2007 Recap, 2008 Predictions

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10389503.post-78357141316386428812008-03-25T08:43:00.009-05:002008-03-28T08:08:28.260-05:002008-03-28T08:08:28.260-05:002007 Recap, 2008 PredictionsLast season, after the MSU debacle, I wrote a post with a <a href="http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2007/03/i-predict-2007-08.html">number of predictions</a>, some funny, some realistic. Most came true. We're all in a funk right now, and for lack of something more substantive, let's review how I did: The March 2007 post started out: "Ok, a few days have gone by, we're all still licking our wounds. Time to talk about the future." Ouch. Still applicable in March 2008. <ol><li>2007: I predict ...DJ will be on the team next year. And the "shooting slump" will be a distant memory. I predict he'll be better than he was Freshman year, and stay all 4 years at Marquette and be an Academic All-American. Mostly right. DJ was at MU and his shooting improved somewhat. <li>2007: I predict one guy will leave the team, and one incoming recruit will not arrive. Half Credit. Saunders didn't make the team. <li>2007: I predict Mr. Basketball Scott Christopherson will not red shirt. Bingo. Probably should have, though. <li>2007: I predict TC will sign a juco guy this summer. For grins and chuckles only. Half Credit. Fulce may not be for G&C. <li>2007: Last year, <a href="http://www.firstgiving.com/Ahoya">Marquette basketball fans raised over $1,300 for Al's Run</a>. I predict we double that number next year. <a href="http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2007/09/als-run-recap.html">Sadly, not double, but $1645 isn't chump change.</a> <li>2007: We'll start the pre-season ranked about 15th. Close. Some services ranked us as high as 8th, others around 13-14. <li>2007: I predict Mo Acker will be a fantastic addition to the team. I predict we'll sneak him on the court as a 6th man, being so short, no refs notice. -- But seriously, Mo will be a difference maker next year. Great defender, great 3 point shot, lightening quick. Pretty close. Mo hit a lot of big shots this year. I always pick an unsung guy, and Mo was my favorite player this year. <li>2007: There'll be a bobblehead next year. I'll guess Jim McIllvane .. or maybe Al McGuire? My vote is for Joe Chapman. And I'm thinking the George Thompson bobblehead is two years away. Scratch that. The bobblehead will be Hank Raymonds. Oh, who am I kidding. There'll be another D. Wade bobblehead, belt buckle, voodoo doll, keychain, snowglobe, and/or t-shirt giveaway. "Wade Bucks," spendable at the concession stands, will drop from the Bradley Center ceiling. Not even close. No Bobblehead. 5 year Final Four paperweight. <li>2007: I'll predict a Lazar Laser Pointer night giveaway .. hmm .. given out after the game. Close. How about them light sticks for the GTown game? <li>2007: And someone else's number will be retired. Tony Smith is due. Wrong again. <li>2007: I predict none of the incoming players will have 3, 11, 14, 15, 20, 24, 41, 43, 44, or 77 as their jersey number. For sure. No doubt about it. No brainer. <li>2007: The <a href="http://www.jessewhitetumblingteam.com/">Jesse White Tumblers</a> will play half time this year. And those inflatable zoo animal guys. Can't remember what they were called. Zooropa or something? They'll be back. Half Credit. Zoomania came back at the GTown game. <li>2007: MU will have its 3rd annual Haunted Hoops scrimmage again. Layup. <li>2007: I'll guess Robert Jackson is some sort of assistant coach next year. I'll predict there'll be some interest for Todd Townsend at another program. Pure speculation, but he needs exposure to another system. Double-T was my favorite player years ago. All the other assistants will stay. <a href="http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2007/04/townsend-to-northeastern.html">Todd Townsend did go to Northeastern.</a> <li>2007: I'll predict our OOC home schedule contains more high interest games than last year's, including homers against UWM and UWGB and a mystery team. Izzo now owes Crean, so maybe MSU will come to the BC gratis? Added to 9 BE home games, the season ticket holders will be happier with the value. Partial Credit. UWM was a well attended game, but UWGB didn't happen, nor did any other high-interest OOC home game. With the 9 BE games, there were a boatload of high quality games at the BC this year. <li>2007: I also predict there'll be a lot of complaints about the reseating process for season ticket holders, since it was announced it will be held at the Al, and not the Bradley Center where people can sit down and start their personal ass-groove. No surprise here. <li>2007: I predict after 11 years of going to the Bradley Center, I will finally get on the jumbotron next season. Come on. <a href="http://marquettebasketball.blogspot.com/2006/12/merry-christmas.html">My kid is very cute.</a> Nope, but the old couple behind me got on the Kiss-Cam TWICE. So unfair. <li>2007: I'll predict we win the Maui Invitational in November .. but lose to UW in Madison, extending their streak, and that Christmas will be canceled (again) because of the loss. Exactly wrong! <li>2007: I predict 1290/1510AM will boost their power output. Or an angry mob will burn down their antenna tower. One or the other, not sure which. I predict "Antenna Night Giveaway" where all in attendance at the Bradley Center will receive a powerful AM radio antenna so they can listen to the post-game as they drive home. Partial credit. We're now on 540AM, which flipped the trouble. People inside the city get a poorer signal, those outside Milwaukee get a much better signal. Keep trying, ESPN Radio, keep trying. <li>2007: And speaking of media, I predict there'll be a lot of complaints about ESPN's contract with the Big East. While every game will be "broadcast," a great number of games will be on ESPNU (satellite only) and herky-jerky ESPN360, which few receive. This did not happen, glad to say. MU had a great TV package this year. <li>2007: I'll predict on a post-game show, Crean will say the crowd at the Bradley Center was phenomenal. This happened 42 times. <li>2007: I predict the student section, after half don't show up for a "lesser" game, will be demoted to the "9th best Student Section in the Country." True dat. MU has a core group of ~1000 students that show up rain or shine, and ~3000 who only show up when they feel like it. Discouraging. <li>2007: I predict one game there'll be an announcement that the crowd is the biggest in Wisconsin history. It happens every year. Partial Credit. <a href="http://wiki.muscoop.com/doku.php/men_s_basketball/all-time_single_game_attendance_record">A new record of 19,085 </a>was set vs. GTown, but the announcement was not made because PuertoRicanNightmare complained about the announcement so much, MU didn't make it. <li>2007: I predict Tom Crean will invite the Cracked Sidewalks team on a road game trip. (cough) SADLY, FALSE. <li>2007: I'll predict no hand or wrist injuries to anyone on the team. There'll be a concussion or two, of course. There always is. Nope. DJ hurt his wrist. <li>2007: I predict we'll go 12-6 in the Big East. 12-6 was close. I lowerered my expectations to 11-7 before the season began. <li>2007: We'll get a better seed next year in the NCAAs, like a #3-4, win 1 game and lose in the 2nd round -- and that one of those games will be against another of Coach Crean's buddies, prompting 2,000 more stories about how tough it is to play against a friend. Very close. We bettered our seed by 2, did win one, lose the next. And the stories weren't about the Stanford Basketball Coach and Crean, it was about their Football Coach, Harbaugh, and Crean.</li></ol>2008 Predictions:<ol><li>DJ, Wes, and McNeal will all be back for their Senior year. Since we are over committed on scholarships, someone will have to leave. One could guess that Pat Hazel may want playing time at another university. </li><li>It wouldn't shock me if Buzz Williams got a head coaching gig somewhere. Didn't I read TCU was sniffing around? All the other coaches stay. </li><li>Another Former MU player will join the coaching staff, because it happens every year. What's <a href="http://wiki.muscoop.com/doku.php/men_s_basketball/scott_merritt">Scott Merritt</a> up to these days? </li><li>Mbakwe will get better. I don't see him exploding like Lazar did, though. </li><li>Scott Christoperson .. won't play many minutes in Big East play next year. While Scott may be our future long distance shooter, I can't see him getting quick enough to defend BE players. </li><li>Marquette will go 12-6 next year, 1-1 in the BET, 1-1 in the NCAAs. I think I've seen this movie before. While Fitz and Ooze will be missed the most, the incoming freshmen Fulce, Williams, Taylor, O'Tule will fill the gap, but they are freshmen on a team with 3 starting seniors. </li><li>It's going to be a long off-season.</li></ol>Sorry for the lame predictions this year. Still gloomy from our Stanford loss.mu_hilltopperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16815938761547005145noreply@blogger.com