Flame me for being a new poster, but I'm not a new reader.
I think Wojo is a perfect hire. He's young, enthusiastic, a helluva recruiter, and should have high b-ball intelligence. Even though he seems defensive minded, I think he'll bring a more exciting brand of ball than Howland. I prefer to differentiate from the BADgers, and their usual sloooooow offense.
I don't know how anyone can say that he doesn't have a likable resume. He learned from one of the best coaches in the history of college basketball. If your boss was one of the best (insert title) in the United States, don't you think you'd learn a thing or two from he/she????
Buzz was short, fat, white, and a non-player.....and he proved everyone wrong. Like others have mentioned, I'd rather have a coach that leaves in 5-6 due to success, than a moderately successful lifer.
Props to Marquette, and good luck to Wojo!
+ 1000 GOOD THOUGHTS
"Flame me for being a new poster" Lol welcome to the jungle where new posters gets eaten alive!
Im ok with it.
If we were going to go the assistant route, i really would have preferred Mike Hopkins over Wojo.
1) Its easier to recruit to Duke than to Syracuse.
2) Both run practices and are responsible for watching game film but Hopkins draws up plays during timeouts (at least during OOC portion of schedule). I dont think Wojo did that.
I posted this on another thread, and I'll post it here. We all know the playbook. Wojo is at mu to practice being a head coach before he takes over at Duke when K retires. MU = Duke D-league. I'm pissed.
Quote from: BaltimoreMC on April 01, 2014, 12:03:23 PM
I posted this on another thread, and I'll post it here. We all know the playbook. Wojo is at mu to practice being a head coach before he takes over at Duke when K retires. MU = Duke D-league. I'm pissed.
That would have been the same for Shaka as well, but Shaka's in play for more than just Duke.
Great hire! Look forward to seeing him coach Marquette!!!
Quote from: BaltimoreMC on April 01, 2014, 12:03:23 PM
I posted this on another thread, and I'll post it here. We all know the playbook. Wojo is at mu to practice being a head coach before he takes over at Duke when K retires. MU = Duke D-league. I'm pissed.
Duke has a lot of former assistants out there to choose from.
not nearly as clear of a path as with wojo. We all know how this is going to end.
Quote from: BaltimoreMC on April 01, 2014, 12:03:23 PM
I posted this on another thread, and I'll post it here. We all know the playbook. Wojo is at mu to practice being a head coach before he takes over at Duke when K retires. MU = Duke D-league. I'm pissed.
It's comical that people think he's a shoe-in at Duke. It's probably thee most sought after college head coaching gig in the nation. Unless, he has MU going to multiple Final Fours over the next 5-6 years, I think Duke fans would be disappointed in his hire. Duke is about one thing, winning NCs--there is no such thing as a sentimental hire.
Duke will only hire one of their own for head coach....I'd be hard pressed to find anyone more Duke than Wojo.
Quote from: BaltimoreMC on April 01, 2014, 12:09:37 PM
Duke will only hire one of their own for head coach....I'd be hard pressed to find anyone more Duke than Wojo.
Amaker?
Quote from: BaltimoreMC on April 01, 2014, 12:03:23 PM
I posted this on another thread, and I'll post it here. We all know the playbook. Wojo is at mu to practice being a head coach before he takes over at Duke when K retires. MU = Duke D-league. I'm pissed.
Im with you. I said the same thing in another thread too
15 years as assistant coach at Duke. 15 YEARS. Yes, he will be back as coach at DUKE in the future.
Quote from: atk13thst on April 01, 2014, 12:12:55 PM
15 years as assistant coach at Duke. 15 YEARS. Yes, he will be back as coach at DUKE in the future.
Just take it easy, Cuonzo. We get it, you're upset. Best of luck getting back the use of those private jets.
Quote from: atk13thst on April 01, 2014, 12:12:55 PM
15 years as assistant coach at Duke. 15 YEARS. Yes, he will be back as coach at DUKE in the future.
If Duke hires Wojo as its next coach, it means he'll have accomplished great things at Marquette.
I can live with that.
Quote from: atk13thst on April 01, 2014, 12:12:55 PM
15 years as assistant coach at Duke. 15 YEARS. Yes, he will be back as coach at DUKE in the future.
He sure will.... after he goes to two final fours in five years and wins a national championship at MU. And I'm ok with that.
I know we want our program to be elite, but come on guys. Living in a little bit of a bubble if you think a coach who is successful for us being offered the Duke job isn't going to take it. You would have said the same thing about Shaka if he took it. Only Howland would have escaped this because of his age, or the perception is that Wardle would have never left because he played here.
We're not a blue blood program. It's just a fact. Nothing wrong with that. Let's just go beat the blue bloods.
Quote from: BaltimoreMC on April 01, 2014, 12:03:23 PM
I posted this on another thread, and I'll post it here. We all know the playbook. Wojo is at mu to practice being a head coach before he takes over at Duke when K retires. MU = Duke D-league. I'm pissed.
If that does happen, which is a BIG IF, we will have lost 2 of our last 3 head coaches to Indiana and Duke. Frankly that is a hell of a stepping stone program. #EliteBBallProblems
That may be the case - him going back to Duke - but as an organization, you cannot decide against hiring someone for the fear they'll leave for something better. Not if that person is your desired candidate.
Hell, anyone can leave any job at any time. If MU thought he was the best qualified, they'd be idiots to pass just because "you know, we aren't Duke. he'll want to take that job some day. Let's hire someone else." I've seen that at my job and it's a dumb way to hire (out of fear).
Quote from: 77ncaachamps on April 01, 2014, 12:10:03 PM
Amaker?
After Amaker failed at Michigan I can't imagine he'd be in the running.
Quote from: atk13thst on April 01, 2014, 11:59:49 AM
"Flame me for being a new poster" Lol welcome to the jungle where new posters gets eaten alive!
atk13thst - You could only hope to contain me ...... Once I took the seat belt off, you were toast. #newposter
A coach that was a PG... Im all for it!
From the standpoint of credentials, I like what Wojo brings to the table. Ok, so he hasn't been the head guy, but he's been actively involved at the very highest level of college hoops. I have seen him on numerous occasions drawing plays in the huddle during Duke timeouts, and assistant coaches have far more involvement in running practices and game prep than I think a lot of people know. Wojo has been involved in way more huge games as a player and coach than just about any head coach we could have brought in who would view MU as a step up from possibly a mid-major program. Aside from Shaka, I really don't know that any other candidates talked about would have excited me any more than Wojo. That's not to say I was pulling for him or even had him on my radar as a potential candidate until the talk came up in the last couple days. Howland has great experience, but I can certainly understand the questions about him from MU's standpoint, particularly after aspects of the program's culture was an issue for the administration under Buzz.
Speaking of culture, one of the things I was most bummed about with Buzz leaving was the loss of the part of the culture that MU has become known for in terms of being tough and scratching and clawing for everything you can get (admittedly that seemed to be missing this year). Guys like Jerel, Wes, DJ, Jae, DJO and Jimmy helped build that reputation. Judging by how he was as a player, I fully expect that Wojo will work to instill and maintain that type of culture in the program. I love that.
Quote from: breadtree on April 01, 2014, 12:23:27 PM
After Amaker failed at Michigan I can't imagine he'd be in the running.
He also failed at Seton Hall.
Too much damage for him to overcome. He has a HUGE advantage at Harvard that should get him the auto-bid for some time. It makes him look better than he is.
Quote from: Nevada233 on April 01, 2014, 12:41:55 PM
A coach that was a PG... Im all for it!
Agreed, it's like the new trend in baseball and hiring a former catcher
Quote from: Pakuni on April 01, 2014, 12:15:13 PM
If Duke hires Wojo as its next coach, it means he'll have accomplished great things at Marquette.
I can live with that.
+1
Not to mention that top-notch coaches will be lined up at the front door of the Al to take his place.
Steve Wojciechowski
So many damn syllables
Makes haiku difficult
Quote from: swoopem on April 01, 2014, 12:47:14 PM
Agreed, it's like the new trend in baseball and hiring a former catcher
Former McDonalds all american PG... yeah we can use him...
Exactly he knows how to win... How the flow of a game should go and how to run a team!!!
Quote from: Atticus on April 01, 2014, 12:45:39 PM
He also failed at Seton Hall.
Too much damage for him to overcome. He has a HUGE advantage at Harvard that should get him the auto-bid for some time. It makes him look better than he is.
I wouldn't say he failed at Seton Hall. Took over a program that had gone 38-48 the previous three seasons and took them to a Sweet 16 and postseason four straight years (albeit NIT three times). Also landed a couple of McDonald's AAs and pulled the program (temporarily) out of a death spiral. He wasn't a roaring success, but he did well enough considering the circumstances.
Quote from: cj111 on April 01, 2014, 12:55:47 PM
Steve Wojciechowski
So many damn syllables
Makes haiku difficult
Ha! Well played.
SVP and Russilo were just talking about the hire. The focus was not about whether it was a good hire for MU but instead if it was a good idea for Wojo to go out and coach instead of wait for Coach K to leave.
Quote from: RushmoreAcademy on April 01, 2014, 01:06:11 PM
SVP and Russilo were just talking about the hire. The focus was not about whether it was a good hire for MU but instead if it was a good idea for Wojo to go out and coach instead of wait for Coach K to leave.
I love how everyone assumes he is next in line at Duke. He may be in the line, but it will be a long one.
Everyone assumed when Roy Williams was at Kansas, he was just waiting for Dean Smith to retire. But what happened? When offered the job, he turned it down and stayed at KU.
Wojo is smart enough to know that following a legend is not an easy thing to do. Because every time you lose a game, the legend's legend gets even bigger. So while Wojo may leave if he is successful at MU, it is a big reach to say he is just biding his time for 5 years til coach K retires.
Fair point. He may be here whenever the heir to K gets run out, and then he will step in. So, 10 years instead of 5.
He is not even our coach. We are renting him from Duke for 5-6 years, and then we'll have to give him back. Not a fan.
You are in Baltimore, ACC country. Of course you hate everything Duke.
Quote from: BaltimoreMC on April 01, 2014, 01:32:43 PM
He is not even our coach. We are renting him from Duke for 5-6 years, and then we'll have to give him back. Not a fan.
So what? If he leaves for Duke in 5-6 years, then Marquette basketball will be a better place then than it is now.
Quote from: RushmoreAcademy on April 01, 2014, 01:06:11 PM
SVP and Russilo were just talking about the hire. The focus was not about whether it was a good hire for MU but instead if it was a good idea for Wojo to go out and coach instead of wait for Coach K to leave.
How dare you tune into ESPN! I think we are only suppose to watch FS1...
yes - but not native. Wojo is from Baltimore, still don't like the hire. Mistake.
If he has MU players to that effin' stupid ass slap the floor on d thing, I'm going to lose it!
Quote from: Pakuni on April 01, 2014, 12:15:13 PM
If Duke hires Wojo as its next coach, it means he'll have accomplished great things at Marquette.
I can live with that.
Yeah I actually hope he gets hired by Duke when K retires. That will mean he has experienced a period of sustained success here.
Quote from: BaltimoreMC on April 01, 2014, 01:32:43 PM
He is not even our coach. We are renting him from Duke for 5-6 years, and then we'll have to give him back. Not a fan.
Make up your mind!! You think he is gonna be a
great coach for MU (since you think Duke is gonna want him over all the other top candidates when coach K retires), so you want nothing to do with him.
Quote from: Atticus on April 01, 2014, 01:36:33 PM
How dare you tune into ESPN! I think we are only suppose to watch FS1...
Principal Skinner: That's true, but I was only in there to get directions on how to get away from there.
I am not happy with a successful coach leaving. Nobody should be. We should not be a stepping stone to another job. Anyone who is fine w/ wojo eventually going back to Duke b/c he had a good run at MU is happy with mediocrity and is a loser! No room for that here. This is a lose/lose hire. Does well, he leaves and we lose. Sucks & stays - we lose. He will not recruit well at MU b/c everyone knows he's going to leave. So dumb!
Quote from: BaltimoreMC on April 01, 2014, 02:05:03 PM
I am not happy with a successful coach leaving. Nobody should be. We should not be a stepping stone to another job. Anyone who is fine w/ wojo eventually going back to Duke b/c he had a good run at MU is happy with mediocrity and is a loser! No room for that here. This is a lose/lose hire. Does well, he leaves and we lose. Sucks & stays - we lose. He will not recruit well at MU b/c everyone knows he's going to leave. So dumb!
I try not no do this - but you are an idiot. What arrogance to say that whoever disagrees with you is a LOSER!!
You are pathetic!
Quote from: BaltimoreMC on April 01, 2014, 02:05:03 PM
I am not happy with a successful coach leaving. Nobody should be. We should not be a stepping stone to another job. Anyone who is fine w/ wojo eventually going back to Duke b/c he had a good run at MU is happy with mediocrity and is a loser! No room for that here. This is a lose/lose hire. Does well, he leaves and we lose. Sucks & stays - we lose. He will not recruit well at MU b/c everyone knows he's going to leave. So dumb!
Why are you so
crabby?
Anyone? No? Anybody? Come on
why? cuz I'm not fine w/ always playing 2nd fiddle? being fine w/ wojo leaving b/c of a few successful seasons is failed logic. that thinking makes me more upset than the hire. it's that thinking that led us to this kind of hire.
I heard Wojo is not Catholic! ?-(
Quote from: Eldon on April 01, 2014, 02:10:43 PM
Why are you so crabby?
Anyone? No? Anybody? Come on
fair point. I'm sick of coaches leaving. I've seen this too many times. I AM CRABBY.
Quote from: BaltimoreMC on April 01, 2014, 02:14:44 PM
fair point. I'm sick of coaches leaving. I've seen this too many times. I AM CRABBY.
You're in Baltimore, it's expected. (It was a play on your handle)
Quote from: Pakuni on April 01, 2014, 12:15:13 PM
If Duke hires Wojo as its next coach, it means he'll have accomplished great things at Marquette.
I can live with that.
This, of course.
There is far too much consternation around these parts about what might or might not happen 6 years from now.
Maybe 6 years from now, Wojo will have taken us to 5 NCAA tournaments, including a run of S16-S16-E8, but he will have a mediocre Year 6 and there will be talk around here about us being sick of him. Or maybe he will have built a legitimate NCAA powerhouse and will see no reason to leave to face the uber-pressure he would at Duke. Or maybe he will do exactly what Roy Williams did and follow his heart back to his true love even though he has built a great program elsewhere, and then we'll replace him with our version of Bill Self.
Not a single person here knows what is going to happen 6 years from now, so why be so worried about it?
For effen once, can't we just enjoy the moment? Ever?
Welcome to MU, Wojo! Thrilled to have you as our coach!!!
I am perfectly willing to give Steve every opportunity. I pray he does well. I know he is already a better bench coach than his predecessor. If he can recruit, we will be just fine.
Quote from: Eldon on April 01, 2014, 02:16:18 PM
You're in Baltimore, it's expected. (It was a play on your handle)
BURN!
I'm sold. Even if Wojo goes down in flames, at least he is the high character type I want at the helm of my alma mater's basketball program.
Having the team lined up behind him is a not-so-subtle sign of solidarity.
Can we get one of our resident PhotoShop pros to touch this up with Marquette colors, jersey?
(http://i.cdn.turner.com/sivault/si_online/covers/images/1997/1117_large.jpg)
Quote from: MU82 on April 01, 2014, 02:17:32 PM
This, of course.
There is far too much consternation around these parts about what might or might not happen 6 years from now.
Maybe 6 years from now, Wojo will have taken us to 5 NCAA tournaments, including a run of S16-S16-E8, but he will have a mediocre Year 6 and there will be talk around here about us being sick of him. Or maybe he will have built a legitimate NCAA powerhouse and will see no reason to leave to face the uber-pressure he would at Duke. Or maybe he will do exactly what Roy Williams did and follow his heart back to his true love even though he has built a great program elsewhere, and then we'll replace him with our version of Bill Self.
Not a single person here knows what is going to happen 6 years from now, so why be so worried about it?
For effen once, can't we just enjoy the moment? Ever?
Welcome to MU, Wojo! Thrilled to have you as our coach!!!
With all the Duke assistants currently coaching, there's no guarantee Wojo gets to replace Coach K regardlesss of his success at MU. The more experienced Dawkins or Ammaker could become the heir apparent.
Quote from: 3Mer on April 01, 2014, 02:33:22 PM
With all the Duke assistants currently coaching, there's no guarantee Wojo gets to replace Coach K regardlesss of his success at MU. The more experienced Dawkins or Ammaker could become the heir apparent.
Exactly. My point is the NOBODY KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN!!! All those claiming such certainty ... it's just plain silly.
Quote from: MU82 on April 01, 2014, 02:35:48 PM
Exactly. My point is the NOBODY KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN!!! All those claiming such certainty ... it's just plain silly.
Correct, but no matter the outcome, it will not be good
Quote from: BaltimoreMC on April 01, 2014, 02:37:36 PM
Correct, but no matter the outcome, it will not be good
I'm guessing that is your outlook on life as well. I mean, after all, we do all end up dead.
Quote from: BaltimoreMC on April 01, 2014, 02:37:36 PM
Correct, but no matter the outcome, it will not be good
Wow. Just wow.
Quote from: BaltimoreMC on April 01, 2014, 02:37:36 PM
Correct, but no matter the outcome, it will not be good
So if Wojo coaches MU to the Final Four every year between now and Coach K's retirement and Duke hires him to replace Coach K, that's not a good outcome? You did say "no matter the outcome"
Quote from: bucksandy34 on April 01, 2014, 03:35:38 PM
So if Wojo coaches MU to the Final Four every year between now and Coach K's retirement and Duke hires him to replace Coach K, that's not a good outcome? You did say "no matter the outcome"
...and what if he is so good, he wins the national championship ever year, becomes so popular that he is voted in as president of usa, which leads him to start funding NASA w/ billions in order to start a NEW league of robot basketball on moon.....
Quote from: BaltimoreMC on April 01, 2014, 04:08:32 PM
...and what if he is so good, he wins the national championship ever year, becomes so popular that he is voted in as president of usa, which leads him to start funding NASA w/ billions in order to start a NEW league of robot basketball on moon.....
You didn't answer the question, but ok. My scenario wasn't realistic, but you said "no matter the outcome". I'll give you a more realistic scenario then. Let's say Coach K has 8 years left. If MU makes the NIT next season followed by 7 NCAA appearances including a couple Sweet Sixteens and a Final Four and Duke hires Coach Wojciechowski, is that not a good outcome for MU? I'd like to have a longtime coach who builds a legendary program, but I'm happy if each coach who comes in can keep raising the bar and not be a pud whack.
Quote from: atk13thst on April 01, 2014, 12:10:45 PM
Im with you. I said the same thing in another thread too
Sorry, but that makes little sense.
To quote the late great Mitch Hedberg, "I like to drink red wine, this girl says "Doesn't red wine give you a headache?" "Yeah, eventually. But the first and the middle part are amazing." I'm not gonna stop doing something because of what happens at the end. "Mitch, do you want an apple?" "No, eventually it'll be a core.""
In addition, I've heard the 'He'll go back to Duke in 5 years' phrase from a lot of people, and I don't think it's as simple as that - - here's my reasoning. Duke is a national powerhouse and it would stand to reason that in 5 years, *IF* Coach K steps down, they still will be one of the most coveted positions in all of College Basketball. Imagine the resumes that will be flowing into Durham, NC when that day comes... you will get a Top Tier guy to jump from pretty much any school (save UNC, Kansas, Kentucky, and maybe MSU) to get the job.
Now, would Wojo be interested in the Duke Opening? Of course! What coach in their right mind wouldn't be, but that doesn't mean that if Wojo puts his hat in the ring, the job is his. He's got to earn that job - - and since Coach K has no shortage of Heir apparents (Amaker, Collins, Hurley, Hawkins) - - there's no reason to believe that Duke would just hand over the keys to Wojo unless he does an incredible job with Marquette.