New article on Buzz and OU (don't read if you don't like rumors)

[ChicosBailBonds]

http://blog.newsok.com/ou/2011/03/22/baldwins-final-four-ou-job/

[Goose]

Chico's---Why would it be hard to go from Norman to Austin? Understand big rivals but would think it would make it even more exciting down the road.

[Doris Burkes Thong]

Chico's---Why would it be hard to go from Norman to Austin? Understand big rivals but would think it would make it even more exciting down the road.

If you know the Oklahoma/Texas rivalry it's just something that won't happen. If this was professional sports different story, but it's collegiate athletics.

[Goose]

Thanks Doris. So my suggestion of trying to get Bo Ryan if Buzz leaves probably is bad idea?

[Doris Burkes Thong]

Thanks Doris. So my suggestion of trying to get Bo Ryan if Buzz leaves probably is bad idea?

Goose, only if Bo wants to become a JUCO guy and do things the traditional way.

[GGGG]

He "played" at Oklahoma City?  Lol...don't think so...

[cheebs09]

The article said Buzz played at Oklahoma City University. I'm pretty sure Buzz never played there, but he was an assistant there. Just a reason to possibly doubt his credibility.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

http://blog.newsok.com/ou/2011/03/22/baldwins-final-four-ou-job/

There's no rumors there, just more wish listing.  And the "Buzz would be interested in Texas" thing could have been yanked from these boards.

Now unless you're referring to Brad Stevens, when Tom Crean leaves Indiana........

[Niv Berkowitz]

It's basically a guy writing an article based on crap everyone else has said. Since he's writing about this second/third/fourth string down the line, he's bound to get something wrong. This is the equivalent of me getting to write an article on "Who do I think OU is looking at". Buzz Williams you say? No sh!t!!

[MarquetteFan94]

The article said Buzz played at Oklahoma City University. I'm pretty sure Buzz never played there, but he was an assistant there. Just a reason to possibly doubt his credibility.

Exactly.  Nothing new here at all.  Just one hack's opinion of his top 4 choices he guesses may be at the top of the OU AD's list of candidates.  Meaningless.

[GGGG]

The article said Buzz played at Oklahoma City University. I'm pretty sure Buzz never played there, but he was an assistant there. Just a reason to possibly doubt his credibility.

No, he graduated from Oklahoma City.  Never played there.  Never coached there.

[brewcity77]

Can't say any of this bothers me. The writer doesn't seem to really have a good idea of what he's talking about. Of the four, I think only Tad Boyle is a real possibility, and even that to me seems unlikely with Colorado's move to the Pac-10.

[cheebs09]

No, he graduated from Oklahoma City.  Never played there.  Never coached there.

Thanks for the correction.

[MUMac]

I wouldn't call it a rumor either.  He has nothing but his 4 preferences for the job.  He even admits he has no inside information.  Nothing really new or interesting in the column, either.

[Lennys Tap]

Love the speculation that Stevens and Mack might stay put because they like their jobs but Buzz would only stay to not screw up some other future opportunity to leave. These writers must think Marquette is one miserable job.

[Goose]

Lenny---That is correct. It pisses me off that Butler and Xavier get more national respect than we do.

[Doris Burkes Thong]

Lenny---That is correct. It pisses me off that Butler and Xavier get more national respect than we do.

That's why if they beat UNC on CBS in primetime Friday night it does wonders for MU on so many levels. A BIG if though.

[Goose]

Doris---Winning Friday would be a great start. I want to win this game more than any game in a long, long time.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Thanks Doris. So my suggestion of trying to get Bo Ryan if Buzz leaves probably is bad idea?

  Don't think Bo wants to give up that sweet UW pension...maybe MU Alum Scott Walker can help out there.   

[ChicosBailBonds]

There's no rumors there, just more wish listing.  And the "Buzz would be interested in Texas" thing could have been yanked from these boards.

Now unless you're referring to Brad Stevens, when Tom Crean leaves Indiana........

Except that's not Brad Stevens dream job....unless he's lying...which I've come to the conclusion almost all these coaches are.

[Doris Burkes Thong]

Doris---Winning Friday would be a great start. I want to win this game more than any game in a long, long time.

Yeah, I know me too. It would rank right up next to the Kentucky win in '03. Would me a monumental win in MU bball history.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Another article today

http://m.newsok.com/berry-tramel-if-ou-wants-buzz-williams-it-will-have-to-pay/article/3550978?custom_click=columnist

[BCHoopster]

$2.M in salary and $3.8 buy-out, that will not look to good at a public
institution!  Seriously, as much as I like Buzz, that is serious cash for
a third year coach.  For Buzz, rebuild a program, he would have a heart
attack.

[77ncaachamps]

With the Big 12 reducing in size, who wants to work there?

[El Duderino]

Can't say any of this bothers me. The writer doesn't seem to really have a good idea of what he's talking about. Of the four, I think only Tad Boyle is a real possibility, and even that to me seems unlikely with Colorado's move to the Pac-10.

When all these rumors of Buzz to jobs in the south first came out, i was extremely interested and concerned. Now though, i'm rumored out big time.

I'm just going to enjoy this great end of the season and not worrying anymore if Buzz stays or leaves, it's not like i have any control over it.

In the end, i'm thinking it's about 75/25 that Buzz stays, but if he does choose to leave because he wants to coach in the south, so be it even if i'll be bummed for awhile. Marquette will then have to make another good hire.

[Skatastrophy]

Both of these articles have better comments than the articles themselves.

[HoopsMalone]

I wonder where the guy got the rumor that Texas is Buzz's dream job

[GGGG]

In the end, i'm thinking it's about 75/25 that Buzz stays, but if he does choose to leave because he wants to coach in the south, so be it even if i'll be bummed for awhile. Marquette will then have to make another good hire.

See I hate to say this, but I think OU is obviously interested in Buzz and is going to make him a big offer.  They know the buy-out figure and they know that it'll take $2M to get him there, but that hasn't deterred them.  We are going to have to pay-up if we want to keep him, and even then that might not be enough if his family wants to be closer to home.  (And the whole idea that the "Christian thing won't play at a public university" line is a false one...ever been to Oklahoma?  That'll go over big-time there.)

I would still put money on that he stays, but honestly I think it might be a coin flip at this point.

[NersEllenson]

I'd say it is 80/20 that Buzz stays.  Got to take him at his word when he said:  I'll be at MU as long as they'll have me.

He's built this program up, laid the groundwork, the hardest part is out of the way - he can start to reap some of the fruits of his labor in the recruiting game.  This run has been great for exposure.  All of our players continually speak of how great Buzz is as a coach and life lesson coach.  The one negative of the MU job is that you have to probably work a lot harder to get kids to MKE than some other locations..now..it is only going to get easier.

Last thought - Buzz is a people person in so many ways...just can't see him leaving a DJO, Jae, Vander, et al...to go coach at Oklahoma.  Oklahoma is not a talent hot bed with regard to recruiting...he'd have to work awful hard there to get recruits as well.  So long as wife and kids are happy in MKE...I'm confident he stays -and see that as the only reason he'd ever leave..

[Avenue Commons]

I'll bet* you all $100.00 that Buzz doesn't leave Marquette.

(*Payable to Al's Run Fundraising efforts.)

[Pakuni]

See I hate to say this, but I think OU is obviously interested in Buzz and is going to make him a big offer.  They know the buy-out figure and they know that it'll take $2M to get him there, but that hasn't deterred them.  We are going to have to pay-up if we want to keep him, and even then that might not be enough if his family wants to be closer to home.  (And the whole idea that the "Christian thing won't play at a public university" line is a false one...ever been to Oklahoma?  That'll go over big-time there.)

I would still put money on that he stays, but honestly I think it might be a coin flip at this point.

I'm not all that convinced the buyout hasn't deterred them. It may not have deterred some fans and mediacalling for Buzz, but there's a reason the OU athletic department is leaking the buyout figure. And the most likely reason is justification for not getting Buzz. Their AD, or his backers, can argue "In this economy, after paying Jeff Capel more than $2 million to go away, we couldn't justify spending another $4 million, on top of a $2+ million annual contract, to land a coach with just four years experience" or something to that effect. It seems that's what they're already doing (see: recent Tulsa World column).
Of course, there may be another reason they're leaking it ... maybe to show fans how committed they are to the program, how much they're willing to invest, etc. But the most obvious would be to justify a decision/result that ends with Buzz not in Norman.

[Goose]

Ners---I hope you are right. Hoping the NCAA run works in our favor and not against us. My feeling is probably 60-40 he stays, but it changes daily.

[GGGG]

Pakuni...I hear what you are saying, but I would feel a lot better if some other names were coming out of Norman right now.  If anything, over the past few days, interest seems to have zeroed in on Buzz.  They got rid of Capel over a week ago, and there has been seemingly zero movement in their search.

[MU B2002]

and there has been seemingly zero movement in their search.

Maybe they are good at keeping things quiet.  Doubtful nowadays I know.

[Ellenson Guerrero]

If you know the Oklahoma/Texas rivalry it's just something that won't happen. If this was professional sports different story, but it's collegiate athletics.

Pitino, L'Ville then Kentucky. It would probably be pretty awkward to go directly from OU to Texas and OU fans would hate you with an undying passion but it might not be unthinkable.

[Goose]

The Pitinio thing came to my mind but he did have a stop in between. Was a ballsy move by UL and I loved it because UK fans had to be hot.

[Pakuni]

Pakuni...I hear what you are saying, but I would feel a lot better if some other names were coming out of Norman right now.  If anything, over the past few days, interest seems to have zeroed in on Buzz.  They got rid of Capel over a week ago, and there has been seemingly zero movement in their search.

Fair point, but it's worth noting that several other names being mentioned - Tad Boyle, Shaka Smart, Chris Mooney, Cuonzo Martin, even Brad Stevens - are coaching their current teams in postseason tournaments (or in Martin's case, had been as of Monday night).

[Goose]

Pakuni---We are still playing and Buzz's name is out there. Not sure if your point gives a ton of confidence to those of us who are concerned. Hear a lot of Buzz chatter and not much else out of Norman.

[MountainCreekHouse]

OU would just be such a downgrade of a program from Marquette, the only reason anyone would take that terrible job would be money. Cash rules everything around me...

[dwaderoy2004]

The only job that would be an upgrade for Buzz would be Arkansas.  Stellar recruiting class coming in, the security of the SEC, tradition, etc.  But while Arkansas is in the south, it isn't really closer to home for Buzz, per se.  And Buzz is doing just fine recruiting the south to Milwaukee.  Money won't (shouldn't?) be the issue.

I just don't see Oklahoma as an upgrade.  It's closer to home, yes.  But if people are pointing to the instability of the Big East as a reason to leave MU, how can anyone think that the Big 12 is stable after what happened last offseason?  Not to mention the current state of the program.

I would be pretty surprised if Buzz left.  But who knows?  I'm guessing Clemson never thought Purnell would leave for DePaul.  People have their own reasons for doing things, even if they don't make sense to others.

[GGGG]

The only job that would be an upgrade for Buzz would be Arkansas.  Stellar recruiting class coming in, the security of the SEC, tradition, etc.  But while Arkansas is in the south, it isn't really closer to home for Buzz, per se.

Normal to Van Alstyne: 170 miles
Fayetteville to Van Alstyne: 285 miles
Milwaukee to Van Alstyne: 920 miles

[Marquette84]

Normal to Van Alstyne: 170 miles
Fayetteville to Van Alstyne: 285 miles
Milwaukee to Van Alstyne: 920 miles

Buzz is a rumored candidate for the Illinois State job?

[dwaderoy2004]

Arkansas job appears to be closed.  Anderson to take it:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=6249515

[Pakuni]

Pakuni---We are still playing and Buzz's name is out there. Not sure if your point gives a ton of confidence to those of us who are concerned. Hear a lot of Buzz chatter and not much else out of Norman.

I think you missed the point. Sultan said the "zero movement" out of Norman lately may indicate they're entirely focused on Buzz, who they probably wouldn't move on while he's coaching in the tourney.
My point is, the same could be said for several other coaches who have been mentioned as OU candidates and, thus, we probably shouldn't read too much into the lack of movement.
Don't get me wrong .... I'm sure OU wants to speak with Buzz. But the fact that there's been no movement doesn't mean he's their only candidate, or that they're confident he'll take the job.

[GGGG]

Buzz is a rumored candidate for the Illinois State job?

Heh...I made the same mistake when typing it into mapquest.

[dwaderoy2004]

Normal to Van Alstyne: 170 miles
Fayetteville to Van Alstyne: 285 miles
Milwaukee to Van Alstyne: 920 miles

touche.  as buzz would say, i majored in engineering, not geography.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Last thought - Buzz is a people person in so many ways...just can't see him leaving a DJO, Jae, Vander, et al...to go coach at Oklahoma.  Oklahoma is not a talent hot bed with regard to recruiting...he'd have to work awful hard there to get recruits as well.  So long as wife and kids are happy in MKE...I'm confident he stays -and see that as the only reason he'd ever leave..

The only trouble I have with this viewpoint is that Buzz is always going to be a "people person" and by definition you're kind of saying he will never leave.  This year it's Jae, Vander, DJO....in 3 years it could be guys named Norm, Bobby, Denzel and Marcus....6 years it could be guys named Maurice, Tommy, Bill, and Mercedes.  In other words, there's always going to be a DJO, Jae, Vander, etc.  Coaches have to deal with this all the time when they leave for another job.   

[Benny B]

/begin rant

Seriously... the whole "close to home" and "return to his roots" thing needs to stop.

#1 - Buzz is either coaching or recruiting 95% of the time.  Do you think being "close to home" is really a consideration?  What, I suppose he's going to reconnect with all his old buddies, join the bowling league, cook dinner at Grandma's every weekend, and golf at the country club five days a week?

Moreover, his family has been in Milwaukee the last 4+ years... this is the only home at least two, maybe three, of them know.  So what if they only see Grandma on holidays... if Buzz is like most married men, he wants his mother-in-law as far away as possible. 

#2 - Buzz has a FREAKIN' JET at his disposal.  When you have a jet, Arkansas isn't any "closer to home" than Milwaukee.  Oklahoma is still nearly a 3 hour drive from Van Alstyne... with four kids, it's closer to 5 hours.

#3 - How many professional athletes and coaches can you name pulled a complete 180, left a playoff team, or left millions on the table because they wanted to be "close to home?"

#4 - WTF does "return to his roots" mean any way?  Buzz never played.  He didn't attend TX, AR, or OK or any other B12 school.  For all we know he may care less about those schools than he does UNO.  His basketball "roots" are in the JUCO ranks... his coaching "roots" are at Marquette.  Where in there does one find his roots to be OK/AR/TX/etc.?

#5 - Has anyone here been to Van Alstyne?  I haven't, but from the best I can gather, it is to Dallas what Beaver Dam is to Milwaukee.  I've been to Beaver Dam.  If I were from Beaver Dam, I wouldn't be going out of my way to get back there.  Not to mention... is OU or Arkansas in Dallas?  Last I checked they were in neighboring states, which brings me to:

#6 - Texas is the second largest state in the country.  It's big.  It's diverse.  No one part of it is similar to the other.  Believe me, if I'm from Chicago, I don't consider Carbondale "close to home."  If I'm from Milwaukee, I don't consider Red Wing, MN "close to home."  Van Alstyne to Austin isn't much closer than Milwaukee is to Bloomington, IN (not sure why that matters, but I figured I'd toss it in).

#7 - Living in the north being from the south isn't exactly like living in Tehran if you're Jewish.  The whole "carpetbagger" thing is overblown down there, and people up here couldn't care less about where you're from.  As long as you're a respectful neighbor, there are very few places in the US that will reject you simply because you're not a native.  Mequon isn't one of them.

#8 - We call it Iced Tea, but mix in a little sugar, and it's the same damn thing.  Nothing's different.  It's not like the Nestea up here is sourced from different plants.

All the conveniences of Texas are available in Wisconsin... if not, there's someone willing to overnight or same-day courier whatever it is your heart desires.  When you're making $2M/yr., you'd be surprised what's available to you on a moment's notice.

/end rant

[GGGG]

Benny...your values aren't his.  I most certainly wouldn't want to move to Norman, but don't project what he might find important.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Benny...your values aren't his.  I most certainly wouldn't want to move to Norman, but don't project what he might find important.

Agree

[MountainCreekHouse]

Agree

Chicos, I want to know what you think deep down is going to happen? What do your gut instincts tell you?

[Sir Lawrence]

Benny, why the Beaver Dam hate? 

[Benny B]

Benny...your values aren't his.  I most certainly wouldn't want to move to Norman, but don't project what he might find important.

It's not a projection, it's merely a counter-argument to those who are sold on the common theme that "home & roots" are not only a universal consideration but a primary motivating factor.  History has not shown this to be the case.

Does that mean that Buzz is going to follow suit?  Of course not, but assuming I were making a projection, how would such be any less plausible than those projecting that Buzz will make a decision because he wants to move back home?

[Litehouse]

Benny, there are certainly some counterpoints to the things you mentioned, but the rant was awesome.  Old School Dennis Miller awesome.

[Litehouse]

Benny, why the Beaver Dam hate? 

Based on our visitor yesterday that mysteriously disappeared, Beaver Dam deserves some hate around here.

[Benny B]

Benny, there are certainly some counterpoints to the things you mentioned, but the rant was awesome.  Old School Dennis Miller awesome.

I'll try to mix in an allusion or two to Dante's Inferno or the Greco-Roman War next time.

[MUMac]

Benny...your values aren't his.  I most certainly wouldn't want to move to Norman, but don't project what he might find important.

While I agree with what you say, isn't that also the case for those that are saying he WANTS to move to Oklahoma to be closer to home?  That his dream job is Texas?  He wants to be back in the Southwest?

I have heard both sides on this topic, but nothing from Buzz or Corey.  Frankly, neither side is right, because they are not Buzz and Corey.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Chicos, I want to know what you think deep down is going to happen? What do your gut instincts tell you?

I can't answer what's inside his soul in terms of "where home is".  Some people have a strong tie to a certain place and consider that home.  For me, having lived in Central America, South America, all over the USA....home is where I live, not a specific place.  It's different for everyone.

What does his wife think?  My wife feels California is home...I don't....yet here we are in California.   


Professionally, that's up in the air as well.  I see where Ners says Buzz built this thing...sorry, I don't agree.  He's extended what was rebuilt.  Now, can he take it to another level?  That remains to be seen.  Some coaches don't want to be seen as someone that is extending what was already here.  Others want to take what was good and make it better.  What's important for him on this?  I don't know.

On the relationship side, I'm sure he doesn't want to leave any of the recruits or current players but the reality is that happens all the time.  He was still a "people person" at New Orleans...right?  He recruited players to play there and coached those guys for a year...he left them.  At some point, he's going to have to leave players unless he stays here forever.  Unlikely.

So, personally I think he stays and hope he stays but without knowing what are the strongest tugs on him, who knows.

[NersEllenson]

Professionally, that's up in the air as well.  I see where Ners says Buzz built this thing...sorry, I don't agree.  He's extended what was rebuilt.  Now, can he take it to another level?  That remains to be seen.  Some coaches don't want to be seen as someone that is extending what was already here.  Others want to take what was good and make it better.  What's important for him on this?  I don't know.

On the relationship side, I'm sure he doesn't want to leave any of the recruits or current players but the reality is that happens all the time.  He was still a "people person" at New Orleans...right?  He recruited players to play there and coached those guys for a year...he left them.  At some point, he's going to have to leave players unless he stays here forever.  Unlikely.

I can agree with paragraph 1 above..paragraph 2 has no merit.  The UNO adminisration quit on Buzz and the team.  AT MU Buzz not only has practice facilities to use, meal money for his team, buses..he also has a private jet to use for recruiting...a FAR cry from leaving UNO behind.  As for paragraph 1, my verbiage wasn't right...Buzz came into a program that had been rebuilt, yet faced a few challenges for Year 2 and 3 on the job...now that he has us in a place that we've not been since the great D-Wade...with a many talented players returning next year - plus some recruits that many feel will be very good and are slightly underrated nationally....all of that is a lot to walk away from...and a measure of what he has built in his time here...

[ChicosBailBonds]

Fair enough...my point remains, however, that at some point in his life he's going to have to leave players he coached and recruited unless he plans on staying at Marquette forever.  I don't think anyone feels that will happen.  As such, as strong as the "people person" argument is, it's not one that will ultimately be the most important determinate factor IMO.