And now the Buzz coaching his way to UCLA angle

[nathanziarek]

As soon as our season ends, whenever it ends, offer Buzz a big new contract. We need to do all we can to keep him.

Either we're a program that supports the team with budget dollars, charters, great facilities and fan support or we're a low-rung team who's only recourse is buy someone off.

Buzz should be paid what he's worth (and we'd all argue that's a hefty sum), but continually needing to lavish money on him to get him to stay doesn't sound like a big time program to me. At some point we'll reach our limit. And, is that the kind of coach we want ... someone only in it for the money? There's no stability there.

[kmwtrucks]

Having a new AD and Pres rework your contract with a raise after a Big East Champ and elite 8 is a sign of respect and appreciation of what he has accomplished.  They better do it.

The question about money is what is he worth to us?  And what is he worth to other schools.  I'm not sure if Buzz makes as much as is reported. 

[macman320]

I think you're correct. I just looked at this page:

http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=9&c=8&cfg=bb&toinid=365&yr=2008

And I sort of assumed  that Nat'l Rank meant overall, not position. I think it's the position rank though.

Regardless of rankings, Nivs point about a sweet class coming in ALREADY, is huge. Crean had good recruits after the ff, but he couldn't load the cupboard enough to make another run. We were four deep under Crean after the ff. Buzz just keeps reloading, no two year NIT trips in between.

[muvanwilder]

I truthfully have no current knowledge of the Buzz situation, but he sure looks like a guy building a program and not running out the door. Maybe I am allowing excitement of the NCAA to cloud my judgement, but I cannot see any reason to leave now. He has put to much work and energy into getting MU to this level I would hate to see him go do it all over again somewhere else. He is almost at level that he can ease off the gas a bit and share work with the staff. I seriously hope Buzz is enjoying the ride because it has been a great one to watch.

Completely agree.  MU has been a great BBall program for the past 10 yrs.  Why wouldn't Buzz be able to turn MU into an ELITE like Duke and Coach K?  With the success Buzz has had the past few yrs we are on track.
If Buzz keeps winning like he is currently, and keeps putting athletes in the NBA, then he will start being able to get the 5 star athletes or his choice of who he wants.  He is already close to it with his recruiting now.

[brewcity77]

Vitale commented that Buzz is a new hot commodity in college basketball, implying that MU is not a top tier program. He remains a true ass.

Also implying that he hasn't been paying attention the past 3 years. Buzz is far from a "new" hot commodity.

[Groin_pull]

Also implying that he hasn't been paying attention the past 3 years. Buzz is far from a "new" hot commodity.

While annoying, I certainly hope you're not taking Dukie V's comments too seriously. He's a joke. A sad relic who stopped doing his homework about 15 years ago. Now, it's the same tired schtick over and over and over again.

[Otule's Glass Eye]

Katz on ESPN talking about how coaches like Buzz, Stevens, etc., have great facilities, flying situations, salaries, better people around them, better team situations, and that they shouldn't go anywhere.

[Pakuni]

Katz on ESPN talking about how coaches like Buzz, Stevens, etc., have great facilities, flying situations, salaries, better people around them, better team situations, and that they shouldn't go anywhere.

Here's the audio of him discussing the same on the radio. Starts around the 3:00 mark.

http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=9112263

[Marquette_g]

Katz on ESPN talking about how coaches like Buzz, Stevens, etc., have great facilities, flying situations, salaries, better people around them, better team situations, and that they shouldn't go anywhere.

Despite the fact that he talks out of both sides of his mouth, this might be one of the better things this badger has said.

[muhoops1]

This isn't really true, Crean had:

Nick Williams - Ranked #36 overall by Scout
Tyshawn Taylor - Ranked #20 overall by Scout

They were pretty highly touted.

He also brought in Carlton Christian and several other humps.  His recruiting was full of holes.  It was a hodge podge.  IU covers up a lot of his blemishes in terms of recruiting.  I used to hate on Buzz.  I am eating my crow and liking it.

[keefe]

Crean's last class doesn't touch the one Buzz has coming in next year.

Crean's last class followed him to IU or went to KU. Buckley and the other guy were in candy canes and red polos and flying to Mobile the day after Crean's April Fool Treachery.

[Dawson Rental]

Vitale commented that Buzz is a new hot commodity in college basketball, implying that MU is not a top tier program. He remains a true ass.

I guess we should be glad that Buzz wasn't hot last year.  The pathetic thing is that Vitale thought he was being complementary.

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

Great thing about the run this year is that it makes it indefensible to push Buzz out even if LW had an inkling to do that. His job as AD of Marquette is primarily to win conference championships and go deep in the tourney.

The point Katz makes might point to the door closing on the era of coaching carousels a bit. The new model may be the one MU executed with Buzz (though not foreseen).... Develop your coaching talent and culture from within and promote from within.

If UCLA can't poach coaches making half as much at Butler and VCU then what chance do other programs have? With the exception of a coach unhappy at his current gig, you may not see too many takers. What does that mean for UCLA? Promote from within. Duke and UNC have that tradition to be able to hire a former assistant once Coaches Williams/K hang it up, and MU needs to go that way too... Similar to Michigan football.

If MU increases its reputation for getting not just players to the NBA but also assistants to HC jobs elsewhere, it becomes a much more attractive job for Buzz. This is an all-volunteer workforce at the level we compensate. These extra things matter to attract talent and a long term culture of excellence.

[GGGG]

Great thing about the run this year is that it makes it indefensible to push Buzz out even if LW had an incline to do that. His job as AD of Marquette is primarily to win conferensc championships and go deep in the tourney.

The question was never if LW was going to push Buzz out...it was whether or not Buzz is going to leave at his own accord.

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

The question was never if LW was going to push Buzz out...it was whether or not Buzz is going to leave at his own accord.

speak for yourself

[GGGG]

speak for yourself

Well then you were worrying over nothing.  LW was never going to push Buzz out.

[keefe]

It's one thing for Gonzaga to be doing it from Spokane... the remote location makes a charter very expensive and your options are limited.  It's a completely other thing to do it out of LA with tons of charters available.  

This isn't actually correct

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

Well then you were worrying over nothing.  LW was never going to push Buzz out.

cool thanks bro - your agreeing sounds a lot like disagreeing. It's an attractive trait.

[The Equalizer]

It's one thing for Gonzaga to be doing it from Spokane... the remote location makes a charter very expensive and your options are limited.  It's a completely other thing to do it out of LA with tons of charters available.  

Even for situations like the post-season, it seems crazy since tourney wins are so valuable $$$.  It's not worth running into hassles and ruining your team's mojo or mindset.  This is coming from a person who flies weekly for a living... traveling commercial doesn't make things easier and there are always unforeseen headaches.  Would be great to avoid it.

This is why Buzz creates routines for the players (ie staying in hotels in Milwaukee the night before games.)  It takes away unnecessary and unneeded headaches, so they players can focus on the game and feel comfortable.

I'm not passing judgement on the value of charters over commercial.  

Just pointing out that its quite a leap from UCLA taking one commercial flight for a tournament game to an assumption that the job isn't attractive becuase they don't get charter flights.

It may well have been a unique set of circumstances--not a sign that UCLA doesnt' support their program.  

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

Well then you were worrying over nothing.  LW was never going to push Buzz out.

not sure if you missed the year + of "Hiroshima" talk on here? There are a handful of posts you might want to reference in which a few scoopers felt that was going to be the case.

We're not hooked up with the psychic resources you are.

[Aughnanure]

not sure if you missed the year + of "Hiroshima" talk on here? There are a handful of posts you might want to reference in which a few scoopers felt that was going to be the case.

We're not hooked up with the psychic resources you are.

No he didn't. LW wasn't ever going to push him out. The worry was that LW was making Buzz unhappy and he therefore might jump.

[GGGG]

No he didn't. LW wasn't ever going to push him out. The worry was that LW was making Buzz unhappy and he therefore might jump.

+1.  Bingo.

[Dawson Rental]

Have to be able to lock up our coaches for the long term to take that next step to elite.

We have the coach now the ball is in MU's hands.

Elite means not having to "lock up" a coach.

[79Warrior]

This isn't really true, Crean had:

Nick Williams - Ranked #36 overall by Scout
Tyshawn Taylor - Ranked #20 overall by Scout

They were pretty highly touted.

Wasn't mbwake there also?

[Dawson Rental]

Great thing about the run this year is that it makes it indefensible to push Buzz out even if LW had an inkling to do that. His job as AD of Marquette is primarily to win conference championships and go deep in the tourney.

The point Katz makes might point to the door closing on the era of coaching carousels a bit. The new model may be the one MU executed with Buzz (though not foreseen).... Develop your coaching talent and culture from within and promote from within.

If UCLA can't poach coaches making half as much at Butler and VCU then what chance do other programs have? With the exception of a coach unhappy at his current gig, you may not see too many takers. What does that mean for UCLA? Promote from within. Duke and UNC have that tradition to be able to hire a former assistant once Coaches Williams/K hang it up, and MU needs to go that way too... Similar to Michigan football.

If MU increases its reputation for getting not just players to the NBA but also assistants to HC jobs elsewhere, it becomes a much more attractive job for Buzz. This is an all-volunteer workforce at the level we compensate. These extra things matter to attract talent and a long term culture of excellence.

I seem to remember that Buzz had to go to LW to get approval to offer Chew a nice raise (above what Buzz was typically authorized to offer an assistant coaching candidate) when he was wooing him from Illinois.