Buzz Williams Helps Propel Former MU Player To National Prominence

[bradforster]

One of the feel good stories of the NBA this year is Marquette's very own Wesley Matthews.  The undrafted free agent has not only made an NBA roster, but is thriving in a league that's usually tough on rookies.  While many first year players hit the proverbial wall the final quarter of the season, Matthews has not only improved, but is logging major minutes for a championship contender.  With his 16 points tonight the former MU standout is averaging 9 points per game while shooting an impressive 48% from the field.  He's also often been assigned the task of guarding the opposition's top perimeter scoring threat.  

In a day when barely serviceable players are making eight figure salaries, Matthews is one of the better returns on investment in the league at $457,000.  Without Buzz Williams unleashing Matthews' potential a year ago, one has to wonder if the Jazz starter would have ever been afforded an opportunity to showcase his skills for an NBA team.  Kudos to both Buzz and Wes on forging a great basketball partnership and proving hard work is the key ingredient for ultimate achievement.  It sure will be fun to watch this year's playoffs and root on a team that employs the same tenacious mindset that our beloved Warriors have the past couple seasons.  Go Utah!

[ChicosBailBonds]

This never would have happened had not the Tanned One mimicked Bob Irsay and run off to Indiana in the middle of the night. Wes should thank his lucky stars Tommy Boy took care of himself. We should be very proud of Wes for earning what he is getting.

Yes, because Steve Novak, Travis Diener, etc were all NBA players their junior years and got to the NBA despite.....   

[flash]

Without Buzz I honestly don't think Wesley Matthews would be in the NBA right now.  His scoring increased from 11.3 ppg to 18.3 ppg from his Junior to Senior years.  It is so great so see a player like Wes having success in the NBA.  I think Wesley's succcess will help Lazar find a job in the NBA.  Teams will see that there is a place for players like Wes and Lazar who are well spoken, genuine, hard working, tough players.  They might not be the most talented or the most athletic, but they work hard and play solid defense and contribute right away. 

[4everwarriors]

Yes, and I'm certain Buzz won't patronize Wes in the same way that Crean tries to "use" Wade at every opportunity. Would be interesting to know if Matthews would wear IU shorts if sent by the departed. Then again, he may need a rag to dust off the Benz.

[MerrittsMustache]

Matthews has an NBA body, NBA skills and NBA pedigree. Barring a major injury his senior year, he was going to get a look from NBA teams regardless of who was coaching him.

It amazes me how SO many threads turn into Tom Crean hate fests. These posters treat him like he's the ex-girlfriend who dumped them but they still constantly talk about and bad-mouth because they're not over it. Move on! Tom Crean is with someone else. He's not going to take you back. You have a new, better girlfr...uh...head basketball coach. Let's focus on the great things Buzz is doing for the program and stop looking back on the loss of your first love.

[NCMUFan]

Crean did some good things.  First off, was getting Wes to MU.  Second was instilling bulldog tenacity.  Also have to give credit to DJ for evolving into a team point guard instead of a first option scoring point guard.  DJ was pretty unselfish his senior year.

[ChicosBailBonds]

We'll never know, but going on past performances seems that seniors often find a way.

Chris Crawford NBA material as a junior?  No.  Did Deane "unleash" him his senior year to make it to the NBA or did he have a great senior year because that's what seniors do?

Amal McCaskill NBA material as a junior?  No.  Did Deane "unleash" him his senior year to make it to the NBA or did he have a great senior year because that's what seniors do?

Travis Diener NBA material as a junior?  No.  Did Crean "unleash" him his senior year to make it to the NBA or did he have a great senior year because that's what seniors do?

Steve Novak NBA material as a junior?  No.  Did Crean "unleash" him his senior year to make it to the NBA or did he have a great senior year because that's what seniors do?

Wesley Matthews NBA material as a junior?  No.  Did Williams "unleash" him his senior year to make it to the NBA or did he have a great senior year because that's what seniors do?


We'll never know.

[jmayer1]

Did Coach XXXX "unleash" him his senior year to make it to the NBA or did he have a great senior year because that's what seniors do?

Hmmmm, maybe you should have picked a few different guys to compare Wes to.

Per minute change from Junior to Senior year

Amal

Pts +0.007
Reb +0.033
Blk  -0.014

Crawford

Pts +0.045
Reb +0.012

Diener

Pts +0.030
Ast +0.030

Novak

Pts +0.066
Reb +0.037

Wes

Pts +0.146
Reb +0.015

As you can see, not every senior breaks out the way Wes did, at least scoring wise.  Most senior see a little uptick, but Wes saw a huge jump in scoring.  Even in Novak's breakout senior season we saw less than half the increase in scoring per minute that Wes had

[MUfan12]

I'll say this regarding Wes/TC/Buzz-

Chicos raises a good point, but none of those guys went through a coaching change before their senior years. No knock on Crean, but he ran a lot of pro-style sets. Two things came out of this- a lot of dribbling from the PG, and the SF was in the corner for much of the possession. Those two factors severely limited his touches.

Going to more of a motion offense, and Dominic's development as a PG helped him have the big senior year he had.

[Daniel]

Who would know better that Wesley how he was used and what he felt he accomplished his Freshaman, Sophomore and Junior years?  Who would know better than Wesley regarding the same for his Senior year?  I submit no one.  

And we have to remember - Buzz did not claim to unleash Wesley.  Wesley, on Senior Day, during his goodbye speech thanked Buzz for unleashing him.  Which kind of makes you think maybe he thought he was leashed up before (because of the offense, because of whatever).  I think it IS Wesley's feeling that Buzz unleashed him and allowed him to play to his skill level his Senior year.

[HoopsMalone]

I think what distinguished Matthews is that no one who scored more than 10 pts/game left before Wes stepped up.  Before Diener was a senior, Merrit left and Wade left the year before that leaving the team to others.  Before Novak really stepped up, Diener left.  

Buzz, on the other hand, changed the offense up so that an NBA player could better succeed in it.  No big scorer left when Wes became a senior.

[Shack]

Yes, because Steve Novak, Travis Diener, etc were all NBA players their junior years and got to the NBA despite.....   

You are exactly right...and I don't mean the sarcastic part of it. 

[LAZER]

This is a tough one becasue there is obviously no way of telling, but looking at only Matthews you have to think Buzz at least helped him.  I mean he went from 11ppg to 18ppg.  Now it maybe wasn't entirely Buzz, but Matthews was the 3rd option in Crean's offense and took the looks when they came to when.  I personally don't think that would have changed that much with Crean running the show for his senior year, Crean seemed to favor James and McNeal as more of the focal points of the offense.

[jaygall31]

Wes had the NBA body for a while, and he finally put the skills together.

[Fullodds]

I think it is fair to say that Crean did not use Wesley effectively the first 3 years for various reasons.  Maybe Wesley, with the most varied talents, was the best of the three to fit in around DJ and Jerel.  Not a knock on Crean.  Would Crean have used Wesley the way Buzz did?  Who knows.  I think that Buzz's offense was better fit for everyone.

We'll never know, but going on past performances seems that seniors often find a way.

Chris Crawford NBA material as a junior?  No.  Did Deane "unleash" him his senior year to make it to the NBA or did he have a great senior year because that's what seniors do?

Amal McCaskill NBA material as a junior?  No.  Did Deane "unleash" him his senior year to make it to the NBA or did he have a great senior year because that's what seniors do?

Travis Diener NBA material as a junior?  No.  Did Crean "unleash" him his senior year to make it to the NBA or did he have a great senior year because that's what seniors do?

Steve Novak NBA material as a junior?  No.  Did Crean "unleash" him his senior year to make it to the NBA or did he have a great senior year because that's what seniors do?

Wesley Matthews NBA material as a junior?  No.  Did Williams "unleash" him his senior year to make it to the NBA or did he have a great senior year because that's what seniors do?


We'll never know.

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

I'll believe it when I hear it from the Spanish O'Donnells! 

[HoopsMalone]

Maybe Wes learning to be more of a role player has helped him fit in on a team with Williams and Boozer.  Jerel might have had a tougher transition into being strictly a role player.

[Lennys Tap]

We'll never know, but going on past performances seems that seniors often find a way.

Chris Crawford NBA material as a junior?  No.  Did Deane "unleash" him his senior year to make it to the NBA or did he have a great senior year because that's what seniors do?

Amal McCaskill NBA material as a junior?  No.  Did Deane "unleash" him his senior year to make it to the NBA or did he have a great senior year because that's what seniors do?

Travis Diener NBA material as a junior?  No.  Did Crean "unleash" him his senior year to make it to the NBA or did he have a great senior year because that's what seniors do?

Steve Novak NBA material as a junior?  No.  Did Crean "unleash" him his senior year to make it to the NBA or did he have a great senior year because that's what seniors do?

Wesley Matthews NBA material as a junior?  No.  Did Williams "unleash" him his senior year to make it to the NBA or did he have a great senior year because that's what seniors do?


We'll never know.

Did Chris Crawford, Amal McCaskill, Travis Diener or Steve Novak thank their coach on senior day for "unleashing them" or "taking off their shackles"? No, no, no and no. We DO know. Wes told us so himself. Case closed. End of story.

[Dawson Rental]

Matthews has an NBA body, NBA skills and NBA pedigree. Barring a major injury his senior year, he was going to get a look from NBA teams regardless of who was coaching him.

It amazes me how SO many threads turn into Tom Crean hate fests. These posters treat him like he's the ex-girlfriend who dumped them but they still constantly talk about and bad-mouth because they're not over it. Move on! Tom Crean is with someone else. He's not going to take you back. You have a new, better girlfr...uh...head basketball coach. Let's focus on the great things Buzz is doing for the program and stop looking back on the loss of your first love.

Ah hummm, excuse me, MY first love was AL.

[Avenue Commons]

That's a remarkable cogent, well written post for a sports message board.