In terms of a program appearing consistent, the only years that conference affiliation would have an effect are those where they weren't good enough for an at-large bid in the first place or they were a serious bubble team. Then, it would be easier to win the conference tournament in a weaker conference (like in 2006 for Xavier) or to win a couple games there to ensure a bid (like in 2012 for Xavier, though SLU was a tough, yet needed, win, no matter the conference).

[stever20]

I'll say a team you could put in the discussion for most disappointing teams(for completely different reasons of course)- is Providence. They were the sexy team heading into the season. Now, looks like they could be headed for their 4th 4-14 season in 5 years if they are careful(or worse- haven't won 3 games in conference in 30 years). St John's could still get into bubble discussion, as could Marquette. But more with PC- it's the lack of hope that is frustrating.

[aughnanure]

I'll say a team you could put in the discussion for most disappointing teams(for completely different reasons of course)- is Providence. They were the sexy team heading into the season. Now, looks like they could be headed for their 4th 4-14 season in 5 years if they are careful(or worse- haven't won 3 games in conference in 30 years). St John's could still get into bubble discussion, as could Marquette. But more with PC- it's the lack of hope that is frustrating.

Yeah, I had high hopes for both Providence and St. John's. I still think they're on the right path, though I think Lavin needs to quickly figure out how to coach a team with that talent. But this is just a terrible year for Marquette to go through its first down year in nearly a decade (i.e. 1st year of new Big East). Thankfully the depth has come through for us and league. Villanova back to where they know they should be after a short rut, Creighton looking more and more like top 20, Butler being Butler and making every game a heart attack, and Xavier looking better and better.

[Friarfan2]

Thing is, the providence implosion has occurred over the past 10 days. Still hitting us. Wasn't long ago they were in ot at the #20 team in the nation with a chance to get on the right side of bubble projections. Blew that game, lost to seton hall at home, and now the nova game and we are toast. Quick knockout.

[Lavinwood]

I'll say a team you could put in the discussion for most disappointing teams(for completely different reasons of course)- is Providence. They were the sexy team heading into the season. Now, looks like they could be headed for their 4th 4-14 season in 5 years if they are careful(or worse- haven't won 3 games in conference in 30 years). St John's could still get into bubble discussion, as could Marquette. But more with PC- it's the lack of hope that is frustrating.

Yeah, I had high hopes for both Providence and St. John's. I still think they're on the right path, though I think Lavin needs to quickly figure out how to coach a team with that talent. But this is just a terrible year for Marquette to go through its first down year in nearly a decade (i.e. 1st year of new Big East). Thankfully the depth has come through for us and league. Villanova back to where they know they should be after a short rut, Creighton looking more and more like top 20, Butler being Butler and making every game a heart attack, and Xavier looking better and better.

This is what I don't get. When people say "Lavin just needs to learn quick how to coach". As if he's going to wake up tomorrow and say, "OH! I remember now! Sorry guys" and go on to win the next 8 games, make the tourney, and live happily ever after. That's not real life. We have seen what Lavin can do coaching wise. At UCLA the fans said he sucked for 7 years. Here at SJ the fans said he sucked as a coach for 4. That's 11 years of fan bases noticing the same thing about him. Maybe he just sucks and can recruit…and that's just who he is. I just don't get how so many schools seem to get very good coaches who make their players better and better every year and find plenty of kids who can shoot lights out even as 3 star recruits. What is different about us? Why can't that be us? This league needs SJ to be good. I must have just been born in the wrong era. The Jets and Mets win in 69. Isles win 4 straight in the early to mid 80's, Mets win 1 in 86. SJ makes Final Four and ranked #1 in 1985. Knicks won in 73. That's a total of 9 times my favorite teams either won a championship or was ranked #1 (SJ in 85) before I was born. Then I was born in 89 and I turn 25 in April. Absolutely nothing from those teams since I've been alive.

[stever20]

kind of on a similar tangent- what's the number of coaches gone after this year? Is Lavin on the hot seat at all? Could the situation at PC get toxic and force something(thinking BC may open up- and Cooley coached there before)... Is Purnell finally on the hot seat?

[Lavinwood]

kind of on a similar tangent- what's the number of coaches gone after this year? Is Lavin on the hot seat at all? Could the situation at PC get toxic and force something(thinking BC may open up- and Cooley coached there before)... Is Purnell finally on the hot seat?

There is no doubt Lavin is on the fan's hotseat. No official word from the school though. There have been rumors circulating that Lavin no longer wants to coach here but he can't just leave because then he sacrifices his $1 million paycheck. So in essence he started a bench player and a walk-on vs. G'Town to get fired quicker which would allow him to claim the money. Again, nothing confirmed but someone who claims to be in the know said he heard this. Keep in mind his wife is an actress and would much rather be in LA. Others say there are rumors the practices are literally just layup lines and dunk contests at the end going back to the UCLA days thru current times. That would make sense why they can't shoot or run a play. If we lose to Nova, especially in embarrassing fashion, I think the media starts to question Lavin instead of just the fans. If he really has lost the locker room and wants out but wants to stay so he can collect his paycheck, then shame on him, and I would not be surprised to see some players transfer. It can be a disaster. No coach, no good replacement option, likely transfers, and zero recruits for 2014. This could have major ramifications for the program and keep it down another decade easily. Really reconsidering investing time and money in this program. May just become a casual observer again. Can't keep getting attached to awful teams.