http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=3841309
The Big East title chase is officially wide-open. Louisville is undefeated in the league. So, too, is Marquette. Pitt and Connecticut are still the favorites, even though each has lost once. Discounting Georgetown and Syracuse would be foolish, too.
Marquette needs to be taken very seriously. The Golden Eagles were sensational in the final few minutes Saturday to pull away from Providence 91-82. The Golden Eagles can score in a variety of ways and have the toughness to win on the road. They pose a real threat to compete for the league title with one of the top home-court advantages in the country and the most experienced perimeter play in the conference.
And his mention on Xavier's brother on the court:
Jonathan Xavier needs to chill. Look, there's nothing wrong with sticking up for your brother, Jeff Xavier. But every fan in the building knows you don't go on the court, as Jonathan did during Saturday night's Marquette-Providence game. With 17 minutes left, PC's Jeff Xavier was hit in the face, and when the players were at the free-throw line, Jonathan came down from the stands, jumped over the bench and confronted a referee before anyone from security could get to him. Thankfully, this issue ended peacefully.
Andy Katz wrote something about MU? He must be in convusions about now at the horror of the act.
I just heard Katz on ESPN say that Buzz will be the favorite for the Arizona job.
Funny.
I heard that Indiana fans were in an uproar over their loss to PSU and are now considering Buzz on their short list.
It's Arizona, it's Arizona ;D
Call me naive, but if that happens, I think Buzz stays at MU.
It's funny that he is now a leader for the Arizona job, but nine months ago the same pundits were saying MU's hire was a knee-jerk reaction.
Quote from: MUFanInGreenBay on January 18, 2009, 11:09:51 AM
I just heard Katz on ESPN say that Buzz will be the favorite for the Arizona job.
I said right after Buzz's monster recruiting class that if he proves he can coach, he'll be on the short list for any elite level job.
Can anybody name four or five other candidates right now that they'd rather have?
I hope Mrs. Williams likes and enjoys the cold weather. I think she has a huge sway over Buzz and if she can't take the Milwaukee winters, such jobs will be very alluring for the Williamses.
That being said, I think it will take several years to judge whether or not Buzz is a success, at least in his own eyes. So I am not worried about any openings for a couple of years. :-S
I love Buzz and think he's been terrific this year, but some other Top 10 school would probably have trouble selling its alumni on him just yet.
Maybe I just don't understand coaching as well as I think I do, but it seems to me that Buzz is going to have to stay in Milwaukee for at least 5 years. After leaving New Orleans with only a season under his belt, something tells me that the "elite" schools are going to be scared away if he's willing to leave Marquette after a season. I'd think you have to prove your sense of loyalty at some level before getting a job like AZ.
Quote from: ecompt on January 18, 2009, 12:56:41 PM
I love Buzz and think he's been terrific this year, but some other Top 10 school would probably have trouble selling its alumni on him just yet.
So who are the likely candidates that top 10 schools would not have trouble selling to alumni?
Seems like just a few days ago Andy Katz called Marquette the "Queen of the Pretenders" didn't he? Well, I am encouraged to see he is big enough to change his mind. That said, we have a long long way to go int he BEast. DePaul - that's the next focus.
As for Buzz leaving, he has a lot to prove, and I think he is a man of character. He appreciates the opportunity, an dI hope he is dedicated to making Marquette a premier basketball powerhouse. I hope that his honesty, humbleness and sincerity guides him to remain and do well, as we all expect.
Thanks Buzz
Hey Daniel, that was Andrew Katz on some lame sports blog that said that. Not the same person.
Marquette84 wake up, Buzz(who I like), has a record of 30-19 as a head coach. Your telling me that he is the ONLY coach Arizona will want? Not , Jamie Dixon, not Mike Brey, not Jay Wright hell and I haven't left the BEAST yet.
Nobody will even look at Buzz until they see what he can do with his own recruits. Stupid discussion.
Quote from: reinko on January 18, 2009, 03:10:47 PM
Hey Daniel, that was Andrew Katz on some lame sports blog that said that. Not the same person.
Ah really - wow - ok - well that explains some things then. Thanks :)
Quote from: Daniel on January 18, 2009, 03:32:37 PM
Ah really - wow - ok - well that explains some things then. Thanks :)
Sorta like a pornstar taking on a pseudonym of some legit star's name
U of A will make a push for Mark Few first IMHO.
OK, all is right in the world. Katz is doing everything he can to undercut MU. Phew. Other than weather, how is Arizona a better job?
Quote from: tower912 on January 18, 2009, 07:40:48 PM
OK, all is right in the world. Katz is doing everything he can to undercut MU. Phew. Other than weather, how is Arizona a better job?
Better question: How isn't Arizona a better job?
Conference. Replacing a legend as well as entering an incredibly dysfunctional program. Starting from scratch with recruiting again. Ah, well. Worrying about this now is like worrying about who might leave if we theoretically oversign for next year. No point to it right now.
Quote from: tower912 on January 18, 2009, 07:40:48 PM
OK, all is right in the world. Katz is doing everything he can to undercut MU. Phew. Other than weather, how is Arizona a better job?
What exactly does MU have that Arizona doesn't?
Beyond the weather, nearly everything points to Zona. They've got more money to throw at a coach than MU, they've got more money for a recruiting budget, they've an easier conference to win in, they've got an easier city to recruit to, and they've got just as much history.
Just to be clear, but Katz didn't say anything about Buzz and Arizona right? I took it as a joke, but I see some people who are taking it seriously.
Fair enough. Punch his ticket and start the next search.
can the mods pls lock all threads that turn into any of the following:
1) Where will Buzz Williams go when he leaves Marquette
2) What jobs are better than Marquette.
Thanks.
Quote from: Eye on January 18, 2009, 07:33:48 PM
U of A will make a push for Mark Few first IMHO.
Mark Few, Jamie Dixon, Lon Kruger, etc, etc. No way UA goes after a guy that inherited what Buzz inherited. No way. They'll want to see what he does longer term with his own guys, etc. 4 of the top 6 scorers in MU history are likely to be playing right now for MU. That's hitting the lotto in terms of players, that's even better than Bo Ryan walking into a situation with Devin Harris and Mike Wilkinson already on the team ready to go.
But it's true, Buzz doesn't dig the cold if you listen to Rosiak. Such is the risk taking someone from outside of the midwest because they aren't long for that region.
Buzz has yet to win a game where he team hasn't been favored beforehand right? Let's not go all nuts now...
When you're ranked in the top 15 how many games do you think you are going to play where you are not favored?
Going by Pomeroy predictions (which one could argue are actually more unbiased than Vegas odds), MU was supposed to lose fairly handily to West Virginia.
Still, I think Buzz gets way too much credit on here for MU's current record. Once he starts winning with his own recruits, or if the team beats a couple legit conference championship contenders, then I'll tip my cap. Til then, he's just a coach who hasn't gotten in the way of a really talented team.
First off, Notre Dame lost to St. Johns, so just being favored doesn't mean it's an automatic win. You have to still play solid in the Big East to win any game, especially a road game. People think Buzz can just roll the ball out, but he has made a lot of adjustments that some people might not have made. We have seen him make adjustments that Crean would not have, and we haven't seen with this team. Also, we are playing with 4 guys and he has been very creative with hiding our lack of size. Going really small, using a zone that has switched momentum, and I don't cringe every time we see a zone offense. So just because we haven't beaten anyone major, doesn't mean Buzz has just been riding the big 3.
Quote from: bma725 on January 18, 2009, 08:23:06 PM
What exactly does MU have that Arizona doesn't?
Beyond the weather, nearly everything points to Zona. They've got more money to throw at a coach than MU, they've got more money for a recruiting budget, they've an easier conference to win in, they've got an easier city to recruit to, and they've got just as much history.
I seriously doubt they have more money.
Quote from: Hards_Alumni on January 19, 2009, 08:09:44 AM
I seriously doubt they have more money.
It's a LARGE state school. They have as much money as Madison.
Quote from: marqptm on January 19, 2009, 08:26:57 AM
It's a LARGE state school. They have as much money as Madison.
you mean they have to spread out all of their money amongst their sports?
exactly.
MU has far deeper pockets than you realize.
Quote from: IAmMarquette on January 18, 2009, 03:22:04 PM
Nobody will even look at Buzz until they see what he can do with his own recruits. Stupid discussion.
100% Agreed. All talks on this discussion should end. We are too paranoid from the "Crean Exodus".
Quote from: ATWizJr on January 18, 2009, 10:08:47 PM
When you're ranked in the top 15 how many games do you think you are going to play where you are not favored?
Let's just see where we are after Georgetown, UConn, Pitt and Louisville.
Most of the main steam media thought the Buzz hire was a reach 5 months ago.
Since then he landed a big class which is what you are supposed to do when you have 4 starting spots opening up in the best conference in basketball. And has won a bunch of games with a team that has 4 stud upper classmen and came into the season ranked which is what you are supposed to do.
How does a guy go from not good enough for MU to the best candidate for any job there is, by doing what he is supposed to do for 5 months?
I'm not being critical at all, but I don't see how you go from a bad hire to a dream hire this fast in the eyes of the nation. We all think that he's great, but he still doesn't have much of a resume, he gets us to an elite 8 or final 4 and I may change my opinion.
Quote from: RawdogDX on January 19, 2009, 10:36:38 AM
And has won a bunch of games with a team that has 4 stud upper classmen and came into the season ranked which is what you are supposed to do.
I'm not a crean detractor but Crean wasn't able to get this kind of production from these guys last year and he had a deeper bench last year with better post players. (ooze)
Me: Andy Katz is a moron who should NEVER be taken seriously.
Quote from: muarmy81 on January 19, 2009, 10:56:50 AM
I'm not a crean detractor but Crean wasn't able to get this kind of production from these guys last year and he had a deeper bench last year with better post players. (ooze)
He also didn't have mcneil shooting 45% from 3 to help him. Does buzz get credit for that as well? There have been numerous posts showing that statistically we aren't hugely better than we were last year. But regardless of if the team is better despite losing a guy who was good for 6 and 3 every night the team is only slightly outplaying expectations at best.
I don't see how a guy goes from a reach for a top 25 program to the best hire availble for a top 7 program in 5 months based on that.
Quote from: RawdogDX on January 19, 2009, 11:16:41 AM
He also didn't have mcneil shooting 45% from 3 to help him. Does buzz get credit for that as well? There have been numerous posts showing that statistically we aren't hugely better than we were last year. But regardless of if the team is better despite losing a guy who was good for 6 and 3 every night the team is only slightly outplaying expectations at best.
I don't see how a guy goes from a reach for a top 25 program to the best hire availble for a top 7 program in 5 months based on that.
Don't go applying logic and common sense. This is sports, and sports fans. Ride the wave of emotion.
Quote from: RawdogDX on January 19, 2009, 11:16:41 AM
He also didn't have mcneil shooting 45% from 3 to help him. Does buzz get credit for that as well? There have been numerous posts showing that statistically we aren't hugely better than we were last year. But regardless of if the team is better despite losing a guy who was good for 6 and 3 every night the team is only slightly outplaying expectations at best.
I don't see how a guy goes from a reach for a top 25 program to the best hire availble for a top 7 program in 5 months based on that.
While I agree on your larger premise, a good part of the reason McNeal is shooting better on 3s is because he's taking better 3's. This year's team is taking the first good shot instead of running extra clock in case they find a better one and settling for a worse one. Matthews, particularly has benefitted from this.
I would not put it past someone to want to steal Buzz away (after all, we hired him with even less to go on, and Providence hired Keno Davis after one year with someone else's players), but that is not what the highest level schools do, and you don't leave Marquette after one year for anything but the highest level of schools.
These Buzz Williams posts are beyond lunacy. If the schedule was reversed and we played our last five games at the beginning of the season, the crazy notion of Buzz Williams leaving for another program wouldn't even be a discussion point. There is absolutely no mention of Buzz Williams being a leading candidate for the Arizona job from any reputable media source. If you believe that, tune in for Ron Burgandy's debut Sunday on 60 Minutes. I hear his interview with Nelson Mandela is priceless. I must be an idiot myself for even responding to this worthless drivel. There is a long way to go this season, and even if it ultimately ends in grand fashion, Buzz Williams will not be going anywhere. This nonsense is coming from the same people who castigated the man before he even held his first press conference as MU's head coach.
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on January 18, 2009, 08:30:21 PMBut it's true, Buzz doesn't dig the cold if you listen to Rosiak.
Yes, and the cold in question was the 48 hour stretch when it didn't get above 0. I'm fairly certain NO ONE was digging that.
Buzz isn't going anyhwere until he proves he can win with HIS recruits. Simple as that. Case closed.
Quote from: Doris Burkes Thong on January 20, 2009, 11:36:20 PM
Buzz isn't going anyhwere until he proves he can win with HIS recruits. Simple as that. Case closed.
Dude. No one needs to discuss Doris Burke's Thong.
Not sure you could even find a thong in there.
Now, days later, the perfect riposte occurs to me. Marquette: "Andy Katz can't be taken very seriously."
Quote from: Eye on January 18, 2009, 07:33:48 PM
U of A will make a push for Mark Few first IMHO.
Seth Davis over at Sports Illustrated would agree with you...