Checking in with Buzz
Written by: Todd Rosiak
Had a chance to sit down with Buzz Williams today, in part for some quotes for the story (http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=746193) I wrote for Friday examining where the Golden Eagles stand at this point.
It's been a busy last week or so for MU's new head man, who finally had a chance to catch up in the office a little on Thursday after he and newly hired assistants Tony Benford and Aki Collins hit the recruiting trail hard over the weekend.
Probably the biggest news item to emerge from the interview was that David Cubillan will undergo surgery on his left shoulder -- the same procedure that he had roughly three weeks ago on his right shoulder -- and might not be ready for the start of next season.
It also sounds as though Williams is content to hang onto his final scholarship if the right opportunity -- read: an impact player at any position -- doesn't present itself fairly quickly. Unlike Tom Crean, who, as best I can recall never banked a scholarship in the six years I covered him and his team, it appears Williams is valuing the flexibility that one extra tender can present.
So anyway, here is the interview, parts of which were included in the story but ultimately whacked due to space constraints:
How do you feel about your roster as it currently stands? I feel good about it. I think as a coach you always want to get the absolute best roster you can, and that's an ever-changing process. But the success that all of these players have had since they've been here speaks for itself. I do think that Ooze was valuable to our team, I think that Dan provided a dimension that was needed at certain times. I don't know how many games he won in his career here, but he definitely helped us win a couple of games this year. And I think Trend's versatility was always comforting to have, whether he played or not. You knew you had a guy that could play the 3, 4 and 5 depending on who we had in the game in relation to who they had in the game. Those three guys were an integral part of our team last year. But as it relates to the roster that's returning, I always think that you're only as good as your returning players - no matter who you recruit, no matter how they're ranked, no matter who you beat to sign them. And I think when you look at our returning players, there's some really good players.
Do you feel comfortable with what it appears you'll have coming back next season? I don't know that I feel comfortable, but I don't know that I'd ever feel comfortable. I don't think you ever want to feel comfortable. We do have a scholarship open right now. How that's utilized - whether it's in the Class of 2008 or '09 - hasn't been determined, but I do think that of the guys that are returning, they each have an ability and a talent that is unique. And I think the collection, how those blend, has been good up to this point. The four that will be seniors next year, their experience is extremely valuable. As it relates to the three as of now that will be newcomers, they'll be walking into a very mature team that has lots of experience, and that's always beneficial.
You've got a pair of junior-college transfers in Joe Fulce and Jimmy Butler coming in. Are they going to be ahead of the curve, so to speak, because of the year of high-level basketball they've already got under their belts? What's transpired over the last 4-5 years with prep schools and core classes, the number being increased, things along those lines, finding a qualifier out of high school...these kids could have gone Division I out of high school; they both have stories on why they didn't. But they're not a junior-college player like most kids are. I mean, 96% of Division I signees that go to junior college were non-qualifiers out of high school. I use 96% on the low end; I would say it's even a little higher than that. You're right in that the 30 games that they played, they played more minutes than they probably would have regardless of the institution they chose out of high school. So that is beneficial in that they've played, they're a year older, a year more mature, and I think that is valuable. Both of those guys, I think that they step into a position where they have to be able to help us and have an impact, and the 30 games they played in junior college will be beneficial. Their learning curve, they probably walk in a little ahead of the pace than, say, Chris (Otule). And that's not to be negative toward Chris; he's a big guy and he'll be judged differently anyway.
Do you feel good about the depth Jimmy figures to provide at guard? If you were to study the rosters of the elite teams, you always want to have more than just five guards. No matter how good the first five are, that's probably not enough depth. Hopefully nothing goes wrong, they never get hurt, they practice every day and they never pick up an unneeded foul, but five guards is a pretty thin rotation at three spots. Jimmy is different in that his body and his size allow him to do a lot of different things offensively and defensively. I think when you look at our team, Dominic can guard one or two guys, maybe three guys, Wes can guard two or three guys, Jerel can guard five guys, and I think Jimmy has to grow into being able to guard multiple positions. Immediately I think that's what he brings us - another wing with size that's got to be able to guard multiple positions.
Can you envision Jimmy playing point guard? No, I don't think he's a 1. Now, his handle's not broke - he can handle it - but his mentality is not that of a 1. He can get to the basket, in transition and in the half-court, but that's not his mentality nor is that how to best utilize him.
With Dan Fitzgerald graduating, where do you think the perimeter shooting will come from next year? I think that's a concern. With Cooby having shoulder surgery on his right; he's going to have shoulder surgery on his left in the next three weeks. Will he be able to start practice when practice begins? I would say no. I think Lazar is a great shooter. Cooby is a great shooter. Maurice, with time and space, is a very good shooter. Wes and Jerel and Dominic, they can shoot, but their games are not necessarily defined as shooters. So as any team that's going to win at a high level, you've got to make open shots. Cooby hasn't had an individual workout since before the season started, and is not going to have one before next season starts. We want him to be healthy, but he's got to be a guy we can count on.
How much will you be expecting out of Chris right away? I think you have to coach to get the absolute best out of every player every single day. I think Chris is walking into a situation where he wants to do right but may or may not necessarily know every time what is right. Am I going to throw him in there? I'm going to throw him in there in terms of the intensity and competitiveness and the work ethic that you have to have in order to have success. How that translates into how many minutes he plays, that's all predicated on how those other guys are doing. That's also predicated on how he grows into all those components that he's going to have to have in order to be successful. Dwight definitely gives us experience. He's really been working hard the past 23 days. Like most seniors, he knows this is it, and so the spring before their senior year they always turn it up a notch. But he needs to have a good year for us. Trevor played 12 games.
Do you feel like you really had a shot at landing Tyshawn Taylor once you released him and he re-opened his recruitment? I don't know how to answer that. Ty called me all the time, his mom called me all the time, his stepdad called me all the time. I don't know exactly how many days he was released prior to making a decision to go to Kansas, but I was the first person in his life other than his mom to know he was going to Kansas. I have a great relationship with the family. He's going to be a good player; he is a good player. I don't want anybody that doesn't want to be here. That's not me being critical or judgmental of Ty or any other player. I want you to want to be here because if you don't want to be here, you're not going to make it here - academically, athletically, socially. So whether or not we were strongly considered, if you gauge it in relation to how many times they called me, maybe. But I don't know.
You wound up keeping two of the four recruits that were originally signed for next season. Was that about what you had expected? I didn't have any thoughts as the process unfolded of getting the job. It wouldn't have mattered who was named the head coach here - Nick Williams wasn't coming. Bennie's relationship, that superseded anything. Joe Fulce is one of those guys, so I completely understand that. Nick is a great player. Nick will be excellent at Indiana. He comes from a great family. Those relationships were from long before Bennie came to Marquette or Oklahoma, so you never want to infringe on any of those relationships. With Ty, how that unfolded was a story in and of itself, but I wasn't going to hold him - regardless of what was being said or how it was being said. If you want to come here, I want you to come here. If you don't, I don't. So it was 2 of 4 and then we signed another one, and we have one scholarship open.
(http://blogs.jsonline.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=192452)
http://blogs.jsonline.com/muhoops/archive/2008/05/02/checking-in-with-buzz.aspx
Quote from: ToddRosiakSays on May 02, 2008, 12:15:02 AM
It wouldn't have mattered who was named the head coach here - Nick Williams wasn't coming. Bennie's relationship, that superseded anything. Joe Fulce is one of those guys, so I completely understand that. Nick is a great player. Nick will be excellent at Indiana. He comes from a great family. Those relationships were from long before Bennie came to Marquette or Oklahoma, so you never want to infringe on any of those relationships.
I hadn't seen it mentioned before that NW was following Bennie around. I thought he committed before BS was at MU, but perhaps not....
Oh here it its..Seltzer came to MU Apr 7, 2006
http://www.fansonly.com/schools/marq/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/040706aab.html
And Nick gave his verbal Aug 2, 2006
http://wiki.muscoop.com/doku.php/men_s_basketball/nick_williams
Do you feel like you really had a shot at landing Tyshawn Taylor once you released him and he re-opened his recruitment?
I don't know how to answer that. Ty called me all the time, his mom called me all the time, his stepdad called me all the time. I don't know exactly how many days he was released prior to making a decision to go to Kansas, but I was the first person in his life other than his mom to know he was going to Kansas. I have a great relationship with the family. He's going to be a good player; he is a good player. I don't want anybody that doesn't want to be here. That's not me being critical or judgmental of Ty or any other player. I want you to want to be here because if you don't want to be here, you're not going to make it here - academically, athletically, socially. So whether or not we were strongly considered, if you gauge it in relation to how many times they called me, maybe. But I don't know.
http://blogs.jsonline.com/muhoops/archive/2008/05/02/checking-in-with-buzz.aspx
What do you make of these comments?
First person in his life other than his mom to know he was going to Kansas??? What about his coach/agent Hurley???. This is really getting wierd. His other comments are also strange. He says it twice "I don't want anybody that doesn't want to be here". What is he referring to? If a recruit doesn't want to be here, then why would he even be a potential recruit?
I would think the mark of a good recruiter would be to gauge the interest the athlete has in your program. If he has no interest or is lukewarm, don't waste your time or the school's dime on airfare.
I forgot to post my two cents. If you assume that Hurley is calling the shots, then these comments make sense. Sounds like TT and his family were perfectly happy with him going to MU. Hurley was not and TT does what Hurley tells him to do. He must be very coachable :)
Regarding Buzz finding out second after his Mom. Actually Buzz was fourth to realize he was going to Kansas. Hurley had it figured out April 1, about 5 minutes after Crean left. TT figured it out next 26 days later, told his Mom and then Buzz.
Quote from: rocky_warrior on May 02, 2008, 02:26:53 AM
I hadn't seen it mentioned before that NW was following Bennie around. I thought he committed before BS was at MU, but perhaps not....
Oh here it its..Seltzer came to MU Apr 7, 2006
http://www.fansonly.com/schools/marq/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/040706aab.html
And Nick gave his verbal Aug 2, 2006
http://wiki.muscoop.com/doku.php/men_s_basketball/nick_williams
But that doesn't mean that BS wasn't the guy who followed through on the relationship between the solid verbal and LOI.
Quote from: ToddRosiakSays on May 02, 2008, 12:15:02 AM
Checking in with Buzz
Written by: Todd Rosiak
With Dan Fitzgerald graduating, where do you think the perimeter shooting will come from next year? I think that's a concern. With Cooby having shoulder surgery on his right; he's going to have shoulder surgery on his left in the next three weeks. Will he be able to start practice when practice begins? I would say no. I think Lazar is a great shooter. Cooby is a great shooter. Maurice, with time and space, is a very good shooter. Wes and Jerel and Dominic, they can shoot, but their games are not necessarily defined as shooters.
"Cooby is a great shooter???" Oy...we'll see a lot of zone again next year.
Quote from: jce on May 02, 2008, 07:29:37 AM
"Cooby is a great shooter???" Oy...we'll see a lot of zone again next year.
wait.....you're talking a guy who struggled to shoot the basketball last season and now we learn that he is
is having both shoulders surgically repaired. Um, perhaps the shoulder issues where a factor in his sophomore slump?
Cubillan shot almost 43% from deep as a frosh, and still mustered a respectable 33% as a sophomore despite playing with two shoulders in need of repair.
Some info besides player updates would be useful at this time. Has Buzz ever indicated whether his defensive and offensive approaches to the game will be different than TCs? What about scheduling philosphy?
I think I know the answer to the second question but it would be nice to get an idea of who the cupcakes will be. As to the first question, I would really like to know.
Quote from: NYWarrior on May 02, 2008, 08:01:14 AM
wait.....you're talking a guy who struggled to shoot the basketball last season and now we learn that he is is having both shoulders surgically repaired. Um, perhaps the shoulder issues where a factor in his sophomore slump?
Cubillan shot almost 43% from deep as a frosh, and still mustered a respectable 33% as a sophomore despite playing with two shoulders in need of repair.
Well, I certainly hope that is the case.
Quote from: 1990Warrior on May 02, 2008, 08:06:13 AM
Some info besides player updates would be useful at this time. Has Buzz ever indicated whether his defensive and offensive approaches to the game will be different than TCs? What about scheduling philosphy?
I think I know the answer to the second question but it would be nice to get an idea of who the cupcakes will be. As to the first question, I would really like to know.
Yeah but if he came out and told us these things we'd have nothing to speculate/complain/talk about the rest of the summer... ;D