Is Wojo really a good recruiter?

[Hards Alumni]

Buzz gave tough love and hard truths to his players.

Wojo gives free love, and coddles his players.

I think this has something to do with it as well.

[4everwarriors]

He's a heck of a coach, but ...

++ He gives McClung the same kind of freedom Wojo gave Markus. Mac can shoot anytime from anywhere on the court. Mac puts his head down, gets spinning and flying around, totally ignores his teammates. I hope a letter isn't coming from a few of them!

++ If we ever hire a coach with the resume Beard had when Texas Tech signed him, you (and many other Scoopers) will proclaim it a terrible hire.

But yes, it would be nice if our AD/president could unearth a gem like Beard, somebody who coached only 1 season of D1 ball (at Arkansas Little Rock) but turns out to be an outstanding coach.

Buzz arguably had an even slimmer resume, of course, so it wouldn't be unprecedented. What were your feelings at the time about Buzz?

Honestly, I found out about Buzz being the choice earlier in the day it was announced and was not happy about the selection. I still hold that MU, given the resources, history, and facilities, should be able to attract known commodities and we shouldn't have to "take a chance" on someone. But, dat's just mee, aina?

[Galway Eagle]

Honestly, I found out about Buzz being the choice earlier in the day it was announced and was not happy about the selection. I still hold that MU, given the resources, history, and facilities, should be able to attract known commodities and we shouldn't have to "take a chance" on someone. But, dat's just mee, aina?

An old post of yours speculates that they did it for the recruiting class and you were upset about that. Gotta give you props for consistency that you don't put off a fire or make a hire for unproven players.

[Silkk the Shaka]

He's a heck of a coach, but ...

++ He gives McClung the same kind of freedom Wojo gave Markus. Mac can shoot anytime from anywhere on the court. Mac puts his head down, gets spinning and flying around, totally ignores his teammates. I hope a letter isn't coming from a few of them!

++ If we ever hire a coach with the resume Beard had when Texas Tech signed him, you (and many other Scoopers) will proclaim it a terrible hire.

But yes, it would be nice if our AD/president could unearth a gem like Beard, somebody who coached only 1 season of D1 ball (at Arkansas Little Rock) but turns out to be an outstanding coach.

Buzz arguably had an even slimmer resume, of course, so it wouldn't be unprecedented. What were your feelings at the time about Buzz?

He also had HC experience at several different levels besides D1, and was an assistant at many different levels & programs (including a notable stint with Bob Knight). Diversity of experience & programs seems to matter, how one learned from failure seems to matter, and when you have a good one on your hands, you know it when you see it (hat tip Potter Stewart).

[cheebs09]

Honestly, I found out about Buzz being the choice earlier in the day it was announced and was not happy about the selection. I still hold that MU, given the resources, history, and facilities, should be able to attract known commodities and we shouldn't have to "take a chance" on someone. But, dat's just mee, aina?

Were you at the Spirit Shop when his wife bought all her gear?

[4everwarriors]

Nope, herd from an insider, hey?

[jesmu84]

Honestly, I found out about Buzz being the choice earlier in the day it was announced and was not happy about the selection. I still hold that MU, given the resources, history, and facilities, should be able to attract known commodities and we shouldn't have to "take a chance" on someone. But, dat's just mee, aina?

I get the feeling it will be more of the same if/when Wojo is gone.

[MU82]

Honestly, I found out about Buzz being the choice earlier in the day it was announced and was not happy about the selection. I still hold that MU, given the resources, history, and facilities, should be able to attract known commodities and we shouldn't have to "take a chance" on someone. But, dat's just mee, aina?

I appreciate the honesty, Doc.

I agree with you about the kind of coach Marquette should be able to hire but I'm a realist. History has proven otherwise over and over and over again.

Al was 13-39 in his last two years at Belmont Abbey when he got hired ... Hank was an assistant who had only been a head coach at the HS and NAIA levels ... Rick was an assistant whose only head coaching experience had been of 8th-graders and HS freshmen ... Dukiet came from St. Peter's, where he went 31-26 his last two seasons ... KO was an assistant whose only head coaching experience had come at HS, CC and Marycrest ... Crean was an assistant who had never been a head coach at any level ... Buzz was an assistant whose only head coaching experience was his 14-17 season at New Orleans ... Wojo was an assistant who had never been a head coach at any level.

So sure, we theoretically could hire somebody more proven than Buzz or Beard, but I'll believe it when I see it.

So here's hoping our AD/president can discover the next Buzz or Beard.

Oona?

[Silent Verbal]

I appreciate the honesty, Doc.

I agree with you about the kind of coach Marquette should be able to hire but I'm a realist. History has proven otherwise over and over and over again.

Al was 13-39 in his last two years at Belmont Abbey when he got hired ... Hank was an assistant who had only been a head coach at the HS and NAIA levels ... Rick was an assistant whose only head coaching experience had been of 8th-graders and HS freshmen ... Dukiet came from St. Peter's, where he went 31-26 his last two seasons ... KO was an assistant whose only head coaching experience had come at HS, CC and Marycrest ... Crean was an assistant who had never been a head coach at any level ... Buzz was an assistant whose only head coaching experience was his 14-17 season at New Orleans ... Wojo was an assistant who had never been a head coach at any level.

So sure, we theoretically could hire somebody more proven than Buzz or Beard, but I'll believe it when I see it.

So here's hoping our AD/president can discover the next Buzz or Beard.

Oona?

I believe that KO, Deane, and Crean were all hired by Cords.  Buzz was hired by Cottingham, who had been at Marquette for almost two decades prior to being named AD in 2008 (my dates might be a little fuzzy on that one).  And then I think Cords stepped back in as interim AD and hired Wojo.  So while I agree that we've mostly gone to the same well when in need of a head coach, all of the guys hired in the last three decades were brought in by what was essentially the same regime.  Perhaps Scholl and Lovell will cast a different net. 

[NickelDimer]

I think this is basically semantics.  Average.  Below Average. Blah.  Mediocre.  Bad.  Horrible.  Choose your adjective.  Average is still average and = mediocre with a grim future for sustainable success.  You're damn right we can do better and should expect much, much, better.

Agreed. Who cares about parsing average to below average. Mediocre to horrible. He’s not good enough. That’s all that matters.

[Afroman]

So-so ... way too many mid-major players in the last 5 years.

[MU82]

I believe that KO, Deane, and Crean were all hired by Cords.  Buzz was hired by Cottingham, who had been at Marquette for almost two decades prior to being named AD in 2008 (my dates might be a little fuzzy on that one).  And then I think Cords stepped back in as interim AD and hired Wojo.  So while I agree that we've mostly gone to the same well when in need of a head coach, all of the guys hired in the last three decades were brought in by what was essentially the same regime.  Perhaps Scholl and Lovell will cast a different net.

We'll see! (I hope.)

[WarriorFan]

I've seen a couple of people say Buzz had a "system." Recruiting switchables and "toughness" is not a system. Buzz was an absolute mad scientist when it comes to coaching. He has an elite ability to cater an offensive and defensive plan to fit his roster. Its what made him so good. Just for an example, here are the adjusted tempo rankings for Buzz' teams at Marquette:

08-09: 78
09-10: 305
10-11: 116
11-12: 15
12-13: 230
13-14: 186

Tempo isn't everything, but it shows wild swings in style of play from year to year, not the markings of a system coach. Buzz was good at balancing rosters and identifying players who would respond to his style of coaching and this allowed him to change the system yearly to best fit his players.

Totally agree - you said it much better than me.