The Everlasting Craptastical Mystery Thread

[MerrittsMustache]

SMU: AD and Prez that want him a lot
MU: AD and Prez that don't seem to care if he stays or not.

Based on...internet rumors?

[TJ]

Yeah sure, cause coaches are always truthful. I'd still doubt it, but I'm just making the point that if the administration is really pushing Buzz out then they better hell have great hire waiting in the wings that they are already talking to.

And I'm saying that you should look at Illinois if you want to put Shaka Smart and Brad Stevens on the top of your list.  Public/media reaction to nonissues like missing on your first two coaching candidates can be swift and harsh.

[Skatastrophy]

Based on...internet rumors?

Haha, seriously

[madtownwarrior]

C) Adding to the conspiracy is that Brian was on campus/at the game for senior day (or the game before that), pretty easy for LW to give him an informal interview at that point.


I did find it odd he was there on senior day...

[Golden Avalanche]

I've heard rumblings since October (pre-Larry Williams) that Buzz could be leaving and he wouldn't be stopped (the thought being every year our coach could leave but we always entice him to stay).  I still think the best play is for Buzz to dig his heels; MU is not going to fire him and he'll get a raise out of it to placate him.

Do you know anything deeper than that?

October isn't so far from April and it makes me wonder if the seat was getting itchy in the Autumn why wasn't it itchy enough to take a somewhat attractive job with Oklahoma or A&M? What happened over the summer?

Seemingly, from the outside, it looked like Buzz had handled the transition from Crean and was really setting a foundation last season and this season. He knows what he could do but the feeling of being undermined won't take long to rot that foundation and it seems to have been a matter of months rather than years in that rotting.

[NersEllenson]

I know you LOOOOOVEEEE buzz, but seriously. Top 5? He'll be competing with UT, A&M, Kansas, Oklahahoma and every other freaking school (its freaking Texas, they dont all lean to the in-state schools - especially ones with ZERO history or proof of success). I don't know how MU will do, but if we can keep the majority of the current team, we should be fine with a new coach and have a chance to build momentum with him (a la Buzz).

Many here continue to underestimate the just how much pull Buzz has with his players, players families, former players, etc.  Blue Chip recruits don't choose a school because of the school...they go to the school due to the coach.  Period.  Buzz can easily sell his track record at MU to recruits in Texas to get them to come to SMU.  Hell, he has to recruit nationally to get MU competitive - in Texas, he could probably just recruit regionally.  And...I can tell you it will be highly unlikely we will keep ANY of the incoming recruits..Burton, Wilson, Taylor, Taylor, etc..if Buzz leaves.

[Warriors10]

Based on...internet rumors?

Would we really have a 64 page thread if it was more than rumors?  This isn't K-State, A&M, or Oklahoma we are talking about, this is f**king SMU.  If you let Buzz go to SMU you are telling the world you didn't really want him.

[ZiggysChestHair]

Anything less than Phil Jackson and there's gonna be a riot.

Is it a conflict of interest for your head coach to be on the board?  Hopefully Doc is ready to step down for a move to Milwaukee or I agree about the riots.

[TJ]

MU: AD and Prez that don't seem to care if he stays or not.

according to anonymous internet message board postings, inferences based on nothing, rumor, hearsay, and nothing else.

[Freeport Warrior]

I'm sitting next to an old, rich alum waiting to get on a plane and he just told his buddy that Buzz is gone according to his source in admin. Said buzz had another heated meeting with Williams. Ugh.

[wadesworld]

How in the world would it make any sense that Buzz was on his way out BEFORE the moves in the administration?  So, the new AD and/or prez were told Buzz must be removed as coach at the end of the year in order for you to get this job?  I have my doubts about that.  Buzz didn't get along with Cottingham/Wilde?  Well, they're gone now.  That doesn't make one bit of sense.

[Aughnanure]

Many here continue to underestimate the just how much pull Buzz has with his players, players families, former players, etc.  Blue Chip recruits don't choose a school because of the school...they go to the school due to the coach.  Period.  Buzz can easily sell his track record at MU to recruits in Texas to get them to come to SMU.  Hell, he has to recruit nationally to get MU competitive - in Texas, he could probably just recruit regionally.  And...I can tell you it will be highly unlikely we will keep ANY of the incoming recruits..Burton, Wilson, Taylor, Taylor, etc..if Buzz leaves.

Blue Chips recruits have NEVER committed to Buzz. Buzz recruited as well as he did because he had MU to recruit them to. Let's see what he does for a bottom feeder CUSA team - its much harder than it looks.

[Warriors10]

Blue Chips recruits have NEVER committed to Buzz. Buzz recruited as well as he did because he had MU to recruit them to. Let's see what he does for a bottom feeder CUSA team - its much harder than it looks.

Harder?  Yes
Impossible?  No

[dw3dw3dw3]

And I'm saying that you should look at Illinois if you want to put Shaka Smart and Brad Stevens on the top of your list.  Public/media reaction to nonissues like missing on your first two coaching candidates can be swift and harsh.

If Buzz is pushed out, Shaka is not walking through that door. Don't even mention Brad Stevens. It's Chris Collins if he would take it under the new rules put in place and Brian if he doesn't. While I cringe at the thought of Chris Collins, and know he would absolutely use us as a stepping stone, I'm just not ready for the Brian Wardle experiment.

That's all made up in my head too, I don't have sources.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

How in the world would it make any sense that Buzz was on his way out BEFORE the moves in the administration?  So, the new AD and/or prez were told Buzz must be removed as coach at the end of the year in order for you to get this job?  I have my doubts about that.  Buzz didn't get along with Cottingham/Wilde?  Well, they're gone now.  That doesn't make one bit of sense.

Well, Pilarz and Larry might have the same plan/vision for MU (as Wild/Cottingham), and that might not jive with Buzz.

[StillAWarrior]

I'm finding it quite difficult to remain optimistic.  Too many posters who are typically reasonable and reliable are chiming in now.  There's a whole lot of smoke out there.

[4everwarriors]

Wardle hasn't done stink yet to command a job of this caliber. I would hope higher profile candidates would emerge.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Blue Chips recruits have NEVER committed to Buzz. Buzz recruited as well as he did because he had MU to recruit them to. Let's see what he does for a bottom feeder CUSA team - its much harder than it looks.

I actually heard SMU is going to put "Buzz" on the front of the jerseys instead of SMU.

[Niv Berkowitz]

HA!!!  Good stuff.  Sadly I think you're being serious.

SMU doesn't suddenly get UT's recruits because they have Buzz.  SMU doesn't suddenly ease their admissions requirements because they have Buzz.  SMU doesn't suddenly jump up to anything better than 5th best program in the state of Texas just because they have Buzz.  You don't think there will be scrutiny placed on a basketball coach making almost $3M per year?  Nothing would get easier for him; everything would be significantly harder.  I personally am a big fan of Buzz and I actually think he could slowly but surely make it work, but there will be no overnight success at SMU - with or without Buzz.  

This just in, all but maybe 5-7 programs are based mostly on the coach. The other 5-7 are built-in brands that have a leg-up no matter what (IU, Kansas, Duke, UNC, etc).

To say out of one side of your mouth that Buzz is a really great coach, but then poo poo his chances of being successful at SMU when he has shown he is successful at M freakin U is disengenous at best and moronic at worst.

Yeah, it's SMU, but so what? Buzz isn't an unproven commodity like he was when he got to MU. He had to work hard to convince kids to come here. Now, if he leaves? He has three kids that he coached in the NBA - two of whom were first rounders and one was an undrafted free agent who would have never gotten the opportunity had the former coach stuck around. Throw in the fact his love for the kids, the fact he has played a key role in turning "nice" players into stars (Butler, Hayward, Williams, Crowder, DJO)? I mean... just because there are other schools in Texas doesn't mean Buzz would suck there.

He's been recruiting nationally at MU. Why would he now fail just because he's physically located in the south? That makes zero sense.

[TallTitan34]

I hate everyone in this thread.  That includes myself.

[Pony in DC]

..

[brewcity77]

How in the world would it make any sense that Buzz was on his way out BEFORE the moves in the administration?  So, the new AD and/or prez were told Buzz must be removed as coach at the end of the year in order for you to get this job?  I have my doubts about that.  Buzz didn't get along with Cottingham/Wilde?  Well, they're gone now.  That doesn't make one bit of sense.

Hypothetically, because it's coming from the BOT. They saw a problem with S-Cot and Buzz, and knew Wilde was on his way out. So they found replacements that would be okay with making a change at the most visible position at the University, and would be okay with pushing out the most popular coach MU has had since Al McGuire.

Again, I don't know any of this for certain, but I highly doubt that this started with LW. I just can't picture him being foolish enough to try to make his name on Buzz's scalp. If Buzz is truly being pushed out, it's coming from above LW, and it's coming from people who think they can replace Buzz.

[LAZER]

If Buzz goes to SMU, he'll be there for a few years and make progress with the program and then move on to the next big gig that opens up.  If he continues to make progress at SMU it will certainly start a fire under Barnes's seat at UT.

[Goose]

Do you think MU would have the guts to publicly push Buzz out? I think Buzz staying will piss off some insiders but he is in the drivers seat. Last info I heard was not to worry...but think the thing is subject to change depending on the moment.

I still have high level of confidence he stays. That said, until something publicly is said I am worried.

[MerrittsMustache]

This just in, all but maybe 5-7 programs are based mostly on the coach. The other 5-7 are built-in brands that have a leg-up no matter what (IU, Kansas, Duke, UNC, etc).

To say out of one side of your mouth that Buzz is a really great coach, but then poo poo his chances of being successful at SMU when he has shown he is successful at M freakin U is disengenous at best and moronic at worst.

Yeah, it's SMU, but so what? Buzz isn't an unproven commodity like he was when he got to MU. He had to work hard to convince kids to come here. Now, if he leaves? He has three kids that he coached in the NBA - two of whom were first rounders and one was an undrafted free agent who would have never gotten the opportunity had the former coach stuck around. Throw in the fact his love for the kids, the fact he has played a key role in turning "nice" players into stars (Butler, Hayward, Williams, Crowder, DJO)? I mean... just because there are other schools in Texas doesn't mean Buzz would suck there.

He's been recruiting nationally at MU. Why would he now fail just because he's physically located in the south? That makes zero sense.

Buzz could also sell them on the fact that he took a small, private, urban university and made them into a nationally-recognized program. Honestly, how many 16-year-old ballers in Texas are even remotely familiar with MU's basketball tradition, other than knowing DWade went there?