OT:Buzz Williams to be MU head coach
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I think MU just got unlucky with their timing...not many coaches were looking to leave right now--take Sean Miller, for instance. Why would he leave Xavier when he's being paid well over $ 1 mill, has a great recruiting class coming in, and doesn't have to deal with the BE conference (ridiculous depth, likely impending split etc.). Is that worth the extra 2K that MU was offering? He sits it out, maybe KU comes calling in a week....
In his case in particular, I heard he didn't want to coach in the BE--as much of a selling point that the conference can be (as opposed to C-USA), it's a friggin gauntlet and many programs can go from being a definite tourney team one year to an also-ran the next (see Syracuse). On top of that, it's pretty well assumed that there's going to have to be an eventual split.
If you're marquette, do you hire the guy from VCU or Southern Illinois over one of the top recruiters in the country (which Buzz Williams is, fwiw--he got all of Gillespie's boy's at T A&M, has an outstanding offer to be his top assistant and recruiter at Kentucky, but chose Crean and MU instead to diversify himself) who already has a relationship with the kids you're bringing in this year? I don't think so.
I would have preferred for them to throw a lot of money at Bennett or Drew down at Baylor, but apparently Buzz sold them on staying home....we'll see, but this is a better hire than pple realize--jsut maybe not as earth-shattering as pple wanted.
In his case in particular, I heard he didn't want to coach in the BE--as much of a selling point that the conference can be (as opposed to C-USA), it's a friggin gauntlet and many programs can go from being a definite tourney team one year to an also-ran the next (see Syracuse). On top of that, it's pretty well assumed that there's going to have to be an eventual split.
If you're marquette, do you hire the guy from VCU or Southern Illinois over one of the top recruiters in the country (which Buzz Williams is, fwiw--he got all of Gillespie's boy's at T A&M, has an outstanding offer to be his top assistant and recruiter at Kentucky, but chose Crean and MU instead to diversify himself) who already has a relationship with the kids you're bringing in this year? I don't think so.
I would have preferred for them to throw a lot of money at Bennett or Drew down at Baylor, but apparently Buzz sold them on staying home....we'll see, but this is a better hire than pple realize--jsut maybe not as earth-shattering as pple wanted.
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Rather than start a new thread I thought I would just put this in here. Dominic James has announced that he will return for his senior year. So much for the "insiders" in the Crean thread saying that he was already gone.
MU also released Scott Christopherson from his scholarship and Nick Williams from his letter of intent. Christopherson looked way overmatched even in his limited time. The Williams one hurts, but hopefully McNeal comes back and its a nonissue.
EDIT:Just noticed that this was mentioned in the draft thread. I didnt look back far enough
MU also released Scott Christopherson from his scholarship and Nick Williams from his letter of intent. Christopherson looked way overmatched even in his limited time. The Williams one hurts, but hopefully McNeal comes back and its a nonissue.
EDIT:Just noticed that this was mentioned in the draft thread. I didnt look back far enough
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Mixed news obviously. Glad James declared he'll be back this soon. It kills that issue. I would be surprised if McNeal went pro. He might enter, but I doubt he hires an agent. I don't see him as a 1st round pick. If he plays next year, he may be.
Christopherson. Eh, whatever. I was never really enamored with him.
Williams is definitely a loss being a highly touted recruit. Overall its not surprising, but wish we could've kept him. Hopefully Buzz will ge t the others to stay.
Christopherson. Eh, whatever. I was never really enamored with him.
Williams is definitely a loss being a highly touted recruit. Overall its not surprising, but wish we could've kept him. Hopefully Buzz will ge t the others to stay.
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skitch815 wrote:Rather than start a new thread I thought I would just put this in here. Dominic James has announced that he will return for his senior year. So much for the "insiders" in the Crean thread saying that he was already gone.
MU also released Scott Christopherson from his scholarship and Nick Williams from his letter of intent. Christopherson looked way overmatched even in his limited time. The Williams one hurts, but hopefully McNeal comes back and its a nonissue.
EDIT:Just noticed that this was mentioned in the draft thread. I didnt look back far enough
Yeah I was one of those "insiders" saying that James was going pro, so that's fair. As of about three weeks ago James was gone, but Buzz coming in had a lot to do with him returning to school.
Christopherson looked like he was playing hot potato every time he touched the ball. No big loss. Losing Williams is a bummer though. Buzz is going out to NJ to try and re-recruit Taylor.
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Chuck Diesel wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
Yeah I was one of those "insiders" saying that James was going pro, so that's fair. As of about three weeks ago James was gone, but Buzz coming in had a lot to do with him returning to school.
Christopherson looked like he was playing hot potato every time he touched the ball. No big loss. Losing Williams is a bummer though. Buzz is going out to NJ to try and re-recruit Taylor.
James is coming back...woohoo, where was he going to go? James is not an NBA player, never will be, he is an average college PG, not a great basketball IQ and a poor shooter.
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Chuck Diesel wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
Yeah I was one of those "insiders" saying that James was going pro, so that's fair. As of about three weeks ago James was gone, but Buzz coming in had a lot to do with him returning to school.
Christopherson looked like he was playing hot potato every time he touched the ball. No big loss. Losing Williams is a bummer though. Buzz is going out to NJ to try and re-recruit Taylor.
I didn't really mean anything against you or anyone else personally saying that. I actually appreciate your inside info on MU. There seems to be very few of us here as opposed to the UW backers, so we got to stick together.
It was actually good to see that they released Williams. I really wanted him here, but Buzz did the honorable thing since no one that is currently with the program had anything to do with him coming here. I'm still holding out hope that he can win over Hurley, who seems to be having way too big of a say in Taylor's decision.
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skitch815 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
I didn't really mean anything against you or anyone else personally saying that. I actually appreciate your inside info on MU. There seems to be very few of us here as opposed to the UW backers, so we got to stick together.
It was actually good to see that they released Williams. I really wanted him here, but Buzz did the honorable thing since no one that is currently with the program had anything to do with him coming here. I'm still holding out hope that he can win over Hurley, who seems to be having way too big of a say in Taylor's decision.
I can see the conversation with Hurley/Ty Taylor right now....Well Buzz what kind of offense are you going to run....the winning kind!!!...Hurley would throw his a$$ out so fast. As you can tell I do not like the hire at all of Buzz, when he did not have an answer for a simple question as what's your offensive philosophy that set so many red flags flying. Seems to me, Williams has NO offensive philosophy, or he is waiting to hire an experienced assistant with one...and thats pretty sad.
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As for Buzz, he kind of reminded me of Mike McCarthy when McCarthy was first named coach of the Packers. Like McCarthy, he just didn't seem media savvy at all and wasn't ready to handle all the questions coming at him. I remember after McCarthy's first scrimmage he bumbled his way through an awkward interview and finished by declaring "Our goal is a world championship!" Isn't it called a "superbowl" Coach?
Obviously McCarthy has worked out well for the Pack and shouldn't have been judged on his initial uncomfortable interviews. I'm willing to wait and see with Buzz before I'm ready to declare there are any "red flags".
Obviously McCarthy has worked out well for the Pack and shouldn't have been judged on his initial uncomfortable interviews. I'm willing to wait and see with Buzz before I'm ready to declare there are any "red flags".