Hoopla event to cap 100th anniversary

Many to attend celebration

With this past season marking the 100th year for the Marquette men’s basketball team, the program hosted a series of special events to celebrate. It brought back the 1977 championship team, held an alumni game and welcomed back more than 100 former players on National Marquette Day.

Still, coach Steve Wojciechowski and the athletic department thought the centennial celebration needed a bigger, capstone event. That led to the creation of its Hoopla event at 5 p.m. June 23 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center, which replaces the usual athletics BBQ event of years past.

The event is expected to bring in upwards of 100 former players and staff members, including more than 20 who will sit on panels and speak during the program. It’s also nearing a sellout, with tickets available via online registration until 5 p.m. Friday. After that, fans will need to call (414) 2887431.

“The response has been phenomenal,” Wojciechowski said. “We have a ton of former players coming back, I think all of the living coaches except Buzz (Williams) coming back and it’s going to be really a fantastic evening.”

The addition of the former coaches is unique compared to the events that took place during the season. Kevin O’Neill (1989-’94), Mike Deane (1994-’99) and Tom Crean (1999-2008) will all join Wojciechowski on a panel.

“Marquette’s bigger than any one individual,” Wojciechowski said. “I think the players and coaches realized it, I think it’s a night we come together and share memories and achievements and teamwork.

“The coaches that I’ve spoken to are thrilled to be coming back. I am, as the caretaker of the program right now, I’m thrilled that Coach Crean and Coach O’Neill and those guys are coming back to be part of a special evening and be a part of a program they did so much for.”

ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas will emcee the event. It took just one phone call for Wojciechowski to land Bilas as the two are both former Duke basketball players and good friends.

“Jay, I think, is as good as it gets in the emcee role and leading panels and keeping a program moving and fun and exciting,” Wojciechowski said. “I don’t think we could have gotten a better person to emcee the event — he’s phenomenal at it.”