Jay Bilas on Wojo hire

[klyrish]

Didn't see anything about this yet.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/253396531.html

College basketball analyst Jay Bilas of ESPN said former Duke assistant Steve Wojciechowski is a good fit for the Marquette program.

Wojciechowski, 37, was chosen by MU to succeed Buzz Williams, who left to become coach at Virginia Tech.

Bilas played for Mike Krzyzewski at Duke from 1982-'86. He has an undergraduate and laws degrees from Duke.

"I think he fits not only Marquette, but fits that city because he is a blue collar guy," Bilas said during a telephone interview on Tuesday. "Nothing has ever been given to Steve. He's a humble guy but he is really accomplished."

Bilas said Wojciechowski has operated as a head coach is some ways, but without the title.

"At his age, I can't think of anyone who has more high level experience than he does," Bilas said. "He has worked with the Olympic team. He was basically Mike Krzyzewski's top assistant . . . . Eight years with the Olympic team. He has been every day to practices with LeBron, Kobe, Wade, those guys, and commanded their respect. I have been to some of those practices and he really did an amazing job on the floor every day.

"He's a really good competitor," Bilas said. "He's an excellent X and O coach. He relates well to everybody. I think the fact that he competed at a high level guard helps. He has coached big guys. He is certainly not one-dimensional. He has seen the game from every angle."

Bilas said that Wojciechowski, in his role as associate head coach, had significant responsibilities for Duke.

"He's been relied upon by Coach K for years," Bilas said. "He deals with his assistants as co-coaches. They are not just assistants. For several years now Coach K has been fully engaged but less hands-on in the drill work. So the assistants do that. Steve is about as hand-on as it can get. He's really good."

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This makes me feel a LOT better and WAY more hopeful.

[Atticus]

B-B-But he works for espn....

[savwa]

Bilas knows his sh*t. I wouldn't expect JB to say anything bad about Wojo but I do believe he'd give an honest assessment. The hire is growing on me. I just remember being annoyed by Wojo when he was a player so I'm just trying to get over that and I'll be ok. I guess, if anything, if Wojo gets the players on the team working hard like he did they won't lose due to lack of effort.

[Warrior_2002]

I agree. Bilas does know his stuff. And if he wanted to be honest without throwing wojo to the wolves he would have said "he will have to prove x" or "one thing he hasn't done and needs to show us is that he can do y."  I respect Bilas' opinion a lot. Great bball mind.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Bilas knows his sh*t. I wouldn't expect JB to say anything bad about Wojo but I do believe he'd give an honest assessment. The hire is growing on me. I just remember being annoyed by Wojo when he was a player so I'm just trying to get over that and I'll be ok. I guess, if anything, if Wojo gets the players on the team working hard like he did they won't lose due to lack of effort.

Yeah same here, but if we win, that will be quickly compartmentalized in my brain.

[Groin_pull]

Bilas knows his sh*t. I wouldn't expect JB to say anything bad about Wojo but I do believe he'd give an honest assessment. The hire is growing on me. I just remember being annoyed by Wojo when he was a player so I'm just trying to get over that and I'll be ok. I guess, if anything, if Wojo gets the players on the team working hard like he did they won't lose due to lack of effort.

Me too. He was one of the those players I hated at Duke, but would have loved him at MU.

[muhoops1]

I have always despised Duke, but love Jay Bilas.  He may be one of the greatest Tweeters of all time.  His first tweet of every morning kicks ass.  Today's installment:

"Could end any day, and you know better.  Now you watch the Frito Lay, yeah, you know, cheddar.  I gotta go to work."

[Skatastrophy]

I have always despised Duke, but love Jay Bilas.  He may be one of the greatest Tweeters of all time.  His first tweet of every morning kicks ass.  Today's installment:

"Could end any day, and you know better.  Now you watch the Frito Lay, yeah, you know, cheddar.  I gotta go to work."

TIL that Bilas listens to jeezy... /mindBlown

[TealOnly]

I wonder if Dickie V likes the hire?

[wadesworld]

I have always despised Duke, but love Jay Bilas.  He may be one of the greatest Tweeters of all time.  His first tweet of every morning kicks ass.  Today's installment:

"Could end any day, and you know better.  Now you watch the Frito Lay, yeah, you know, cheddar.  I gotta go to work."

Yeah, and he has 670,000 followers and follows just 1 (I don't Tweet, but last I checked it was at 0, so that's new).  Awesome.

[StillWarriors]

Yeah, and he has 670,000 followers and follows just 1 (I don't Tweet, but last I checked it was at 0, so that's new).  Awesome.

The cool part is that the one is that little girl with cancer befriended by MSU's Payne.

[wadesworld]

The cool part is that the one is that little girl with cancer befriended by MSU's Payne.

Nice

[Avenue Commons]

Wow. I'm liking this hire more and more. Check out what Seth Davis said in response to a question on Twitter:

@andykosco: Thrilled to see @steve_wojo get the job at Marquette.  Your thoughts?

@SethDavisHoops: Wish my sons were good enough to play for him

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

Too bad we didn't keep that banner commemorating our nearly beating Duke

[marquette09]

Wow. I'm liking this hire more and more. Check out what Seth Davis said in response to a question on Twitter:

@andykosco: Thrilled to see @steve_wojo get the job at Marquette.  Your thoughts?

@SethDavisHoops: Wish my sons were good enough to play for him

Seth is a Dookie......

[Niv Berkowitz]

I HATED Wojo as a player.

Then again...i hated Jimmy Fallon on SNL and now worship him on The Tonight Show/Late Night.

Hopefully i come around the same way. Theres hope for me yet!

[savwa]

I agree that had Wojo been on MU he's probably a player that would be beloved because he played hard. Wojo brought his hard hat and lunch pail everyday (Stacey King-ism). I have to think his work ethic as a player has very likely carried on to his coaching and hopefully on the recruiting trail. No doubt MU will play hard and be taught to be relentless on d. If you can bring in talented kids and get them to play the way Wojo played it should be a good formula for success. I will puke if the team starts slapping the floor though.

[MUSF]

I agree that had Wojo been on MU he's probably a player that would be beloved because he played hard. Wojo brought his hard hat and lunch pail everyday (Stacey King-ism). I have to think his work ethic as a player has very likely carried on to his coaching and hopefully on the recruiting trail. No doubt MU will play hard and be taught to be relentless on d. If you can bring in talented kids and get them to play the way Wojo played it should be a good formula for success. I will puke if the team starts slapping the floor though.

I also think it speaks volumes that Coach K brought him back as a coach. Consider how many good/great players he has had over the years.