Buzz Article from Oklahoma

[NersEllenson]

Surprised our resident google expert and article poster - Chicos - has yet to post this glowing article about Buzz Williams?  Seems he is quite adept at posting articles with negative slants..so thought I'd balance out the board.

http://newsok.com/marquettes-buzz-williams-paid-some-dues-at-oklahoma-city-u./article/3549334?custom_click=lead_story_title

[NickelDimer]

Kick rocks OU

[brewcity77]

Ners, every time you mention Chicos I feel like I'm listening to Fox News talk about Barack Obama. Fair and balanced my ass

[GGGG]

Kind of a strange article.  I don't think I have seen something that extensive written about a "rumored candidate" before.  It would have been like the MJS writing something on Tony Bennett two days after TC left for IU.

[4everwarriors]

I think we'll look back at some point and be happy we had Buzz at MU for 3 seasons.

[HoopsMalone]

In the age of sources and rumors, that article does not surprise me.

It still sounds like a bunch of people sitting around and saying since Buzz went to school close to here, then he would probably like to coach here.  Its the same stuff people were saying about Bennett wanting to be here.

[NersEllenson]

Ners, every time you mention Chicos I feel like I'm listening to Fox News talk about Barack Obama. Fair and balanced my ass

LOL - Hey..I've actually agreed with some of Chico's posts lately...but I do feel it necessary to balance his article sharing..with some positive Buzz articles as well...as most of the articles he posts tend to be negative slant.

[The Lens]

First of all...if Buzz's former coaches are singing his praises to Oklahoma newspapers...He Gone

I think we'll look back at some point and be happy we had Buzz at MU for 3 seasons.

Two points here...
1) I agree with 4ever (shocker) and I think Buzz will do BIG things and we will talk about him many years from now
2) The worst part of this coaching search is now TC will once again be an option for MU.

[NersEllenson]

First of all...if Buzz's former coaches are singing his praises to Oklahoma newspapers...He Gone

Two points here...
1) I agree with 4ever (shocker) and I think Buzz will do BIG things and we will talk about him many years from now
2) The worst part of this coaching search is now TC will once again be an option for MU.

Not sure that I agree that just because Buzz's former coaches are speaking/endorsing him for the MU job..that it means he is gone.  There is a natural interest/angle there as Buzz has been rumored for the OU job..why not track down a guy he used to coach with at OK City College?

I do believe (and hope to God it is at MU), that Buzz will accomplish GREAT things in his college coaching career.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Great article ners.  Thank you for sharing.  If I had seen it I would have done so myself.

[GGGG]

1) I agree with 4ever (shocker) and I think Buzz will do BIG things and we will talk about him many years from now

I don't think that's what he means.  I took it that he meant that we would be glad that he was here for only three years.

[The Lens]

Not sure that I agree that just because Buzz's former coaches are speaking/endorsing him for the MU job..that it means he is gone.  There is a natural interest/angle there as Buzz has been rumored for the OU job..why not track down a guy he used to coach with at OK City College?

I do believe (and hope to God it is at MU), that Buzz will accomplish GREAT things in his college coaching career.

Ners, don't you think it's strange that there's not one quote of..."well yeah Buzz would be great at OU but he has it humming at MU and he really likes it there"

[The Lens]

I don't think that's what he means.  I took it that he meant that we would be glad that he was here for only three years.

We've been over this...I have a degree from the College of Communications; I'm not that smart.

[HoopsMalone]

I am happy that OU opened up this season so that we will know exactly where Buzz stands with us.

I am not sure how the timing of OU opening and Mayo's commitment really worked out, but that has to be a good sign.  Buzz can now say that he turned down OU, and what other job would he really take, when people negatively recruit against him saying he'd leave. 

[IAmMarquette]

To those of you who read this and think "he gone" (to quote one poster), what makes you think so? This reads like an article written by the beat writer a school that might potentially be interested in a guy who used to work in the area. The reporter just seems to be doing his job...if we were in the middle of the coaching search and Rosiak turned out a similar piece on one of the rumored candidates, we'd be praising TR for his top-notch journalism.

I didn't see anything here that signaled Buzz's imminent departure. Those of you who did, what did you see?

[[Mu]EngiNerd]

things happen quickly in college basketball... Crean left MU with a very good recruiting class with tyshawn taylor and a few other highly touted players...

[NersEllenson]

Ners, don't you think it's strange that there's not one quote of..."well yeah Buzz would be great at OU but he has it humming at MU and he really likes it there"

Not really..considering the source of the quotes in the article was an Oklahoma guy..was approached by an Oklahoma reporter, etc...and would love to see Buzz in OK.

I do think we can take some solace in the fact that such a caveat/statement was made by Jeff Goodman (who is probably Buzz's Number 1 guy in the media), to the effect of what you wrote...almost verbatim..

[Pakuni]

There's an equally fawning story (with a Bo Ryan reference, even) in the Tulsa World about another OU coaching candidate. Must mean he's got the job, too.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/OU/article.aspx?subjectid=92&articleid=20110317_92_B1_CUTLIN691714

[Ellenson Guerrero]

Could they have found a worse picture of Buzz for this article?

[The Lens]

There's an equally fawning story (with a Bo Ryan reference, even) in the Tulsa World about another OU coaching candidate. Must mean he's got the job, too.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/OU/article.aspx?subjectid=92&articleid=20110317_92_B1_CUTLIN691714

Ha!

Co-Coaches is an interesting concept one that you would expect a progressive University like Oklahoma to pioneer.

Back to Ners...Goodman didn't say Buzz has a great thing at MU.  ESPN recapped a Goodman report about Buzz and OU and then discounted saying "they" thought Buzz had a great thing at MU.  At least that's how I read it (and remember I'm not that smart; I have a degree in Communications).

[Litehouse]

I am happy that OU opened up this season so that we will know exactly where Buzz stands with us.

I am not sure how the timing of OU opening and Mayo's commitment really worked out, but that has to be a good sign.  Buzz can now say that he turned down OU, and what other job would he really take, when people negatively recruit against him saying he'd leave. 

I agree with this.  If he takes OU, it would suck, but oh well, it wasn't meant to be.  If he doesn't take a job like OU, then I think we know he's here long term and we don't have to go through this every year.  I don't see A&M being much different than OU, so the only job we'd really have to worry about is Texas.

[4everwarriors]

So there is no misunderstanding about my thoughts on this matter, allow me to clarify. I think the best coach for MU now and into the immediate future is Buzz. Is he perfect? No, but far more than adequate and he gives the program stability. The last thing Cottingham needs right now is to hire a new coach and deal with the transfers and decommitments.
Having said that, however, I'm convinced that Buzz will leave MU at the end of this tourney run. I'm figurin' that will be by Monday. Hope I'm wrong as I predict great success for Buzz as a coach into the future. Similar to Majerus in that he improves after leaving MU.

[Benny B]

So there is no misunderstanding about my thoughts on this matter, allow me to clarify. I think the best coach for MU now and into the immediate future is Buzz. Is he perfect? No, but far more than adequate and he gives the program stability. The last thing Cottingham needs right now is to hire a new coach and deal with the transfers and decommitments.
Having said that, however, I'm convinced that Buzz will MU at the end of this tourney run. I'm figurin' that will be by Monday. Hope I'm wrong as I predict great success for Buzz as a coach into the future. Similar to Majerus in that he improves after leaving MU.

I think the jury is still out on whether Buzz is going to be this great coach everyone says he will.  Keep in mind that a good portion of a person's success comes from the environment.  While some people will achieve greatness no matter where they are, some people's success is tied to their surroundings.  This is not the "change of scenery" effect that many in the sporting world like to talk about... this is about ensuring that your environment is conducive to your talents, style, approach, activities, etc.  That's not something that any of us - including Buzz himself - can predict.

Is Marquette the perfect place for Buzz?  Perhaps.
Is OU or Arkansas a better fit?  Maybe.
Could Buzz succeed no matter where he is?  Sure.
Will Buzz undoubtedly succeed no matter where he goes?  No.

In summary... the grass may indeed be greener on the other side, but you might be allergic to it.

[HoopsMalone]

OU is a risk for Buzz.  He has now seen that getting top recruits does not necessarily predict immediate success (Vander, Maymon, Junior).  He has also seen that OU will forget about the guy who took you to the Elite Eight after two seasons of not doing as well with 4 and 5 star players. 

OU is close to home.  But, who knows if he wants to be there.  Oklahoma is not Texas and it is an easy thing for people to say that it is all the same in passing. 

Maybe it is a good fit.  Who knows. 

However, jobs in the south will be there for Buzz.  He has now developed Otule, Junior is showing signs, and he has two studs from the state in Vander and Wilson who could break out.  He already has a four star switchable at least in the next two classes.  Does he really want to start over?  Who knows.  If he struggles at OU, it wouldn't help his resume to bounce around all the time.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I think we'll look back at some point and be happy we had Buzz at MU for 3 seasons.

I think most people are happy we've had Buzz for 3 seasons and hopefully many more.