These "Loyalty" Comments

[GooooMarquette]

I'd like someone to please explain the frequent statements that Buzz gives Derrick most of the PG minutes out of "loyalty," because that makes no sense to me.  

IMHO, Buzz plays the guys he thinks give us the best chance to win.  

A couple of examples that argue against the "loyalty" theorists:  Buzz clearly loves Chris - if "loyalty" is going to lead to overplaying anyone, it would be the sixth-year senior who has overcome multiple injuries...yet even as a starter, Chris plays less than half the game (18.2mpg).  Then there's Juan, a junior just like Derrick.  Buzz clearly loves Juan's attitude and hustle on defense, and long rewarded him with a starting position.  But as Juan has struggled and Todd has shown he deserves more minutes, Buzz has more recently been starting Davante, and giving many of Juan's minutes to guys like Todd, Deonte and others.  Juan is now averaging only 14.2mpg, and has played 10 or more mpg only once in the last five games (10 minutes vs Seton Hall).  Against Nova, he played only 2 of 45 minutes.  Again, a case where Buzz's supposed "loyalty" has given way to others who are simply playing better.

So if Buzz is limiting minutes of a sixth-year senior like Chris, and has benched a previously starting junior like Juan - both players to whom Buzz has been loyal - why do people think he's still giving 30mpg to Derrick simply out of "loyalty"?

Like I said, I happen to think Buzz believes Derrick is our best PG right now...and "loyalty" has nothing to do with who is getting minutes.  And since Buzz knows Derrick, John and the others better than any of us, I'm inclined to give him he benefit of any doubt.

[KenoshaWarrior]

Agree 100 percent.

[PGsHeroes32]

I think it's pretty simple why he has turned away from Juan and Chris. They are bad at basketball in general.

Derrick and Jake actually have some assets and warrant playing time. They just don't warrant anywhere close to what they are getting.

When Chris isn't winning a jump ball you could basically stick me out there.

[MarsupialMadness]

[willie warrior]

Let's see, last year Buzz said that Derrick should be starting over Cadougan (but wasn't). This year he has said he loves the kid, he is a game changer, and the best defender he has ever coached. We all know that the only thing that is true about the above is that Buzz loves him. So maybe the loyalty is the Buzz love just explained. Wilson should never start over Cadougan, is not a game changer (except changing it negatively), and is not the best defender he has coached. Butler, Crowder, DJO, Mathews, are just a few that come to mind. Buzz is full of BS.

There it has been explained to you.

[ronald dragon]

+100

[77ncaachamps]

He can be loyal to his players, but he needs to make adjustments in the face of that loyalty.

Nothing worse than sticking with someone who is hurting your team.

If he's the best we got, then I want to hear him say that publicly.
That would say a lot about the others riding the pine.

[GooooMarquette]

Let's see, last year Buzz said that Derrick should be starting over Cadougan (but wasn't). This year he has said he loves the kid, he is a game changer, and the best defender he has ever coached. We all know that the only thing that is true about the above is that Buzz loves him. So maybe the loyalty is the Buzz love just explained. Wilson should never start over Cadougan, is not a game changer (except changing it negatively), and is not the best defender he has coached. Butler, Crowder, DJO, Mathews, are just a few that come to mind. Buzz is full of BS.

There it has been explained to you.

That says nothing about loyalty, and everything about Buzz's motivational tactics. 

[Lennys Tap]

He can be loyal to his players, but he needs to make adjustments in the face of that loyalty.

Nothing worse than sticking with someone who is hurting your team.

If he's the best we got, then I want to hear him say that publicly.
That would say a lot about the others riding the pine.

Want to hear him say publicly? Go to a game. His lineup says it every night.

Regarding loyalty, Buzz, like any decent person, has it in spades. But loyalty doesn't translate into playing time. Ask Joe Fulce.

[chapman]

Let's see, last year Buzz said that Derrick should be starting over Cadougan (but wasn't). This year he has said he loves the kid, he is a game changer, and the best defender he has ever coached.

As well as that he affects the game in the same ways as Aaron Craft, and that the highlight of the Georgetown game wasn't how well others played but rather how well he took to sitting on the bench (though it's sad that even Derrick could see someone else should have been in the game when Buzz didn't).  He's got one crazy man crush.  

[Norm]

Want to hear him say publicly? Go to a game. His lineup says it every night.

Regarding loyalty, Buzz, like any decent person, has it in spades. But loyalty doesn't translate into playing time. Ask Joe Fulce.

Joe Fulce is not the best example, as his playing time was mainly reduced by injury problems.

[jesmu84]

I personally think Buzz prefers to play Derrick d/t Buzz's preference for more consistency and known value rather than playing some slightly unknowns at a much higher risk/reward situation. I think that's why we also see Jake more than Todd.

[MU82]

I think it's pretty simple why he has turned away from Juan and Chris. They are bad at basketball in general.

Derrick and Jake actually have some assets and warrant playing time. They just don't warrant anywhere close to what they are getting.

When Chris isn't winning a jump ball you could basically stick me out there.

Wow ... you rip on Otule just about as much as (if not more than) anybody rips on Derrick.

All I know is that he's good enough to have averaged 18 mpg as a nice role player for an Elite Eight team. That's a fact, not an opinion.

Here's an opinion: He would get playing time on a majority of high-majors because he is tall, he blocks shots and he works hard. There's no way to prove it, so it's only my opinion, but I'd say that he would log more minutes than Jake and Derrick if they were teammates on any top-100 RPI team.

[Dawson Rental]

As well as that he affects the game in the same ways as Aaron Craft, and that the highlight of the Georgetown game wasn't how well others played but rather how well he took to sitting on the bench (though it's sad that even Derrick could see someone else should have been in the game when Buzz didn't).  He's got one crazy man crush.  

Believe what you gotta believe, but it sounds to me like Buzz could sell you a bridge in Arizona.