MILWAUKEE — It was regarded as the ultimate compliment paid by coaches, media and even the fans. Marquette’s Buzz Williams got his team to play hard. Really, really hard.However, now it’s almost become a sign of disrespect.

“I’m tired of it,” Williams said.

“It’s frustrating,” Golden Eagles big man Davante Gardner added. “It’s all we hear. They don’t look at the other things — that we’re smart, play together and do all the little things. It’s always just that we play hard.”

The truth, though, is that this program is built on toughness, effort and skill development. When Lazar Hayward arrived, he did so as a reach for then-coach Tom Crean. When Jimmy Butler got here, he did so as an anonymous junior college kid. Darius Johnson-Odom and Jae Crowder, both ex-Juco kids, both followed and were unheralded when they arrive in Milwaukee. All improved enough to hear their names called in the NBA Draft.There’s no future NBA guys on this year’s roster, but that doesn’t mean these guys haven’t developed. Look at 6-foot-8, 285-pound Davante Gardner, who ultimate chose Marquette over Norfolk State. He was the most dominant player on the floor on Monday night in the 74-71 victory against Syracuse. How about Chris Otule, the team’s starting big man who also happens to be blind in one eye. Junior Cadougan has turned into one of the most underrated point guards in America due to his ability to lead and make those around him better. Vander Blue has become the team’s leading scorer and turned into respectable shooter after filling a role in his first two seasons.These guys certainly don’t look the part of a team that sits all alone in second place in the Big East standings on Feb. 26.