This year will make Buzz a better coach...

[The Sultan of Silly]

You learn a lot in your life from your failures....this year will make him wiser and help him keep his fighting edge that was so pervasive with the Hayward senior year team that epitomized a Buzz Williams coached team.

I think he wrote off the freshmen too early (even as early as the summer) and thought he didn't have to get them ready to be contributors from day one and could instead ease them in and rely on his veterans to step up and improve and perform like past MU veterans did.  Of course the later didn't happen and just now the freshmen are finally getting their extended growing pain minutes and if they had them from day one the team would be trending up now instead of down.

Hopefully he'll point back to this year as the most important coaching year of his career as he had to learn to deal with adversity and failure which is much more challenging than dealing with chronic back patting.  It will speak measures about Buzz Williams and this future core of players if they come out fighting the rest of the season and a year from now we're back in our typical Top 15 February ranking.

Go Marquette!  Go Buzz! 

[jesmu84]

You learn a lot in your life from your failures....this year will make him wiser and help him keep his fighting edge that was so pervasive with the Hayward senior year team that epitomized a Buzz Williams coached team.

I think he wrote off the freshmen too early (even as early as the summer) and thought he didn't have to get them ready to be contributors from day one and could instead ease them in and rely on his veterans to step up and improve and perform like past MU veterans did.  Of course the later didn't happen and just now the freshmen are finally getting their extended growing pain minutes and if they had them from day one the team would be trending up now instead of down.

Hopefully he'll point back to this year as the most important coaching year of his career as he had to learn to deal with adversity and failure which is much more challenging than dealing with chronic back patting.  It will speak measures about Buzz Williams and this future core of players if they come out fighting the rest of the season and a year from now we're back in our typical Top 15 February ranking.

Go Marquette!  Go Buzz! 

Normally, I haven't agreed with much that you've said, but I actually liked this post, Silly. Well said.

[Superfan]

I totally agree.  This has been a painfully frustrating season and I have a hard time understanding why we have so many deficiencies.  With that said, I evaluate Buzz over his tenure at MU not just one bad season.  Let's not forget he's a young coach and will learn.  Keep the faith; things will get better.

[77ncaachamps]

I hope so.

I think that he won't change in his core but will learn how to temper expectations and deal with adversity with the lack of senior leadership.

I expect him to kick some arse after getting his arse kicked this season. That stuff motivates and drives a guy like Buzz.

[BenCat12]

You learn a lot in your life from your failures....this year will make him wiser and help him keep his fighting edge that was so pervasive with the Hayward senior year team that epitomized a Buzz Williams coached team.

I think he wrote off the freshmen too early (even as early as the summer) and thought he didn't have to get them ready to be contributors from day one and could instead ease them in and rely on his veterans to step up and improve and perform like past MU veterans did.  Of course the later didn't happen and just now the freshmen are finally getting their extended growing pain minutes and if they had them from day one the team would be trending up now instead of down.

Hopefully he'll point back to this year as the most important coaching year of his career as he had to learn to deal with adversity and failure which is much more challenging than dealing with chronic back patting.  It will speak measures about Buzz Williams and this future core of players if they come out fighting the rest of the season and a year from now we're back in our typical Top 15 February ranking.

Go Marquette!  Go Buzz! 

Great post, couldn't agree more.
I have been critical of Buzz this year, but I think he will be better for it and it will make the program much better.  It is just difficult to watch because Buzz has spoiled us up to this point. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

I agree. 

[MURFC]

Great post.  A positive and honest way to think about how this season and how it may impact the future.

[GoldenWarrior11]

I wish we could make this post the headline of the Scoop.  Some posters seriously need to just relax and enjoy the journey of this team.

[Hards Alumni]

Yup.  Totally agree.

[MUfan12]

I wish we could make this post the headline of the Scoop.  Some posters seriously need to just relax and enjoy the journey of this team.

Enjoy what exactly? If they were fun to watch, and lost a bunch of close games, it'd be one thing. For the most part, they have to make games rock fights to be competitive. That's not enjoyable.

The only part of the journey of this season I'll enjoy is the end of it.

[Markusquette]

I think we should let Dylan Flood play 30 minutes one game.  End the Wilson/Dawson argument and let's let the Flood show begin.

[JakeBarnes]

You learn a lot in your life from your failures....this year will make him wiser and help him keep his fighting edge that was so pervasive with the Hayward senior year team that epitomized a Buzz Williams coached team.

I think he wrote off the freshmen too early (even as early as the summer) and thought he didn't have to get them ready to be contributors from day one and could instead ease them in and rely on his veterans to step up and improve and perform like past MU veterans did.  Of course the later didn't happen and just now the freshmen are finally getting their extended growing pain minutes and if they had them from day one the team would be trending up now instead of down.

Hopefully he'll point back to this year as the most important coaching year of his career as he had to learn to deal with adversity and failure which is much more challenging than dealing with chronic back patting.  It will speak measures about Buzz Williams and this future core of players if they come out fighting the rest of the season and a year from now we're back in our typical Top 15 February ranking.

Go Marquette!  Go Buzz! 

I wholeheartedly agree.

[mileskishnish72]

I bet one thing he'll learn is to try to get a point in every recruiting class.

[MerrittsMustache]

I bet one thing he'll learn is to try to get a point in every recruiting class.

He's come pretty close...

2009: Junior Cadougan

2010: Reggie Smith

2011: Derrick Wilson

2013: Duane Wilson & John Dawson

[4everwarriors]

Thought Larry was in charge of this.

[madtownwarrior]

so 50% is good?

He's come pretty close...

2009: Junior Cadougan

2010: Reggie Smith

2011: Derrick Wilson

2013: Duane Wilson & John Dawson

[MerrittsMustache]

so 50% is good?

miles said that Buzz should get a PG in every recruiting class. He brought in 5 PGs in a 5-year span. How do you get 50% out of that?

[77ncaachamps]

miles said that Buzz should get a PG in every recruiting class. He brought in 5 PGs in a 5-year span. How do you get 50% out of that?

I think he's throwing out Reggie Smith and Derrick Wilson, thus two of the four years.

[JakeBarnes]

I think he's throwing out Reggie Smith and Derrick Wilson, thus two of the four years.

I remember when I first made the maths

[Goose]

PG's make the team roll and you need to recruit them hard. Thus far he has not recruited a PG that is a game changer and that has been problem. For years a PG could be tough and smart and that was all that was needed. In today's game you need a PG that is athletic, talented, can push the ball and score in transition. The last five years we have not seen that in our PG play.

[MerrittsMustache]

PG's make the team roll and you need to recruit them hard. Thus far he has not recruited a PG that is a game changer and that has been problem. For years a PG could be tough and smart and that was all that was needed. In today's game you need a PG that is athletic, talented, can push the ball and score in transition. The last five years we have not seen that in our PG play.

Which is the primary reason why MU has struggled so much over those 5 years 

I think he's throwing out Reggie Smith and Derrick Wilson, thus two of the four years.

Can you imagine where this team would be without Derrick and with Jamil running the point this season?!

[ATL MU Warrior]

Can you imagine where this team would be without Derrick and with Jamil running the point this season?!

Yeah, we'd be 22-0 with Magic Dawson running the point and averaging 30-10-15 on the year.

[Goose]

Merritt

The program has done very well over the past five years and no complaints here. Point is that to win the NC a high level PG is needed. Would have to believe that if I want us to NC Buzz does as well. The PG's the past five years were not up to that task.

[MerrittsMustache]

Merritt

The program has done very well over the past five years and no complaints here. Point is that to win the NC a high level PG is needed. Would have to believe that if I want us to NC Buzz does as well. The PG's the past five years were not up to that task.

Were the post players and other perimeter players up to that task? PG was the only thing preventing this team from winning a National Championship?

[tower912]

But they were up to the task of a 60-30 big east record, 8 tournament wins, sweet 16-sweet 16-elite 8.   Which doesn't exactly suck.   I am sure that Buzz is learning as we type.   I'm sure he is teaching, too.