Steve Fisher is......

[The Sultan of Silly]

An excellent coach.  I watched him take over for an underachieving Michigan team in 1989 right before the tournament and then have them run the table to a national title.  I also watched him take the Fab 5 to two national title games....the 2nd year was more impressive as they Fab 5 was much maligned by the media as having a sophomore slump yet still almost beat UNC for the national title before Chris Weber iced it for UNC with the world's most famous time-out call. 

Bottom line is this will be another major early season test for Buzz and Marquette as Fisher is a smart and experienced coach with talent to work with and will be a very close and stressful game to watch which should go down to the last minute. 

My favorite MU teams under Buzz where the three amigos in their senior year (looked like a Final 4 team in February before the Dom James injury) and the Jae Crowder senior year team.  Both those teams had incredible team speed where we forced turnovers and got to every loose ball and would quickly convert them into easy baskets at the other end to make up for our lack of size (even Jae Crowder a 4 led the league in steals I believe).  Right now Jake Thomas might be a good 3 point shooter but defensively he doesn't give MU that typical team speed that puts fear in other teams that we typically have and could with Mayo and JJJ getting 30 combined minutes to Jake's 10 minutes.  Also the same could be said for Derick Wilson even though in fairness he should be getting a lot of minutes with Duane Wilson out, I just wish Dawson would 15 minutes vs. 8 minutes.  And Juan Anderson has me most perplexed as he is a great kid but a limited player....once again I think Deonte Burton should be getting more of his minutes. 

I also agree with those who say Buzz sees these guys in practice all the time and maybe he is trying to get the younger players to put what they did in high school at the door and learn to work super hard in earning minutes through what you do in practice.  High school kids now have youtube videos promoting their perceived "greatness" before they play one minute in college basketball and Buzz wants to break them down before building them back up. 

HOWEVER you are also judged as a head coach by wins and losses and this is an important game that we need to win to start to ensure in March what seed we'll be instead of if we'll make it or not.  Kentucky wins with freshmen and so can we as our freshmen are also very talented.  A win today will give us confidence and swagger that we can go into Madison next Saturday and win our third straight against the Badgers which I can't remember the last time either team did that in the series and will send huge shock waves across the state. 

Please Buzz coach a good game tonight and rotate like a hockey team until certain players manifest the hot hand and go with them to bring it home. 

I want to predict a MU victory but I don't have a gut feeling either way at this point.  Go MU regardless! 

[We R Final Four]

.......old.

[MU82]

... a guy who could have been played on the big screen by James Stewart.

Looks a little like him and sounds a lot like him!

[GGGG]

Right now Jake Thomas might be a good 3 point shooter but defensively he doesn't give MU that typical team speed that puts fear in other teams that we typically have and could with Mayo and JJJ getting 30 combined minutes to Jake's 10 minutes. 

And Juan Anderson has me most perplexed as he is a great kid but a limited player....once again I think Deonte Burton should be getting more of his minutes. 

Couple things.  Jake plays very well within the team defense.  He is always where he needs to be.  JJJ has been slow in rotations, and Todd can kind of zone out.  Buzz trusts him.

Anyone who questions Juan's value needs to go back and watch the first 8 minutes or so of the GW game.  Rebounding machine and a good perimeter defender.  Deonte has really been struggling on the defensive end and doesn't rebound nearly at the same rate.  Furthermore, Juan is actually shooting better than Deonte from both 2 and 3, and the FT line.  Deonte will have his time, but that time isn't now.

[VegasWarrior77]

a savvy coach with great assistants who has a top ten recruiting class coming in next year.

[GooooMarquette]

Anyone who questions Juan's value needs to go back and watch the first 8 minutes or so of the GW game.  Rebounding machine and a good perimeter defender.  Deonte has really been struggling on the defensive end and doesn't rebound nearly at the same rate.  Furthermore, Juan is actually shooting better than Deonte from both 2 and 3, and the FT line.  Deonte will have his time, but that time isn't now.

Totally agree.  Juan earns every minute he gets.

[Dawson Rental]

...able to get his freshmen ready to play quicker than Buzz can.  
Winston Shepard last year, Matt Shrigley this year.  Shrigley who was less lauded than JJJ as a HS senior is already averaging almost 19 minutes a game.

I don't know why.  Less complicated offense/defense?  Or is he more willing to let them make mistakes and learn from them?

Edit: Shrigley didn't come along as quickly as I thought, I just found out that he is a redshirt freshman.

[GGGG]

Matt Shrigley...18.6 mpg, 9.6ppg, 1.2 rpg, 0.8apg
JuJuan Johnson...17.5 mpg, 6.5 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 1.2 apg

Not too much of a difference there.

[MUSF]

... good at finding jobs for his players' family members.

[brandx]

Anyone who questions Juan's value needs to go back and watch the first 8 minutes or so of the GW game.  Rebounding machine and a good perimeter defender.  Deonte has really been struggling on the defensive end and doesn't rebound nearly at the same rate.  Furthermore, Juan is actually shooting better than Deonte from both 2 and 3, and the FT line.  Deonte will have his time, but that time isn't now.

Juan has been the best rebounder on the team so far and is the glue (hustle) guy.

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

...able to get his freshmen ready to play quicker than Buzz can.  
Winston Shepard last year, Matt Shrigley this year.  Shrigley who was less lauded than JJJ as a HS senior is already averaging almost 19 minutes a game.

I don't know why.  Less complicated offense/defense?  Or is he more willing to let them make mistakes and learn from them?

Edit: Shrigley didn't come along as quickly as I thought, I just found out that he is a redshirt freshman.

Fisher was able to get his offense installed way faster than Buzz. 

[GooooMarquette]

Fisher is a great coach and has done wonderful things at SDSU.  But any comparisons to Buzz are silly.  He has been at SDSU for 14 seasons and has been to the NCAA 6 times; Buzz is 5 for 5.  Additionally, Fisher has gotten as far as the Sweet Sixteen once in those fourteen seasons; Buzz has gotten us to the Sweet Sixteen three times in five years (and a step further last season).

Hard to say how much credit he deserves for what he did at Michigan.  He was handed a #3 seeded team in '89, so it isn't like UM came out of nowhere to win it all.  A great job, but hardly a miracle.  And after that, he obviously had some extra "help" in recruiting.

Like I said, Fisher has done great things, but he is no Buzz.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Fisher is a great coach and has done wonderful things at SDSU.  But any comparisons to Buzz are silly.  He has been at SDSU for 14 seasons and has been to the NCAA 6 times; Buzz is 5 for 5.  Additionally, Fisher has gotten as far as the Sweet Sixteen once in those fourteen seasons; Buzz has gotten us to the Sweet Sixteen three times in five years (and a step further last season).

Hard to say how much credit he deserves for what he did at Michigan.  He was handed a #3 seeded team in '89, so it isn't like UM came out of nowhere to win it all.  A great job, but hardly a miracle.  And after that, he obviously had some extra "help" in recruiting.

Like I said, Fisher has done great things, but he is no Buzz.

Starting points are important.  In the history of San Diego State, they had made the NCAA tournament 3 times prior to Steve Fisher.  Twice in the 1970s and once in the 1980's.  He has tripled that in his time since arriving.  Too many people forget about where they start, how ready made it is, what they have to deal with.  Having grown up mostly in So. Cal, I can tell you the idea of turning SDSU into a yearly NCAA tournament team would have laughed you out of the room, yet he has done it.  Yes, it took time, but the fact he was able to do it at all is pretty remarkable.

[rocket surgeon]

Fisher is a great coach and has done wonderful things at SDSU.  But any comparisons to Buzz are silly.  He has been at SDSU for 14 seasons and has been to the NCAA 6 times; Buzz is 5 for 5.  Additionally, Fisher has gotten as far as the Sweet Sixteen once in those fourteen seasons; Buzz has gotten us to the Sweet Sixteen three times in five years (and a step further last season).

Hard to say how much credit he deserves for what he did at Michigan.  He was handed a #3 seeded team in '89, so it isn't like UM came out of nowhere to win it all.  A great job, but hardly a miracle.  And after that, he obviously had some extra "help" in recruiting.

Like I said, Fisher has done great things, but he is no Buzz.

and 1...
steve fischer- 464-248 (.651) overall
                  155-98 (.539) conference-overall coached in much weaker conf.'s than buzz
                   281-168(.625) nonconf.

buzz-             141-77(.659) overall
                   60-30(.667)  conference- big east- imho=much tougher competition
                   127-56(.667) nonconf.  

in addition to gooooMU's comments=BUZZ!!!!!!!

[79Warrior]

Juan has been the best rebounder on the team so far and is the glue (hustle) guy.

I agree. i have not been a fan of JA until i watched him play the last few days in Fullerton. He is all over the court and is always in great position to get rebounds. He may not score much, but he brings other elements to the team.

[avid1010]

too close to ed martin in michigan's eyes, but not in the eyes of the ncaa???  the guy gets it done though...would rather have buzz any day. 

[Freeport Warrior]

... lucky to have Brian Dutcher as his assistant coach. Dutcher's as responsible for Fischer's success as Fischer himself. Dude can recruit.

[GooooMarquette]

Starting points are important.  In the history of San Diego State, they had made the NCAA tournament 3 times prior to Steve Fisher.  Twice in the 1970s and once in the 1980's.  He has tripled that in his time since arriving.  Too many people forget about where they start, how ready made it is, what they have to deal with.  Having grown up mostly in So. Cal, I can tell you the idea of turning SDSU into a yearly NCAA tournament team would have laughed you out of the room, yet he has done it.  Yes, it took time, but the fact he was able to do it at all is pretty remarkable.

No question the starting point makes a difference, and I certainly give Fisher a pass for the first few years.  Still, 14 years down the road, only one Sweet Sixteen is pretty modest.

[keefe]

But any comparisons to Buzz are silly.  Like I said, Fisher has done great things, but he is no Buzz.

You are correct. Fischer has a National Championship while Buzz does not.

[pbiflyer]

.......old.

My first thought as well. Jeez, I remember when he wasn't quite so decrepit looking. Makes me feel old!

[IrwinFletcher]

....evil and must be destroyed.

[GGGG]

Starting points are important.  In the history of San Diego State, they had made the NCAA tournament 3 times prior to Steve Fisher.  Twice in the 1970s and once in the 1980's.  He has tripled that in his time since arriving.  Too many people forget about where they start, how ready made it is, what they have to deal with.  Having grown up mostly in So. Cal, I can tell you the idea of turning SDSU into a yearly NCAA tournament team would have laughed you out of the room, yet he has done it.  Yes, it took time, but the fact he was able to do it at all is pretty remarkable.

I agree with you...but after 14 years the starting point resets. 

[Dawson Rental]

Matt Shrigley...18.6 mpg, 9.6ppg, 1.2 rpg, 0.8apg
JuJuan Johnson...17.5 mpg, 6.5 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 1.2 apg

Not too much of a difference there.

JJJ has one DNP coaches decision (Ohio State), though which drops him to 15 mpg.

JJJ is obviously still a lot closer to Shrigley then I thought he was.

[The Sultan of Silly]

It's going to be a long season as we just had another clunky performance in a near must win early season game.

[wadesworld]

It's going to be a long season as we just had another clunky performance in a near must win early season game.

Must win game on 12/1? Hmm