Per Buzz - Otule definitely Red-Shirting

[NersEllenson]

The last 35 minutes of the Buzz show were very informative.  He said Otule is definitely red-shirting.  Also said he is pleased with progress of E-Will and Junior - though he wishes he could get JC a little more PT.   Also said he is going out recruiting again this week, and was asked the hypothetical question of:  If a highly attractive player became available for next year's class, would you recruit him?  Per usual, Buzz said we are always recruiting, and to answer the question, his answer is yes.  Said it is his responsibility to the program to always be recruiting, and that you never know what may happen - transfer, de-commitments, player getting in trouble. etc.  We also learn what an incredible human being, coach, husband, father...Buzz is, in response to a listener question. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

The last 35 minutes of the Buzz show were very informative.  He said Otule is definitely red-shirting.  Also said he is pleased with progress of E-Will and Junior - though he wishes he could get JC a little more PT.   Also said he is going out recruiting again this week, and was asked the hypothetical question of:  If a highly attractive player became available for next year's class, would you recruit him?  Per usual, Buzz said we are always recruiting, and to answer the question, his answer is yes.  Said it is his responsibility to the program to always be recruiting, and that you never know what may happen - transfer, de-commitments, player getting in trouble. etc.  We also learn what an incredible human being, coach, husband, father...Buzz is, in response to a listener question. 

You learned he was an incredible human being by his own answers? 

[madtownwarrior]

yes, similar to how I learned Crean was a horses-a*s from his answers...


sarcasm aside, Buzz does seem to lay it all out there in his answers and appears a "what you see is what you get" type of guy. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

All true but if we all had a nickle for the number of people that were seen as "good guys" and honorable people, etc, only to not be....well we would all be rich.

Now, by no means is this any indication that he isn't the greatest human being ever.  That's not my point at all.  When people begin canonizing people it is incredibly unfair to the person (in this case, Buzz).  These people aren't robots, they are human beings.

[NersEllenson]

You learned he was an incredible human being by his own answers? 

Yes Chicos, I did..and I'm sorry you are so cynical to think that you can't take a man at his word.  I think it is evident by the results we are getting this year, that Buzz is an incredible human being.  This team is prepared, tough, and able to offset so many disadvantages - it speaks to their character, and I believe that is a direct reflection of the head coach.  

[MarquetteDano]

Well I guess that makes me a cynic too then.  How many times have we had someone in the public eye who people said "were a role model" or "had integrity" or whatever personality accoldate only to be disappointed?

Unfortunate Fact: most Division I b-ball coaches are douches

Not saying Buzz is but I am not going to vote him for the "Mother Teresa" award just yet.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I'm not cynical at all, in fact I clearly said that he may be the best guy ever.  I think you do a disservice to him by carving Mt. Rushmore already.  Just my opinion, but most people that are put on a pedestal don't last there because it's impossible.

[NersEllenson]

I'm starting to think several of my fellow alum are douches.  I guess I'll always give a person the benefit of the doubt, until they prove me otherwise.  Maybe that makes me naive, but I'd rather be naive than cynical anyday.  I'm not saying that Buzz or any human being is without flaw or fail - who of us aren't flawed?  But, compared to the last 3 coaches who have come through MU - I suspect his character is the best, and least douchey of the bunch..if we want to reduce the discussion to someone being the best of a profession allegedly filled with douches.

[liverlips]

Yes Chicos, I did..and I'm sorry you are so cynical to think that you can't take a man at his word.  I think it is evident by the results we are getting this year, that Buzz is an incredible human being.  This team is prepared, tough, and able to offset so many disadvantages - it speaks to their character, and I believe that is a direct reflection of the head coach.  

Consider if we had It's Indiana It's Indiana as the coach! That guy is all about himself. Buzz has this gang playing very very well. That speaks volumes about the man.

[NersEllenson]

I'm not cynical at all, in fact I clearly said that he may be the best guy ever.  I think you do a disservice to him by carving Mt. Rushmore already.  Just my opinion, but most people that are put on a pedestal don't last there because it's impossible.

Would you for once just have a concrete opinion about something??  This is your standard post: I clearly said he may be the best guy ever....yet in the previous post you question:  You can tell he is a great person from a question he answered?  You always make a snide remark and then follow it up with something complimenatary - therefore never really expressing any type of concrete opinion.  I'm all for being open-minded, but at some point..please be convicted in your convictions.  Wait, I did just realize you are convicted in your support for Tom Crean.  At least you don't waffle there...and I can deal with that and respect that..at least it is consistent.

[Rocco]

edit: knock off the personal attacks.

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

"least douchey" - there's some high praise!

[NersEllenson]

"least douchey" - there's some high praise!

As I wrote..if we are going to reduce the conversation of head coaches to:  Unfortunate Fact: most Division I b-ball coaches are douches - As Dano wrote...then as I said, Buzz definitely qualifies as the least Douchey of our last 3 coaches -Crean, Deane, O'Neil.

[The Pickle]

Well I guess that makes me a cynic too then.  How many times have we had someone in the public eye who people said "were a role model" or "had integrity" or whatever personality accoldate only to be disappointed?

Unfortunate Fact: most Division I b-ball coaches are douches

Not saying Buzz is but I am not going to vote him for the "Mother Teresa" award just yet.

Most is the operative word.  When I was at Marquette I worked with the men's basketball team for 2 years and sat in a lot of practices with Crean verbally abusing players.  He never made a kid go stand in a dark shed but probably only because he was inside and there wasn't one around. If I were a player I think I would have opted for the shed than be told some of the things he said.  Sadly, most of this verbal abuse was directed at the lowliest members of the team and I feel it was a method to get them to quit so he could get an open scholarship rather than be decent and admit he recruited a kid with less talent than he thought initially.  I understand he is only one coach and therefore I will not generalize but I picture guys like Bob Huggins being the same way, which is why I hate them both.  I honestly believe Buzz is a good guy and I think he genuinely cares about his players which is why I believe is such a good recruiter.  

As an aside, I have spoken with some individuals who worked with guys like Mike K (I won't even attempt or pretend to know how to spell his last name) at Duke and Roy Williams.  Coach K was a military guy and I guess was an absolute ass.  Swore a lot, belittled players, etc.  Discipline by fear.  Williams on the other hand, was still a disciplinarian but commanded so much respect he seldom had to yell or reprimand.  Believe what you want but I think Buzz is more of a Roy Williams guy.  What you see is what you get.  

[SWARM!]

edit: Knock off the personal attacks.

[NersEllenson]

There is a report that Crean is neither boxers nor briefs but a Eurotrash banana sling guy. Is this true Chicos?

Welcome to MuScoop.  Appreciate the sense of humor.

[ChicosBailBonds]

LOL.

The same four guys each time....the bat signal went out again (always followed by the "I never post here but follow this board for a long time").  LOL.   No, I don't like Tom Crean but that legend keeps on living forever.  Yes, I do respect what he did for MU.  No, I don't think Crean is a good guy which is why I've never said.  I do think it's dangerous lathering anyone's balls, including the current coach, in terms of how great he is as a person.

Haven't we learned that enough about people in the public eye....John Edwards, Tiger Woods, David Letterman, Mark Sanford, etc, etc.   Steve Phillips is supposedly a great guy, too.  Jim Nantz, apparently one of the best.  Well, at least depending on who you ask.  LOL

But whatever, if you want to canonize someone and declare their wonderment to human society based on radio interviews, that's great.  I just think you do a disservice to anyone when you do that to people but knock your socks off.  I just found it interesting you can make a statement on what a person is like based on their own questions on interviews without actually knowing the person.  You have a gift.



Now on to Otule.  Glad we have some resolution on what he is doing this year.

[NersEllenson]

Chico is an epic douche bag.  I don't post here a lot but I read the comments religiously.  We get it, you like Tom Crean, he left, get over it.

Maybe you should post some more Rocco - we could use some more common sense to offest those with phantom "opinions."  I will say Chicos does present some good statistical data on occasion, and is a good web researcher - but in the opinion department, he's fairly inflammatory - at best politically correct but probably more disingenuous than anything else.

[romey]

  We also learn what an incredible human being, coach, husband, father...Buzz is, in response to a listener question. 

I'd like to just ask for a clarification here.  Ners, you said "We learn......"  Are you suggesting that we learn these attributes of Buzz's by inferring these character traits from how he responded to the questions in general, or because someone asked a question to which buzz responded that he is an incredible human being, coach, husband, etc.?

I think that's all Chicos was asking.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Maybe you should post some more Rocco - we could use some more common sense

I agree, I'm still reflecting on Rocco's post the other day about how terrible a coach Keno Davis is.  Glad we pulled out that win the other day against such a horrible coach.  His rips on Cubillan over the years have been fun as well....nothing better than ripping on 18-22 year old kids.  yes, we could use more of that common sense.  My favorite was "Shoot Fitzgerald" and not as in Shoot, Fitzgerald but literally SHOOT FITZGERALD.

I love it when someone like this attacks other posters for being a douche when same poster is such a douche toward our own players.   It is fun to read, I'll give you that.


Now, about Otule.  This means he's got three years left and I suspect that overall this will help the program out considerably by the time he is a super senior.

[gumbyandpokey]

Most is the operative word.  When I was at Marquette I worked with the men's basketball team for 2 years and sat in a lot of practices with Crean verbally abusing players.  He never made a kid go stand in a dark shed but probably only because he was inside and there wasn't one around. If I were a player I think I would have opted for the shed than be told some of the things he said.  Sadly, most of this verbal abuse was directed at the lowliest members of the team and I feel it was a method to get them to quit so he could get an open scholarship rather than be decent and admit he recruited a kid with less talent than he thought initially.  I understand he is only one coach and therefore I will not generalize but I picture guys like Bob Huggins being the same way, which is why I hate them both.  I honestly believe Buzz is a good guy and I think he genuinely cares about his players which is why I believe is such a good recruiter.  

As an aside, I have spoken with some individuals who worked with guys like Mike K (I won't even attempt or pretend to know how to spell his last name) at Duke and Roy Williams.  Coach K was a military guy and I guess was an absolute ass.  Swore a lot, belittled players, etc.  Discipline by fear.  Williams on the other hand, was still a disciplinarian but commanded so much respect he seldom had to yell or reprimand.  Believe what you want but I think Buzz is more of a Roy Williams guy.  What you see is what you get.  

Crean was nothing compared to O'Neill.  His berating of Logterman was often the topic of conversations among coaches of other sports teams at MU.  Crean was just a "poser" (the term used to describe him by some in the Athletic Dept), with a big ego, but Kevin O'Neill was
an incredibly mean individual.

[NersEllenson]

But whatever, if you want to canonize someone and declare their wonderment to human society based on radio interviews, that's great.  I just think you do a disservice to anyone when you do that to people but knock your socks off.  I just found it interesting you can make a statement on what a person is like based on their own questions on interviews without actually knowing the person.  You have a gift.

I want to acknowledge and recognize Buzz Williams for what he has done up to this point.  He is consistent, straight-forward, forthcoming, and honest.  I do not think that recognizing this, or being complimentary toward a person who is doing a GREAT job - is doing them a disservice?  I assume you don't manage or employ any people?  

Buzz is very aware of how his decisions impact those around him - his players, this program, this university, his wife and his family - and has a genuine concern to impact each of these entities in the most positive fashion possible.  That is very evident from both his interviews and actions, and as a result..I believe you can draw some conclusions as to his character.

[MUEng92]

I have no reason to think anything negative about Buzz.  But, how anyone, in this day and age of sports, can blindly accept someone as being a super human being by his radio interviews I just don't understand.

Tiger Woods. 90% of MLB players in the 1990's/2000's. Etc.

I hope he is a great guy.  Until I meet any sports figure personally I won't pretend to know anything about them other than how well they do their job.

[NersEllenson]

I'd like to just ask for a clarification here.  Ners, you said "We learn......"  Are you suggesting that we learn these attributes of Buzz's by inferring these character traits from how he responded to the questions in general, or because someone asked a question to which buzz responded that he is an incredible human being, coach, husband, etc.?

I think that's all Chicos was asking.

I was writing that "we learn," in reference to what Buzz revealed in his radio show, in response to a question from a listener - regarding how he balances his life with so much on his plate and how his wife reacts to the amount of hours he works.  Buzz never said he is an incredible human being, coach or husband..he is far too humble to ever say something like that.  I would strongly recommend you go play the audio and have a listen - really interesting about his wife/family - she was a former Division 1 basketball player, who was highly recruited.  Link to the Marquette Basketball Feb 8 Podcast is here:  http://www.gomarquette.com/blog/

[Rocco]

I agree, I'm still reflecting on Rocco's post the other day about how terrible a coach Keno Davis is.  Glad we pulled out that win the other day against such a horrible coach.  His rips on Cubillan over the years have been fun as well....nothing better than ripping on 18-22 year old kids.  yes, we could use more of that common sense.  My favorite was "Shoot Fitzgerald" and not as in Shoot, Fitzgerald but literally SHOOT FITZGERALD.

I love it when someone like this attacks other posters for being a douche when same poster is such a douche toward our own players.   It is fun to read, I'll give you that.


Now, about Otule.  This means he's got three years left and I suspect that overall this will help the program out considerably by the time he is a super senior.

You can quote me all you want, I stand by everything I've said.  I didn't know you were the grammar police.  The "SHOOT FITZGERALD" comment was my frustration with him passing up good shots.  I didn't want him literally shot.  As for Cubillian, I still don't like the way he plays.  So what?  18-22 years old is not a kid.  That is the lamest excuse for not criticizing college athletes.  Those "kids" you refer to, grow up to be unaccountable pieces of crap like Brett Favre or Chicosbailbonds.  It's time these "kids" get more criticism.  Very insightful Otule comment.  Does your wisdom have any limits?  Keno Davis is a terrible coach.  Losing at home to a less talented team makes my opinion wrong?  You sir are an expert in the art of douchebaggery.  I anxiously await your lame response.