Wojo realizes what's going on. He understands the team's flaws, how they got to this point, and what the prospects for future success are. Further, he knows that most of the fan base have lost faith in him, and potentially his supervisors. That said, if you're him, do you really want to be a part of an environment like this? If I'm him (or his agent), I'm looking at an administrative position at another college, media, or USA Basketball. He doesn't strike me as a big ego guy that needs to the alpha dog, so he should have a number of professional opportunities in athletics/basketball outside of being a major D1 head coach. For his sake, and the University's, the best case scenario is a quiet off-season exit/promotion.
If I'm Wojo, I have confidence in my abilities to right the ship. I look at the great recruiting class I have coming in, and I believe that we are building something worthwhile. I know I have a good situation here in a great basketball conference, at a school with an enormous basketball budget that plays games in a state-of-the-art NBA arena and top-notch practice facilities. I see that we have top-15 attendance at games. I'm not going anywhere. I want to build at Marquette what Coach K has built at Duke, and I believe this is a place that I can do that. And I believe that although the road is sometimes rocky, I'm on the right track.
*ducks*
That is Tom Crean-esque confidence!
Quote from: ManeCity83 on March 04, 2020, 12:23:13 PM
If I'm Wojo, I have confidence in my abilities to right the ship. I look at the great recruiting class I have coming in, and I believe that we are building something worthwhile. I know I have a good situation here in a great basketball conference, at a school with an enormous basketball budget that plays games in a state-of-the-art NBA arena and top-notch practice facilities. I see that we have top-15 attendance at games. I'm not going anywhere. I want to build at Marquette what Coach K has built at Duke, and I believe this is a place that I can do that. And I believe that although the road is sometimes rocky, I'm on the right track.
*ducks*
I have confidence in my abilities to bed Jessica Alba. Doesn't mean it is going to happen.
Quote from: ManeCity83 on March 04, 2020, 12:23:13 PM
If I'm Wojo, I have confidence in my abilities to right the ship. I look at the great recruiting class I have coming in, and I believe that we are building something worthwhile. I know I have a good situation here in a great basketball conference, at a school with an enormous basketball budget that plays games in a state-of-the-art NBA arena and top-notch practice facilities. I see that we have top-15 attendance at games. I'm not going anywhere. I want to build at Marquette what Coach K has built at Duke, and I believe this is a place that I can do that. And I believe that although the road is sometimes rocky, I'm on the right track.
*ducks*
Fine if he thinks that. But then he's selfish and wrong. He's a bad coach and if he isn't at least questioning his methodologies at this point he's completely unhinged with reality.
He inherited a basketball program with rich tradition (both recently and long ago) and turned unbridled enthusiasm into perennial apathy.
Wojo has done a disservice to the Marquette basketball tradition. He needs to leave before this gets any worse (for his own career, as well).
Agree on some levels, ManeCity83. That said, he looks tired lately; a little lost.
These are troublesome days for Marquette and for Wojo. I sincerely hope he can get MU to make a run this post-season. It will take an Elite Eight type run however to remove the cloud that has settled in over Milwaukee.
It has been said that great players make average coaches great, while great coaches make average players good.
I think we have some potentially great players coming in. I am hoping for the best. But, after last night, which sadly is not a sign of an aberration but of a trend, hope is dwindling. An Elite Eight run can right the ship. If not, I fear for rocky times ahead, including lost recruits and a step backwards for this program that could last years.
This is a decisive moment for MU basketball. I'm pulling for Wojo, even as I question more and more his ability to be the man.
It's pretty simple, really.
If I'm Steve, I recognize my contract runs through 2023-24. Four years worth of buyout is a large sum that few schools are willing to swallow barring significant controversy and/or underachievement. I have confidence in my abilities to recruit and bring in new players (no matter how much the program has struggled to finish seasons the past 12 months). I am at a basketball-first school in the self-proclaimed best conference in America. Unless I get an opportunity that is better for my career and family, I don't need to leave. Fans are fans - and they will be critical no matter where I am. Considering the potential openings this Spring (Texas, Boston College, Minnesota, Wake Forest), I don't see any that position me to be in a better position to possibly succeed Coach K than my opportunity at Marquette.
Now, if the school decides to make a change, then it becomes slightly different. I see him as the type to probably sit out a year, collect pay checks, do TV work and possibly enter the coaching cycle again next year.
Bottom line, I strongly doubt that Wojo is considering stepping down without a better opportunity in-hand. I don't see any other "better" opportunities for him though.
If Wojo believes any of that BS about his ability to right the ship then he's delusional
An Elite 8 run?!?!?!?!? have you gone mad ?????
In the NIT tournament sure I'll give that to you but even mentioning this team along side run / elite or even sweet for that matter is a complete joke at this point.
This team has a better chance of the spirit of Al appearing on the court and willing this team to victory from beyond the grave.
Who ya gonna call??????? TJO?
He seems to be a thin skinned guy. It will be very hard coaching next season with many considering him to be a lame duck.
Quote from: panda on March 04, 2020, 12:45:14 PM
He seems to be a thin skinned guy. It will be very hard coaching next season with many considering him to be a lame duck.
Totally , his pot looks like its about to boil at this point, you can see it all over his face.
Quote from: panda on March 04, 2020, 12:45:14 PM
He seems to be a thin skinned guy. It will be very hard coaching next season with many considering him to be a lame duck.
Agree about the thin skin stuff. The amount that Wojo bitches and moans through subtext in his press conferences is nauseating. Stop blaming the fanbase for your inability to build a winner.
Quote from: panda on March 04, 2020, 12:45:14 PM
He seems to be a thin skinned guy. It will be very hard coaching next season with many considering him to be a lame duck.
I never saw anything related to his press conference last night. I was curious what kind of tone it would be.
Quote from: cheebs09 on March 04, 2020, 12:48:02 PM
I never saw anything related to his press conference last night. I was curious what kind of tone it would be.
He either skipped them or gave a 2 minute boiler plate session. Thin skin.
Quote from: cheebs09 on March 04, 2020, 12:48:02 PM
I never saw anything related to his press conference last night. I was curious what kind of tone it would be.
Oh and Marquette has turned off comments on all their YouTube post highlight packages and press conferences. And they report about 60% of twitter responses (even just vanilla criticism). They know.
Quote from: Mike Deane's Seat Belt on March 04, 2020, 12:46:16 PM
Totally , his pot looks like its about to boil at this point, you can see it all over his face.
Well, he never had to face adversity like this at Duke. Coach K makes it look easy. At MU you have to recruit players to fit a system. Hard to do when you don't have much of an identity on either side of the floor. These players just don't fit together and that's on the coach.
Quote from: pbiflyer on March 04, 2020, 12:32:59 PM
I have confidence in my abilities to bed Jessica Alba. Doesn't mean it is going to happen.
Get in line...
Wojo has the Big East's all-time leading scorer and it looks like he is going to graduate without ever winning an NCAA Tournament game. That is pretty much it in a nutshell.
Would not be surprised if he was brought to tears last night and would have choked up if anybody pushed him on the podium. Thus the quick exit back onto I 94
Quote from: Mike Deane's Seat Belt on March 04, 2020, 12:43:35 PM
An Elite 8 run?!?!?!?!? have you gone mad ?????
In the NIT tournament sure I'll give that to you but even mentioning this team along side run / elite or even sweet for that matter is a complete joke at this point.
This team has a better chance of the spirit of Al appearing on the court and willing this team to victory from beyond the grave.
Who ya gonna call??????? TJO?
Hmmm. Perhaps I caused some confusion. I do not think we have it in us to make an Elite Eight run. I am hoping for it, but realistically, I just don't see it. My point was, for me personally, I think that is what it would take to salvage this season. Are there other options for salvation? Of course. A Big East Tournament title with a Sweet Sixteen run would also salvage the season for me.
I hope for all of that. I hope for success. I would love Wojo to have that success and to come back to Marquette next year, with his great recruiting class in hand, and lead us to further successes.
I'm not at all convinced we will attain it. Unfortunately, I am slowly becoming convinced of the opposite. Yesterday was deflating. I am not a Nojo...yet. But, unless we do make that highly unlikely Elite Eight run, or something similar, I may soon find myself fully in that camp.
Have not seen any posts from the two celebrated Wojo worshippers Tower and Cheeks since we continued the big time melt down Is it because they are recalibrating their defense, have fallen asleep at the wheel, or have they switched their allegiance to De Paul?
Quote from: 5DollarPitcher on March 04, 2020, 12:49:58 PM
Oh and Marquette has turned off comments on all their YouTube post highlight packages and press conferences. And they report about 60% of twitter responses (even just vanilla criticism). They know.
Note to MU's Social Media people: STOP POSTING ANYTHING AFTER LOSSES.
There is no point. No one wants to know about your posts. You do NOT want to have "social engagement" after a loss. Just put away the twitter account for a few days and go about your other business.
Quote from: pbiflyer on March 04, 2020, 12:32:59 PM
I have confidence in my abilities to bed Jessica Alba. Doesn't mean it is going to happen.
Doesn't sound like you really have confidence that you can bed Jessica Alba to me.
Quote from: willie warrior on March 04, 2020, 01:54:04 PM
Have not seen any posts from the two celebrated Wojo worshippers Tower and Cheeks since we continued the big time melt down Is it because they are recalibrating their defense, have fallen asleep at the wheel, or have they switched their allegiance to De Paul?
Tower gave up feeding trolls for Lent. You wont see him on Scoop until after Easter.
Quote from: lurch91 on March 04, 2020, 02:43:37 PM
Tower gave up feeding trolls for Lent. You wont see him on Scoop until after Easter.
The old Wojeroo. Seems Tower was the real troll all along!
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on March 04, 2020, 02:18:59 PM
Note to MU's Social Media people: STOP POSTING ANYTHING AFTER LOSSES.
There is no point. No one wants to know about your posts. You do NOT want to have "social engagement" after a loss. Just put away the twitter account for a few days and go about your other business.
AMEN!!!!! the twitter account / social media must be run by a boomer or something ? The bucks and brewers tend to do the same things though?!?!?!? I cant for the life of me understand why they post highlights after losses!!!!!!
Quote from: willie warrior on March 04, 2020, 01:54:04 PM
Have not seen any posts from the two celebrated Wojo worshippers Tower and Cheeks since we continued the big time melt down Is it because they are recalibrating their defense, have fallen asleep at the wheel, or have they switched their allegiance to De Paul?
Probably still asleep, dreaming, while their Wojo White Noise machines play in the distance.
Quote from: MikeDeanesDarkGlasses on March 04, 2020, 03:07:49 PM
Probably still asleep, dreaming, while their Wojo White Noise machines play in the distance.
Cheeks was apparently given a vacation from scoop. All expenses paid.
Quote from: #UnleashJayce on March 04, 2020, 03:11:19 PM
Cheeks was apparently given a vacation from scoop. All expenses paid.
Lol, I've taken that vacay as well. What'd he say this time?
Quote from: 5DollarPitcher on March 04, 2020, 12:49:58 PM
Oh and Marquette has turned off comments on all their YouTube post highlight packages and press conferences. And they report about 60% of twitter responses (even just vanilla criticism). They know.
You have no idea if this is true
Quote from: jesmu84 on March 04, 2020, 03:38:18 PM
You have no idea if this is true
Tweets under "some replies are hidden" or "show more replies" or something along those lines are reported and, thus, hidden. Most of them are extremely vanilla.
Quote from: 5DollarPitcher on March 04, 2020, 03:42:55 PM
Tweets under "some replies are hidden" or "show more replies" or something along those lines are reported and, thus, hidden. Most of them are extremely vanilla.
Wrong.
But just to make you feel better, I went back through the last month and 60% of the responses are not "hidden"
If I was Wojo I would be double checking that my direct deposit info was accurate.
Quote from: jesmu84 on March 04, 2020, 03:45:54 PM
Wrong.
But just to make you feel better, I went back through the last month and 60% of the responses are not "hidden"
Sorry "reported" was probably the wrong nomenclature. They've chosen to "hide" these replies. Potatoe potahto to me.
A simple google search of "twitter - hide replies" will show you this.
Well, we will see what Wojo will do and what he is made of. Adversity is all around. Will he rise to the occasion or retreat? I kind of hope he sticks around just to piss people off. Pretty entertaining stuff this board.
Quote from: MUCam on March 04, 2020, 12:34:38 PM
he looks tired lately; a little lost.
(https://onmilwaukee.com/images/articles/20/2015milwaukeebasketball/2015milwaukeebasketball_fullsize_story1.jpg?20150323144408)
Quote from: CTWarrior on March 04, 2020, 02:25:16 PM
Doesn't sound like you really have confidence that you can bed Jessica Alba to me.
I have complete confidence, sadly like the MU fan base with Wojo, Jessica does not share my confidence. At least that is what the restraining order alluded to.
Quote from: keefe on March 04, 2020, 04:56:37 PM
(https://onmilwaukee.com/images/articles/20/2015milwaukeebasketball/2015milwaukeebasketball_fullsize_story1.jpg?20150323144408)
crap performance.
Looks like he is pulling his pants up after his last, but he does have a look of relief on his face like "Glad I got that over"
Quote from: pbiflyer on March 04, 2020, 05:01:07 PM
I have complete confidence, sadly like the MU fan base with Wojo, Jessica does not share my confidence. At least that is what the restraining order alluded to.
Jeter Herpes Tree avoided, hey?
Yes ...disappointed after almost 6 seasons andNCAA wins - but we had VERY bad draws in the NCAA first round of the NCAA tourney , with South Caroline and Murray State. Very bad.
Losing ng games like last night is very disheartening. It makes you wonder. We beat Villanova and lose to DePaul. How is that possible?
Our shooters have not been lights-out the last few games. In fact, it looks like they are shooting with the lights out. Open shots as well as contested. Coaching issue? Maybe. I'm just trying to be fair. When your 2-4 scorers don't score much, that is a tough road to victory. When we shoot 30% it is a problem. Defense has not been perfect but not bad. Improved.
I think our players look lost and hesitant to shoot. Maybe a coaching issue, but they are not performing. Even free throw percentage is down. the issues are not all coaching. Yeah, direct your players to shoot etc. we had open shots. Didn't fall.
Don't know what the solution is, but it is The problems are muti-dimensional.
Quote from: Daniel on March 04, 2020, 09:04:58 PM
Yes ...disappointed after almost 6 seasons andNCAA wins - but we had VERY bad draws in the NCAA first round of the NCAA tourney , with South Caroline and Murray State. Very bad.
Losing ng games like last night is very disheartening. It makes you wonder. We beat Villanova and lose to DePaul. How is that possible?
Our shooters have not been lights-out the last few games. In fact, it looks like they are shooting with the lights out. Open shots as well as contested. Coaching issue? Maybe. I'm just trying to be fair. When your 2-4 scorers don't score much, that is a tough road to victory. When we shoot 30% it is a problem. Defense has not been perfect but not bad. Improved.
I think our players look lost and hesitant to shoot. Maybe a coaching issue, but they are not performing. Even free throw percentage is down. the issues are not all coaching. Yeah, direct your players to shoot etc. we had open shots. Didn't fall.
Don't know what the solution is, but it is The problems are muti-dimensional.
It's a psychological problem at this point and Wojo seems like he has no more moves left. Mentality starts from the top and Wojo is lost yet again on the second time through the round robin.
Quote from: Daniel on March 04, 2020, 09:04:58 PMOur shooters have not been lights-out the last few games. In fact, it looks like they are shooting with the lights out.
Good line.
Quote from: pbiflyer on March 04, 2020, 05:01:07 PM
I have complete confidence, sadly like the MU fan base with Wojo, Jessica does not share my confidence. At least that is what the restraining order alluded to.
I am not one for a pep talk, but you have to believe you can work your magic from a distance of 150 feet at all times. Slap on some extra Old Spice and go to it.
500 feet might call for Brut
Quote from: panda on March 04, 2020, 09:30:18 PM
It's a psychological problem at this point and Wojo seems like he has no more moves left. Mentality starts from the top and Wojo is lost yet again on the second time through the round robin.
The team has not quit on Wojo (to their credit, and his I suppose), but they seem to be in that pre-quit phase aimlessly running through the same plays and schemes that have not worked and continually failing. Eventually, the players no longer buy into the system and chaos ensues.
I honestly thought last year's Murray State game was a situation where the players did not buy into the system. That second half was brutal. I cannot believe we are are at the same place this year. Marquette should have made the change last year
before Hausershima.
Quote from: connie on March 05, 2020, 07:02:00 AM
500 feet might call for Brut
I thought Brut was banned as a hazardous substance that caused contact blindness.
Quote from: warriorfred on March 05, 2020, 07:08:03 AM
I thought Brut was banned as a hazardous substance that caused contact blindness.
Nobody needs to question the great smell of Brut, two words, sex magnet.
Quote from: warriorfred on March 05, 2020, 07:06:33 AM
The team has not quit on Wojo (to their credit, and his I suppose), but they seem to be in that pre-quit phase aimlessly running through the same plays and schemes that have not worked and continually failing. Eventually, the players no longer buy into the system and chaos ensues.
I honestly thought last year's Murray State game was a situation where the players did not buy into the system. That second half was brutal. I cannot believe we are are at the same place this year. Marquette should have made the change last year before Hausershima
The Murray State game was the straw that broke the camel's back for me. The same announcers called the FSU-MS game two days later and the female announcer was commenting on how good FSU's defense was. Then she added the perfect zinger. "They play their positions.
You don't see them collapsing 5 [/b]guys on Morant." Ouch! No question who the "zingee" was.
If someone here has a tape of that disastrous game' please check out Sam's reaction coming out of Wojo's early second half timeout and post it. Sam had a look of "what the F", rolled his eyes and shook his head in disgust. Apparently Wojo had just told them "No change in the defense. Carry on." That may well have been the pivotal moment for Sam.
Let's make things even more interesting. If anyone has access to Wojo's pregame speech to the stone faced players (PLAY ANGRY!) please post that as well.
In fairness to the "projos" ( although I really do not like the projos/nojos narrative as I think it mirrors our country's political polarization) they have the stats to back up their support of him. And kudos to them for hanging in there with him even while we are in the midst of yet another late season collapse. My disagreement with them is based on the admittedly very subjective "eye test". This is specifically where Wojo fails and was on full display in Chicago on Tuesday. My eyes were very sore.
Quote from: Daniel on March 04, 2020, 09:04:58 PM
Yes ...disappointed after almost 6 seasons andNCAA wins - but we had VERY bad draws in the NCAA first round of the NCAA tourney , with South Caroline and Murray State. Very bad.
Losing ng games like last night is very disheartening. It makes you wonder. We beat Villanova and lose to DePaul. How is that possible?
Our shooters have not been lights-out the last few games. In fact, it looks like they are shooting with the lights out. Open shots as well as contested. Coaching issue? Maybe. I'm just trying to be fair. When your 2-4 scorers don't score much, that is a tough road to victory. When we shoot 30% it is a problem. Defense has not been perfect but not bad. Improved.
I think our players look lost and hesitant to shoot. Maybe a coaching issue, but they are not performing. Even free throw percentage is down. the issues are not all coaching. Yeah, direct your players to shoot etc. we had open shots. Didn't fall.
Don't know what the solution is, but it is The problems are muti-dimensional.
Agree, it's not an in-game coaching issue, or a who's playing/not playing issue. The fact is that 3 of the 5 starters aren't good. Sacar goes silent for stretches, Koby has been terrible, and BB is a bust IMO. If I'm Wojo, the thought of building a team around Koby & BB is enough to for me to find another job. In brief, leave while you're at the top, because tomorrow ain't looking pretty.
Apologies for my post being all bolded. I erred and could not figure out how to bail out of it.
If the mods can delete the bolded, please do so Thanks!
Quote from: Warrior of Law on March 05, 2020, 08:36:07 AM
Agree, it's not an in-game coaching issue, or a who's playing/not playing issue. The fact is that 3 of the 5 starters aren't good. Sacar goes silent for stretches, Koby has been terrible, and BB is a bust IMO. If I'm Wojo, the thought of building a team around Koby & BB is enough to for me to find another job. In brief, leave while you're at the top, because tomorrow ain't looking pretty.
What about the 4th starter? Theo ain't gonna make anyone forget Wilt Chamberlain. Bottom line, all of our non Markus players (GE, Jayce and Jamal too) have MOMENTS where they're really good. That's what role players do - have moments. And when we watch these moments we want them to be who these guys really are - because we're fans. Fool's gold.
Quote from: Lennys Tap on March 05, 2020, 09:00:35 AM
What about the 4th starter? Theo ain't gonna make anyone forget Wilt Chamberlain. Bottom line, all of our non Markus players (GE, Jayce and Jamal too) have MOMENTS where they're really good. That's what role players do - have moments. And when we watch these moments we want them to be who these guys really are - because we're fans. Fool's gold.
As great as Markus is, the team's dependency on him may well have stunted the growth of the other players on the roster.
The only way to improve is to do whatever it is you do under game conditions. If, however, you are directed to "get the ball to Markus", the opportunities to improve become limited. No idea if this has been the case but there is a great deal of anecdotal evidence...cough...Hausers...cough...that point to it being a possibility.
Without the "normal" number of opportunities to perform (come through or fail) under pressure, the other players simply have not developed. Again , my opinion.
Quote from: f/k/a humanlung on March 05, 2020, 10:39:21 AM
As great as Markus is, the team's dependency on him may well have stunted the growth of the other players on the roster.
The only way to improve is to do whatever it is you do under game conditions. If, however, you are directed to "get the ball to Markus", the opportunities to improve become limited. No idea if this has been the case but there is a great deal of anecdotal evidence...cough...Hausers...cough...that point to it being a possibility.
Without the "normal" number of opportunities to perform (come through or fail) under pressure, the other players simply have not developed. Again , my opinion.
My opinion is that this is perhaps only partially correct. Why? Because we've seen hundreds of possessions this season with Markus off-ball. And many of those times he is standing on the wing/corner and intentionally not an active participant in the play.
Are there "get the ball to Markus" plays? Absolutely. Is that the whole offense? No - especially this season.
Quote from: jesmu84 on March 05, 2020, 11:55:46 AMAre there "get the ball to Markus" plays? Absolutely. Is that the whole offense? No - especially this season.
That, and it's lot easier to justify "get the ball to Koby" or "get the ball to Sacar" plays if they're, you know, making shots. Howard creates numerous open looks for them both every night and they miss repeatedly.
Quote from: Daniel on March 04, 2020, 09:04:58 PM
Don't know what the solution is, but it is The problems are muti-dimensional.
Players unable to shoot well due to player development = Wojo
Players unable to shoot well due to talent = Wojo
Assistant coaches not helping the team = Wojo
Poor game plan not suited to players strengths = Wojo
Allowing one player to dominate the offense so its easy to defend = Wojo
Poor defense of the pick & roll for years = Wojo
Poor defense due to talent = Wojo
Lack of or wrong in game adjustments = Wojo
Transfer of two high quality players = Wojo
Agreed, the problems are multi-dimensional, but there is something common to them.