Not a Buzz guy

[MerrittsMustache]

I disagree with him wholeheartedly, but Stone Cold has every right to say that he doesn't like Buzz and his coaching style. That doesn't make him a terrible fan or a crybaby. It makes him someone who doesn't like the coach or his coaching style. I know plenty of Wisconsin fans who don't like Bo's system but that doesn't mean they want the Badgers to lose. There are also a large number of Bears fans who cheer on their team passionately despite not liking Lovie's coaching philosophy. I thought (and still think) that the Cubs dropped the ball by hiring Piniella over Girardi  in '07 because I thought the team needed someone who ran a tighter ship. That doesn't mean I wanted them to go out and lose. It's a personal preference. Lighten up, people.

[NersEllenson]

I disagree with him wholeheartedly, but Stone Cold has every right to say that he doesn't like Buzz and his coaching style. That doesn't make him a terrible fan or a crybaby. It makes him someone who doesn't like the coach or his coaching style. I know plenty of Wisconsin fans who don't like Bo's system but that doesn't mean they want the Badgers to lose. There are also a large number of Bears fans who cheer on their team passionately despite not liking Lovie's coaching philosophy. I thought (and still think) that the Cubs dropped the ball by hiring Piniella over Girardi  in '07 because I thought the team needed someone who ran a tighter ship. That doesn't mean I wanted them to go out and lose. It's a personal preference. Lighten up, people.

No it doesn't make him a terrible fan or a crybaby - just a knee jerk reacting fan, who lacks perspective.  That said, your point has merit.

[NavinRJohnson]

Coaching College is probably 1/3 recruiting

Try doubling that...at least!

Your style is a huge element in recruiting and the players you go after or attract. I would like MU to play better D too, but winning in college ball is about the talent you put on the floor. If I have my choice between talent or great defensive players, I'll take the talent. Hopefully you get enough of both, and I do think they will get better defensively, but I am not going to pine away for the days of Kevin O'Neill when we led the nation on defense because its the only way we could win.

[Golden Avalanche]

I love our defense and the ball pressure. LSU made some tough shots and we played poor offensively. To me best part is we could have still won the game. I'll take this type of D for the next ten years.

Do you really love our defense?

I agree on the pressure. Love they play hard (except last night). But rotations are slow, our front is breached more then typical, and we rarely block out.

The theory isn't bad. The execution can be.

[Warrior3211]

Jimmy was drafted because he plays great defense. Wes has made a living in the NBA because he plays great defense. I realize Wes only played for Buzz for one year, but even so.  Everyone is entitled to their opinion about the coaching and how we play defense, but we're not a horrible defensive team. If you ask me, it's a work in progress.  Our defense is getting stronger every year.

Vander, Derrick Wilson, Otule, and Jamil Wilson are young guys who play great defense (minus Otule being a young guy). Mayo is a guy that nobody expected to even play defense, and he has still been solid on that end.

I don't think there is a coach in the NCAA who has more class and demands more from his players than Buzz Williams. You gotta at least respect the guy.

[Warrior3211]

Do you really love our defense?

I agree on the pressure. Love they play hard (except last night). But rotations are slow, our front is breached more then typical, and we rarely block out.

The theory isn't bad. The execution can be.

+1

Agreed that blocking out is a problem, especially last night on some of those put back dunks.

[Windyplayer]

Buzz doesn't learn to coach defense don't be surprised if the loses stack up for a sub .500 BE year.    We were .500 last year and early signs aren't good despite our "hot" start (UW only good win).  

Yes, our only good win came on the road in a hostile environment against a top 13 team in the nation. Don't minimize that win by putting it in parenthesis. That win was huge in terms of tourney seeding. We've played ten games so we haven't had a lot of chances to accumulate quality wins, but the one chance we did have, we took advantage of. We stumbled last night--on the road against a big SEC team--it happens.

Your incendiary posts are attention-grabbing but nothing more. If you're going to post something as dramatic about Buzz, be sure to back it up with statistics and real insight. You're entitled to post what you want--but for the good of the board, be responsible when you do so.

[Lennys Tap]

I consider 3 factors when evaluating a college coach: recruiting, coaching (player development, game planning and "in game" strategy) and character. I've followed MU very closely for 45 years. Buzz is our best recruiter since AL, our best "coach" since KO (with a much higher ceiling) and the best human being to lead the program since Hank. Marquette fans with any knowledge/historical perspective should be ecstatic, but just as Al had his few vocal detractors and so will Buzz. Every loss brings them out of the closet - it's the nature of the beast.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Do you really love our defense?

I agree on the pressure. Love they play hard (except last night). But rotations are slow, our front is breached more then typical, and we rarely block out.

The theory isn't bad. The execution can be.

Agree. It's a strict team defense where you are guarding a "man", but you have a lot of rotation responsibilities (like a zone).

When the rotations are tight (see Wisconsin), it looks like MU has 6 guys playing defense.

When the rotations are a 1/2 step slow, there are open shots and MU can look lost.

Also, LSU got hot and made baskets. Sometimes that happens.

[Silkk the Shaka]

I consider 3 factors when evaluating a college coach: recruiting, coaching (player development, game planning and "in game" strategy) and character. I've followed MU very closely for 45 years. Buzz is our best recruiter since AL, our best "coach" since KO (with a much higher ceiling) and the best human being to lead the program since Hank. Marquette fans with any knowledge/historical perspective should be ecstatic, but just as Al had his few vocal detractors and so will Buzz. Every loss brings them out of the closet - it's the nature of the beast.

+turkey

[Silkk the Shaka]

This defense really misses Otule.  It works when you have a shot blocker/space eater down low to allow the guards to take risks and minimize the need to double down on the post.  When we're playing without a true center for 15-20 mpg, we're going to get exposed.  Really need Otule back healthy to reach our full potential.

[godzilla]

Coaching College is probably 1/3 recruiting which I think Buzz has done better then any coach since AL (I would like him to take more chances on Bigs then again Roseboro, Mbao, McMorrow did not work out)
1/3 is getting to player's to work hard, buy into your system, communicating and getting the most out of there IND talent.  Buzz has done this pretty well.  WES, Lazar, Jimmy,  got better under Buzz and more then likely DJO will all be drafted.

Lastly 1/3 is Coaching and scheme.  I would say of the 3 this is Buzz's weakest link but he still has not been bad.  We have won just as many games Vs teams that were clearly better then us as we have lost against teams that were clearly worse. He is also still Young and only in his 5th year of head coaching.  How many 5th year coach's that are 40 are great game coach's?

Buzz may be young, but it's pretty evident that this is what his defense will always look like.  The opposition gets a huge number of wide open 3 pt shot looks during a game and MU's W/L will depend on if they have an off shooting night.  We've all watched it year after year after year now and it won't change.  And, really, when you look at the schedule, MU's record is about where it should be based on the weak competition so far and 10-1 is no great achievement.

[tower912]

I am guessing that our defensive scheme is different with Otule in there.   I am guessing there is less doubling the post, and therefore less help and recovery, and therefore better 3 pt defense this year.    I am sure eventually Henry Sugar will eventually be able to tell us. 

[Silkk the Shaka]

I am guessing that our defensive scheme is different with Otule in there.   I am guessing there is less doubling the post, and therefore less help and recovery, and therefore better 3 pt defense this year.    I am sure eventually Henry Sugar will eventually be able to tell us. 

My thoughts exactly.

[GGGG]

Thanks for your perspective Chicos.

[Skitch]

From the original post in this thread, who is Buzz's "mini me"?

[dgies9156]

I am guessing that our defensive scheme is different with Otule in there.   I am guessing there is less doubling the post, and therefore less help and recovery, and therefore better 3 pt defense this year.    I am sure eventually Henry Sugar will eventually be able to tell us. 

Oh for chrissakes, it is one frickin loss! We've never had an undefeated season. Look, if we're losing games like this in February and early March, then complain. But dudes, it is early season, we were on the road, the guys just came off exams and face it, nobody's perfect -- at least not since UCLA in the 1970s.

Talk to me if DePaul and South Florida beat us. Until then, go take a tranquilizer.

[bamamarquettefan]

LSU shot 58% usually shoots 38%....that's been a theme with Buzz.

Buzz doesn't learn to coach defense don't be surprised if the loses stack up for a sub .500 BE year.    We were .500 last year and early signs aren't good despite our "hot" start (UW only good win).  

Hey I'm happy for Marquette just had to get that off my chest.  

You taking wagers on not going .500 in the big east? That's insane.

If by "only good win" you mean "only team in the country to beat pomeroy's no. 1 team in their own gym," then I guess I get it.  As I mentioned last year, Kansas went the whole year without beating a top 50 team on the road.  We haven't been ranked in 2 years and this gets posted when we are no.10 and 10-1? Unbelievable.

[bamamarquettefan]

LSU shot 58% usually shoots 38%....that's been a theme

Do you even look at stats before posting about them?  Adjusted for opponents, MU gives up less than .91 points per trip down the court - so 10 percent fewer points allowed than average.

Teams shooting 20 percent higher against MU than they average scoring? Please give us a list of how many times that has happened. Here's a clue - teams are having trouble shooting 40 percent against MU, one of the lowest totals in the country, so I assume you will find that most teams were shooting 20 percent before playing MU.  I mean really, why post if you are going to just make stuff up that 2 minutes of pulling up a web site is going to show is completely false.

[avid1010]

I don't think he even looks at the score of the game before posting...we gave up 67 points.  Do that every night and we'll be just fine. 

[Lighthouse 84]

face it, nobody's perfect -- at least not since UCLA in the 1970s.

Actually, I think it was I-4 in 1976.....but I digress.

[muarmy81]

I'm a buzz guy.

[MUMac]

Actually, I think it was I-4 in 1976.....but I digress.

That game was when I started to dislike Indiana.  #1 vs #2 in the Elite 8 game.  Damn that Quinn Buckner.  Had a hard time cheering for him with the Bucks because of his performance that day!

[muzzwilliams]

Buzz is the last person we should be pointing the finger at. He's done a great job in my opinion. This thread should be removed.

[4everwarriors]

Guaranteed on the other board it would be. Is that what you really want, Gestapo journalism? Let freedom ring.