Arkansas job officially open

[NersEllenson]

The fact that you ask why I would care highlights your tunnel vision once you engage in any kind of one on one with another poster. I care because there are a lot of important things to be said on this and many other topics that never get explored because we are calling each other idiots and without evidence implying that recruit rankings can't be trusted or referenced, etc.

And you're right that many other threads get continued with disagreeing with you... until they are locked and you both are banned. 

So this thread is basically about the merits of Buzz as a head coach and another school showing interest in him, right?  Usually other schools only show interest in a coach they perceive to be very good, correct?  Yet we have our own "fans" who criticize the job  Buzz is doing..and would be okay/happy to see him go.  As for the recruiting rankings..if you want to get caught up in those fine..but Buzz put together back to back Top 25 classes at MU his first 2 years (based on national rankings of kids in those clases)...hadn't been done in a long time at MU.  So..feather in his cap, right?  But now we bitch because his 3rd class isn't ranked in the Top 25 nationally?  So the new gold standard at MU is that our coach must land Top 25 nationally ranked classes every year..when even the likes of Huggins, Pitino and Calhoun can't claim that in the last 3 years...

[Goose]

NERS---I LIKE BUZZ AND HOPES HE STAYS. 

All I said was if he took AK job I would not blame him. I believe it would not be a sideways move on his part due to that being his backyard. My only point was IF he left I hoped that Cottingham & Co. took their time and put on a full court press in search process.

[tower912]

Ners, deep cleansing breaths.   Many people were critical of Crean while he kept having his name tossed out for every other job that was out there.  Don't get yourself banned again.     Yes, there are a number of people on this board not sold on Buzz.   This is America.   They are entitled to their opinion just as you are.   IMO, Texas Tech is a huge step backward and Arkansas is a slight step backward.   Others obviously disagree.    Relax. 

[Goose]

I cannot believe that Ners was banned. Had to be someone else posting under his name.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Arkansas fans

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=10&f=1013&t=7308740

[Goose]

I like them swinging for the fences. I just wonder if they realize no elite coach would want that job. There was to be a Ners down there that throw wet blanket on the search for elite coach. Maybe Ners can throw out Jeter or Wardle on their board.

[NersEllenson]

ners---An 11 seed in year three, poorest recruiting class in three years, several transfers and a chance for 1 or 2 this year is a home run? I guess we all have different standards. Honestly admin knows that 95% think like you and they perform with that in mind. 14 losses and worst student section support in years indicates far from a home run.

Pardon me Goose..but the above certainly doesn't sound like someone who wants Buzz to stay at MU.  A review of your post history is quite confusing to say the least...as you are all over the place on your viewpoints...u seem very critical, yet want Buzz to stay, yet don't blame him if he leaves, and you see Arkansas as a step above the MU job..yet think MU can attract an elite proven coach??  Bizarre.

[ChicosBailBonds]

NERS---I LIKE BUZZ AND HOPES HE STAYS. 

All I said was if he took AK job I would not blame him. I believe it would not be a sideways move on his part due to that being his backyard. My only point was IF he left I hoped that Cottingham & Co. took their time and put on a full court press in search process.

+1  Hope he stays because someone leaving after only 3 years puts us back to where we were before Crean...STEPPING STONE-VILLE.  I want stability.  If he does go, God Bless him and I hope we go out and act like a big boy program and not have to constantly take chances all the time.   

[Goose]

Ners---That post was response to you stating Cottingham hit a home run with Buzz, not my opinion on Buzz. Our definition of homerun are very different.

[NersEllenson]

+1  Hope he stays because someone leaving after only 3 years puts us back to where we were before Crean...STEPPING STONE-VILLE.  I want stability.  If he does go, God Bless him and I hope we go out and act like a big boy program and not have to constantly take chances all the time.   

Part of the problem is we still pretty much are looked at as a stepping stone program..yet some here think this is a destination job that a proven, elite, high major coach would be salivating at coming to.  If programs didn't think MU coaches could be pryed away...we wouldn't keep hearing our coaches mentioned in other openings as was the case for KO, Crean and now Buzz.

We can act like a big boy program all we want...but when life and reality keep telling you...not so much...you have to acknowledge your reality.  When the Tony Bennetts, Sean Miller's and Anthony Grant's tell you no thanks...it is highly unlikely an Izzo, Pitino, Calipari, Donovan, Self, Roy Williams, Rick Barnes, Mark Turgeon's are going to come knocking on your door.

[MUMac]

Ners---That post was response to you stating Cottingham hit a home run with Buzz, not my opinion on Buzz. Our definition of homerun are very different.

To the fans, there was confusion.  I know that Cottingham felt he was a home run. 

[El Duderino]

I hope Buzz stays, but would not blame him to head to Arkansas. Great home base recruiting and easier conference. In addition, new job = long term contract and security. If he would happen to leave I pray that we take our time and solicit basketball minds to help in search. We cannot face another situation were we roll the dice and hope for the best.

I stated last week I thought Buzz was gone after this season and stick with that post. He is a sly guy and would be stupid not to follow money and long term contract. This unlike when KO left just to leave. This would be going to his area and run wild. Also, would have to believe he could get any kid into school at Arkansas.

I like Buzz a lot, think he'll lead us to the NCAA Tournament in most years, and really really hope he stays. This is coming from someone who was very skeptical of his hiring, but not any longer, regardless of the fact he's had some growing pains.

That said, i certainly wouldn't be shocked if he left for Arkansas, there are numerous reasons to make that job appealing to Buzz. Plus, i rarely blame coaches for leaving for what they deem as a better overall opportunity given how quick many universities are to fire a coach. Look at Pelphrey. Arkansas hasn't been good under him, but they haven't been brutal like say Keno Davis was at Providence and Pelphrey had a top 10 class coming in. Loyalty doesn't exist on either side when it comes to big money pro or college sports.

My gut says Buzz will stay in the 70/30 odds range, but when i see stuff like Tubby Smith leave a Kentucky for Minnesota, obviously nothing should really surprise fans.

[NersEllenson]

Stone Cold---Respectfully disagree with you on Cottingham and the rest of the crew. I would say at best his first hire was better than many feared but far from a home run. I still remain in awe of so many fans that march behind every decision the school makes. Doc Rivers met Buzz two times during the season was here and recommended because TC recommended him.

Sorry Goose..but it seems you didn't feel like Buzz was a home run hire..which is why I asked you who you wanted to see get hired (that would actually come to MU).  I'm still waiting for your input/insight as to who you think MU could have landed if not Buzz.

Lastly, when you state that you feel the hire of Buzz was "far from a home run," it implies dissatisfaction with the hire...but yet you want Buzz to stay?  But don't blame him if he leaves MU - cause Arkansas would be a rung up the ladder on the college basketball coaching landscape??  I just don't get it.

[Goose]

Ners--
Top shelf practice facility
NBA arena
Deep pockets
Alums in NBA--players and coach
Great resume of play
BE

Sounds like the big boys to me. Guys like you accept a stepping stone location because you are paranoid. The Packers are far from big boys in NFL circles but believe they do quite well. All the tools are in place with exception of Admin.

[Goose]

Ners--EVERY COACH IS DIFFERENT. BUZZ IS TX/AK GUY. I do not think Mike Brey or Bo Ryan would be great fit down there.

FYI---Buzz is far from a home run thus far. But, I prefer taking my chances with him the next 2-3 years because I think the fools doing the hiring would take another step backwards.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Part of the problem is we still pretty much are looked at as a stepping stone program..yet some here think this is a destination job that a proven, elite, high major coach would be salivating at coming to.  If programs didn't think MU coaches could be pryed away...we wouldn't keep hearing our coaches mentioned in other openings as was the case for KO, Crean and now Buzz.

We can act like a big boy program all we want...but when life and reality keep telling you...not so much...you have to acknowledge your reality.  When the Tony Bennetts, Sean Miller's and Anthony Grant's tell you no thanks...it is highly unlikely an Izzo, Pitino, Calipari, Donovan, Self, Roy Williams, Rick Barnes, Mark Turgeon's are going to come knocking on your door.

Yes, but you can cut down those odds Ners.  If you hire a guy that didn't even know where Milwaukee is (Buzz's words), you have to wonder how long he is for the job.  When you hire a guy with Midwest roots, your odds improve that he'll be here for the longer haul.  I don't expect someone to be here 20 years.  I do expect them to be here longer than 3 and even 5.  There are plenty of coaches that are in our similar "sphere" that have coaches going on 7 to 10 years.  MU, if Buzz leaves, needs to find someone that is a good fit for the long haul.  It's not a universal panacea, of course.   We saw Majerus leave on his own after 3 years.  Dukiet was east coach, KO was east coast, Mike Deane was east coast, Crean was midwest, Buzz from the South. 

The only way to get rid of the stepping stone stigma is to keep someone around for a long time and have them not jump at those other offers.  As much as I hated Crean pimping the university for more money all the time, I was thrilled that he hung on for 9 years and turned down jobs at bigger schools.

[Goose]

Ners-- Overall I give Buzz a B or B-. I think he has been a double to the gap. He has exceeded my expectations tenfold. I thought he was going to be a strikeout with bat on his shoulder. Very happy I was wrong.

Would love to see him double to the gap to win game, not just keep us up to bat.

[NersEllenson]

Ners--
Top shelf practice facility
NBA arena
Deep pockets
Alums in NBA--players and coach
Great resume of play
BE

Sounds like the big boys to me. Guys like you accept a stepping stone location because you are paranoid. The Packers are far from big boys in NFL circles but believe they do quite well. All the tools are in place with exception of Admin.

You do realize NFL teams get to draft and hand pick their players, right?  Far cry from college basketball where recruiting is ultra competitive.  There are 15 other Big East teams that can sell the Big East, 8 of which have practice facilities that are as nice as ours..and deep pockets don't mean a thing..and ours aren't nearly as deep as the football playing schools in the Big East...nor as deep as the GTown's, Villanovas, or St. Johns.  Lastly, there are about 5 other Big East programs that have more guys playing in the league than MU..and on the national landscape..roughly about 20 more programs with more guys in the league.

MU has made a lot of improvements for sure....all of which were present when Tom Crean chose to leave.  The biggest drawback to MU is the lack of talent in Wisconsin..and that MU is 2nd in the eyes of most Wisconsin HS ballers..so even in our own backyard..we are generally considered 2nd best school in WI.

[Steve Buscemi]

We do not want Brian Gregory.  Trust me.  Dude can't coach offense.  His teams underachive every year (outside of two years ago when they made the tourney and knocked off WVU)  There is no way the team he had this year should not have finished above .500 in conference.  Also, if people think Buzz has a hard time developing talent, wait till they see Gregory.  Chris Wright was a consensus draft pick after his sophmore year.  Dude isn't even on the board anymore.  He has regressed under Gregory.

Thank you.  It would be a HUGE disappointment if we hired BG to replace Buzz.
All hypothetical though

[KenoshaWarrior]

Buzz was a very good hire.
Some people on this board have what I call "Clemson Football" syndrome:  When you think that your program is some national power when really it is not"  What kinda of coach did you think we were going to get????

If Buzz leaves it sucks but the program will go on. 
Maybe I will Bake the new coach a welcome loaf of bread or something 

[NersEllenson]

Yes, but you can cut down those odds Ners.  If you hire a guy that didn't even know where Milwaukee is (Buzz's words), you have to wonder how long he is for the job.  When you hire a guy with Midwest roots, your odds improve that he'll be here for the longer haul.  I don't expect someone to be here 20 years.  I do expect them to be here longer than 3 and even 5.  There are plenty of coaches that are in our similar "sphere" that have coaches going on 7 to 10 years.  MU, if Buzz leaves, needs to find someone that is a good fit for the long haul.  It's not a universal panacea, of course.   We saw Majerus leave on his own after 3 years.  Dukiet was east coach, KO was east coast, Mike Deane was east coast, Crean was midwest, Buzz from the South. 

The only way to get rid of the stepping stone stigma is to keep someone around for a long time and have them not jump at those other offers.  As much as I hated Crean pimping the university for more money all the time, I was thrilled that he hung on for 9 years and turned down jobs at bigger schools.

Hey..we can agree 100% on something today!  Good post..it makes a lot of sense and I agree with your sentiments.  I certainly do hope Buzz stays at MU a decade..and tend to think he will...and part of me feels that the more a coach feels revered at their job..the harder it is for them to walk away..which is why I'm such a fanboy of Buzz.   That may sound glib..but a lot of people work as much for appreciation and recognition as they do money...MU will always compete on the money basis it pays its head coach...I'm not worried about that...but there definitely are easier places to recruit to..and if given a choice to leave for a school that is easier to recruit to..I think loyalty and feeling of appreciation by a fan base are the 2 calling cardds that can retain a coach

[El Duderino]

Part of the problem is we still pretty much are looked at as a stepping stone program..yet some here think this is a destination job that a proven, elite, high major coach would be salivating at coming to.  If programs didn't think MU coaches could be pryed away...we wouldn't keep hearing our coaches mentioned in other openings as was the case for KO, Crean and now Buzz.

We can act like a big boy program all we want...but when life and reality keep telling you...not so much...you have to acknowledge your reality.  When the Tony Bennetts, Sean Miller's and Anthony Grant's tell you no thanks...it is highly unlikely an Izzo, Pitino, Calipari, Donovan, Self, Roy Williams, Rick Barnes, Mark Turgeon's are going to come knocking on your door.

Obviously Marquette isn't a socalled destination job and never will be. When i look at the landscape of college basketball, there might only be about 15 or so of those "destination jobs" and thus, any university could face the potential of another program stealing away their coach for a myriad of reasons. Hell, around half of the Big East programs alone would be more appealing to coaches than Marquette is.

All we can do if Buzz did leave is try to keep making smart hires like both Crean and Buzz were. I don't care much either if whoever the next MU coach is has a bunch of head coaching experience or not. History has shown than good assistant coaches can come in and do well as a head coach just as much as say some head coach who had a nice run at a mid-major.

There is no exact science for hiring coaches as evidenced by how often what look to be good hires by major conference programs end up resulting in a firing by year 3 or 4. Then on the flip side a guy like Buzz was a fairly surprise hiring and yet he's done better than multiple guys who looked to have better credentials.

[NCMUFan]

Buzz has gotten nice talent from the south.  But would it of been easier for him to get Maymon or Blue or Wilson or Smith or Gardner to Arkansas?  I am amazed at how people really devalue themselves.  Go Big East!  Go Marquette! Later with the bending over for state school conferences!

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Maybe Buzz will give Todd Rosiak the specific amount of money Arkansas offered him, even though he never discussed the job with them. 

[4everwarriors]

Or maybe put it out there that Illinois offered him
their job, when in fact it never happened.