LW says..."It is NOT EVEN A QUESTION" whether we want him back

[moomoo]

how can he be any more clear that he wants Buzz and will do what it takes?

Also, it seems the rift in their relationship is exaggerated

Buzz Williams: Why leave Marquette for Gophers?
By Michael Hunt Milwaukee Journal Sentinel TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press
Posted:
TwinCities.com
The standard question this time of year is whether coach Buzz Williams will leave Marquette.

Now that this season has ended, a better question might be why would he leave?

"We definitely want him back and are looking forward to him coming back," MU athletic director Larry Williams said Saturday after the 55-39 loss to Syracuse in the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight. "It's not even a question.

"There aren't many better jobs in the country than Marquette. Buzz really got it going this year and he has most of those guys back. We look forward to him coming back."

Williams has a rollover contract that pays him more than $2.5 million a season, which places him among the top 10 nationally. Last year he milked and then turned down overtures from SMU to stay at Marquette because of the school's much higher basketball profile.

At the moment there are no jobs that would rise to the level of the head-coaching position at Marquette. UCLA hired Steve Alford on Saturday. The Minnesota job offers an antiquated arena that hurts recruiting, no practice facility and less money than Williams makes at Marquette.

If Williams decided to take a job such as Minnesota's, it would be for reasons beyond the level of fiscal commitment he gets at Marquette.

It could be argued that no school in the country is more dedicated to men's basketball than Marquette.

Only Duke spends more than Marquette each season on the sport. And that is because Mike Krzyzewski, the most successful coach in the history of the game, earns about $4.7 million a year.

But Marquette spends more per scholarship basketball athlete than any school in America. Per year, Marquette invests about $286,000 in each of its basketball players.

The Golden Eagles' practice facility, the Al McGuire Center, is among the finest in the country. The team plays in an NBA facility and, as a member of the new Big East, is about to reap the benefits of a long-term Fox TV contract that will pay the conference $500 million.

Of course, Williams, at 40, is an ambitious man who is one of the most interesting self-made coaches in a profession in which he takes a backseat to only a select few.

Although he did not play college basketball and attended a junior college, Williams in five years has built Marquette into an elite program. It is one of only four schools -- the others are Florida, Kansas and Ohio State -- to have made the Sweet 16 in each of the past three seasons.

In a year in which the Big East was arguably the best league in the country, the Golden Eagles won a share of its regular-season championship after being picked to finish seventh. They made the Elite Eight for the first time in 10 years.

Williams also has a chance to build on something special for next season. Marquette loses only seniors Junior Cadougan and Trent Lockett. Chris Otule has a sixth year available should he choose to exercise it. Williams' five recruits are highly rated. The foundation Williams created to get to this point has been established.

"I think a lot of people take for granted how hard it is to get through the NCAA Tournament," Williams said after the Syracuse loss. "There are a lot of coaches that are really good and a lot of players that are really good that didn't make it this year.

"I think (this was) our 13th NCAA Tournament game since we've been here. So to get momentum is the hardest thing. To keep it is even harder. When you talk about the togetherness and the toughness and those things, everything we do is built on the foundation of trust. It's built on the foundation of love.

"If you don't have trust and you don't have love, I don't think that you'll ever have success. As much as we want to go for the Final Four and the Elite Eight or Sweet 16, however you want to calculate and measure those things, you can't take for granted the work involved."

Williams, who wears his emotions and faith on his sleeve, is a very good fit for Marquette. The Jesuit school gives him most everything he needs to see his frenetic work ethic through.

But like most things in life, it's not a perfect fit.

When Marquette replaced its president and athletic director more than a year ago after problems within the athletic department, Williams lost two allies. Much has been made about the disconnect between Buzz Williams and Larry Williams, but from what I've observed and learned in the last seven months, the rift is exaggerated.

And nowhere is it decreed that an AD and a coach have to be friends for the primary sport to run as smoothly, efficiently and successfully as it does at Marquette.

Are there drawbacks? Maybe the job has changed some since Williams, one of the few big-time coaches without an agent, negotiated his own deal three years ago that essentially allows him to stay as long as both parties are happy.

Marquette does require its freshmen basketball players to live in a non-air-conditioned freshman dorm, but the school spent time talking with Steve Taylor Jr. and Jamal Ferguson last summer to hear their wishes. The school wants its players mingling with the student body for the cultural experiences.

Marquette's academic standards are high and the school cannot be moved away from Midwestern winters, but Williams, given some of the challenges, has managed to recruit and develop players as well as any coach in the country.

So what does Williams want? At the top of his list is being at the center of a program that matters and gets national attention. He loves that Marquette fans have passion. He needs that affirmation, along with a place that makes it easy to attract top talent.

Williams also needs a place where his shtick would play. And in the grand tradition of Al McGuire, Marquette lets Williams be as eccentric as he believes he needs to be. That might not fly at a stuffy State U.

Kevin O'Neill and Tom Crean made Marquette a steppingstone job, but Crean left for Indiana, one of the four or five positions that no one could turn down.

Unless a Kansas or a North Carolina or a Kentucky or one of the big schools (Texas or Texas A&M) from Williams' home state came available, he could not do better than where he is now.

And if Williams' flirtations become more serious than the SMU dalliance, the administration should do everything in its power to keep him. He does make that kind of a difference.

[National Champs]

I really don't think it could be more clear. Here's to hoping some scoop super detective doesn't read too far between the lines and find a letter or two that will incite a riot.

Ad Majorem Buzz Gloriam

[chren21]

I throughly enjoyed the article....  And I will sure have him as long as he chooses to stay.

[LloydMooresLegs]

I really don't think it could be more clear. Here's to hoping some scoop super detective doesn't read too far between the lines and find a letter or two that will incite a riot.

Ad Majorem Buzz Gloriam

Even with the heresy risk, I love it.  As required for all homework assignments at my Jesuit high school, all Scoop posts should be post-scripted with "AMBG"

[lurch91]

Wow, nice article by Hunt.  Sounds like he was able to finally get off the subway car in DC and interview both Williams's for the piece.

[warriorchick]

[chapman]

Excellent piece by Hunt (probably his best) to try to shut people up.  And if we're into the conspiracy theories of everything being fed through to the media without them having independence, I guess the airplane landed in Hunt's mouth and the message should be taken loud and clear.


Not that it makes any difference, but if I were to nitpick on terminology that probably causes some of the ill at ease to fret, "coming back" is a poor expression.  To "come back" you have to go somewhere or cease something.  Buzz took a three or four day vacation once, and that's about as close to "coming back" as he's done.  Remaining, staying, having, something that implies continuity would be a better way to express it.  And no, someone being grabbed for a quick quote in the halls of the Verizon Center should not be expected to make sure he nails that, the rumor mongerers should be expected to think.

[Henry Sugar]

[Goose]

Great article by Hunt. Made by day.

[Golden Avalanche]

I'm guessing there's no shot this thread reaches six pages.

[Niv Berkowitz]

Probably the best Hunt article I've read by him.

A blunt, honest assessment...rather than the b.s.'ish hackery on the "blog" of his where he speculates that Buzz would "walk to UCLA".

It's an honest assesment of the program, where Buzz stands, how valuable he is, and how him and Larry get along. Along that last part it speaks to what I've committed too, which is, "just because you aren't hearing anything about Buzz/LW's relationship, don't assume that it's sh*tty!".

First time someone finally admitted that, MU is not a steppingstone job. You have all that you need here and, the money's just fine. MU is not cheaping out. It's an investment, and it seems everyone realizes it. Buzz and the players do have to keep up their end of the bargain by - obviously - following rules and such, the MU is definitely doing its part.

Now....if after this article Hunt can stop re-tweeting any Tom-Dick-n-Harry "story" about Buzz-to-???, that would be even better. But in fairness to Hunt, it's not all his fault. That's the nature of the beast we live in today.

[ChicosBailBonds]

It's April 1st, clearly a joke by Hunt.  LW is evil and must be destroyed


Hopefully people can put away the Reynolds Wrap.  If he leaves, he leaves.  It won't be because MU doesn't want him.  PERIOD.

[National Champs]

Even with the heresy risk, I love it.  As required for all homework assignments at my Jesuit high school, all Scoop posts should be post-scripted with "AMBG"

Yeah I figured the big man upstairs would understand in this case. We have a Jesuit Pope after all.

[Tugg Speedman]

It's April 1st, clearly a joke by Hunt.  LW is evil and must be destroyed

Hopefully people can put away the Reynolds Wrap.  If he leaves, he leaves.  It won't be because MU doesn't want him.  PERIOD.

Not a chance!  We made the hats, now we have to use them!!

[ChicosBailBonds]

Not a chance!  We made the hats, now we have to use them!!

LOL.  Well played.


By the way, I wonder if the anti-LW crowd is going to bitch that he was interviewed for this article and the audacious things he said in it. 

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Honestly, that is probably the most logical, and well researched article ever written about MU in the JS.

There is some opinion in there, but it's backed with basic logic and some good observation.

Great job by Hunt.

I know controversial columns sell papers (Jay Mariotti), but this kind of writing is really what provides value.

I'm sure Woeful will write some sort of controversial piece this month, commenting on the alleged "rift" and how it makes MU look bad... but that will just be his opinion from 30+ miles away. It won't have any logic or observation to back up his claims.

[Niv Berkowitz]

Don't worry MU fans! If the JS now seems on the up-and-up, there's always AM1250 w/their slapdicks to say/do something stupid.

Then again, they have about 174 people that listen to them so no big deal.

[lab_warrior]

LOL.  Well played.


By the way, I wonder if the anti-LW crowd is going to bitch that he was interviewed for this article and the audacious things he said in it. 

LARRY SHOULD SHUT UP!  OUR AD SHOULD BE A DEAF MUTE! 

BUT! 

LARRY SHOULD SCREAM FROM THE ROOFTOPS HOW MUCH
HE LOVES BUZZ!  AND SIGN HIM TO A BILLION YEAR CONTRACT,
LIKE THE SCIENTOLOGISTS.

[MU82]

LW: "We definitely want him back and are looking forward to him coming back. There aren't many better jobs in the country than Marquette. Buzz really got it going this year and he has most of those guys back. We look forward to him coming back."

Reading between the lines:

"We definitely want him back and are looking forward to him coming back."

For reunions 25 or 50 years from now. As for coming back next year, we can do better. Digger Phelps is available.

"There aren't many better jobs in the country than Marquette."

After all, Marquette has me!

"Buzz really got it going this year and he has most of those guys back."

Let's be honest, I wouldn't be saying any of this if Davidson doesn't choke like kittens on hairballs.

"We look forward to him coming back."

April Fool's!!!

[avid1010]

LOL.  Well played.


By the way, I wonder if the anti-LW crowd is going to bitch that he was interviewed for this article and the audacious things he said in it. 

i always figured the worst thing that could come from the tin-foil hat club is that LW would continue to get a strong message of how important buzz is to the mu alum/fans.  for that reason i never felt the need to rip on people who had concerns over LW.

the writing done by goodman, parish, etc. all seem to point towards a rift as well...don't think it's all a lie.  maybe LW is backing off...

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

i always figured the worst thing that could come from the tin-foil hat club is that LW would continue to get a strong message of how important buzz is to the mu alum/fans.  for that reason i never felt the need to rip on people who had concerns over LW.

the writing done by goodman, parish, etc. all seem to point towards a rift as well...don't think it's all a lie.  maybe LW is backing off...

The "tinfoil" doesn't come from believing there is a rift. The tinfoil is worn by those who think Larry is purposefully trying to run Buzz our because MU needs to become more like SLU, or Larry is trying to make MU more like ND, or Larry wants to bring in his own coach, or Pilarz is trying to de-emphasize athletics, etc. etc. etc.

Tinfoil is for crazy people who abandoned logic and make large jumps to get to a crazy mental state where they can live in constant fear of the MU administration. 

[Pakuni]

i always figured the worst thing that could come from the tin-foil hat club is that LW would continue to get a strong message of how important buzz is to the mu alum/fans.  for that reason i never felt the need to rip on people who had concerns over LW.

the writing done by goodman, parish, etc. all seem to point towards a rift as well...don't think it's all a lie.  maybe LW is backing off...

Being a lie and being overblown are not the same thing.
Cottingham was fired and Larry Williams was hired by Marquette because there was a perception - fair or not - that there needed to be some reining in of the program after a series of high-profile unflattering incidents.
Those were LW's marching orders and it would be almost impossible for him to carry out those orders without creating some friction with Buzz. And it's completely understandable that Buzz might not appreciate someone coming in from the outside and telling him he needs to get the program under better control.
So we should just accept that there was a natural, unavoidable tension at the start of their relationship, and be happy that indications are there was no irreparable harm done.

[ChicosBailBonds]

i always figured the worst thing that could come from the tin-foil hat club is that LW would continue to get a strong message of how important buzz is to the mu alum/fans.  for that reason i never felt the need to rip on people who had concerns over LW.

the writing done by goodman, parish, etc. all seem to point towards a rift as well...don't think it's all a lie.  maybe LW is backing off...

Well, when your best friend gets fired from the staff for lying, you're either going to blame your best friend or the boss.  When your program has three off court issues, one of which is very major and the bosses tell you to get things in order, there is going to be some issues.

What bothers me is that is a two way street, but there are too many people here that imply it's one way.  It isn't.   Takes two to tango in a relationship.  When I see these writers continue to put this crap out there, I'd like to have the person(s) that are talking to these writers and have that relationship with them to tell them to stop.  It serves no purpose but to keep putting strain on a relationship. 

[Henry Sugar]

I'm guessing there's no shot this thread reaches six pages.

not with an attitude like that, Mister.

Clearly, we just need more GIFs

[🏀]

not with an attitude like that, Mister.

Clearly, we just need more GIFs

JAZZ HANDS!