Great Motivator, Good Role Model, Poor Basketball Coach

[BenCat12]

Buzz seems to be a great guy.  He works hard and he gets all the effort out of his players any fan or coach could ever ask for.  He has turned some kids with questionable character into good young men.  I am proud of the overall job he has done at MU.  I am by no means calling for Buzz to be fired or anything close to that.  He is young and has excellent coaching attributes, that you can't teach.  But he is a very below average basketball coach.  His inability to draw up plays out of timeouts, adjust on the fly to game plans and improve players has been extremely disappointing.  There is so much physical talent that is not being used or developed its shameful.  I understand the value of hard work in practice and playing with your hair on fire.  I also understand rewarding players for hard work and effort.  But the point of basketball is to score more points than the other team.  Regardless of how much you like individuals, the goal is to win.  You punish quality players who deserve to win, by not surrounding them with the best teammates possible and by not understanding the x's and o's of the game.  Again, I love Buzz as a person, but in order for him and the program to take the next step he needs to surround himself with better basketball people who can help him with x's and o's, improve basketball skills such as shooting and basketball IQ, and keep his "favorites" playing time in check.  Again, I love Buzz and hope he stays here until he retires, I just hope he learns some things from this season and improves himself and his staff in the offseason.

[tower912]

Sweet 16, Sweet 16, Elite 8, best record in the Big East over the last 5 years.   Not infallible.   But the only people in all of college basketball who think Buzz can't coach are the frustrated guys at their keyboards this afternoon.  

Outcoached Boeheim in Milwaukee last year.   Outcoached Brad in the round of 32 last year.   Took a team with no one taller than 6'6 to the tourney.   Dude can flat out coach.   

[BallBoy]

Sweet 16, Sweet 16, Elite 8, best record in the Big East over the last 5 years.   Not infallible.   But the only people in all of college basketball who think Buzz can't coach are the frustrated guys at their keyboards this afternoon.  

100% agree.  It amazes me that a coach with Buzz's track record, recruiting, and the number of good games all of the sudden can't coach or plays favorites. 

[esotericmindguy]

Sweet 16, Sweet 16, Elite 8, best record in the Big East over the last 5 years.   Not infallible.   But the only people in all of college basketball who think Buzz can't coach are the frustrated guys at their keyboards this afternoon.   

No kidding. Idiots. Our guard play is atrocious.

[Mutaman]

I am by no means calling for Buzz to be fired or anything close to that. 

That's why we pay you the big bucks.

[Atticus]

The only thing I truly agree with is that Buzz is very bad at drawing up plays out of timeouts. I used to blame poor execution on the players but it's a recurring theme year in, year out. It's not the players.

[Buzz Williams' Spillproof Chiclets Cup]

Sweet 16, Sweet 16, Elite 8, best record in the Big East over the last 5 years.   Not infallible.   But the only people in all of college basketball who think Buzz can't coach are the frustrated guys at their keyboards this afternoon.  

Outcoached Boeheim in Milwaukee last year.   Outcoached Brad in the round of 32 last year.   Took a team with no one taller than 6'6 to the tourney.   Dude can flat out coach.   

I feel like this post could be placed in a thread on this board at least once a week and still be relevant.

[tower912]

Maybe I should make it my new signature.   Although, my current signature amounts to the same thing. 

[bradley center bat]

What stupid topic this is!

[79Warrior]

Sweet 16, Sweet 16, Elite 8, best record in the Big East over the last 5 years.   Not infallible.   But the only people in all of college basketball who think Buzz can't coach are the frustrated guys at their keyboards this afternoon.  

Outcoached Boeheim in Milwaukee last year.   Outcoached Brad in the round of 32 last year.   Took a team with no one taller than 6'6 to the tourney.   Dude can flat out coach.   

+1.

[BenCat12]

Sweet 16, Sweet 16, Elite 8, best record in the Big East over the last 5 years.   Not infallible.   But the only people in all of college basketball who think Buzz can't coach are the frustrated guys at their keyboards this afternoon.   

Outcoached Boeheim in Milwaukee last year.   Outcoached Brad in the round of 32 last year.   Took a team with no one taller than 6'6 to the tourney.   Dude can flat out coach.   

So I write a post that does not rip individual players, shows respect for what Buzz has accomplished, while giving constructive criticism, and these are the responses I get......Guess the death of scoop is here.....

1.  Never said he can't coach, simply said he needs to improve his and his staffs ability to improve players and the x's and o's of the game.  I appreciate his success. 

2.  So does this mean you'd rather have Buzz, than Boeheim or Stevens?

[brandx]

Sweet 16, Sweet 16, Elite 8, best record in the Big East over the last 5 years.   Not infallible.   But the only people in all of college basketball who think Buzz can't coach are the frustrated guys at their keyboards this afternoon.  

Outcoached Boeheim in Milwaukee last year.   Outcoached Brad in the round of 32 last year.   Took a team with no one taller than 6'6 to the tourney.   Dude can flat out coach.   

+1000

[bradley center bat]

Go home Bencat. You now said he is not a bad coach, but your topic says poor.

Buzz can coach and he has a very strong coaching staff.

[Atticus]

So I write a post that does not rip individual players, shows respect for what Buzz has accomplished, while giving constructive criticism, and these are the responses I get......Guess the death of scoop is here.....

1.  Never said he can't coach, simply said he needs to improve his and his staffs ability to improve players and the x's and o's of the game.  I appreciate his success. 

2.  So does this mean you'd rather have Buzz, than Boeheim or Stevens?

On the flip side...

We had more talent than Butler.

We got smoked by Syracuse in the game that mattered most.

[tower912]

So I write a post that does not rip individual players, shows respect for what Buzz has accomplished, while giving constructive criticism, and these are the responses I get......Guess the death of scoop is here.....

1.  Never said he can't coach, simply said he needs to improve his and his staffs ability to improve players and the x's and o's of the game.  I appreciate his success. 

2.  So does this mean you'd rather have Buzz, than Boeheim or Stevens?


1.   Your point is incorrect.   This year is the first year that players haven't notably improved from the year before.    See Butler, Jimmy/Crowder, Jae/Blue, Vander/ Gardner, Davante.    X's and O's...you don't go 60-30 in the Big East without being, at minimum, above average at X's and O's.   It is impossible.
2.  Yes.  


You're frustrated.   We all are.   Your frustration does not make Buzz a poor coach.  

[muhoops1]

I'm a bitter bastard, but even I won't go there....Buzz is a good coach.  Every team is different and this one seems to be missing something huge.  Something we have all taken for granted for a long time.  I don't know if it's character or talent, but dammit our margin for error is zero point zero.

[Lennys Tap]

Sweet 16, Sweet 16, Elite 8, best record in the Big East over the last 5 years.   Not infallible.   But the only people in all of college basketball who think Buzz can't coach are the frustrated guys at their keyboards this afternoon.  

Outcoached Boeheim in Milwaukee last year.   Outcoached Brad in the round of 32 last year.   Took a team with no one taller than 6'6 to the tourney.   Dude can flat out coach.   

+10,000

[79Warrior]

I'm a bitter bastard, but even I won't go there....Buzz is a good coach.  Every team is different and this one seems to be missing something huge.  Something we have all taken for granted for a long time.  I don't know if it's character or talent, but dammit our margin for error is zero point zero.

Missing something huge?  How about a point guard? Look at the difference TJ McConell is making at Arizona. There is not remedy for lacking a legit point guard. It is amazing we are where we are because our starting backcourt is one of the worst among major college basketball programs.

[tower912]

So, you're saying that Vander leaving and Duane getting hurt has impacted this team.

[karavotsos]

2.  So does this mean you'd rather have Buzz, than Boeheim or Stevens?

Definite yes for me.

[Atticus]

Definite yes for me.

If you asked all three fan bases, they would all pick their coach. Message boards...

I wonder who the celtics would pick, though...

[karavotsos]

I didn't realize that I was required to worship at the altar of Danny Ainge.

[4everwarriors]

Someone has to substantiate "so much physical talent." 'Cuz, I don't see it. Look, Buzz has shown me he has all the stuff great coaches are made of, on and off the court. And, I'm proud to say he's the face of my alma mater. If Buzz is to be criticized this season, rag on him for bein' caught, talent wise, with his pants down. To me, it's a minor point. Can and is bein' rectified.
If you want a snake in the grass baffoon, he can be found in Bloomington.

[Atticus]

I didn't realize that I was required to worship at the altar of Danny Ainge.

You don't have to. Just take a look at the Celtics's roster....and then look at their record. Stevens is doing an unbelievable job in Boston.

[willie warrior]

Sweet 16, Sweet 16, Elite 8, best record in the Big East over the last 5 years.   Not infallible.   But the only people in all of college basketball who think Buzz can't coach are the frustrated guys at their keyboards this afternoon.  

Outcoached Boeheim in Milwaukee last year.   Outcoached Brad in the round of 32 last year.   Took a team with no one taller than 6'6 to the tourney.   Dude can flat out coach.   

And that is working out how this year? Hid idiocy to keep playing De. Wilson, especially down the stretch is boneheaded. In the last 6 minutes and into OT, the guy Derrick was guarding either drove the length for a dish, or never gave up his dribble and dished. He was beaten off the dribble repeatedly. And Buzz and his Buzzspeak loyalty is costing the team big this year.