Larry Williams' Expectations

[Blackhat]

If you were in Williams' position and you walk into a new office and see the money Buzz is making what would you set your expectations at?

I'd say NCAA every year and top half finishes in the BE at minimum.

[downtown85]

Yes, sounds reasonable.  I think that should be the expectations of everyone on this board as well.  However, even hall of fame coaches every couple of years don't make the NCAAs.  Teams have down years depending on the talent and maturity level of a given team. 

[Mr. Nielsen]

Solid on and off the court.

[🏀]

Larry Williams needs to spend more time worrying about our conference than Buzz.

[🏀]

If you were in Williams' position and you walk into a new office and see the money Buzz is making what would you set your expectations at?

I'd say NCAA every year and top half finishes in the BE at minimum.

TC would have been booted right quick.

[79Warrior]

TC would have been booted right quick.

TC is having a banner season at IU. They are NCAA bound and likely a high seed.

[jesmu84]

TC is having a banner season at IU. They are NCAA bound and likely a high seed.

True. But PTM's comment still holds true.

[Golden Avalanche]

If you were in Williams' position and you walk into a new office and see the money Buzz is making what would you set your expectations at?

I'd say NCAA every year and top half finishes in the BE at minimum.

That would have been for the last guy. We upgraded, remember?

Knowing that, I'd like to see this slide out of the top 5 finishes to end. We've regressed each season positionally. Fix it. And, given that an NCAA berth is expected, I'd like to see an Sweet Sixteen/Elite Eight run every third season.

[MUMac]

TC is having a banner season at IU. They are NCAA bound and likely a high seed.

What does that have to do with TC's performance at MU?  That is what the poster was commenting on.

[🏀]

TC is having a banner season at IU. They are NCAA bound and likely a high seed.

However, he went to the NIT more than the NCAA at Marquette.

[Blackhat]

I agree Crean probably got more leeway then should have been given, toward the latter years.   He built up A TON of cred with the FF run though.  But he was a tremendous marketer of his program and attendance was very good, key wins usually at home in conference, etc.    

Think Crean is a very good coach but had his limitations in recruiting.  Too bad MU didn't have a funnel Chicago AAU program that Crean could send funds to through the hiring of the HC's son.

Think things like ticket sales, etc. would also weigh into Williams' decision.

[lab_warrior]

TC is having a banner season at IU. They are NCAA bound and likely a high seed.

...and completely RIPE to get bounced by a solid lower seeded team in round 1 or 2.  BOOK IT.  IU is sooooo overrated.

[MuMark]

Make the NCAA every year huh? wow...get ready to fire Jamie Dixon and Jay Wright. Lets see Boeheim missed the tourny at least twice in the last 7 or 8 years. Ditto for Calhoun.

Boosters pay most of his salary so I doubt that will be much of a factor.

Play good ball, make the tourny most years, graduate the players, and keep attendance in the top 20 in the country.

[Golden Avalanche]

...and completely RIPE to get bounced by a solid lower seeded team in round 1 or 2.  BOOK IT.  IU is sooooo overrated.

Not sure.

They've beaten two likely #1 seeds.

I'd love to be a fan of an 'overrated' team that accomplished those wins.

[Blackhat]

Jamie Dixon has never not been to the NCAA's.   If Buzz wins a NC like Boeheim I'll give him a lot of passes.

But I could see missing a NCAA every 5th or 6th year, not every 3 years, I think that is reasonable.

[bilsu]

Williams did hire Buzz and Buzz has a longterm contract, so I do not think he worries about how Buzz does on the court. He would be concerned with anything that happens of the court.

[Blackhat]

Not sure.

They've beaten two likely #1 seeds.

I'd love to be a fan of an 'overrated' team that accomplished those wins.

Without looking at the numbers, my impression was Crean has always been very good at locking down home advantage, not so much in neutral court venues.

[Blackhat]

Williams did hire Buzz and Buzz has a longterm contract, so I do not think he worries about how Buzz does on the court. He would be concerned with anything that happens of the court.

Thought Buzz was a year to year kinda guy.   Not sure I want my Athletic Director to not be concerned with athletic performance at Marquette.

[Dr. Blackheart]

That MU wins the BE in football

[MuMark]

yeah but Dixon could easily miss this year......should he be fired if he does? Its a ridiculous standard.....

Everybody misses the tournament from time to time....Bo Ryan and Tom Izzo excluded.

[Blackhat]

I agree...I'll rephrase, consistent NCAA appearances with missing around 1 out of every 5 years would be my standards.

[RJax55]

Make the NCAA every year huh? wow...get ready to fire Jamie Dixon and Jay Wright. Lets see Boeheim missed the tourny at least twice in the last 7 or 8 years. Ditto for Calhoun.

Boosters pay most of his salary so I doubt that will be much of a factor.

Play good ball, make the tourny most years, graduate the players, and keep attendance in the top 20 in the country.

+1

We've made 6 tourneys in a row, a very nice run. Also, its bound to end sometime soon. I know there are some here that will completely freak out when that happens, but I don't see it as a big deal. Even the best programs have a year that's down (for various reasons). The question becomes, will MU rebound and be in the tourney that next season. If not, that's when I will become concerned about the program.

Question to Golden Avalanche... You know MU has only been to three Sweet 16s since Al left. So, do you really think that an expectation of a Sweet 16 or better 1 out of every 3 years is realistic for MU? Past history, wouldn't indicate it.

[🏀]

Not sure.

They've beaten two likely #1 seeds.

I'd love to be a fan of an 'overrated' team that accomplished those wins.

Let's see what happens away from Bloomington. They got a sure 5 losses on the road coming up and at least one or two losses at home.

[Blackhat]

+1

We've made 6 tourneys in a row, a very nice run. Also, its bound to end sometime soon. I know there are some here that will completely freak out when that happens, but I don't see it as a big deal. Even the best programs have a year that's down (for various reasons). The question becomes, will MU rebound and be in the tourney that next season. If not, that's when I will become concerned about the program.

Question to Golden Avalanche... You know MU has only been to three Sweet 16s since Al left. So, do you really think that an expectation of a Sweet 16 or better 1 out of every 3 years is realistic for MU? Past history, wouldn't indicate it.

We never paid our head coaches top 10-15 money until recently though.   Expectations should be congruous to salary, imo.

[tower912]

Not sure.

They've beaten two likely #1 seeds.

I'd love to be a fan of an 'overrated' team that accomplished those wins.

Check Crean's record away from home.   We have a better road win and two better neutral court wins than he does.    Having said that, he is doing what he needed to do.  He is locking down the best in-state talent.