Buzz Said Some Interesting Things On His Show With Homer Today

[Tugg Speedman]

Buzz Williams Show For March 14, 2011

http://www.gomarquette.com/blog/2011/03/the-marquette-basketball-hour-podcast---march-14.html

Special Guest was Coach Lewis Orr of Navarro.  Orr is the first coach Buzz worked for (sweeping the floors for those familiar with Buzz's history).  Buzz said he comes to Milwaukee several times a year to "discuss things."  It has been established that Orr is a mentor for Buzz.

Orr won 678 games at Navarro and elected to the NJCAA hall of fame.

Buzz said his first two years at Navarro they average 114.7 points a game.  It was the highest average at any level.  Wow!

Homer interviewed coach Orr and he said playing defense is a waste of time and boring.  The objective is to out score the other team.  Orr said it like he was kidding but kept insisting that out scoring is the way to go.

Buzz also said that Nick Van Exel played in that league (but not Navarro) and they are now good friends.  He also said that "Van Exel wants to come to Marquette" but he did not elaborate so I'm not sure what he means.

Regarding his name popping up for other names.  He said he has no agent and that Cottingham would be the first to know.  Says if his name is popping up it means he's doing something right.  Focused in X.  So, standard denials ... he also asked Homer how he's suppose to answer this question.

Lastly, it has been established that Mick Cronin of Cincy is a buddy.  He said they talked last night which underscores how close they are.

[MUMac]

He is right.  If you outscore the other team every game you will never lose no matter how poor your defense is.  

[Goose]

Quick Nick helping the program? Is the Arkansas job still open?

[Blackhat]

Dementia isn't pretty.

[Goose]

huh?

[Blackhat]

I'm talking about Louis Orr saying defense is a waste of time, not you. 

[Goose]

Stone Cold--Meant response to Orr/Buzz on D.

[groove]

if you are going to have that kind of mentality on offense then you have to go all in, be like Loyola Marymount, try and shoot within 3 seconds and just outrun and gun the other team. That was always fun to watch. Everyone had a spot on the floor they were to run to, the PG's job was to get the ball to the first guy to his spot.

[Tugg Speedman]

I'm talking about Louis Orr saying defense is a waste of time, not you.  

I was listening to it on the radio and Orr is 76.  It SOUNDED LIKE he was kidding and Homer thought he was.  But he kept insisting defense is over-rated.  Then they said his teams averaged 114.7 points a game over two seasons.

[Mike Deane]

What is the W/L number over those two seasons?  What is the opponent scoring average?

[TedBaxter]

Buzz Williams Show For March 14, 2011

http://www.gomarquette.com/blog/2011/03/the-marquette-basketball-hour-podcast---march-14.html


Lastly, it has been established that Mick Cronin of Cincy is a buddy.  He said they talked last night which underscores how close they are.

I'm sure Buzz was asking Cronin for a scouting report on this years Xavier team.

[MUMac]

I was listening to it on the radio and Orr is 76.  It SOUNDED LIKE he was kidding and Homer thought he was.  But he kept insisting defense is over-rated.  Then they said his teams averaged 114.7 points a game over two seasons.

Buzz certainly get's upset with poor defensive rotations and positioning.  He frequently is yelling at the guys for their defensive play, moreso than offensively - from what I witness at the games.  Oftentimes he takes the guys out for their defensive play.  I don't think he gives it lipservice.  I don't believe Orr had either.

I took it as he was kidding.  Nice, though, to see someone attack the guy with a dementia comment.  No need for that.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I have to believe he was kidding.

[El Duderino]

When i watch us play defense, between our point guards getting beat to often on dribble penetration and to many guys seeming to lack the defensive instincts to grasp fully when to help and when to stay on their man, i've wished that Buzz would have at least tried playing a little less aggressive/right on ball type of man to man defense unless we got behind a lot in a game. Something maybe like a little more aggressive version of Wisconsin type of defense.

I understand that a big part of how Buzz has built this roster is on athletes that can get out on transition offense for easy baskets. We see it every game where we get multiple easy baskets off turning a miss or turnover into an explosive fast break. A pressure type of defense which creates turnovers can help lead to more of those easy hoops.

Bottom line though is that the defense simply has broken down to often this year and IMO it doesn't create enough turnovers to overcome all the defensive breakdowns which happens from playing so much tight on ball pressure. Just having athletes isn't enough when a defense plays this aggressive style of defense. It opens the door for more dribble penetration and if the players can't consistently grasp how to react as a team once a guy is beaten off the dribble, the result will be to many instances of 1-2 guys not really guarding anybody as they are either unsure of how to react in that split second or reacting poorly.

Then again i'm not a coach so maybe even if Buzz wanted to teach a less aggressive version of man to man defense, once a season gets say half way into conference play, maybe it get's to late for that given practice time is much more limited vs before a season starts when the vast majority of the offensive/defensive schemes get implemented?

[GGGG]

Buzz also said that Nick Van Exel played in that league (but not Navarro) and they are now good friends.  He also said that "Van Exel wants to come to Marquette" but he did not elaborate so I'm not sure what he means.

My initial thought about this is that if Van Exel is willing and able to do the recruiting work, he could really be helpful as a former NBA player.

[4everwarriors]

Does Van Exel have any eligibility remaining?

[groove]

Does Van Exel still drink a lot?

[mosarsour]

My initial thought about this is that if Van Exel is willing and able to do the recruiting work, he could really be helpful as a former NBA player.

He's originally from Kenosha so I'm sure that's a factor into his desire to join MU's staff.

[Jay Bee]

I think Van Exel's son Nickey might have some eligibility left.  I hear he's a very good shot.

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/headlines/20101230-ex-mav-nick-van-exel_s-son-accused-of-capital-murder-in-friend_s-death.ece