How did this get blown so out of proportion?

[KenoshaWarrior]

Do you realize that this is essentially a non story outside of Milwaukee and Madison? 

It has literally been a 1 page blurb about it on espn and that is it!!

I am starting to believe that we are the one's who are making this a huge story.

[MattyWarrior]

Agreed! 100% Lets talk Marquette Basketball and look forward to Midnite Madness, the hell with Madison haters.

[National Champs]

I hate to say it, but scoop has been unreadable all summer. Buzz and the team can't even eat a bag of chips without wild speculation and conspiracy theories overflowing the site.

[4everwarriors]

Yeah, no one's talkin' about Wilson startin' for Seattle.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

Do you realize that this is essentially a non story outside of Milwaukee and Madison? 

It has literally been a 1 page blurb about it on espn and that is it!!

I am starting to believe that we are the one's who are making this a huge story.

The new AD killed Buzz-- the winningest coach in school history--and you don't even fucking care.

[Blackhat]

Does Buzz really have the best winning pct or are you just talking stupid?

[Groin_pull]

Why would you expect an MU story to garner big national press? This isn't a big story outside Milwaukee and Madison, because no one outside of those two areas gives a damn about MU hoops. And yes, it is a big deal. You have a coach who came very close to leaving for bottom feeding SMU. You have that same coach working for a different administration. And you have various player problems and suspensions. Add it up and you've got a situation that's definitely worth watching.

[🏀]

Regardless of region, its not a big story. Unless of course you let MUScoop make you believe its a big story

[Blackhat]

Frankly I wish Wild and Cottingham were still here.  I'm sure Pilarz and LW think they are saving us but MU standing up for our coach and letting them handle their problems was how it was under Wild.   Crean was never questioned when Hazel was stealing or Matthews assaulting coaches.   He had the backing of the admin.

A t-shirt and ride?  I don't know, like Majerus with pizza.  Lying, I don't know what proof they have, LW isn't required to share the proof.   Should have let Buzz handle this. MU basketball has become backstabbing and too dramatic.

[kryza]

Does Buzz really have the best winning pct or are you just talking stupid?

4th best, but he does have the highest wins per season average of any MU coach. Al McGuire is undoubtely #1 in season, conference, and tourney win percentage so far, but Buzz is top 2-3 in many of those categories. Either way, being in the top 5 in a storied program such as ours (in his 2nd head coaching job) is very very impressive.

[MerrittsMustache]

How did this get blown so out of proportion?

The simple answer: We live in a sports world where everyone needs to know everything about everything. With message boards, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc the general public is privy to significantly more information than they ever have before. That opens a lot of outlets for people who have no inside knowledge to pass of rumors as facts (or simply make up facts) and for those "facts" to take on a life of their own and spread incredibly quickly.

Think about it, Crean was flirting with other schools every offseason. Do you ever recall the university releasing a statement stating that he wasn't going anywhere?

[bilsu]

Why would you expect an MU story to garner big national press? This isn't a big story outside Milwaukee and Madison, because no one outside of those two areas gives a damn about MU hoops. And yes, it is a big deal. You have a coach who came very close to leaving for bottom feeding SMU. You have that same coach working for a different administration. And you have various player problems and suspensions. Add it up and you've got a situation that's definitely worth watching.

We do not know, if he was even close to leaving for SMU. Sure he talked to them, but it could have been just part of posturing for contract reasons or dealing with Larry Williams. Buzz did not go to SM. so why keep bringing it up.

In reply to another poster that stated he rather have Cottingham. The biggest problem happen under Cottingham's watch and in my opinion he did not handle it well. I am not convinced that Larry Williams has handled the press very well either, but I rather have an AD that wants to keep things in check even if it ruffles a few feathers. As far as Buzz, he is a smart man and even if his feathers get ruffled he will eventually realize it is for the best.

I see have a new set of assistants as a positive thing.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Fear. Anxiety. Emotion.

LW and Pilarz are an unknown commodity (at least to us), and that scares the hell out of some people.

There is nothing more to it.

REASONS FOR HOPE:
From a 50,000ft. view, the BOT, Pilarz, and LW all have experience with revenue producing sports at private schools. These appear to be competent men who know what they are doing, and have MU's best interest in mind. I don't think they are a group of jealous lovers out to recapture the spotlight from Buzz. If that is who they are, I don't think they would have gotten nor taken a job at MU.

This gives me hope, so my anxiety isn't as great as some.

Analogy: I don't always understand Buzz's substitutions and player rotations, but the dude knows what he is doing, so I don't get too uptight about it.

[brewcity77]

Yeah, there were horses, and a man on fire, and I killed a guy with a trident.


http://www.youtube.com/v/Uh7tgX_Uaqs

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Frankly I wish Wild and Cottingham were still here.  I'm sure Pilarz and LW think they are saving us but MU standing up for our coach and letting them handle their problems was how it was under Wild.   Crean was never questioned when Hazel was stealing or Matthews assaulting coaches.   He had the backing of the admin.

A t-shirt and ride?  I don't know, like Majerus with pizza.  Lying, I don't know what proof they have, LW isn't required to share the proof.   Should have let Buzz handle this. MU basketball has become backstabbing and too dramatic.

Regardless of the Crean stuff, I don't think you can have your HC as the sole judge and jury on this kind of stuff.

A coach's job security and paycheck is directly tied to wins, so his motivation is to create punishments that don't hurt his ability to win games.

It's like having your head of Sales be your head of Compliance. The sales guy makes commission on sales, so his motivation is to sell, sell, sell... not "comply", "comply", "comply".

In MU's situation, the AD and Head Coach need not be best friends, but do need to have a good professional relationship.

[The Equalizer]

Frankly I wish Wild and Cottingham were still here.  I'm sure Pilarz and LW think they are saving us but MU standing up for our coach and letting them handle their problems was how it was under Wild.   Crean was never questioned when Hazel was stealing or Matthews assaulting coaches.   He had the backing of the admin.

A t-shirt and ride?  I don't know, like Majerus with pizza.  Lying, I don't know what proof they have, LW isn't required to share the proof.   Should have let Buzz handle this. MU basketball has become backstabbing and too dramatic.

I think you're forgetting the context. This is not the first such incident MU had in the last year. Juan Anderson served a 3-game suspension for a similar violation.

I suppose you could nitpick and point out that Juan TOOK something improper, while Monarch GAVE one.  But, this isn't one of those fuzzy NCAA rules where its hard to know what you can and can't do.  

In my mind, the primary issue isn't the value of what Monarch allegedly handed out.  Its the fact that we had to go back to the NCAA and report our rules and compliance education post-Anderson has failed.

Just for a moment, try to take yourself out of the mindset of an MU fan defending every action to the death and try and put yourself in the NCAA's shoes.

What are they supposed to think about Marquette regarding the Monarch issue?  

I don't think its "Aw, shucks, it was just a t-shirt and a ride". I think its more along the lines of "I guess that 3 game suspension for Anderson didn't send a strong enough message."  

So in my opinion, MU came down on Monarch hard because we're no longer in a position to blame this on an isolated innocent mistake or wave it off as a low-value item. At this point, either Buzz didn't train his people appropriately, Monarch is an idiot, or Monarch intentionally disregared the rules.

I think we're applying a relatively severe self-imposed penalty in order to avoid something harsher from the NCAA.    

[GGGG]

Regardless of the Crean stuff, I don't think you can have your HC as the sole judge and jury on this kind of stuff.

A coach's job security and paycheck is directly tied to wins, so his motivation is to create punishments that don't hurt his ability to win games.

It's like having your head of Sales be your head of Compliance. The sales guy makes commission on sales, so his motivation is to sell, sell, sell... not "comply", "comply", "comply".

In MU's situation, the AD and Head Coach need not be best friends, but do need to have a good professional relationship.

I know from a fan's POV, having a successful coach being the judge and jury makes sense...and is even comforting.

However, in today's world, you simply cannot do that.  You cant have an athletic code that is applied to different sports in different ways, because for every coach that does things well, you have a handful of coaches that don't....and that is when the headlines start.

[MerrittsMustache]

Regardless of the Crean stuff, I don't think you can have your HC as the sole judge and jury on this kind of stuff.

A coach's job security and paycheck is directly tied to wins, so his motivation is to create punishments that don't hurt his ability to win games.

It's like having your head of Sales be your head of Compliance. The sales guy makes commission on sales, so his motivation is to sell, sell, sell... not "comply", "comply", "comply".

In MU's situation, the AD and Head Coach need not be best friends, but do need to have a good professional relationship.

One thing that I haven't heard anyone mention is the notion that it's always easier for a new boss to start off strict and then loosen up than it is to come in lax and then try to get tough. Perhaps LW is just coming in as the hardass and tightening the reins a little bit because he's the new man in charge...and the reins probably needed a bit of tightening.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I know from a fan's POV, having a successful coach being the judge and jury makes sense...and is even comforting.

However, in today's world, you simply cannot do that.  You cant have an athletic code that is applied to different sports in different ways, because for every coach that does things well, you have a handful of coaches that don't....and that is when the headlines start.

That 100% right.

Just so I'm clear with everybody reading, I'm talking about philosophically, not Buzz and Larry specifically.

I'm sure Buzz is a great guy, and would do the right thing. But, the system of an athletic department needs to have some checks and balances, even if it is uncomfortable.

Too much media, too much money, too much to lose to have it any other way. MU specifically, can't afford a scandal, and can't afford a crappy team... so you have to figure out how to be good and follow the rules.

Also, in all honesty, if a coach and AD develop a a good relationship, this can make the coach's job easier. He just has to clearly communicate with the AD, and let him make the call. The coach can concentrate of his/her sport instead of compliance issues. 

[ATL MU Warrior]

I think you're forgetting the context. This is not the first such incident MU had in the last year. Juan Anderson served a 3-game suspension for a similar violation.

I suppose you could nitpick and point out that Juan TOOK something improper, while Monarch GAVE one.  But, this isn't one of those fuzzy NCAA rules where its hard to know what you can and can't do.  

In my mind, the primary issue isn't the value of what Monarch allegedly handed out.  Its the fact that we had to go back to the NCAA and report our rules and compliance education post-Anderson has failed.

Just for a moment, try to take yourself out of the mindset of an MU fan defending every action to the death and try and put yourself in the NCAA's shoes.

What are they supposed to think about Marquette regarding the Monarch issue?  

I don't think its "Aw, shucks, it was just a t-shirt and a ride". I think its more along the lines of "I guess that 3 game suspension for Anderson didn't send a strong enough message."  

So in my opinion, MU came down on Monarch hard because we're no longer in a position to blame this on an isolated innocent mistake or wave it off as a low-value item. At this point, either Buzz didn't train his people appropriately, Monarch is an idiot, or Monarch intentionally disregared the rules.

I think we're applying a relatively severe self-imposed penalty in order to avoid something harsher from the NCAA.    

Nailed it.   

[frozena pizza]

I don't think this has been blown out of proportion at all.  Buzz has been suspended for a game and one of his most trusted assistants was fired for lying about NCAA violations.  Kind of a big deal if you ask me (and what else are we going to discuss in August?  The Packers?).

Maybe this is not a big story outside of Milwaukee, but the secondary violation that was reported was a line on the first page of espn.com.  I had friends from other parts of the country email it to me and ask what was going on.

[MUDPT]

I think most of the "issues" this off-season have a direct correlation to the success the last two seasons.  As a program, I think most of us realize, there is a steep slope from being a Providence (I'll ignore SLU) to a Georgetown (or other elite program).  The closer we get to being a Georgetown, the issues get more scrutinized.  While I think the firing and suspension should be taken seriously, I'm not sure how I would feel after a 15-14 NIT season.  Same thing happened with the move of the frosh and sophomores to Tower.  I think most of us see the success of the current coach and want things to continue in that direction and many feel we are close to being an elite program year after year.  Every little item that can set that back, will be made into a bigger issue.  Just my feelings.

I do wish the insiders will bless us with information, like classes started Monday and Mayo is on campus right?  And when is the Big East schedule coming out?  It came out the Wednesday before Labor Day last year, I think.

[bilsu]

I think most of the "issues" this off-season have a direct correlation to the success the last two seasons.  As a program, I think most of us realize, there is a steep slope from being a Providence (I'll ignore SLU) to a Georgetown (or other elite program).  The closer we get to being a Georgetown, the issues get more scrutinized.  While I think the firing and suspension should be taken seriously, I'm not sure how I would feel after a 15-14 NIT season.  Same thing happened with the move of the frosh and sophomores to Tower.  I think most of us see the success of the current coach and want things to continue in that direction and many feel we are close to being an elite program year after year.  Every little item that can set that back, will be made into a bigger issue.  Just my feelings.

I do wish the insiders will bless us with information, like classes started Monday and Mayo is on campus right?  And when is the Big East schedule coming out?  It came out the Wednesday before Labor Day last year, I think.

Two years ago they went from bubble team to winning two conference tournament games and then to sweet 16 on the way to a 22-15 record. One could argue that the poor record resulted from the team's outside troubles effecting the play during the regular season. Arguably that the troubles negatively impacted the team and almost cost them an NCAA bid.

[MUDPT]

Two years ago they went from bubble team to winning two conference tournament games and then to sweet 16 on the way to a 22-15 record. One could argue that the poor record resulted from the team's outside troubles effecting the play during the regular season. Arguably that the troubles negatively impacted the team and almost cost them an NCAA bid.

I can see that.

[Blackhat]

I can see the points you fellas are making.   Bottom line  we've built something special at MU over the last decade plus, we need to keep moving forward especially during this conference realignment period.