Did recruiting just get a tad bit easier?

[lurch91]

You have to think with Buzz's success over the last 3 years recruits would pay notice that he can lead and coach.  But with the notoriety of a Sweet 16 berth give Buzz that extra edge.

It's been argued ad nauseum that Crean could never translate his Final Four run into recruiting success, but I think it might be a bit different with this year's team.

It was easy to point to D Wade on the Final Four team and say if it weren't for him Marquette would never have made it that far.  This year's team is just that - a team.  We have solid contributors this year, but no one that just dominates a game.  They win with a true team effort. 

You have to think that this will open a few more doors to recruits that wouldn't normally think of Marquette.

[Litehouse]

I think it has to, especially since the biggest knock on Buzz was that he was unknown and unproven.  Kinda like Bob Hurley's comment how he didn't know who Buzz Williams was when Taylor was backing out of his commitment.  The recognition certainly can't hurt.

[TallTitan34]

It was easy to point to D Wade on the Final Four team and say if it weren't for him Marquette would never have made it that far. 

I agree with you, however, while Wade was the driving force to the Final Four, the rest of the team helped get them there as well.  Without Diener, Novak, or Jackson they wouldn't have gone near as far as they did.

[Stretchdeltsig]

Excellent comment.  Recruits should definitely want to play at MU.  Buzz should be able to sign the best talent now.  Hopefully, it will be an "air craft carrier."

[lurch91]

I agree with you, however, while Wade was the driving force to the Final Four, the rest of the team helped get them there as well.  Without Diener, Novak, or Jackson they wouldn't have gone near as far as they did.

Very true!  Was at the MU vs Mizzou game that year in Indy.  Without Karon Bradley we don't go to over time.  Looking at both teams, Crean had three future NBA players (one a lottery pick), looking at this years team I'm not sure there I could say the same.

I'd love to be able to watch JFB (wish Gus would have called him that just ONCE this weekend - "JFB with the steal!" or "Jimmy F. Butler with the rebound") in the NBA, I think DJO and maybe Crowder have a shot too, but all three need a lot of luck and work to make it.

[willie warrior]

I would like to believe that it did, but the proof is in the pudding. When we land a top 25 stud, you will know for sure. Let's not forget, we only have, I believe one schollie lft for the next two classes, and in today's easy forget society, it is all what have you done lately?

[mu_hilltopper]

<sarcasm> Well, for sure every good juco kid will be absolutely beating down the door into Buzz's office.

[Goose]

MUhilltopper--Know you were teasing but I hope they are. I am big JUCO backer and hope they are knocking the door down.

[brewcity77]

I would like to believe that it did, but the proof is in the pudding. When we land a top 25 stud, you will know for sure. Let's not forget, we only have, I believe one schollie lft for the next two classes, and in today's easy forget society, it is all what have you done lately?

+1

We have one schollie for each of the next two classes, but until I see us land that surprise kid, I'm going to hedge my bets. I hope Buzz can make the most of this run and this extra attention.

One thing that I do hope, and some may disagree, but I really hope that Buzz sticks with "Buzz guys". Looking at people we've brought in, they seem to be the types of players that fit the system and the personality we have here. I have no doubt that Buzz is already in on a number of guys, and I don't want the success to lead him away from the types of people he has already identified as potential future Warriors. I want this to help recruiting, but I also want the kinds of kids coming in that are already here. This may convince some guys that are considering Marquette that it's the right place, but I don't want to suddenly upset the applecart.

[Niv Berkowitz]

The big thing MU has w/Buzz over the Crean era right now is a track record.

With Crean, everyone saw the build-up, but the main catalyst that did it all was Wade (yes, I know, Diener...team...but let that slide for a second). Wade led that team to the Final Four and everyone knew he was going pro after that. What had Crean done pre-Wade to entice recruits? Yes, he was up and coming and the program was moving in the right direction, but the jury was still out on Tom nationally, I think.

It wasn't hard for other coaches to recruit against Crean with "yeah, but he just rode Wade's coattails". We all know that's not totally true, but it was something you could say and get a flicker of doubt in their minds.

Today - thanks to Crean laying the foundation - MU has been in the national spotlight for almost a decade now, and 5 years in the Big East. Enter the Buzz era. Throw in the make-up of the team these last three years under Buzz and and I think Buzz has created a perception about him. And that has transitioned over to the program.

Scrappy. Tough. Fighters. But more importantly....Teamwork.

I think recruits/people now know what they are getting out of MU and Buzz. And THAT is what's going to translate to future recruiting success.

[ATWizJr]

MUhilltopper--Know you were teasing but I hope they are. I am big JUCO backer and hope they are knocking the door down.

Agree.  I know Hilltopper was teasing, but, John Wooden had lots of JUCO's playing for UCLA.

[GOO]

Look what Buzz did as an unknown coach.  Now it only gets easier.  It has to be a lot easier even before this win, from where he was when he took over. 
As for the JUCO's, bring them on.  He is bringing in good citizens/people.  I don't care where they come from, but the harder the path to MU, the better it fulfills MU's mission.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Buzz makes it about the players and that will help recruiting.

And I'll tell you, some of us follow this team so closely it's hard to look at us without an impartial eye. But a lot of my friends really like watching us. They like "the guy with the dreads," "that lefty" and "Jimmy." We're a really likable team with colorful uniforms, a colorful coach and that translates really well on television.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Buzz makes it about the players and that will help recruiting.

And I'll tell you, some of us follow this team so closely it's hard to look at us without an impartial eye. But a lot of my friends really like watching us. They like "the guy with the dreads," "that lefty" and "Jimmy." We're a really likable team with colorful uniforms, a colorful coach and that translates really well on television.

+1. Adding heart.  With all the tough losses, I never saw this team quit.  Was fun watching the game live in the midst of the players families, friends, girlfriends. They were all a bigger wreck than I was but were so excited.  But the other schools here loved our spirit and heart. Having Buzzer enter the stands was a sight to see.  Even got a Fr. Wild hug in too. I was high fived by a policeman on the way out of the Q. Last time that happened, the cop slapped the cuffs on me.  

I do also have to compliment MU's Athletic Department. The whole weekend was planned out and arranged for. Tickets, events, shuttles, parties.  Class acts.

[T-Bone]

Playing devil's advocate here...

Who do we think we signed as a result of getting to the Final 4?  The Big 3? 

2004 - Ammo, Berkowitz, Barro
2005 - Burke, Big 3, *cough* Mortensen
2006 - Lazar, Cubilian, Acker
2007 - Christopherson, Mbakwe, Hazel, Saunders, Frozena!
2008 - Otule, N. Williams, T. Taylor

I have no idea when any of those guys committed.  So, just looking at it I couldn't really say if any of them have a direct correlation to the Final 4 appearance.

It clearly helps the national exposure.  And that can't hurt. 
I suppose a better analysis might be to compare previous recruits on a geographic/star-rating basis, but it's Monday and I've got some work to do. 

[Niv Berkowitz]

To be fair, you can't judge a post-final four or nice NCAA tourney run's class until the year after. That's because most programs, by this time, and all but maybe one schollie even available. You are really setting yourself up for (potentially) a nice fall early signing period of seniors-to-be.