Comments on Cracked Sidewalks: 2007 Recap, 2008 Predictions

Let me clarify. I am not saying Milwaukee should b...

2008-03-27T13:24:00.000-05:00

Let me clarify. I am not saying Milwaukee should be a #1 destination on anyone's travel list, I'm just saying I don't think the city of Milwaukee is so terrible it deters all the good recruits. There are plenty of other cities in the BE that are total duds.

I love milwaukee as much as the next guy. And onc...

2008-03-27T13:17:00.000-05:00

I love milwaukee as much as the next guy. And once they move in, most athletes love it here because it is a great city. But to say that Milwaukee is regarded nationally as a priority destination for recruits (i.e. chosen over most east coast cities) is simply ridiculous

I'd like to mention that the arguement regarding r...

2008-03-27T13:10:00.000-05:00

I'd like to mention that the arguement regarding recruits not wanting to go to school in Milwaukee is bull. Milwaukee is improving dramatically as far as beautification is concerned and the city offers all the amentities of a larger city. I refuse to believe that Pittsburgh or Louisville or Syracuse are infinitely better destinations Next, MU focuses soley on basketball. The best of the best is given to our basketball players. Recruits should fee comforted knowing MU is 110% behind the program. Oh, and for fun, the Lopez's are dicks.

Even Duke didn't have a quality big this year. Th...

2008-03-27T09:35:00.000-05:00

Even Duke didn't have a quality big this year. There just aren't that many to go around.

Here's the thing about Crean that I think everyone...

2008-03-26T22:00:00.000-05:00

Here's the thing about Crean that I think everyone needs to separate:

Recruiting success vs. coaching success. In particularly, as it pertains to the big guys.

People bash Crean on landing a solid big man. And I can't really defend that, only to say so is every single coach in the country. You win some recruts, you lose others. But everyone would agree that we are not that good down low.

Then...compare that to the teams B.East record the last three years. We are the best in the league in the reg.season. If that's the case, and we are winning without the help of quality big men, then Crean has to be doing something right.

He can't have the success he's had with only a guard-oriented team in the big east without doing something right.

Just a thought. And thank god you have to register now. Interested to hear if anyone went to the McDonalds game tonight to see our buddy Iman Shumpert.

So glad to see you have to register. Hopefully th...

2008-03-26T21:34:00.000-05:00

So glad to see you have to register. Hopefully this will clean up the garbage posts, at least a little. Just been watching the All-American Game and it gives some perspective. All these kids going to Louisville and Georgetown, etc. Its tough to compete with that. MU (Crean et al) are doing more with less. Its great that we can stay competitive without the major recruits that typically do not want to come to Milwaukee.

One other reason to look forward to next year is t...

2008-03-26T12:01:00.000-05:00

One other reason to look forward to next year is the progress that Burke showed after Trevor took his minutes. It shows a lot about him the way it looked like he kept working after losing time. I think we can count on him having a strong off season and being a solid rebounder next year. He and Trevor will make each other a lot better and I think we should be all right defensively up front. With the way he responded to Trevor taking his minutes, I see Burke working his tail off thinking about the Lopez twins. The Stanford loss may have helped in the respect.

Burke did put us in position to win the G-town game don't forget. He will hopefully surprise us next year.

Coach Crean is getting highly regarded recruits fr...

2008-03-26T11:47:00.000-05:00

Coach Crean is getting highly regarded recruits from Alabama and Texas to come to Marquette instead of playing in the Big 12 or SEC. He got Lazar to come from Buffalo. He got Taylor to come from New Jersey. Not everyone can do that. With a coach than recruit more than Wisconsin/Chicago/Minneapolis, MU is in good shape. I'd take good recruting over good X's and O's any day. (though I think Crean is still a good game coach actually. i.e. the adjustments he made at half against nova)

I think we have to realize that this just was not our year. Trevor and DJ were hurt. Unlucky events against G-town and Stanford would have made this season a huge success the other way. This will all average out.

Padgett killed us this year and he is gone, and Hibbert is gone. Besides Thabeet, we should be all right matching up in the front court. West Va. and Syracuse will be home games if we alternate (I don't know if the BE does that for sure) which should be wins next year. Hopefully we won't draw Louisville and ND as home and home (imagine if we got DePaul, St. John's, and Cincy or something... hopefully not two top 4 teams again). Also, Wisco will be played at the BC in a rebuilding year for them and our Thanksgiving tourney features us in Chicago against Dayton. Plus, we play at Tennessee, a game that can only help us, and would not hurt us if we lose. The schedule looks very favorable next year.

Also, another summer of shooting for DJ, Jerel, Wes, and Lazar can't hurt.

I am very optimistic about next year. I know everyone is still down about Stanford, and I am still a little bit sick to my stomach, too. But I really think we will be all right. This team sort of reminds me of that Illinois team a few years ago with the three guard lineup, and a versatile power forward. I definately think everyone is being too pessimistic.

Glad you now have to register to post a comment.It...

2008-03-26T09:42:00.000-05:00

Glad you now have to register to post a comment.

It's rediculous to think Crean HAS to get to a Final Four to make the "big 3"'s tenure successful. You realize other teams with just as much talent (or more) are TRYING to beat us don't you?

The knock on Jim Calhoun in 88-89 is the smae thing you all say about Crean, Can't win a big game/when it counts. To think Jim Calhoun was almost run off at UConn.

If Crean gets run out of town, MU basketball will be set back 10 years. We'll suffer through a few Bob Dukiet's, before we find a coach that can get us back to where we are/were today.

I agree about Crean. Don't get me wrong he's done ...

2008-03-26T09:13:00.000-05:00

I agree about Crean. Don't get me wrong he's done a heck of a lot for MU's bball program, no question. But now that we are back as a presence in the NCAA basketball world we need to take the next step. That is- to recruit the tough guys, win a Big East Championship, and consistenly win games in March. I agree, if Crean deserves to be on the hot seat this year.

This year Crean said he was concerned about Barro ...

2008-03-26T08:44:00.000-05:00

This year Crean said he was concerned about Barro getting into foul trouble early. Next season, this must be applied to Lazar. Too many times this year he got two quick ones in the first half and he was useless the rest of the way.

Also, is it me, or does he get a reach-in or blocking foul at the top of the key, 30' from the hoop at least once a game? That always killed me.

I predict Scott C will have little effect on the team next year. He's too slow on his feet, and his release is too slow. Williams and Taylor will step in.

And I too think it's Jerel's team. I don't see how this team isn't as good as this year. Looking at how the rest of the B.East is shaping up, I'd say they are 1-2 more B.East wins better.

Thanks for calling out the student section. The o...

2008-03-26T08:14:00.000-05:00

Thanks for calling out the student section. The only thing worse than their attendance is the whining in the Tribune about how the student section should be on the sidelines.

If MU only wins a single NCAA game next year, then...

2008-03-26T07:42:00.000-05:00

If MU only wins a single NCAA game next year, then Crean is just not doing his job. And the tenure of the big 3 was a failure.
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That's your opinion. And it's worth the internet paper that it's printed on.

If MU only wins a single NCAA game next year, then...

2008-03-25T22:00:00.000-05:00

If MU only wins a single NCAA game next year, then Crean is just not doing his job. And the tenure of the big 3 was a failure.

It will be really nice to see what a healthy Trevo...

2008-03-25T19:14:00.000-05:00

It will be really nice to see what a healthy Trevor and Scott C. can do after healing up in the offseason. For that matter, the return of a healthy DJ would also be really nice, as he was shooting in the high 30's from 3 and had a 50% or so effective field goal percentage before the wrist injury.

For the team to a major step up and be a contender for a Big East title and Final Four bid, we will need Trevor or even Dwight to establish themselves as a major threat down low. However, as long as they give us solid, consistent play on the interior, this team should win 12+ Big East games and a make a run to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

I think the 2008 Predictions are a little bit too ...

2008-03-25T14:58:00.000-05:00

I think the 2008 Predictions are a little bit too pessimistic for a few reasons. First, I will concede that we did not probably improve enough up front to get too excited. However, what makes me most excited is that ever since the G-town game, this team went from being DJ's team to Jerel's team. He carried us on offense and we were foul trouble away from the Big East championship and a lucky fallaway from the Sweet 16. With this being Jerel's team, DJ can focus on passing and getting his assist numbers up which should help his draft prospects anyway. We should put 2 players in the league after next year and hopefully Wes can assert himself more and maybe get three in.

Also, Taylor and Nick Williams look awsome. We are going to be even more stacked at guard and if the seniors have a bad shooting night we should be able to come back with more fire power.

Another thing, I think Trevor will be as good as Ooz if not better. He really got after it when he first came back but looked alittle lost out there without being in ryhtm on the team. I like having Burke and Trevor with experience up front.

Finally, what if Lazar gets consistent? We would be pretty dangerous if he showed up every game. Now that he is a junior, he should be confident enough to get after it even more.

The loss has me gloomy too, but the team is now co...

2008-03-25T13:48:00.000-05:00

The loss has me gloomy too, but the team is now competetive on a yearly basis. We're playing in a major conference and appearing on ESPN or CBS several times a year. Looking at the big picture, most schools would kill to be in this position.

Give me a break. MU had a good year. Stop crying a...

2008-03-25T12:54:00.000-05:00

Give me a break. MU had a good year. Stop crying and watch some basketball.

Last year when MU lost to MSU - I was upset, but c...

2008-03-25T11:46:00.000-05:00

Last year when MU lost to MSU - I was upset, but could still watch other NCAA games. Not this year. I haven't even looked at ESPN or CBSsports. Its just too painful. What a shame - Marquette could have been a major headliner in the next few weeks.