How Much Consideration Does Buzz Deserve For Coach Of The Year

[Tugg Speedman]

Right now, he has to be in the conversation for both the Big East and Nationally, no?

[mviale]

I dont think Chicos will agree - he had us going 7-0 in the BE with a chimp as Head coach.

[nola03]

Right now, he has to be in the conversation for both the Big East and Nationally, no?

Leader nearing the turn now for Big East honors. However, the back nine could chew it all to pieces.

[bs4173]

mmmm.... not yet. let's wait to see how he fares with the brutal final BE stretch. but so far, he really is making a case for himself.

[spiral97]

hush.. we don't need our head coach crying again 

[mviale]

Buzz looked exhausted in the post game.

[Lennys Tap]

Actually, Chicos had us going 9-9 in the Big East. Anything significantly better than that (11 wins or more) should have him out front and leading the charge for Buzz. But don't hold your breath.

[jaygall31]

my dad and I were talking about this right after the game. He HAS to be the leader of the pack for BE coach of the year. And with each win is reeling in votes for national coach of the year.

[ErickJD08]

I really think more credit should go to the amigos BUT... I remember preseason when Buzz talked about putting in his small lineup and I thought he was insane.  I guess he knows what he is doing.

[Hey DeDe]

We'll see at the end of the season if he deserves to be coach of the year. Personally, I wouldn't mind waiting for him to get it within the next few years. I hope to see him progress as a coach without the big three seniors.

[TJ]

It's far too early to give him the award, but IF we continue to play well and end up 16-2 and with the BE regular season title, I don't see how he's not high in the running for both awards.

[Daniel]

Buzz is doing a great job, but it is not like he took over a terrible team and turned it miraculously around.  That said, he could have wrecked this good team.  Instead, he made it better.  So, COY?  Maybe, but I think he will have to beat some of the greats to come to have an upper hand for that recognition.

But what he ahs done with this very good team is awesome.  And our big 4 have been solid and getting better each game.  Buzz deservesa  lot of credit for the way this team plays.

[marquette09]

Fran Frachella during the OU/OSU game just said Buzz has to be in the mix with Dino Gaudio, Jeff Capel and Bruce Weber.

[Doctor V]

right now, none. I dont mean to sound harsh, but nationally it would be coach K or the guy from wake and in the BE it would be jamie dixon as of right now if you ask me. that said, if the team finishes in the top 2 or 3 in conf then he is a contender.

dont get me wrong, i am impressed by his halftime adjustments, small line-up, time-out in bounds plays (couple of goodies to lazar at the free throw line area today) ability to motivate for every game, etc etc.

Not too crazy about certain press conferences (again today calling jerel best player he has and will ever coach- not my style dont single anyone out but ill call it a rookie mistake) and the use of the bench. cant complain with the record, but at some pt when the bigs get in foul trouble and otule and fulce have to play he will have some fault.

all in all, the man was the right hire for the job. please dont turn this into a crean debate, but all i have to say to all the crean haters is that everytime you are proud of buzz you must realize one of the biggest knocks on the hiring process was that the board listented to creans suggestion in Buzz.

Buzz may end up being a better coach than crean at marquette and overall, but crean can atleast be proud that he had something to do with that man getting the opportunity- to people like mr.hayward, you may end up being right that buzz is a better recruiter, coach, man, etc etc, but never forget who had a piece in giving him a shot, both with the hiring and with the foundation of this program

feel free to lash out and say that im giving crean the credit buzz is due, but im not. just saying crean earned his due, and it looks like buzz can earn his, and maybe even more, but lets give both men credit.

its nice to be a marquette basketball fan these past 7 years isnt it?

[MU B2002]

I really think more credit should go to the amigos BUT... I remember preseason when Buzz talked about putting in his small lineup and I thought he was insane.  I guess he knows what he is doing.

ND didn't know what to do against that lineup. 

[bilsu]

I am sure when asked if he felt Buzz could do the job crean would have given him a good recommendation. I doubt the board asked Crean who should succeed him.

[Doctor V]

I am sure when asked if he felt Buzz could do the job crean would have given him a good recommendation. I doubt the board asked Crean who should succeed him.

let me clarify. im not suggesting im an insider by any means and that i know buzz got the job because of crean. all i am saying is 2 thing: 1- buzz would not have been at MU because of crean and hence not gotten the job and 2- there were people around here saying that buzz was a bad hire cause the board listened to creans suggestion. i dont know how much input they gave crean, but i do know that were it not for him buzz would not even be an assistant, let alone the head coach

All coaches get their opportunity from somewhere and from someone. That does not mean that the coach that hired you made you, just that he gave you the shot cause he saw something in you. Crean was a work-a-holic himself, but in a different way than buzz. He saw something in buzz, and i would not be surprised if buzz ends up being the better coach in the end, yet thanking TC for giving him a shot

im just glad it seems like the university made the right decision and that both crean and buzz got what they essentially wanted (even if buzz isnt a long term success, you have to admit it was worth giving him a shot). good luck to both men. i would smile at a postgame hug between the two.

[Pakuni]

Not too crazy about certain press conferences (again today calling jerel best player he has and will ever coach- not my style dont single anyone out but ill call it a rookie mistake) and the use of the bench. cant complain with the record, but at some pt when the bigs get in foul trouble and otule and fulce have to play he will have some fault.

If we're talking about the same remark, then, in all fairness, you should probably consider that his remarks about McNeal came in response to a question about McNeal from Bilas, to the effect of "What can you say about this guy (McNeal)?"
Buzz may be guilty of some minor hyperbole - I'd love to think that he'll coach even better players than McNeal in the years to come - but he didn't single out Jerel. He just answered the question that was asked. Frankly, that's kind of a refreshing change from the usual coachspeak.
In fairness, that answer came in reply to a question

As for Big East coach of the year, he's got to be at the top of the candidates. Dixon? Meh. Pitt opened the season ranked  #5. Right now, they're ranked #3. So, essentially, Pitt is doing what was expected of them.

[MUrugger]

I loved it that Buzz said that Jerel was the best player that he ever coached and would ever coach.

Jerel's a stud for us now, but the kid is only 21-22 years old.  Who is to stay when he's a six-seven-10 year NBA pro that he doesn't say he owes it all to the coach that gave him the confidence that he could be all that he dreamed he could be as a Senior at MU?

I agree that I don't want to revisit the debate about the relative value of our guy now vs. his predecessor, but if you ask me ALL of these guys are playing better.  Development is part of it, kudos to the coach and his staff for that, but the big thing is confidence.  James, McNeal, Matthews and Hayward, heck even Burke and Hazel, are playing with as much confidence as they have ever demonstrated at Marquette.  I love the way Buzz claps his approval to the guys as they go into a timeout.  It's like an attaboy from your big brother.  The other guy was always scowling at refs or glaring at a guy who just made a mistake.  And when the next "best player that he's ever had the privilege to coach" comes to Marquette Buzz will laugh at himself that he once said it of Jerel.  Jerel will laugh too.  I love the "we're all big boys here" level of respect between coach and players on this team and the total absence of head games.

And make no mistake.  Three of the Big 4 will be cashing NBA checks soon.  'Nique is the one I would be doubtful of.  And that will only help keep the big time player recruiting line moving.  Hail to Buzz!!  Hail to the Golden Eagles!!  (And I'm a confirmed Warriors guy!!) 

[normandy]

Who cares if Buzz is voted national or Big East coach of the year?  Championships are all that matter.

[Kramerica]

Who cares if Buzz is voted national or Big East coach of the year?  Championships are all that matter.

Well people on this board obviously care if he is Big East coach of the year.  And anything that raises the profile of the university will help bring in better recruits, which in turn will bring in the championships that you believe are all that matter.  If you don't care about these things (and this is the second time that I've seen you post about not caring about topics on this board, which means that at least 2/3 of you posts have been to this point), maybe you're reading/posting on the wrong board. 

[jce]

And make no mistake.  Three of the Big 4 will be cashing NBA checks soon.  'Nique is the one I would be doubtful of.  And that will only help keep the big time player recruiting line moving.  Hail to Buzz!!  Hail to the Golden Eagles!!  (And I'm a confirmed Warriors guy!!) 

I'm not sure Lazar will be cashing many NBA checks at 6'6".  He's probably not quick enough to play the 3 in the NBA.  I actually think James could be a fairly decent backup PG in the Jacque Vaughn mold.

[ecompt]

How can anyone mention Coach K as coach of the year? Sorry, but taking 10 McDonald's All-Americans and doing well with them doesn't qualify as doing a great coaching job. The guy should have won six national titles by now with the players he's had.