Really good press conference. Wojo very emotional talking about Heldt. Visible tears.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E6rcCZq_Xs&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rjFwVEkjjw
Thanks for posting this. I was hoping someone would
The growth we've seen from Wojo this year has been nothing short of incredible
Wow! That was powerful! There can be no better compliment to a player than that, hands down
Was just about to post these. I remain prouder than ever to have this guy as our head coach and watching him and this team grow.
Outstanding.
Quote from: Cheeks on January 26, 2019, 06:20:56 PM
Was just about to post these. I remain prouder than ever to have this guy as our head coach and watching him and this team grow.
Outstanding.
Dittos (left) cheeks🤣. I have always told people that I hope wojo is successful not just for the obvious, but because he's going to grow into this job. We can't have this guy pull a majerus and go somewhere else to show us how good he really is.
WOJO doesn't always seem animated but he clearly is emotional about his team. Pretty good stuff.
Hat's off to both Wojo and Matt. Outstanding job of Wojo explaining Matt and his role on the team. I especially liked the part of him asking the other members of the team if they could do what Matt does.
I really appreciate that Wojo is so open and heartfelt in talking about his players. Matt Heldt embodies what team sports are all about. Thanks for posting.
Great watching those highlights but even better watching the press conference.
Wojo sincerely cares a lot about these kids and while I know that isn't rare in college ball it's seems like there's a special connection here.
It doesn't hurt that he continues to improve as a coach. Dude has done a great job this year.
Quote from: Marcus92 on January 26, 2019, 06:29:58 PM
I really appreciate that Wojo is so open and heartfelt in talking about his players. Matt Heldt embodies what team sports are all about. Thanks for posting.
+++++++
Heldt is absolutely the embodiment. Well said
Quote from: DarkWarrior on January 26, 2019, 06:24:55 PM
WOJO doesn't always seem animated but he clearly is emotional about his team. Pretty good stuff.
I don't know him but to me it seems like this is the first year Wojo is comfortable being himself in this job.
This is Wojo at his heartfelt best. Kudos to Coach for an outstanding game, year so far, and this press conference where you can really see into Wojo and what he is all about. Marquette and Wojo are a great match.
Interesting comments about Joey.....
Is he looking for Joey to be more prepared? Aggressive? Be more of a focal point?
He obviously feels he has huge potential.
Quote from: Boston Warrior on January 26, 2019, 06:41:26 PM
Interesting comments about Joey.....
Is he looking for Joey to be more prepared? Aggressive? Be more of a focal point?
He obviously feels he has huge potential.
Definitely trying to pull more out of him. The ceiling is so high.
I'm absolutely enjoying this year to its fullest but sometimes I think about how much better we could be next year, assuming MH is back.
Quote from: Boston Warrior on January 26, 2019, 06:41:26 PM
Interesting comments about Joey.....
Is he looking for Joey to be more prepared? Aggressive? Be more of a focal point?
He obviously feels he has huge potential.
I thought the way he said it was interesting. And I think he knows the Hausers will respond to a challenge to be better. Sam proves that every game. Joey will be an incredible player.
I think that Wojo is dead right about Joey having the potential to be a special player.
I also think that Wojo has shown this year that he has the potential to be a special coach.
It's fun to be relevant again. And what's even more fun is that this could last for a good while.
Quote from: Boston Warrior on January 26, 2019, 06:41:26 PM
Interesting comments about Joey.....
Is he looking for Joey to be more prepared? Aggressive? Be more of a focal point?
He obviously feels he has huge potential.
He wants Joey to start taking over games like he's capable. Today was a great start.
Love it. Thanks for sharing.
Quote from: Boston Warrior on January 26, 2019, 06:41:26 PM
Interesting comments about Joey.....
Is he looking for Joey to be more prepared? Aggressive? Be more of a focal point?
He obviously feels he has huge potential.
Reading between the lines a little, it sounded to me more a general comment about Joey's maturity and growing up—like, he is great at moments but still has typical teenager moments. And if he wants to be a truly great college player, it is time to put the teenager stuff behind him and fully commit. Almost more like a parent than a coach.
Joey is a talented freshman. Most of the time, he looks talented. Sometimes he looks like a freshman. I think that Wojo means it is time to tighten things up and step up. I think he has enough of a read on his team to know who will respond and who won't.
Quote from: tower912 on January 27, 2019, 06:52:44 AM
Joey is a talented freshman. Most of the time, he looks talented. Sometimes he looks like a freshman. I think that Wojo means it is time to tighten things up and step up. I think he has enough of a read on his team to know who will respond and who won't.
Ners knows better.
Thanks for sharing this.
QuoteI don't know him but to me it seems like this is the first year Wojo is comfortable being himself in this job.
Agree. Being several years into the job with his coaching staff, players and the current record/ranking all contribute. The way we come up with plays down the stretch of games is the difference between winning and losing games. It feels like this year that has been the major difference.
As much as we say "FT's don't matta," we are difficult to beat down the stretch, due in large part to our free throw shooting.
An easily overlooked part of the presser was Wojo's effusive compliments regarding the X program, both historically and in their game prep for us. Jay Wright has always been a great spokesman for the BEast never missing an opportunity to support others in the league. Wojo is right there with him. Outstanding stuff.
Wojo taking the time to get his picture taken with the kid wearing the MU swag in the Xavier student section is pretty awesome, too.
Quote from: tower912 on January 27, 2019, 07:44:16 AM
Wojo taking the time to get his picture taken with the kid wearing the MU swag in the Xavier student section is pretty awesome, too.
Didn't see that. That's cool
Quote from: tower912 on January 27, 2019, 07:44:16 AM
Wojo taking the time to get his picture taken with the kid wearing the MU swag in the Xavier student section is pretty awesome, too.
Pic?
Quote from: jsglow on January 27, 2019, 07:33:05 AM
An easily overlooked part of the presser was Wojo's effusive compliments regarding the X program, both historically and in their game prep for us. Jay Wright has always been a great spokesman for the BEast never missing an opportunity to support others in the league. Wojo is right there with him. Outstanding stuff.
So true, and he's becoming a very good coach too.
Matt, SOGT....Soul of the Game.
If your play makes the coach so emotional that he sheds tears of joy at a press conference, that is worthy of being in the conversation for SOTG.
Senior Day will be a great event this year. I don't think Wojo is going to get very far into his presentation of Matt before he gets choked up.
Quote from: We R Final Four on January 27, 2019, 07:51:43 AM
Pic?
Here's the tweet. Pretty cool.
https://twitter.com/steve_wojo/status/1089300392557592576?s=21
You're seeing him more comfortable because with each win the pressure on him is easing a bit. Wojo may not be reading every tweet like Mrs. Williams did, but he wasn't immune to the comments.
Quote from: MUfan12 on January 27, 2019, 10:06:17 AM
You're seeing him more comfortable because with each win the pressure on him is easing a bit. Wojo may not be reading every tweet like Mrs. Williams did, but he wasn't immune to the comments.
This. We're finally seeing Wojo's actual personality on display. Think back to the banquet last year. Same guy. Nice to see him become more comfortable in his own skin in front of the camera.
Good national attention
https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/watch-marquette-coach-steve-wojciechowski-breaks-down-talking-about-a-players-impact/
Quote from: MUfan12 on January 27, 2019, 10:06:17 AM
You're seeing him more comfortable because with each win the pressure on him is easing a bit. Wojo may not be reading every tweet like Mrs. Williams did, but he wasn't immune to the comments.
This was a big big year for him. He took a risk on a pathway and it's working. I'd be loose too for the reasons above and because these coaches are always coaching for their job. He gets to enjoy it a little now.
Quote from: jesmu84 on January 27, 2019, 10:19:16 AM
Good national attention
https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/watch-marquette-coach-steve-wojciechowski-breaks-down-talking-about-a-players-impact/
Thanks for posting. The pc is in the link and I had to watch it again. I can say this pc is the moment Wojo won me over for good.
I am a Wojo fan and have been from the start. So this is not meant to be a dig particularly given this great moment. However, in many of these press conferences he seems to get annoyed by the reporter or two? who sounds like students. Not sure if he is a student. There are two that sound young and who ask a lot of questions. Wojo often cuts them off and is short with them. Not sure what that is about but I think he could be more patient with them.
I think it's the same kid asking all of the questions. You can see Wojo look to his Left and then right for anybody else. But that kid kept asking the questions.
Nah, there's more than one. The kid who Wojo was a bit short with announced some volleyball games this year and was absolutely terrible.
Like I get he's a student and announcing games is extremely difficult, but he never even bothered to learn about the game.
I laughed at his comment about losing at the Cintas Center.
Quote from: NickelDimer on January 27, 2019, 11:43:29 AM
Thanks for posting. The pc is in the link and I had to watch it again. I can say this pc is the moment Wojo won me over for good.
He had me at hello.
Quote from: Cheeks on January 27, 2019, 12:54:26 PM
He had me at hello.
"Hello" of course being after 5 years so (depending on the rest of the year) the conclusion of this season.
Quote from: Lennys Tap on January 27, 2019, 01:09:11 PM
"Hello" of course being after 5 years so (depending on the rest of the year) the conclusion of this season.
I'm glad he has grown into a better coach, that takes time and his recruiting. I knew from day one he was already an upgrade on the character side from the previous person.
Quote from: Cheeks on January 27, 2019, 01:22:04 PM
I'm glad he has grown into a better coach, that takes time and his recruiting. I knew from day one he was already an upgrade on the character side from the previous person.
LOL
Quote from: jesmu84 on January 27, 2019, 10:19:16 AM
Good national attention
https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/watch-marquette-coach-steve-wojciechowski-breaks-down-talking-about-a-players-impact/
Subtitle caught my attention .. "
Raw, uncut emotion from one of the rising coaches in the profession"
MU wins a game or two in March and poof, Wojo is in the whispers for coaching jobs, and here we go again.
Quote from: GB Warrior on January 27, 2019, 12:23:38 PM
I laughed at his comment about losing at the Cintas Center.
That question was poor in the style it was asked. Marquette has won 2 out 3 at Xavier.
Quote from: Lennys Tap on January 27, 2019, 01:42:00 PM
LOL
Laugh all you wish, the men and women that worked with both....no contest.
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on January 27, 2019, 02:03:48 PM
Subtitle caught my attention .. "Raw, uncut emotion from one of the rising coaches in the profession"
MU wins a game or two in March and poof, Wojo is in the whispers for coaching jobs, and here we go again.
I fully expect him to be Duke's next coach
Quote from: NickelDimer on January 27, 2019, 02:43:26 PM
I fully expect him to be Duke's next coach
Interesting. I full expect him to be at MU for the next 3 years... then cheeks takes over as AD and fired him to bring Crean back. And then Ners is announced head dunk assistant and SandyKnit will decide all player choices as anyone that doesn't score a ton or is good at D is bad or the worst in conference.
So enjoy the last 3 years of Wojo now.
Quote from: NickelDimer on January 27, 2019, 02:43:26 PM
I fully expect him to be Duke's next coach
No chance.
I'm confident we will make it so worth his while to be a part of the Marquette Nation that he's going nowhere.
This isn't our last three successful coaches. This is a guy who feels it and who is loyal to his guys. I just don't see him going anywhere, even Duke. It's subtle and it's different from the Hillbilly, Coach Crean or Coach O'Neill.
He's here as long as we want him here.
Quote from: dgies9156 on January 27, 2019, 03:02:56 PM
No chance.
I'm confident we will make it so worth his while to be a part of the Marquette Nation that he's going nowhere.
This isn't our last three successful coaches. This is a guy who feels it and who is loyal to his guys. I just don't see him going anywhere, even Duke. It's subtle and it's different from the Hillbilly, Coach Crean or Coach O'Neill.
He's here as long as we want him here.
No way he doesn't take the Duke job down the line if offered. I really don't see him leaving Marquette for any other jobs, but I would be shocked if Duke calls and he says no.
Quote from: dgies9156 on January 27, 2019, 03:02:56 PM
No chance.
I'm confident we will make it so worth his while to be a part of the Marquette Nation that he's going nowhere.
This isn't our last three successful coaches. This is a guy who feels it and who is loyal to his guys. I just don't see him going anywhere, even Duke. It's subtle and it's different from the Hillbilly, Coach Crean or Coach O'Neill.
He's here as long as we want him here.
No chance? Lol. Don't be naive. I can see him going to Duke for the exact reasons you just described. If his friend and mentor, Coach K, called and asked if he'd come home to Duke to carry the torch I'd fully expect him to say yes
I would be surprised if there isn't a large contract extension after this year.
IMO Both wojo and buzz will get extensions and are underpaid. Reality of jobs that will be open over next few years.
Need 5 mil a year to keep them.
Schools like
Texas
UCLA
Texas am
Oklahoma State
All will make a play for proven winners....
In addition to any blue blood openings that will open up.
I think Duke is the only job Wojo leaves for. I also think he gets extended with a raise.
Quote from: tower912 on January 27, 2019, 05:42:32 PM
I think Duke is the only job Wojo leaves for. I also think he gets extended with a raise.
This. If he leaves I expect it'd be on considerably better terms than O'Neil Crean or Buzz.
Quote from: Boston Warrior on January 27, 2019, 05:36:20 PM
IMO Both wojo and buzz will get extensions and are underpaid. Reality of jobs that will be open over next few years.
Need 5 mil a year to keep them.
Schools like
Texas
UCLA
Texas am
Oklahoma State
All will make a play for proven winners....
In addition to any blue blood openings that will open up.
Ask Brad Underwood just how willing Oklahoma State is to pay their basketball coach.
There are all of 3 coaches in America who have a salary of $5M or more.
On olk state or others if a college wants to be relevant on the national basketball scene both wojo or buzz can recruit and coach winning teams, have a lot of gas in the tank and have plenty of upside.
The money can come pretty easily from the big donor (s).
There may be 3 coaches now over 5 but over the next few years there will be many more.
I do believe milwaukee has fiserv forum, Giannis and a nba team, and local basketball talent which has Marquette in a great position to do well.
Quote from: tower912 on January 27, 2019, 05:42:32 PM
I think Duke is the only job Wojo leaves for. I also think he gets extended with a raise.
Maybe Wojo just loves it at Marquette, has lots of success and will be paid handsomely. Go Marquette!
Quote from: tower912 on January 27, 2019, 05:42:32 PM
I think Duke is the only job Wojo leaves for. I also think he gets extended with a raise.
So I hope there's an expensive Duke kicker in the extension.
Quote from: dgies9156 on January 27, 2019, 03:02:56 PM
No chance.
I'm confident we will make it so worth his while to be a part of the Marquette Nation that he's going nowhere.
This isn't our last three successful coaches. This is a guy who feels it and who is loyal to his guys. I just don't see him going anywhere, even Duke. It's subtle and it's different from the Hillbilly, Coach Crean or Coach O'Neill.
He's here as long as we want him here.
Yeah, I think he sticks around. He waited a long time to apply for the job he wanted, and create a little claim to a piece of MU history.
Quote from: Loose Cannon on January 27, 2019, 07:44:46 PM
Yeah, I think he sticks around. He waited a long time to apply for the job he wanted, and create a little claim to a piece of MU history.
I can see this side. Coach k and Wojo's talk on homer show this Thursday was pretty impressive about the love for MU and the knowledge that MU was the right place to creat a huge base.
Wojo's feelings for Matt kind of remind me of Buzz and Chris Otule.
Quote from: Boston Warrior on January 27, 2019, 05:36:20 PM
IMO Both wojo and buzz will get extensions and are underpaid. Reality of jobs that will be open over next few years.
Need 5 mil a year to keep them.
Schools like
Texas
UCLA
Texas am
Oklahoma State
All will make a play for proven winners....
In addition to any blue blood openings that will open up.
$5M? Uhm, no.
Quote from: MuMark on January 27, 2019, 08:04:31 PM
Wojo's feelings for Matt kind of remind me of Buzz and Chris Otule.
Yeah, I remember Buzz getting emotional, too.
Let's hope wojo becomes our coach self
Quote from: rocket surgeon on January 27, 2019, 09:26:45 PM
Let's hope wojo becomes our coach self
I'd rather he not offer money to basically any and every top 25 recruit in any given class.
Pitino was making around $7.75m @ Louisville. That included 2.25 from adidas.
I would guess UCLA would offer him somewhere in that vicinity.
Quote from: wadesworld on January 27, 2019, 09:27:22 PM
I'd rather he not offer money to basically any and every top 25 recruit in any given class.
*his assistants.
Remember he knows nothing!
Quote from: AirPunch on January 27, 2019, 09:47:11 PM
*his assistants.
Remember he knows nothing!
True true.
Quote from: oldwarrior81 on January 27, 2019, 09:40:21 PM
Pitino was making around $7.75m @ Louisville. That included 2.25 from adidas.
I would guess UCLA would offer him somewhere in that vicinity.
Who exactly is UCLA's going to offer 8 million a year?
Quote from: Cheeks on January 27, 2019, 02:34:56 PM
Laugh all you wish, the men and women that worked with both....no contest.
Sorry Cheeks, but you have a long history here of making up stuff about Buzz. Five years later and none of your promised shoes have dropped. Had hoped you had your BWDS under control but it has once again reared its ugly head. Too bad.
On UCLA
Obviously a lot of tradition..
Nba coaches are ~5 mil a year..
Established college coaches are ~2.5 plus
So to attract someone that could return to program to elite levels, they will have to pay up!
Quote from: rocket surgeon on January 27, 2019, 09:26:45 PM
Let's hope wojo becomes our coach self
I hope Rgat you mean Self at Kansas, not Self who was "happy at Illinois"!
Quote from: marquette09 on January 27, 2019, 04:26:52 PM
No way he doesn't take the Duke job down the line if offered. I really don't see him leaving Marquette for any other jobs, but I would be shocked if Duke calls and he says no.
If Coach K left, my expectation would be that Wojo would take it, but I don't think it's automatic. At the 100th banquet, Crean talked extensively about his affinity for Marquette and also how much he had come to appreciate the "grass isn't always greener" aspect of leaving a program like this for a blue blood. Wojo might go, honestly I think he'd probably go, but it wouldn't surprise me if he stayed. I think the ability to create something special exists here and might actually be easier than trying to fill K's shoes.
I think people are kidding themselves if they think Wojo would turn down the Duke job.
But also think people are kidding themselves if they think Wojo will be the top candidate for the Duke job. Could be but there will be a lot of top candidates for the job. In the Duke coaching tree, I would think Capel before Wojo.
Quote from: brewcity77 on January 28, 2019, 06:13:19 AM
If Coach K left, my expectation would be that Wojo would take it, but I don't think it's automatic. At the 100th banquet, Crean talked extensively about his affinity for Marquette and also how much he had come to appreciate the "grass isn't always greener" aspect of leaving a program like this for a blue blood. Wojo might go, honestly I think he'd probably go, but it wouldn't surprise me if he stayed. I think the ability to create something special exists here and might actually be easier than trying to fill K's shoes.
Crean had more success than failure at MU. His leaving was his decision. He had more failure than success at IU. He was fired. So in retrospect he questions his decision. Every guy on a successful TV sitcom wants to be in the movies. The ones who get the opportunity and succeed never look back. The ones who fail wonder why they ever left. Human nature 101.
If Duke came calling, it would be tough for Wojo to turn it down. He would not get another shot at it. That said, Duke is not that much bigger a school in terms of students, and Wojo might think he could build a similar program here at MU, with consistent contention for top 19 and national championships. Why not? Success breeds success. He just might think he can create his own Duke at MU
But it would be very tempting.
It all comes down to recruiting.
When you are after a kid for two years and traveling all over the country to watch him, having to tell Mom that her meatloaf was the best you've ever had, texting the kid on an almost daily basis, and then........at the end of your courtship.........Duke swoops in and offers the kid. The kid says...ya know it's Duke, it's a blueblood.....thanks for your interest but I'm going to Duke.
So, then consider if you(Wojo) could be in Duke's position when your brand alone means you can garnish interest from the top 20 kids in the country, exclusively by your name.
I'm sure every coach in the country would want that opportunity —to advance your agenda/life/season/career.
Secondly, it's not KU or UNC, etc.
Wojo played at Duke. He won at Duke. He won as a coach at Duke. His legacy is closely tied to a b-ball legend. He has a love for Duke that you can hear in his interviews.
That being said, I think Wojo sees what MU is...and can be. MU is a school that has a history of success and Wojo knows we love a winner. If he wins here, he will be remembered long after he is gone.
I think he stays for awhile and gets his name in the MU bball history books.......and maybe a street named after him!
Wasn't Wojo getting fired after this year?
Quote from: wadesworld on January 28, 2019, 10:14:40 AM
Wasn't Wojo getting fired after this year?
After he had the audacity to lose to Indiana, Kansas, and SJU, yes.
Quote from: We R Final Four on January 28, 2019, 10:10:25 AM
It all comes down to recruiting.
When you are after a kid for two years and traveling all over the country to watch him, having to tell Mom that her meatloaf was the best you've ever had, texting the kid on an almost daily basis, and then........at the end of your courtship.........Duke swoops in and offers the kid. The kid says...ya know it's Duke, it's a blueblood.....thanks for your interest but I'm going to Duke.
So, then consider if you(Wojo) could be in Duke's position when your brand alone means you can garnish interest from the top 20 kids in the country, exclusively by your name.
I'm sure every coach in the country would want that opportunity —to advance your agenda/life/season/career.
Secondly, it's not KU or UNC, etc.
Wojo played at Duke. He won at Duke. He won as a coach at Duke. His legacy is closely tied to a b-ball legend. He has a love for Duke that you can hear in his interviews.
That being said, I think Wojo sees what MU is...and can be. MU is a school that has a history of success and Wojo knows we love a winner. If he wins here, he will be remembered long after he is gone.
I think he stays for awhile and gets his name in the MU bball history books.......and maybe a street named after him!
The key question is, "Is Duke the blueblood or is Coach K the blueblood?" Will the same recruits still flock to Duke at the expense of long-established relationships at other top conference schools if Coach K is no longer the coach? I honestly don't know, but there's got to be a pretty good chance they won't, right?
Good point. I believe Duke is a blueblood brand which will take awhile to lose that distinction. I also think with Coach K possibility hand picking his successor, he will still be involved with the program in some capacity—-calling recruits, showing up at the official visit dinner, etc.
I don't know either.