Hunt Thought

[T-Bone]

Considering the good writing that has come out of him since Friday and that others have said he's a good writer on a different beat...

How likely is it that Hunt didn't give a crap about writing the MU blog because he had a blowup with Pumpkinhead at some point?

[NickelDimer]

Considering the good writing that has come out of him since Friday and that others have said he's a good writer on a different beat...

How likely is it that Hunt didn't give a crap about writing the MU blog because he had a blowup with Pumpkinhead at some point?

He's sure been motivated to cover his departure, impending replacement and status of recruits.  I agree, that has crossed my mind as well

[Tugg Speedman]

Considering the good writing that has come out of him since Friday and that others have said he's a good writer on a different beat...

How likely is it that Hunt didn't give a crap about writing the MU blog because he had a blowup with Pumpkinhead at some point?

This makes a lot of sense.

[Golden Avalanche]

Considering the good writing that has come out of him since Friday and that others have said he's a good writer on a different beat...

How likely is it that Hunt didn't give a crap about writing the MU blog because he had a blowup with Pumpkinhead at some point?

Think it's well known that Buzz froze Hunt out of the loop.

[LAZER]

I think that could have something to do with it, it's also getting national attention and I'm sure he and his editors would like for him to be right in the thick of everything.

It's nice for the JS when ESPN writes a story citing them.

[GoldenWarrior11]

The amount of realistic theories these past few days has made for some quite interesting topics...

[chapman]

I've thought of it as well.  We all thought Mike Hunt was withered away, but now seems to be reinvigorated. 

[MUDPT]

Buzz called him out by name after the DePaul game on the radio. "I don't care about what Mike Hunt thinks," or something to that effect.  I thought it was strange, because I don't think Hunt ever was critical over Buzz's rotations. 

The amount of realistic theories these past few days has made for some quite interesting topics...

I will throw another one out there.  Did we tell the NIT not to take us?  With how quickly things moved this week, the Reddit report on Sunday night (whether you believe that or not), and it is probably better for all parties (except the players) that we aren't still playing this week.

[Windyplayer]

Considering the good writing that has come out of him since Friday and that others have said he's a good writer on a different beat...

How likely is it that Hunt didn't give a crap about writing the MU blog because he had a blowup with Pumpkinhead at some point?

So you don't do your job because you're upset with someone that you're supposed to cover. Tough cookies. You don't deprive your readers of relevant, inside information because of a personal beef.

[Eldon]

Buzz called him out by name after the DePaul game on the radio. "I don't care about what Mike Hunt thinks," or something to that effect.  I thought it was strange, because I don't think Hunt ever was critical over Buzz's rotations. 
I will throw another one out there.  Did we tell the NIT not to take us?  With how quickly things moved this week, the Reddit report on Sunday night (whether you believe that or not), and it is probably better for all parties (except the players) that we aren't still playing this week.

Our RPI was below the last at-large team added.  If there was a conspiracy on not making the NIT, there is perfect cover

[Tugg Speedman]

I will throw another one out there.  Did we tell the NIT not to take us?  With how quickly things moved this week, the Reddit report on Sunday night (whether you believe that or not), and it is probably better for all parties (except the players) that we aren't still playing this week.

Why did the athletic department post NIT ticket info on their website after we lost to X two days before the snub?  It set an expectation among fans and the team.

Also, as been pointed out here, The lowest RPI team to make the NIT was Robert Morris at 87.  We were 95.

[MUHoopsFan2]

So you don't do your job because you're upset with someone that you're supposed to cover. Tough cookies. You don't deprive your readers of relevant, inside information because of a personal beef.

What?

Hunt was the ONLY ONE WHO DID give relevant info and everyone in here ripped him for it. He was on the suitors and possibility of Buzz leaving first...

It was he who brought this all up first! You need to be apologizing to Hunt. He was on it...I think he is a good writer and read his work.

[Niv Berkowitz]

Everyone here realizes that Hunt used to be one of the screamers/pontificators of the JS, right? He didn't used to be a beat-reporter. He was a columnist...you know, one of those guys that can speak freely about the bombasticness of (insert-relevant-topic-of-the-day-here). Those are the guys that can say whatever they want to rile up readers and get clicks/fans/non-fans-who-still-read-you-to-be-pissed-off (Screamin A Smith or Skip Balyess).

So yeah, Mike Hunt is going to start smellin up the joint with all kinds of news/dirt. He wants to be a "scooper", not some lackey taking notes from a postgame presser only to go home and post a video blog of him in his basement in sweatpants and a 1999 Dave Matthews band tour shirt w/a mustard stain on it.

Mike Hunt is eating this up.

[connie]

What?

Hunt was the ONLY ONE WHO DID give relevant info and everyone in here ripped him for it. He was on the suitors and possibility of Buzz leaving first...

It was he who brought this all up first! You need to be apologizing to Hunt. He was on it...I think he is a good writer and read his work.

Hunt is an inconsistent writer for MU BB.  He will occasionally write great stuff, then disappear for a month or more.  I have given him credit when he hits a solid story, like he did here, and like he continues to do on this topic.  Great to see this level of quality and interest in our program from the JS, just sorry it had to be this type of topic.

[4everwarriors]

Obvious that Hunt would like to burn Brent a new one and get his come uppance. Problem is he'll have to stand in line with a whole host of other folks.

[keefe]

Obvious that Hunt would like to burn Brent a new one and get his come uppance. Problem is he'll have to stand in line with a whole host of other folks.

Mike Hunt's, "but he hasn't gotten back to me today" was code

[Pakuni]

Here's the thing .... outside of the diehards, nobody cares when some kid from Ontario makes a verbal commitment or how some backup looks during summer games at the Al.
Hunt ignored that stuff (or was days late on it) because the average JS reader had little interest in it.
The average reader is interested when a coach leaves, a new guy is hired, etc., so Hunt is on top of it.

[Sir Lawrence]

only to go home and post a video blog of him in his basement in sweatpants and a 1999 Dave Matthews band tour shirt w/a mustard stain on it.

He's way too old for Dave Matthews Band.  Try a Grateful Dead tour shirt.  But yes, it does have a mustard stain on it.

[connie]

Here's the thing .... outside of the diehards, nobody cares when some kid from Ontario makes a verbal commitment or how some backup looks during summer games at the Al.
Hunt ignored that stuff (or was days late on it) because the average JS reader had little interest in it.
The average reader is interested when a coach leaves, a new guy is hired, etc., so Hunt is on top of it.

This is the sure path to irrelevance.  They need all the niche readers they can get to keep their numbers up.  Not saying you are wrong about their strategy, but whatever they are doing doesn't seem to be working if you look at the circulation numbers.  At least they are on this now.

[Windyplayer]

What?

Hunt was the ONLY ONE WHO DID give relevant info and everyone in here ripped him for it. He was on the suitors and possibility of Buzz leaving first...

It was he who brought this all up first! You need to be apologizing to Hunt. He was on it...I think he is a good writer and read his work.

Based on the last week or the last year or two? I'm basing my statement off his body of work or lack there of.

[MU82]

Everyone here realizes that Hunt used to be one of the screamers/pontificators of the JS, right? He didn't used to be a beat-reporter. He was a columnist...you know, one of those guys that can speak freely about the bombasticness of (insert-relevant-topic-of-the-day-here). Those are the guys that can say whatever they want to rile up readers and get clicks/fans/non-fans-who-still-read-you-to-be-pissed-off (Screamin A Smith or Skip Balyess).

So yeah, Mike Hunt is going to start smellin up the joint with all kinds of news/dirt. He wants to be a "scooper", not some lackey taking notes from a postgame presser only to go home and post a video blog of him in his basement in sweatpants and a 1999 Dave Matthews band tour shirt w/a mustard stain on it.

Mike Hunt is eating this up.

Hunt was the JS beat writer covering the Bucks for many years before he became columnist. Nobody starts as a columnist -- it is the best writing job at any newspaper. Bayless, Smith, Reilly, Wilbon, name any famous columnist (or infamous columnist or not-at-all-famous columnist) and he/she started as a reporter. As the Bucks reporter, Hunt actually was well-regarded nationally. As a columnist, less so.

As for other comments, I do agree that Hunt gave short shrift to the Marquette beat. Whether it was because he was lazy or because he was dissed by Buzz -- neither is a legitimate excuse for not doing the job he was paid to do. But it is absolutely correct that while the average JS reader isn't all that interested in the day-in, day-out stuff at Marquette, that reader is interested in a big story like what's going on right now. So it is completely reasonable that Hunt, and the JS, ramps up the coverage.

It would have been nice if the coverage had been ramped up from, say, a 5 to a 10 instead of from a -1 to a 10, though.

[T-Bone]

So you don't do your job because you're upset with someone that you're supposed to cover. Tough cookies. You don't deprive your readers of relevant, inside information because of a personal beef.

Right, but if Pumpkinhead (I'm sticking with that one) shut Hunt out of the loop, Hunt doesn't have any inside information to report.  It seemed like prior to Friday, most of the information he was getting seemed second hand.

Regardless, I'm hoping the better reporting continues going forward.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

I also remember when Hunt was first put on the job he was putting out articles and blurbs almost every other day.