[Rosiak's Blog] Racine's Wilson transfers to MU

[96warrior]

I understand the reality of college basketball, I just hoped the reality of MU college basketball was different. This whole site, including myself, has a hard-on for how great of a person Buzz is and the ship that he runs here. Then this comes up, and we just chalk it up to the environment. It actually got a +1. This disgusts me.

If you lose your hard-on that quickly, I hope you have a prescription for Viagra. This comes up and you just chalk it up to "Buzz isn't the person we thought he was"??

We will never know the full story here. The Maymon situation is a perfect example. At the outset, it looked pretty rotten and shady on our side, but as time went on, it became clear that the speculation about that didn't hold true. Buzz has done enough to make me give him the benefit of the doubt that the same is true in this case.

[LA]

haha. Haymaker I was thinking the same thing!

Sometime in May after Buzz had stated that someone was going to prep school I was at a cook out with someone who is an insider at MU. When we asked who was going to prep school he said without a doubt that it was DJ. Not because of a qualification issue but he just wasn't ready. I have a hard time believing that if they are comfortable telling MU fans at a backyard cookout that DJ and his family didn't already know his fate.

[jesmu84]

If this was the plan all along (releasing DJ for a better player) we should have never persued him in the first place.  I am sorry but we could have banked the scholly and accepted any transfer student this late in the game.  Waiting this long to release this kid was the wrong thing to do.  Look at it this way, everyone his age has graduated from high school and knows which college he or she will be attending.  He on the other hand, has to start the whole process over again.  Not fair at all.  Could you imagine being all set to go off to school and then having the school call you in June saying "Sorry we dont have room for you any more because we just accepted some smarter, better students that will make our school look better in the future." I know this would never happen but could you imagine how you would feel if something like this happened.  Not to mention DJ was siked to be playing D1 basketball in the Big East and now doesnt even know if he will be able to play D1 at all next year.  Whether it's the nature of the business or not...this just plain stinks.

How can a student really know where he is attending or be set to go to the school (in about a week) and not have filled out his application? I'm not saying that MU/Buzz is cleared in this, but I still don't understand why DJ didn't have his application filled out/turned in a week before he was supposed to arrive on campus.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Thats about exactly what I expected Buzz to say. I have a feeling that we will only ever have one side of this story...

We said that about Roseboro, but his coaches came out and gave their side (for which they were butchered here by some posters).  My guess is you'll hear more and more about DJ's version, Philly Coach has provided some already.

I think the St. Buzz crap can stop now.  He's in it to win it, as he should. He's a great face of the program, he's done well so far on the court, but this is unfortunate.  And we all know if Huggins did this, Crean, Ryan, etc, we would be bashing that absolute crap out of those coaches for the treatment of the departed player.

[mug644]

Some of us just have a problem with the basketball program at our alma mater telling a 17 or 18 year old kid, "We want you to come play ball for us.  Sign this letter of intent which states that you are committed to playing for us and we will give you a scholarship" and then turning around and telling the kid six months later, "never mind."  I'm not saying this is what happened here, but those of us who are troubled by this are saying, "if this is what happened, then this is a problem."  Some of us think that if Marquette signs a kid, they should honor their commitment unless there is truly a good reason to cut him loose.  Some of us don't think that a better player being available is a good reason to not honor the commitment.  Whether or not it hurts the reputation of the program or whether it hurts recruiting, some of us just think that it's not the right thing to do.

I'm not asking you to agree with this, but if you're confused why people are upset, this is it.

This is just how I feel, especially with Buzz's sincere commitment to developing true men. I can't disagree with it from a basketball performance standpoint, but it seems almost a contradiction of how Buzz seems to have spoken of his priorities as a coach, as staff member of Marquette University.

[The Lens]

We said that about Roseboro, but his coaches came out and gave their side (for which they were butchered here by some posters).  My guess is you'll hear more and more about DJ's version, Philly Coach has provided some already.

I think the St. Buzz crap can stop now.  He's in it to win it, as he should. He's a great face of the program, he's done well so far on the court, but this is unfortunate.  And we all know if Huggins did this, Crean, Ryan, etc, we would be bashing that absolute crap out of those coaches for the treatment of the departed player.

With all due respect, I don't think any one is sainting Buzz.  His most ardent supporters have said he's a competent coach / recruiter.  It was TC's fans who said that Crean walked on water.  Every coach has their warts, including Buzz.  This may be one.  A big one.

[GGGG]

I think the St. Buzz crap can stop now.  He's in it to win it, as he should. He's a great face of the program, he's done well so far on the court, but this is unfortunate.  And we all know if Huggins did this, Crean, Ryan, etc, we would be bashing that absolute crap out of those coaches for the treatment of the departed player.

Yep.  I like the guy...but he's still just a D1 college basketball coach.

[muballer10]

This is just how I feel, especially with Buzz's sincere commitment to developing true men. I can't disagree with it from a basketball performance standpoint, but it seems almost a contradiction of how Buzz seems to have spoken of his priorities as a coach, as staff member of Marquette University.

110% +1. That was laid out perfectly.

Has anyone ever listened to Buzz talk? He wants to talk at length about how great an attitude a kid has and how great a person he is. He also has everyone pray before practice. Don't PR me into thinking this is what matters most and then pull the rug out from DJ. Everyone HATES Huggins and coach Cal, but these guys don't ever pretend that anything takes priority over winning. Don't dress a donkey in a dress and call it Megan Fox, call it a damn donkey.

[MUfan12]

I think the St. Buzz crap can stop now.  He's in it to win it, as he should. He's a great face of the program, he's done well so far on the court, but this is unfortunate.  And we all know if Huggins did this, Crean, Ryan, etc, we would be bashing that absolute crap out of those coaches for the treatment of the departed player.

We still don't know what exactly happened.

If anyone can give a good reason as to why an incoming ballplayer still had not applied to MU a week before arriving, I want to hear it. Did the Newbill camp expect him to be admitted when walking into his first class?

That is the main piece of the story that has kept me from being critical of how it was handled.

[ChicosBailBonds]

haha. Haymaker I was thinking the same thing!

Sometime in May after Buzz had stated that someone was going to prep school I was at a cook out with someone who is an insider at MU. When we asked who was going to prep school he said without a doubt that it was DJ. Not because of a qualification issue but he just wasn't ready. I have a hard time believing that if they are comfortable telling MU fans at a backyard cookout that DJ and his family didn't already know his fate.

Why, they did the same thing, it seems, with Roseboro...didn't they?    It sure seems to me that we have a giant failure to communicate.  This would now be the second kid (through his coaches, etc) that sure are acting like they were blindsided. 

Secondly, your response doesn't seem to jive with the reality that we accepted his Letter of Intent not long ago.  Why accept his LOI if we were always going to have him at a Prep school?  Furthermore, why on earth would this kid sign a LOI if he thought he was going to a Prep School?   Doesn't add up at all.

Throw in Jamil Wilson wanting to come back, and something had to give.  DJ was given up, or so it sure seems.  I have yet to see any smoke suggesting any other outcome.

[bamamarquettefan]

Does anyone know if he was hurt late or just stopped playing?  Through 14 games Oregon was 10-4, and he was putting up a decent 6.1, 4.1 to go along with 15 assists, 12 steals and 9 blocked shots.  The 14th game he scored 8 points in a win AT WASHINGTON in just 19 minutes, and then he never played even 19 minutes the rest of the year, including not playing 6 of the last 8 games.

Under the Win Credits system, he was on pace to finish with 1.7 Win Credits (worth an additional 1.7 wins to the team) through the 14 games, which is almost exactly what a high 4-star or 5-star averages.  However, with the big drop in playing time and missed games, he comes out to only 0.5 Win Credits for the year.  Looks like two other 6-foot-7/220 Georgia transfer Jeremy Jacob and 6-foot-6/210 E.J. Singler were getting the minutes down the stretch instead.

[damuts222]

We still don't know what exactly happened.

If anyone can give a good reason as to why an incoming ballplayer still had not applied to MU a week before arriving, I want to hear it. Did the Newbill camp expect him to be admitted when walking into his first class?

That is the main piece of the story that has kept me from being critical of how it was handled.

 I agree entirely and have been going over in my head how this is possible.

 Unless MU told him we are waiting to hear from such and such (aka Wilson) and if he commits to us then we are going to take him. Or he was going to go to prep school knowing that MU was looking to add another player, and now he decides that that isn't what he wants to do. OR he was still actively looking at other schools knowing that he hadn't applied to MU.

 There is too many IF's AND's or BUT's in the story thus far. It won't come out unless those close to DJ speak of it, which won't come probably until he signs with whomever, since he will be asked about it I'm sure.

[RJax55]

I think the St. Buzz crap can stop now.  He's in it to win it, as he should. He's a great face of the program, he's done well so far on the court, but this is unfortunate.

Agree with you. That's why I don't get caught up in the what these guys are saying (TC, Buzz, etc.) and whatever their personalities may be. If you get caught up in that, your bound to be disappointed.

Simply, I look at... Is the program clean? Do the kids go to class?  Are we winning? The answer under Buzz has been "yes", so I'm pleased.

Far too often, I think fans want everything to be clean and simple... As in, kid commits, stays for 4-years (no matter his role, production, team fit, talent, etc) and then graduates. That would be great, but its not reality, for any program or coach. This is a business, and sometimes cold decisions are made, unfortunate things happen, and incidents occur.

[ChicosBailBonds]

With all due respect, I don't think any one is sainting Buzz.  His most ardent supporters have said he's a competent coach / recruiter.  It was TC's fans who said that Crean walked on water.  Every coach has their warts, including Buzz.  This may be one.  A big one.

Lens, first I appreciated the note last night.

Second, I take great exception when you say no one has been doing that.  I most certainly don't put you or most in this category, but there were some people here that were close to Jim Jonesing on Buzz and drinking Koolaid 24/7.  Canonizing may have been an understatement.


At the end of the day, my perspective goes like this.  If you're lucky enough to be on Buzz's team and he decides to keep you, he will be there for you thick and thin, help you achieve manhood, etc,   He's a great public face for the university.   On the other hand, he will not hesitate to recruit over you or cut you loose to make the team better....now for some people, they applaud this.  For me, that's what professional GM's do but even they are hand tied because of contracts so they can't easily move players in and out.  In this case, the student athletes have no protections at all.  

I'd like to seem MU honor their commitments, and Buzz especially.  I don't think that has been done based on the information we have thus far.  Maybe a bombshell will come that explains all this.  Maybe.  In the interim, I can't help but think CURA PERSONALIS be damned if a better player decides he wants to transfer in....someone has to go.  That's pretty sad and not the ideals I recall from Marquette.  

And hell, DJ wasn't even a professor from Seattle University publishing pro gay marriage articles.

[Big Papi]

Sometime in May after Buzz had stated that someone was going to prep school I was at a cook out with someone who is an insider at MU. When we asked who was going to prep school he said without a doubt that it was DJ. Not because of a qualification issue but he just wasn't ready. I have a hard time believing that if they are comfortable telling MU fans at a backyard cookout that DJ and his family didn't already know his fate.

If true, then Buzz has missed badly on 2 recruits(Roseboro and now Newbill).  Its one thing to have a recruit come in for a year and both determine that they are not Big East material.  Its another to get an LOI and before school even starts, you cut them because you made a very bad mistake.  

I'll reserve judgement until I find out some more details but lets face facts, it has been a revolving door since Buzz has been hired. 9 have left and another one left but came back.  Frankly, its sad to say but I can't get too excited about Jamil Wilson committing to MU as he still has 16 plus months before hitting the court and based on past experiences a lot can happen between now and then.  

[Pakuni]

Lens, first I appreciated the note last night.

Second, I take great exception when you say no one has been doing that.  I most certainly don't put you or most in this category, but there were some people here that were close to Jim Jonesing on Buzz and drinking Koolaid 24/7.  Canonizing may have been an understatement.


At the end of the day, my perspective goes like this.  If you're lucky enough to be on Buzz's team and he decides to keep you, he will be there for you thick and thin, help you achieve manhood, etc,   He's a great public face for the university.   On the other hand, he will not hesitate to recruit over you or cut you loose to make the team better....now for some people, they applaud this.  For me, that's what professional GM's do but even they are hand tied because of contracts so they can't easily move players in and out.  In this case, the student athletes have no protections at all.  

I'd like to seem MU honor their commitments, and Buzz especially.  I don't think that has been done based on the information we have thus far.  Maybe a bombshell will come that explains all this.  Maybe.  In the interim, I can't help but think CURA PERSONALIS be damned if a better player decides he wants to transfer in....someone has to go.  That's pretty sad and not the ideals I recall from Marquette.  

And hell, DJ wasn't even a professor from Seattle University publishing pro gay marriage articles.

So much for waiting until you have all the information before making judgments. 


I don't remember reading much here about Buzz being a saint. He's certainly received a lot of praise - perhaps occasionally more lofty than deserved - but I don't recall anyone saying he's without flaw.

By the way, which coaches out there do hesitate to recruit over players?

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

We said that about Roseboro, but his coaches came out and gave their side (for which they were butchered here by some posters).  My guess is you'll hear more and more about DJ's version, Philly Coach has provided some already.

I think the St. Buzz crap can stop now.  He's in it to win it, as he should. He's a great face of the program, he's done well so far on the court, but this is unfortunate.  And we all know if Huggins did this, Crean, Ryan, etc, we would be bashing that absolute crap out of those coaches for the treatment of the departed player.

I wouldn't care if Huggins or Bo Ryan did this because I don't dislike them even fractionally as much as that horse's ass Tom Crean.

[CAINMUTINY]

I was under the impression that if a coach leaves or is fired that any transfers are allowed to play right away, am I wrong?

[THRILLHO]

I was under the impression that if a coach leaves or is fired that any transfers are allowed to play right away, am I wrong?

Yes you are wrong.  The logic is that a player commits to a school, not to a head coach (even though that's clearly not true).  They will grant waivers for family emergencies or a few other odd things.

[79Warrior]

"Through a culmination of several things, we have decided to give D.J. Newbill his release," Williams said. "D.J.'s a great kid, he comes from a great family who we have established relationships with, and we're going to do everything we can to help him in his future, in whatever capacity that would be."

I have been trying to hold off judgement on this situation, but this just makes me mad. Everyone knows how this looks. We wanted Jamil bad. He comes available, and we "give" DJ a release? EXPLAIN THIS! Don't give me PR. This doesn't feel like a gift. Don't talk about the relationships you have fostered, because if any of these stories are CLOSE to true those relationships mean nothing. What exactly does "do everything we can to help him in his future" entail? Write him a letter of rec? Everything about this situation says that Marquette couldn't care less of this kid's future.

Please, please, please let me be wrong. I am so excited to see Jamil play for MU, yet I just feel so dirty. While MU may not owe anyone an explanation, Buzz can see what this looks like. Pere Marquette can see what this looks like from the grave! If you don't clear the air when you being pulled through the mud, what does that imply?

Good lord. Stuff happens. Who cares if you are right or wrong. If Jamil leads us to a BE title no one will remember a frigging thing.

[Mr. Nielsen]

Good lord. Stuff happens. Who cares if you are right or wrong. If Jamil leads us to a BE title no one will remember a frigging thing.

I agree 100%
Who cares what happened to DJ Newbill, it not like anyone he knows him. That's life, DJ will move on and do fine. It's a part of life.