1967 Marquette Basketball: The Rise Begins
Al McGuire had inherited a Marquette program that was at rock bottom in 1964, coming off a 5-21 season. Over the next two seasons, Al nudged the Warriors up to .500. It was in 1967 that Marquette basketball made the definitive stride forward that set the stage for a decade of success in Milwaukee.
MODEST EXPECTATIONS; SOLID TALENT
Bob Wolf and George Thompson were the offensive keys on the perimeter, each averaging 18ppg. Jim Burke, a third guard chipped in double-digit scoring and Brian Brunkhorst anchored the frontline, with a 12 points/8 rebounds per-game average.
The world of college basketball was very different in 1967—only 25 teams made the NCAA Tournament, and just 14 more were chosen for the NIT. Simply making any kind of postseason would be a significant accomplishment for Marquette.
A SLOW START
Through the month of December, it appeared not much had changed. Marquette was competitive, but not particularly noteworthy. They went to the Palestra in Philadelphia and dropped a tough 80-78 decision to a decent Villanova team. The Warriors lost at home to NCAA-bound Toledo and fell 63-61 to South Carolina and the legendary head coach Frank McGuire (no relation to Al).
A 19-point loss to an excellent Dayton team that reached the NCAA championship game followed, along with another defeat to Loyola in old Chicago Stadium. To be sure, Marquette mixed in some wins, but none of their victories were significant. They were 5-5 going into the New Year.
BUILDING MOMENTUM
On January 2, the state of Wisconsin could be in a celebratory mood. The day before, Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers had defeated the Dallas Cowboys to punch their ticket to the first edition of this novel event called the Super Bowl. Major bowls were going on throughout the day. In that context, Marquette took the floor at home and started to trend upward.
They beat eventual WAC champ BYU to get January off to a good start and then knocked off in-state rival Wisconsin. On Saturday, the Warriors nipped a respectable DePaul squad by three points.
The only downside of January was a narrow loss at Detroit. By month’s end, Marquette had lifted their record to 11-6. It was still going to be a tough fight to get a postseason invite, but the Warriors had something going.
PLAYING THEIR WAY INTO MARCH
Another big step forward happened on the first day of February. St. John’s was headed for a 23-win season and came to Milwaukee. Marquette sent them home with a 71-54 smackdown. The Warriors lost a rematch with DePaul but took some revenge on Loyola.
Marquette nipped Davidson, a team coached by Lefty Driesell, by a point and then beat Xavier for the second time. By the final week of the season, they were up to 16-7 and on the postseason radar.
A trip west started poorly, with a 100-87 loss to mediocre Denver team. But the Warriors turned it back around, knocking off lowly Air Force. They came back home for a rematch with Detroit in the season finale and won 71-64.
They were 18-8. It wasn’t enough for the NCAA, but the NIT took notice. Marquette got an invitation.
A WEEK IN NEW YORK
Unlike today, the NIT, while still a consolation prize, was a legitimately prestigious event, and the entire bracket was played in Madison Square Garden over a week in mid-March.
Marquette played Tulsa in Saturday’s opening round and won 64-60 behind 23 points from Wolf. On Tuesday night, Wolf dropped in 24 points and the Warriors pulled out an 81-80 thriller over Providence in overtime.
Two nights later, Marshall fell 83-78. This time it was Thompson doing the damage, with a 28-point night. Marquette was in the Saturday championship game.
Southern Illinois was an intriguing opponent—a Division II team that was trying to punch above its weight and doing it well. They were led by a guard who would very soon become a legend on this MSG floor with the New York Knicks—Walt Frazier. Facing this quasi-Cinderella story, Marquette lost 71-56. Disappointing, but a good season was complete.
THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING BIGGER
Al might not have won the NIT, but he clearly had the Warriors on the rise. One year later, he would be in the NCAA Tournament. A run that included two Final Four trips and the 1977 national championship had begun.