Offensive Genius?

[4everwarriors]

Buzz in this morning's Urinal-Sentinal is quoted as saying "I'm not near as good a coach as Coach Crean, he's an offensive genius and I'm somewhat stunted in that area."

Huh? I think this is just Buzz being humble and stiffing attention away from himself. Crean's an offensive idiot.

[ATWizJr]

+1

that good ole' boy Buzz is jest blowin' smoke at thet that Crean fella.

[bilsu]

He is refering to the number of sets Crean would run. To remember all those sets and call them during a game you have to be a genius. Buzz has said in the past he cannot do that. However, being a genius does not make you a better coach. College kids can only absorb so much. I always felt it is much better to be really good at doing basic things, then to be so so at several. Buzz is the better offensive coach. Of course Buzz's system depends on players making good decisions.

[avid1010]

His quotes cracked me up.  I'm not making a coaching comparison by any means, but in a sense, he reminds me of Al...the way he downplays himself intellectually, but his "street" smarts and toughness can't be questioned. 

[avid1010]

He is refering to the number of sets Crean would run. To remember all those sets and call them during a game you have to be a genius.

Or an idiot...how many great coaches have taught us to keep it simple.

[VegasWarrior77]

Buzz's "aw shucks" humbleness and propping up his next opponent reminds me of Lou Holz when he was at ND.

[StillWarriors]

Buzz's "aw shucks" humbleness and propping up his next opponent reminds me of Lou Holz when he was at ND.

Until he starts saying "I don't see any way we can compete with Houston Baptist" he won't stoop to the incredibly annoying likes of Lou Holtz.

[Blackhat]

So far this year Buzz has proven to be Crean's offensive superior but defensive inferior.    Our ranking on D is down some 30 spots but our offensive ranking has gone up about 20 spots. 

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Isn't there already a Buzz and TC thread on the 1st page?

Did we really need to start another one?

Couldn't this have gone in there?

[The Lens]

+1 to Bilsu.

I had a former player intern for me and he marveled at how many sets TC knew and how he could rattle them off almost rainman-ish.  The player said he was an absolute enclycopedia that way.

[mu-rara]

Isn't there already a Buzz and TC thread on the 1st page?

Did we really need to start another one?

Couldn't this have gone in there?

This is commentary directly attributed to quotes from Buzz.  Totally different animal.  I know you are on this post because you see it as an afront to your beloved one.  TC doesn't need your protection.  Trust me.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

This is commentary directly attributed to quotes from Buzz.  Totally different animal.  I know you are on this post because you see it as an afront to your beloved one.  TC doesn't need your protection.  Trust me.

Sigh. 

I'm not against the commentary or the debate. Just trying to offer a suggestion of how to keep it more centralized.

While the quote is a different animal, the ensuing debate (buzz vs Crean) is the exact same as in the previous thread.

Is that too anti-buzz for you?

[GregShimonFor2]

Buzz in this morning's Urinal-Sentinal is quoted as saying "I'm not near as good a coach as Coach Crean, he's an offensive genius and I'm somewhat stunted in that area."

Huh? I think this is just Buzz being humble and stiffing attention away from himself. Crean's an offensive idiot.

Your constant badgering of Crean has become tiresome. Time to move on.

[MisterJaylenBrownMU]

I've been thinking about this for a while, actually-- one of Crean's problems seemed to be halftime adjustments.  Maybe it's just selective memory, but I don't seem to recall his Marquette teams being much more effective in the second half. We certainly beat some good teams, but his stall offense at the end of close games was infuriating.

On the other hand, it seems like whatever changes Buzz makes at halftime have a tremendous impact on the game's outcome. Think about all the games that we've won where we were having major problems at halftime or losing in the second half: Wisconsin, Villanova, WVU, Providence, NC State. Some of those even turned into comfortable margins of victory. I'm not a basketball coach, so it's beyond me some of the changes that he's making, but the man deserves a lot of credit for making in-game changes so far that have helped the team.

That's by no means a knock on Crean...I just wonder if Buzz is well on his way to becoming a great Xs and Os guy. Of course, it never hurts when you have great players to execute.

[Hards Alumni]

I've been thinking about this for a while, actually-- one of Crean's problems seemed to be halftime adjustments.  Maybe it's just selective memory, but I don't seem to recall his Marquette teams being much more effective in the second half. We certainly beat some good teams, but his stall offense at the end of close games was infuriating.

On the other hand, it seems like whatever changes Buzz makes at halftime have a tremendous impact on the game's outcome. Think about all the games that we've won where we were having major problems at halftime or losing in the second half: Wisconsin, Villanova, WVU, Providence, NC State. Some of those even turned into comfortable margins of victory. I'm not a basketball coach, so it's beyond me some of the changes that he's making, but the man deserves a lot of credit for making in-game changes so far that have helped the team.

That's by no means a knock on Crean...I just wonder if Buzz is well on his way to becoming a great Xs and Os guy. Of course, it never hurts when you have great players to execute.

I fully agree with this post.

[mu-rara]

Sigh. 

I'm not against the commentary or the debate. Just trying to offer a suggestion of how to keep it more centralized.

While the quote is a different animal, the ensuing debate (buzz vs Crean) is the exact same as in the previous thread.

Is that too anti-buzz for you?

I am neither pro buzz or anti crean.  My thoughts on the two are fairly balanced.  

I'm not saying you are a bad guy, but your role as protector of all things crean is kind of funny.  I'm probably exagerating, but it seems the only time you post is to stand up for Crean.

Am I totally off on this?  Is 2002mualum Creans biggest fan?  Talk amongst yourselves.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I am neither pro buzz or anti crean.  My thoughts on the two are fairly balanced.  

I'm not saying you are a bad guy, but your role as protector of all things crean is kind of funny.  I'm probably exagerating, but it seems the only time you post is to stand up for Crean.

Am I totally off on this?  Is 2002mualum Creans biggest fan?  Talk amongst yourselves.

Admittedly I respond to Hayward and in the old days PRN too much. I'm a sucker.

However, I have never claimed Tom Crean was jesus or a genius. Just trying to debunk some of the theories that are put out there.

He was a good coach who left the program in better shape than he found it (fact). That's it.

But, to stay on topic, this topic could have easily been absorbed into the one listed below and then me, you, Hayward, 4Ever, Chico's, etc. etc. could all hash out Tom Crean's pro's and con's and it wouldn't lead to repeating the same topic over and over.

[mu-rara]

Admittedly I respond to Hayward and in the old days PRN too much. I'm a sucker.

However, I have never claimed Tom Crean was jesus or a genius. Just trying to debunk some of the theories that are put out there.

He was a good coach who left the program in better shape than he found it (fact). That's it.

But, to stay on topic, this topic could have easily been absorbed into the one listed below and then me, you, Hayward, 4Ever, Chico's, etc. etc. could all hash out Tom Crean's pro's and con's and it wouldn't lead to repeating the same topic over and over.

I believe that overall, Crean did a lot for MU and the program, and did leave it in better shape than he found it.  I would also say that he may have been a d*i*ck, but so what....He graduated the guys, and set them up for success in life. 

Not sure I would say he was a great coach....Xs and Os wise.  In game adjustments were problematic.  He usually came into a game with a good plan, but if adjustments were needed.....

This thread stands alone...It is based on direct quotes from Buzz and therefore, timely.

[RawdogDX]

I am neither pro buzz or anti crean.  My thoughts on the two are fairly balanced.  

I'm not saying you are a bad guy, but your role as protector of all things crean is kind of funny.  I'm probably exagerating, but it seems the only time you post is to stand up for Crean.

Am I totally off on this?  Is 2002mualum Creans biggest fan?  Talk amongst yourselves.

If that is true and you really are fairly balanced then you should know that the only difference between a fairly balanced person and a 'defender' is that the defender decides to say something when some moron is trying to claim that crean was a terrible game coach, terrible recruiter, didn't have much success and didn't do anything to advance this program.  While you 'fairly balanced' people just sit there and roll your eyes.  You'll notice that to be a 'defender' someone else needs to 'attack', why don't you call them out and start bitching them out.

ps. chico's is the lead crean defender on this board, he organizes our meetings every tuesday.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I believe that overall, Crean did a lot for MU and the program, and did leave it in better shape than he found it.  I would also say that he may have been a d*i*ck, but so what....He graduated the guys, and set them up for success in life. 

Not sure I would say he was a great coach....Xs and Os wise.  In game adjustments were problematic.  He usually came into a game with a good plan, but if adjustments were needed.....

This thread stands alone...It is based on direct quotes from Buzz and therefore, timely.

I agree with all of that 100%. I don't think our opinions differ much at all.

In fact, I bet most people here have the similar viewpoints but don't realize it due to the nature of wed boards (semantics, writing style, frequency of posts, etc. etc.)

Oh, one more thing to add... I don't know if TC is "great" or a "hall of fame caliber" coach, but he is a great promoter and marketer, which is something MU really needed. 

[MR.HAYWARD]

I am not going to get into the whole Genius thing,  I do find it funny that sometimes people think they are legends or maybe geniuses in their own minds...sometimes eliciting their peers to mock them with nicknames like "Tommy Naismith".

As far as Buzz being inferior on the defensive side,  i would question that.  It is clear to everyone who has watched all the games that we were not very good to start the season but after the first 5-6-7 games our defense has been outstanding.  In fact I think this team over the last 8-9 games has played the best defense i have seen out of an MU team in years, dating probably back into the 1990's.  The defensive stretch that we had in the Cincy game was probably the best stretch of defense I have seen in 15 years.  

Nevertheless, that 30 points or spots reference was probably largely effected by those first 5-6 games where we rountinely gave up 80. We were also adjusting to a new defensive scheme.  Big time injury problems and the loss of the only player over 6'8" in the program for the last 2 years in OOze who was a 3 year starter and helped solidify the middle.  

[nola03]

Buzz in this morning's Urinal-Sentinal is quoted as saying "I'm not near as good a coach as Coach Crean, he's an offensive genius and I'm somewhat stunted in that area."

Huh? I think this is just Buzz being humble and stiffing attention away from himself. Crean's an offensive idiot.

Anybody hear the word Buzz actually used in this comment?

[🏀]

Anybody hear the word Buzz actually used in this comment?

Did you?

[Henry Sugar]

Anybody hear the word Buzz actually used in this comment?

The word he used was "retarded".

[legacy]

In my experience, this is a common approach in the south, especially when dealing with people from the north: play the dumb southern stereotype up... while the whole time, you're outsmarting everyone.