Interesting dots to connect

[Lennys Tap]

One of the biggest complaints by New Orleans fans about Buzz's coaching was the limited number of players he used.  Now, that could be that he only had 5 or 6 serviceable players.

I know Buzz has said on many occasions that he wants to play 10 guys, which is terrific.  Let's hope we can get there.  What bothers me most is not seeing more bench depth when we play teams we blow out by 40 points, what better learning experience then to get real minutes.

You complain that you have unfairly been labled a "Buzz hater/TC lover". This post serves as Exhibit A. You write "ONE of the biggest complaints by New Orleans fans..." So evidently their were many "big" ones and, as the one MU Scoop contributor who has scoured the New Orleans boards for anything negative you could find on Buzz, I know you have and will continue to share them with us as you see fit. How are they relevant? His body of work at MU is already larger than his paper thin resume' at New Orleans. I wonder, do you ever go on the IU boards and begin a post with "One of biggest complaints by Marquette fans..." Didn't think so.

[Lennys Tap]

That's possible, but aren't the two related?  If he wants a high major 10 person lineup but is only going to play 6 or 7, he'll have a tougher time landing 10 high majors if 3 or 4 of them never play.

Before Fulce hurt his knee MU had an 8 man rotation which included as many as 3 fringe big east players (Fulce, Cubillan and Acker). Cadougan makes 9 and OTule (another fringe player) makes 10. I can see where you came up with 7 (after injuries) but where do you get 6?

[NotAnAlum]

I think he is refering to the team he had at New Orleans only having 6 -7 servicable players.  My bet is that is true.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Buzz did say just this past MOnday that he would like a 10 man rotation.  We are not there yet.  Maybe by the end of the year we get to a solid 8-9.

Thanks, that's what I thought I had heard.

[ChicosBailBonds]

You complain that you have unfairly been labled a "Buzz hater/TC lover". This post serves as Exhibit A. You write "ONE of the biggest complaints by New Orleans fans..." So evidently their were many "big" ones and, as the one MU Scoop contributor who has scoured the New Orleans boards for anything negative you could find on Buzz, I know you have and will continue to share them with us as you see fit. How are they relevant? His body of work at MU is already larger than his paper thin resume' at New Orleans. I wonder, do you ever go on the IU boards and begin a post with "One of biggest complaints by Marquette fans..." Didn't think so.

Aye caramba.  I don't need to do that on the IU boards for several reasons

1)  He's not the coach at MU any longer, Buzz is the coach at MU
2)  Uncle John seems to be doing that over on the IU boards already (as are others....Mr. Hayward, etc)

Secondly, I disagree with the body of work analogy.  This is truly the first year for Buzz in my mind....last year he was a caretaker.  He did a great job, but this is the first year where the lineup wasn't already set for him, the rotation wasn't already set, etc.   Which means the ONLY reference we have for this type of history is where he coached in the past.  Last year he didn't have to make those changes....did he?

Don't you think if I was a Buzz hater I would do nothing but rip the guy?  Please....where am I ripping the guy?  If I'm such a hater, there should be 1000's of posts showing me ripping Buzz, or maybe 100's, or maybe 25.   So stop with your nonsense.  

When Buzz builds up a true body of work on his own, there won't be a need to go elsewhere for some direction.  The simple fact is, there isn't a body of work.  It was interesting commentary by some fans of a team HE COACHED in terms of his substitution patterns and rotations, that's all. Damn the UCLA fans this past week for talking about Howland's days at Pittsburgh.....they must hate Howland.  

Pretty soon people are going to start calling you Corey Williams

I hope you're cashing in on this market TH, I don't know how long it's going to last.  Double dip coming?

[ChicosBailBonds]

Before Fulce hurt his knee MU had an 8 man rotation which included as many as 3 fringe big east players (Fulce, Cubillan and Acker). Cadougan makes 9 and OTule (another fringe player) makes 10. I can see where you came up with 7 (after injuries) but where do you get 6?

It's obvious TH, my absolute hatred for Buzz Williams made me say 6.   


I guess it all comes down to what you believe constitutes a rotation and minutes.  Let's use Syracuse for example, they've had games where 10 guys are getting 15 more more minutes per game (plus another player at 14 minutes).   For MU, I was looking at the FSU game where we had 6....that's where it came from.  Now, when I go back and look at the scrub games that we've played, we have had as many as 7 or 8 guys get 15 minutes or more.  But I took the 6 from the last game we played. 

I'd like to see us use more players in these scrub games, and not just for 4 minutes.  I thought we could have spelled our best players on Sunday a bit more....a game we should not have lost considering the lead we had.  You may disagree, but in my opinion that's a game we should have won and fatigue clearly played a role in it.

[nyg]

I'd like to see us use more players in these scrub games, and not just for 4 minutes.  I thought we could have spelled our best players on Sunday a bit more....a game we should not have lost considering the lead we had.  You may disagree, but in my opinion that's a game we should have won and fatigue clearly played a role in it.

Exactly. I just want to see one more player, EWill.  Put him on the court.

[RawdogDX]

Buzz claiming that the players weren't tired and being called a monday morning QB does not convince me that they weren't.  They looked slow off the dribble and several of them were not getting the air they normally get when taking a jump shot.  It looked like dead legs to any regular observer.

There were several points during the first two games where players could have got a few minutes of rest.  Buzz didn't give it to them.  

I'm NOT claiming that it would have made the difference but it might have.  The fact that Buzz groupies get this defensive about statements as benign as the ones above is hilarious.

[texaswarrior74]

MU84 wrote:

Coach K understands it and limited his starters time so they weren't gassed.

Actually one of the the biggest criticisms of K has been the fact that he DOES play many of the starters too long and they ARE gassed by the time the end of the season rolls by, hence their consistent poor performance in the NCAAs as of late.

Look at how much playing time Singler and Scheyer had in meaningless games early this season when the games were well in hand; even the most loyal dook fans were not happy with this.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Buzz claiming that the players weren't tired and being called a monday morning QB does not convince me that they weren't.  They looked slow off the dribble and several of them were not getting the air they normally get when taking a jump shot.  It looked like dead legs to any regular observer.

There were several points during the first two games where players could have got a few minutes of rest.  Buzz didn't give it to them.  

I'm NOT claiming that it would have made the difference but it might have.  The fact that Buzz groupies get this defensive about statements as benign as the ones above is hilarious.

I agree for the most part.

My "default setting" for most stuff is to believe the head coach (Buzz, TC, etc.) because he sees the team everyday. .

If Buzz says they weren't tired, then I guess I'll go with that. He sees them everyday, he knows that they can handle.

BUT, I have to be honest and say that my eyes were telling me something else. They looked tired to me.

Maybe it was the defense FSU was playing, or maybe MU just got into a funk, but it sure looked like they had lost a little bounce and baskets and offensive rebounds were a lot tougher to come by.

Anyways, I still like Buzz and Chico's is a d*ck

[Lennys Tap]

Aye caramba.  I don't need to do that on the IU boards for several reasons

1)  He's not the coach at MU any longer, Buzz is the coach at MU
2)  Uncle John seems to be doing that over on the IU boards already (as are others....Mr. Hayward, etc)

Secondly, I disagree with the body of work analogy.  This is truly the first year for Buzz in my mind....last year he was a caretaker.  He did a great job, but this is the first year where the lineup wasn't already set for him, the rotation wasn't already set, etc.   Which means the ONLY reference we have for this type of history is where he coached in the past.  Last year he didn't have to make those changes....did he?

Don't you think if I was a Buzz hater I would do nothing but rip the guy?  Please....where am I ripping the guy?  If I'm such a hater, there should be 1000's of posts showing me ripping Buzz, or maybe 100's, or maybe 25.   So stop with your nonsense.  

When Buzz builds up a true body of work on his own, there won't be a need to go elsewhere for some direction.  The simple fact is, there isn't a body of work.  It was interesting commentary by some fans of a team HE COACHED in terms of his substitution patterns and rotations, that's all. Damn the UCLA fans this past week for talking about Howland's days at Pittsburgh.....they must hate Howland.  

Pretty soon people are going to start calling you Corey Williams

I hope you're cashing in on this market TH, I don't know how long it's going to last.  Double dip coming?

So you think the remarks of a few disgruntled left behind fans are more valuable in assessing Williams than what we've seen through 42 games at MU. That certainly sounds fair and even handed. Not even Corey Williams could argue with you on that. Stop with the nonsense yourself.

[ChicosBailBonds]

So you think the remarks of a few disgruntled left behind fans are more valuable in assessing Williams than what we've seen through 42 games at MU. That certainly sounds fair and even handed. Not even Corey Williams could argue with you on that. Stop with the nonsense yourself.

Actually some of the comments were very level headed from fans wishing him the best and understood why he left.  Others were from disgruntled fans (like yourself when Crean left)....don't think it's fair of you to lump all UNO fans as disgruntled.

Last year, cruise control with a preset lineup and rotation.  This year, some key injuries so he's had to adjust considerably....I'll make my evaluations after a few more years, just as I did with Crean by the way.  It wasn't until after the Final Four that I wanted MU to do everything in their power to keep him.  Let's hope Buzz continues down the same path, in the meantime this is the first year he's had to truly make decisions to judge him by in totality (yes, he had to make some decisions last year, but not many). 

[texaswarrior74]

Duke's minutes tonite vs UW  .....Look at Singler, Scheyer and Smith...I rest my case...they will be toast come tournament time once again.

STARTERS          MIN   
Lance Thomas, F   22   
Kyle Singler, F   40   
Jon Scheyer, G   39   
Nolan Smith, G   37   
Miles Plumlee, F   21   
BENCH           MIN   
Brian Zoubek, C    9   
Andre Dawkins, G    22   
Mason Plumlee, F    10   

[4everwarriors]

Actually some of the comments were very level headed from fans wishing him the best and understood why he left.  Others were from disgruntled fans (like yourself when Crean left)....don't think it's fair of you to lump all UNO fans as disgruntled.

Last year, cruiseofontrol with a preset lineup and rotation.  This year, some key injuries so he's had to adjust considerably....I'll make my evaluations after a few more years, just as I did with Crean by the way.  It wasn't until after the Final Four that I wanted MU to do everything in their power to keep him.  Let's hope Buzz continues down the same path, in the meantime this is the first year he's had to truly make decisions to judge him by in totality (yes, he had to make some decisions last year, but not many).