The Beginning of the End for Wojo was ...

[Heisenberg]

February 27, 2019, 5:17 left in the second half at Nova.  MU was leading 60-55.

MU was ranked #10 and a win would have given MU a share of the regular season BE title.  MU scored just one more point and lost the game 67-61.  After this, they would go on to lose every game but one (St. Johns in the first round of the BET) for the rest of that season and the tournament (1-6) and never get any BE title (regular or post-season).

Then in the way too early preseason rankings for the next season (last year), MU was as high as #2 in the nation.

Then the Hausers wrote a letter, and we know the rest.

Last year MU was stumbling down the stretch and today's decision on Wojo looked like it was coming. But the season was cut off so we do not know what would have happened.  Wojo was given another year.

So, from February 27, 2019, with 5:17 left to the Hauser's letter sealed Wojo's fate.  The decision was delayed a year because of COVID.

Wojo never recovered from that loss.

[Galway Eagle]

What's crazy is in an alternate world the Hausers stay and Wojo's a hero.

Honestly with his recruiting I fully expect him to get it to click eventually. I think he just bit off more than he could chew too quick.

[Mu8891]

True

And the level of complete collapse in
2 years is / was unbelievable

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

It was the beginning of the end, but I think there was hope until February 12, 2020. I believe (and KP backs up) that we had a better overall team in Year 6. On February 11th, we had won 6 of 7, were top 25 in KenPom, on pace for a 3-6 seed in the NCAAT. We lose at Nova by 1 and the downfall from there has been unbelievable.

[Heisenberg]

It was the beginning of the end, but I think there was hope until February 12, 2020. I believe (and KP backs up) that we had a better overall team in Year 6. On February 11th, we had won 6 of 7, were top 25 in KenPom, on pace for a 3-6 seed in the NCAAT. We lose at Nova by 1 and the downfall from there has been unbelievable.

100% agree

If Feb 27, 2019, was the beginning of the end.  Feb 12, 2020, was the acceleration of the collapse that would lead to his ouster last year.  But COVID cut the season off and everyone got another year.

[wisblue]

February 27, 2019, 5:17 left in the second half at Nova.  MU was leading 60-55.

MU was ranked #10 and a win would have given MU a share of the regular season BE title.  MU scored just one more point and lost the game 67-61.  After this, they would go on to lose every game for the rest of that season and the tournament (0-6) and never get any BE title (regular or post-season).

Then in the way too early preseason rankings for the next season (last year), MU was as high as #2 in the nation.

Then the Hausers wrote a letter, and we know the rest.

Last year MU was stumbling down the stretch and today's decision on Wojo looked like it was coming. But the season was cut off so we do not know what would have happened.  Wojo was given another year.

So, from February 27, 2019, with 5:17 left to the Hauser's letter sealed Wojo's fate.  The decision was delayed a year because of COVID.

Wojo never recovered from that loss.

Just for the record, MU did win the first game in the BET against St.John's in 2019.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Hausers leaving was the big reveal that something was very wrong but I thought it was obvious he was a poor coach long before that. The Ellenson year was just a horrible brand of basketball IMO and was a precursor of what was to come.

[5DollarPitcher]

Hausers leaving was the big reveal that something was very wrong but I thought it was obvious he was a poor coach long before that. The Ellenson year was just a horrible brand of basketball IMO and was a precursor of what was to come.

+1

[skianth16]

Hausers leaving was the big reveal that something was very wrong but I thought it was obvious he was a poor coach long before that. The Ellenson year was just a horrible brand of basketball IMO and was a precursor of what was to come.

Sums up the Wojo era well.

[Viper]

This is such a critical hire. I get chills when folks mention mid-major coaching candidates, or assistants. Maybe that's where it ultimately goes, but I sure hope the administration swings big. Take a shot at a Tony Bennett...or whoever, but it's a full count. Don't go down looking.

[Hards Alumni]

This is such a critical hire. I get chills when folks mention mid-major coaching candidates, or assistants. Maybe that's where it ultimately goes, but I sure hope the administration swings big. Take a shot at a Tony Bennett...or whoever, but it's a full count. Don't go down looking.

What can we offer Tony Bennett?  Honest question.

[AlienWarrior]

I believe the one man show, Markus Howard may have hurt the program as the team had to regroup and find themselves this year.

[TFlegend]

Hausers leaving was the big reveal that something was very wrong but I thought it was obvious he was a poor coach long before that. The Ellenson year was just a horrible brand of basketball IMO and was a precursor of what was to come.

Couldn't agree more. 

[brewcity77]

What can we offer Tony Bennett?  Honest question.

Season tickets and driving distance to watch the Packers?

Seriously, though, the first 3 games of the 2019 skid were wild: http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2019/03/fifteen-disastrous-minutes.html?m=1

Marquette led Villanova, Creighton, & Seton Hall with 5 minutes to go and were collectively outscored 46-9 in the final five of those games. Just complete collapses.

Agreed with TAMU about 2020 as well. If everyone other than Markus keeps playing well, we're a 3/4 seed and he's NPOY. If it's us instead of Nova or Creighton getting into that top-3 mix, Wojo might still be here.

[Johnny B]

id say when howard signed after sam or vice versa

[Lennys Tap]

Hausers leaving was the big reveal that something was very wrong but I thought it was obvious he was a poor coach long before that. The Ellenson year was just a horrible brand of basketball IMO and was a precursor of what was to come.

100% agree with this assessment.

[Dr. Blackheart]

In Year 1 when he didn't Pole Whack the Buzz players who eventually transferred or got booted anyway, while getting Buzz's commits to recommit or land on reaches who bounced out anyway. His roster composition was a cement anchor that that he was never able to free himself from.

Let's not repeat this.

[The Lens]

In Year 1 when he didn't Pole Whack the Buzz players who eventually transferred or got booted anyway, while getting Buzz's commits to recommit or land on reaches who bounced out anyway. His roster composition was a cement anchor that that he was never able to free himself from.

Let's not repeat this.

And then he was anchored to more top
100 RSCI players than the entire conference combined.  And what did he do with that talent?

[NickelDimer]

Hausers leaving was the big reveal that something was very wrong but I thought it was obvious he was a poor coach long before that. The Ellenson year was just a horrible brand of basketball IMO and was a precursor of what was to come.

This. The red flags came early and often.

[MU82]

This is such a critical hire. I get chills when folks mention mid-major coaching candidates, or assistants. Maybe that's where it ultimately goes, but I sure hope the administration swings big. Take a shot at a Tony Bennett...or whoever, but it's a full count. Don't go down looking.

I love thinking big. But why the heck would Bennett leave one of the best 3 programs in the ACC, one he led to the last national title, one paying him well?

But sure, kick the tires. On him and all the other big names.

[WarriorFan]

What can we offer Tony Bennett?  Honest question.

The chance to play golf with his dad on weekends.  Dick has settled in Central Wisconsin.