Make a call on Buzz...

[silverback]

I see some folks here doing the "We won = in Buzz we trust / We lost = fire him" shuffle from game to game. As a fan where do you really stand? Is he your man or not? It doesn't really matter as none of us hire or fire, but...

For me? He's not the guy. He says the right things and coaches toughness. But his lack of focus on defense and consistent late game collapses do not say "good coach" to me. In fact, I believe the surest signs of a coach who's out of his depth in terms of Xs, Os and game adjustments are multiple close game losses. I'm all in on that opinion, and my lack of faith in his coaching ability drains my enthusiasm to watch this team.

[BrewCity83]

He is the guy.

[jaybilaswho?]

He's the guy right now... Now, we have a pretty big game tomorrow. Can we get back to that???

[PaintTouches]

my lack of faith in his coaching ability drains my enthusiasm to watch this team.

Really? Then it sucks to be you. I may get frustrated after close losses but I still love Marquette and still get excited to see them play. If you don't take enjoyment from sports, why watch at all?

Buzz has flaws no doubts, but as Brew said, he is the guy.

[MarqBB77-03]

I'm with Buzz.  He is young and still learning.  More importantly, players have to perform and we have a lot on new guys who are learning to play together in the Big East Conference.  I also have to wonder if they are running a similar poll on the Michigan State Board since they are 12-8???????

[warthog-driver]

I'm with Buzz.  He is young and still learning.  More importantly, players have to perform and we have a lot on new guys who are learning to play together in the Big East Conference.  I also have to wonder if they are running a similar poll on the Michigan State Board since they are 12-8???????

Buzz' problem is that he doesn't light his hair on fire...we need a throw back guy who will mix with fans late into the night, link arms with the Huggins' and crawl the Highway to Hell, a guy who will bite the butt of a female lawyer, just because...

[willie warrior]

Let's see how we play tomorrow.

[tower912]

Buzz is the guy.   Last year was the best coaching job since Al retired.  Transitioning into the job as a new coach was the second best job of coaching since Al retired.   This year, integrating all of the new guys into new roles has not gone as smoothly as I would like.  Development as been at a normal pace.   There has been little overachievement.  Sometimes that happens.   He's not dumb, his players are responding to him, he can recruit.   Like all of us, he will get smarter as he gets older.   

[Pakuni]

Like him. Think he's a good coach and a good guy.
Makes his share of mistakes and needs to improve, but I'm not aware of any 38-year-old head coaches (or 38-year-old anythings) for whom that can't be said.

I find it mind-boggling that there are some here who think he can't coach, given the wonders he worked with last year's team that prove he absolutely can coach.

[MUfan12]

The fact that this thread exists after two successful seasons, last year being nothing short of a miracle, validates everything that has been said about our fans since Tuesday.

[BrewCity83]

Someone make this into a poll so we can easily count where MU(Scoop)Nation stands.

[Pakuni]

The fact that this thread exists after two successful seasons, last year being nothing short of a miracle, validates everything that has been said about our fans since Tuesday Kevin O'Neill.

fixed.

[StillAWarrior]

I think Buzz is going to be a great coach.  I hope he does well enough the next couple of years so that he still works for Marquette when that happens.  I'm still with him and think his job should be secure for at least another season and a half no matter what happens on the floor.  Anything else would be unfair to him, to the players and to the program.

I remember when everybody in Cleveland (including me) thought Bill Belichick was a complete idiot...and he was.  But he learned and he's become a great coach.  I really hope that we don't lose (i.e., fire) Buzz before he gets there.  We can't give him forever, but we can certainly give him another couple years.  It's not like the wheels have totally come off...we're losing close games to quality teams.  Crushing, heart-breaking losses to be sure...but to quality teams.  If we ignore the fact that we've lost leads (a big thing to ignore, I know), it's hard to say that we've lost any games that going in we would have said we definitely should have won.

[Aughnanure]

Let's see how we play tomorrow.

Yes, let's all make our judgments based on tomorrow.

[Dr. Blackheart]

The fact that this thread exists after two successful seasons, last year being nothing short of a miracle, validates everything that has been said about our fans since Tuesday Ralph Risch.

Double Fixed

[Aughnanure]

Its amazing how much so many people's opinions here exist in a vacuum. Does no one hear the EXACT same things from nearly every other program that is not elite?

Its hard to take so many people here seriously because you could literally copy and paste their posts into hundreds of other school's boards critizing their coach (even football ones) and not a miss a beat.

[downtown85]

Buzz is the guy.

[ErickJD08]

Yes, let's all make our judgments based on tomorrow.

Especially since Syracuse bases their whole defense on a zone and MU sucks against zone. 

He represents the University well.  He recruits well.  Buzz overachieved last year by a long shot.  The alpha male needs to step up on the team.  I am frustrated with the team but I knew going into this season that we were not ready to play at a high level.  I think next year will be better with development from Blue, JC, Otule, Gardner, and the addition of Wilson.  I am happy with Buzz.

[wardle2wade]

Backing Buzz through thick and thin... I really think he's our guy and the next couple years will show us all that.  He's a young intelligent coach who will learn from his mistakes and motivates his guys.  Also by all accounts thus far, seems to represent MU extremely well off the court which I feel is important for our program.

I think a lot of the doom and gloom'ers here are glossing over the experience we're still lacking which will come in time... the designation of the soph, jr, and sr for our current team isn't representative of their D1 experience due to injuries and the # of juco's to balance the classes.  As the season progresses and these kids grow, I really think we're going to be right there for a dance ticket.

[pillardean]

Still the guy.

Fourth year head coach in D1 Bball.  

He is learning while facing the gauntlet of the Big East rather than at a DIII institute like Platteville (no dig intended) or low D1 place similar to many others.  He WILL continue to grow as an in game coach and will obtain different plays, styles, etc. as he continues to gather valuable in game experience.  

There is much for him to hone, yes, but he will get there.  I do not doubt that.  Very speculative I know, but he's only been the coach for two and a half years.  

[Skatastrophy]

Buzz is my homeboy.

[79Warrior]

I'm with Buzz.  He is young and still learning.  More importantly, players have to perform and we have a lot on new guys who are learning to play together in the Big East Conference.  I also have to wonder if they are running a similar poll on the Michigan State Board since they are 12-8???????

again, just a stupid comparision. Izzo has more than earned his stripes. give me a break.

As far as Buzz is concerned, lets see how the season shakes out. So far he has been a good rep for the University and the program. BE is an awfully tough conference for such a young coach.

[nycwarrior]

i'm down with the buzzard.

[rico49]

Buzz and the 2010-2011 Team are reflections of each other.  The are both focused and committed to work/coach as hard as it takes to win....but need to do it with more intelligence, better skill, and for the FULL 40 MINUTES OF EACH GAME!

That being said, Buzz is good for MU and MU is good for Buzz!  The Future is Bright!

[GGGG]

Will he lead us to multiple final fours like the dearly departed Ners suggested?  Probably not. But will he be a solid coach that gets us to a couple sweet 16s and some high level BE finishes?  Sure.