Durley granted release

[MUBurrow]

I was respoding to PTM. Talk to him if you think Courtney's opinion is irrelevant.

ohhh I see. the whole situation's got me all antsy in my pantsies. my b.

FWIW, I don't necessarily think its irrelevant prior to committing, but I think upon the LOI being signed, Courtney gave Durley away at the altar. Once Durley was married to Buzz, I'm not so sure Courtney's input is really worth much any more. Its kind of like I said when Endlund's interview first came out though - I think everything Courtney says from that interview onward is about maintaining his relationship with Buzz and Durley is just collateral damage.

[tower912]

I disagree, Sultan.   The Newbill situation felt far more 'squirmy' to me than this one.    This one feels like a kid failed to progress and, with Otule probably receiving a 6th year of eligibility, realized he was not going to see the floor for another 3 years.   I have no problem seeing this as being mutual. 

[warthog-driver]

I have no problem seeing this as being mutual. 

Not sure it was mutual but it is certainly merciful. If Durley wants to play ball it won't happen at MU for several years. Hopefully, Buzz is working the circuit to help the kid get something more appropriate for his skill set.

[tower912]

I'm trying to look at it from Durley's perspective.   I haven't played a lot of competitive minutes in two years.   It is unlikely I am going to see the floor until my third year at MU.   4 straight years of recovery and sitting the bench.   Stupid Otule.   Buzz and company came to me and told me that I wasn't going to play for until my third year and maybe I would be better off going somewhere else.    Which leads to the ....this hurts.....etc. tweet.     

I keep looking, but I just am not seeing a conspiracy here.   Unless you are of the opinion that this is Buzz's final go around at MU and he wants to win now and not build for the future. 

[warthog-driver]

I'm trying to look at it from Durley's perspective.   I haven't played a lot of competitive minutes in two years.   It is unlikely I am going to see the floor until my third year at MU.   4 straight years of recovery and sitting the bench.   Stupid Otule.   Buzz and company came to me and told me that I wasn't going to play for until my third year and maybe I would be better off going somewhere else.    Which leads to the ....this hurts.....etc. tweet.     

I keep looking, but I just am not seeing a conspiracy here.   Unless you are of the opinion that this is Buzz's final go around at MU and he wants to win now and not build for the future. 

We're together, Tower. I think the bottom line is that the kid not only did not progress but slid backwards. Buzz was honest and the future at MU was worse than bleak. We have no way of knowing what transpirted but MU cannot unilaterally pull the LOI; the kid/family have to agree.

[MerrittsMustache]

Yawn. The guy wasn't a Big East caliber player. It's best for both sides to move on.

[warthog-driver]

Yawn. The guy wasn't a Big East caliber player. It's best for both sides to move on.

Agree. But our neighbors to the west just can't seem to let go

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=193&f=2565&t=8924456

[The Process]

Agree. But our neighbors to the west just can't seem to let go

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=193&f=2565&t=8924456

But what does The Mouthpiece have to say about this?

[🏀]

I was respoding to PTM. Talk to him if you think Courtney's opinion is irrelevant.

Why would it be irrelevant? In your opinion, Durley and his family's opinion is irrelevant as well.

In Lenny's world...

[Hoopaloop]

No I don't think so.  I think it was "suggested" to Enlund that he interview the coach...pulled a few quotes to sell the story...and the stage was set for what occurred Friday.

That's what I said as well the other day.  Prepping the masses for the fact he isn't coming here by having him write that article and using various language to say he isn't up to par. 

[Blackhat]

Who had to be prepped for that?   The cat never played as a senior in high school. 

  If you couldn't see that coming, may God have mercy on your soul.

[Stretchdeltsig]

Amen.  Enough said.

[MerrittsMustache]

Agree. But our neighbors to the west just can't seem to let go

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=193&f=2565&t=8924456

Who cares what Badger fans think? They're going to find something to rip MU for no matter what.

[MUfan12]

The other factor to this potentially... Benford got done interviewing at North Texas late last week, and is the favorite for that job. That could be a landing spot for Aaron.

[Lennys Tap]

ohhh I see. the whole situation's got me all antsy in my pantsies. my b.

FWIW, I don't necessarily think its irrelevant prior to committing, but I think upon the LOI being signed, Courtney gave Durley away at the altar. Once Durley was married to Buzz, I'm not so sure Courtney's input is really worth much any more. Its kind of like I said when Endlund's interview first came out though - I think everything Courtney says from that interview onward is about maintaining his relationship with Buzz and Durley is just collateral damage.

Point well taken. Not a bad analogy.

[brewcity77]

The other factor to this potentially... Benford got done interviewing at North Texas late last week, and is the favorite for that job. That could be a landing spot for Aaron.

Reportedly was at UNT's spring football game, as well. Really like to see him get that gig, and if he brings Aaron along, I admit it would go a long way to easing my feeling about how this was handled.

[Bocephys]

The other factor to this potentially... Benford got done interviewing at North Texas late last week, and is the favorite for that job. That could be a landing spot for Aaron.

It'd be nice for Buzz to start building out his coaching tree, though losing Benford would hurt.

[real chili 83]

Is Benford strong enough and ready to be Bizz's replacement?

[TedBaxter]

New president and new AD at Marquette.  May want to go a different direction if Buzz leaves.

[Bocephys]

New president and new AD at Marquette.  May want to go a different direction if Buzz leaves.

That's the scary part.  "New direction" when you're currently experiencing on the court success usually leads to a mediocre hire.

[Hoopaloop]

Who had to be prepped for that?   The cat never played as a senior in high school. 

  If you couldn't see that coming, may God have mercy on your soul.

Mercy should be granted to a number of souls here.  Look at the Durley signing thread and the various threads since.  There are those of us that were always wondering why and another group that said he would be here and contribute at MU.

[cheebs09]

New president and new AD at Marquette.  May want to go a different direction if Buzz leaves.

Also, if the administration would want to push Buzz out, would Benford want to take over? Maybe the prestige of the MU job and money would be too tempting to turn down, but I'd wonder if Benford would see the same issues as head coach that Buzz is not pleased with.

[CTWarrior]

Having a kid sign a NLI means you are giving the kid your word that there is definitely a scholarship waiting for him unless he fails to qualify academically or something.  It also means that the kid is giving you his word that he will accept that scholarship.  So, other than mutual agreement (and mutual agreement does not mean "I found somebody else that I'd rather have, so please gracefully back out" or "a better school wants me now, so please let me go") I don't like the idea of going back on your word.  Your word is what defines you as a person.

Now, if I was Durley I would have originally figured, "Well, I probably won't play much as a freshman but I figure to get 10-12 mpg my sophomore year backing up Gardner."  If, after it became clear Otule was going to get a 6th year, I may have said to myself "As it stands, I'm not going to play until I'm a junior, and even then there's no guarantee."  If he and Buzz had a conversation and Durley decided based on the change of circumstance he wanted to go somewhere else and Buzz was good with that, then this is fine.  Of course I don't know which way it went, but based on that Durley tweet referenced in this thread I get the feeling that it was not a mutual decision, which makes me uncomfortable.  Hopefully Durley lands at a place that will make him happy.

[Hards Alumni]

Having a kid sign a NLI means you are giving the kid your word that there is definitely a scholarship waiting for him unless he fails to qualify academically or something.  It also means that the kid is giving you his word that he will accept that scholarship.  So, other than mutual agreement (and mutual agreement does not mean "I found somebody else that I'd rather have, so please gracefully back out" or "a better school wants me now, so please let me go") I don't like the idea of going back on your word.  Your word is what defines you as a person.

Now, if I was Durley I would have originally figured, "Well, I probably won't play much as a freshman but I figure to get 10-12 mpg my sophomore year backing up Gardner."  If, after it became clear Otule was going to get a 6th year, I may have said to myself "As it stands, I'm not going to play until I'm a junior, and even then there's no guarantee."  If he and Buzz had a conversation and Durley decided based on the change of circumstance he wanted to go somewhere else and Buzz was good with that, then this is fine.  Of course I don't know which way it went, but based on that Durley tweet referenced in this thread I get the feeling that it was not a mutual decision, which makes me uncomfortable.  Hopefully Durley lands at a place that will make him happy.

Honestly, I don't get it.  Why would it ever be anything than your second paragraph?  The writing was on the wall in plain English.  He was probably lead to the writing by Buzz, but he had to make the decision himself.  If Durley really was stubborn about it, Marquette would have had to honor the NLI that he signed.

You guys may feel squirmy about it, but in the end, it was Durley's decision whether or not he would be at Marquette this summer/fall.

[real chili 83]

Someone in an earlier post said that Durley had to request his release....it needed to be mutual.  Is that correct?

If that is the case, Enlund's choice to exclude that in his article would be most interesting.