Andy Katz: Marquette needs to be taken very seriously

[SCdem@MU]

can the mods pls lock all threads that turn into any of the following:

1) Where will Buzz Williams go when he leaves Marquette
2) What jobs are better than Marquette.

Thanks.

[ChicosBailBonds]

U of A will make a push for Mark Few first IMHO.

Mark Few, Jamie Dixon, Lon Kruger, etc, etc.  No way UA goes after a guy that inherited what Buzz inherited.  No way.  They'll want to see what he does longer term with his own guys, etc.  4 of the top 6 scorers in MU history are likely to be playing right now for MU.  That's hitting the lotto in terms of players, that's even better than Bo Ryan walking into a situation with Devin Harris and Mike Wilkinson already on the team ready to go.


But it's true, Buzz doesn't dig the cold if you listen to Rosiak.  Such is the risk taking someone from outside of the midwest because they aren't long for that region. 

[jce]

Buzz has yet to win a game where he team hasn't been favored beforehand right?  Let's not go all nuts now...

[ATWizJr]

When you're ranked in the top 15 how many games do you think you are going to play where you are not favored?

[Tribby]

Going by Pomeroy predictions (which one could argue are actually more unbiased than Vegas odds), MU was supposed to lose fairly handily to West Virginia.

Still, I think Buzz gets way too much credit on here for MU's current record. Once he starts winning with his own recruits, or if the team beats a couple legit conference championship contenders, then I'll tip my cap. Til then, he's just a coach who hasn't gotten in the way of a really talented team.

[cheebs09]

First off, Notre Dame lost to St. Johns, so just being favored doesn't mean it's an automatic win. You have to still play solid in the Big East to win any game, especially a road game. People think Buzz can just roll the ball out, but he has made a lot of adjustments that some people might not have made. We have seen him make adjustments that Crean would not have, and we haven't seen with this team. Also, we are playing with 4 guys and he has been very creative with hiding our lack of size. Going really small, using a zone that has switched momentum, and I don't cringe every time we see a zone offense. So just because we haven't beaten anyone major, doesn't mean Buzz has just been riding the big 3.

[Hards Alumni]

What exactly does MU have that Arizona doesn't?

Beyond the weather, nearly everything points to Zona.  They've got more money to throw at a coach than MU, they've got more money for a recruiting budget, they've an easier conference to win in, they've got an easier city to recruit to, and they've got just as much history.

I seriously doubt they have more money.

[🏀]

I seriously doubt they have more money.

It's a LARGE state school. They have as much money as Madison.

[Hards Alumni]

It's a LARGE state school. They have as much money as Madison.

you mean they have to spread out all of their money amongst their sports?

exactly.

MU has far deeper pockets than you realize.

[jaybilaswho?]

Nobody will even look at Buzz until they see what he can do with his own recruits. Stupid discussion.

100% Agreed. All talks on this discussion should end. We are too paranoid from the "Crean Exodus".

[jce]

When you're ranked in the top 15 how many games do you think you are going to play where you are not favored?

Let's just see where we are after Georgetown, UConn, Pitt and Louisville.

[RawdogDX]

Most of the main steam media thought the Buzz hire was a reach 5 months ago. 

Since then he landed a big class which is what you are supposed to do when you have 4 starting spots opening up in the best conference in basketball.  And has won a bunch of games with a team that has 4 stud upper classmen and came into the season ranked which is what you are supposed to do.

How does a guy go from not good enough for MU to the best candidate for any job there is, by doing what he is supposed to do for 5 months? 

I'm not being critical at all, but I don't see how you go from a bad hire to a dream hire this fast in the eyes of the nation.  We all think that he's great, but he still doesn't have much of a resume, he gets us to an elite 8 or final 4 and I may change my opinion.

[muarmy81]

And has won a bunch of games with a team that has 4 stud upper classmen and came into the season ranked which is what you are supposed to do.

I'm not a crean detractor but Crean wasn't able to get this kind of production from these guys last year and he had a deeper bench last year with better post players. (ooze)

[lab_warrior]

Me:  Andy Katz is a moron who should NEVER be taken seriously.

[RawdogDX]

I'm not a crean detractor but Crean wasn't able to get this kind of production from these guys last year and he had a deeper bench last year with better post players. (ooze)

He also didn't have mcneil shooting 45% from 3 to help him.  Does buzz get credit for that as well?  There have been numerous posts showing that statistically we aren't hugely better than we were last year.  But regardless of if the team is better despite losing a guy who was good for 6 and 3 every night the team is only slightly outplaying expectations at best.
I don't see how a guy goes from a reach for a top 25 program to the best hire availble for a top 7 program in 5 months based on that.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

He also didn't have mcneil shooting 45% from 3 to help him.  Does buzz get credit for that as well?  There have been numerous posts showing that statistically we aren't hugely better than we were last year.  But regardless of if the team is better despite losing a guy who was good for 6 and 3 every night the team is only slightly outplaying expectations at best.
I don't see how a guy goes from a reach for a top 25 program to the best hire availble for a top 7 program in 5 months based on that.

Don't go applying logic and common sense. This is sports, and sports fans. Ride the wave of emotion.

[CTWarrior]

He also didn't have mcneil shooting 45% from 3 to help him.  Does buzz get credit for that as well?  There have been numerous posts showing that statistically we aren't hugely better than we were last year.  But regardless of if the team is better despite losing a guy who was good for 6 and 3 every night the team is only slightly outplaying expectations at best.
I don't see how a guy goes from a reach for a top 25 program to the best hire availble for a top 7 program in 5 months based on that.

While I agree on your larger premise, a good part of the reason McNeal is shooting better on 3s is because he's taking better 3's.  This year's team is taking the first good shot instead of running extra clock in case they find a better one and settling for a worse one.  Matthews, particularly has benefitted from this.

I would not put it past someone to want to steal Buzz away (after all, we hired him with even less to go on, and Providence hired Keno Davis after one year with someone else's players), but that is not what the highest level schools do, and you don't leave Marquette after one year for anything but the highest level of schools.

[bradforster]

These Buzz Williams posts are beyond lunacy.  If the schedule was reversed and we played our last five games at the beginning of the season, the crazy notion of Buzz Williams leaving for another program wouldn't even be a discussion point.  There is absolutely no mention of Buzz Williams being a leading candidate for the Arizona job from any reputable media source.  If you believe that, tune in for Ron Burgandy's debut Sunday on 60 Minutes.  I hear his interview with Nelson Mandela is priceless.  I must be an idiot myself for even responding to this worthless drivel.  There is a long way to go this season, and even if it ultimately ends in grand fashion, Buzz Williams will not be going anywhere.  This nonsense is coming from the same people who castigated the man before he even held his first press conference as MU's head coach. 

[Brewtown Andy]

But it's true, Buzz doesn't dig the cold if you listen to Rosiak.   

Yes, and the cold in question was the 48 hour stretch when it didn't get above 0.  I'm fairly certain NO ONE was digging that.

[Doris Burkes Thong]

Buzz isn't going anyhwere until he proves he can win with HIS recruits. Simple as that. Case closed.

[🏀]

Buzz isn't going anyhwere until he proves he can win with HIS recruits. Simple as that. Case closed.

Dude. No one needs to discuss Doris Burke's Thong.

[4everwarriors]

Not sure you could even find a thong in there.

[tower912]

Now, days later, the perfect riposte occurs to me.   Marquette: "Andy Katz can't be taken very seriously."

[muarmy81]

U of A will make a push for Mark Few first IMHO.

Seth Davis over at Sports Illustrated would agree with you...