Northwestern should be Buzz's blueprint...

[MerrittsMustache]

Didn't Buzz do this somewhat against St John's?  JJJ had the 2nd most minutes of any player.  Deonte played until he fouled out.   Dawson played only 11 minutes, but had a very poor stat line, IMHO tied for worst on the team and very comparable to the poor stat lines of Jamil and Todd Mayo.

The freshman played, we lost, why aren't the youth advocates happy?

You just don't get it. The frosh need to play minutes now so that they're good enough to win the BET in a month. They simply haven't logged the appropriate number of minutes for them to be good yet. If Buzz had been playing the frosh all along, the team would only have about 6-8 wins, but would be looking like the Globetrotters against the Generals about now. It all about minutes, baby!

[Wojo'sMojo]

Because you play to win games now.  And there is no guaranty that giving playing time to young guys is going to result in any favorable results next year.

Oh and Derrick Wilson is going to be around and will likely start next year.  So if you are "building for next year," that would include him right?

Of course there is no guarantee. It couldn't possibly hurt to get them more experience though. I disagree about Wilson starting next year...I see him as the 3rd pg hopefully. The building for next year would exclude him, the playing time should be for players that have a lot of upside and untapped potential.

[Wojo'sMojo]

I would hate that.

This isn't professional sports.

I don't want Buzz dumping/benching Jamil/Gardner for the rest of the year just so he can look at the frosh. Jamil and Gardner have busted their asses for 4 years. They deserve some loyalty.

Have they really busted their asses for 4 years? They are probably the 2 most called out players on this team for being lazy and not showing up. I personally don't know if they have or haven't.

[Archies Bat]

You just don't get it. The frosh need to play minutes now so that they're good enough to win the BET in a month. They simply haven't logged the appropriate number of minutes for them to be good yet. If Buzz had been playing the frosh all along, the team would only have about 6-8 wins, but would be looking like the Globetrotters against the Generals about now. It all about minutes, baby!

Sorry, does this make me a slurper, defender, or something else?  I've lost track.

[MerrittsMustache]

Sorry, does this make me a slurper, defender, or something else?  I've lost track.

All of the above...along with a "kool-aid drinker."

[GGGG]

Of course there is no guarantee. It couldn't possibly hurt to get them more experience though. I disagree about Wilson starting next year...I see him as the 3rd pg hopefully. The building for next year would exclude him, the playing time should be for players that have a lot of upside and untapped potential.

What on God's green earth leads you to believe that Derrick will be the 3rd PG next year...outside of blind hope on your end?  Name one player under Buzz who has seen their minutes *significantly* decrease over the course of their MU tenure not due to injury or suspension?

You better get used to him, because while he may not play the 29 mpg he is playing now, he will be playing a lot.  

[Eldon]

I would hate that.

This isn't professional sports.

I don't want Buzz dumping/benching Jamil/Gardner for the rest of the year just so he can look at the frosh. Jamil and Gardner have busted their asses for 4 years. They deserve some loyalty.

As Sultan once said, if Buzz is playing guys out of loyalty, then he should be fired.

[GGGG]

As Sultan once said, if Buzz is playing guys out of loyalty, then he should be fired.

I appreciate it, but that wasn't me...I don't think.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

As Sultan once said, if Buzz is playing guys out of loyalty, then he should be fired.

Actually, I said that several times... and I believe it.

However, right now, the frosh. aren't better than the upperclassman. Therefore, I think it would be extremely disloyal and poor form to dump the seniors and start playing the frosh. the bulk of the minutes because MU is suddenly "rebuilding".

Now, if Burton is better than Jamil, go ahead, play Burton.

[Wojo'sMojo]

What on God's green earth leads you to believe that Derrick will be the 3rd PG next year...outside of blind hope on your end?  Name one player under Buzz who has seen their minutes *significantly* decrease over the course of their MU tenure not due to injury or suspension?

You better get used to him, because while he may not play the 29 mpg he is playing now, he will be playing a lot.  

Admittedly, it is blind hope on my part. I guess I hope that Dawson and Duane play up to their vast potential and don't give Buzz any other choice but to sit Derrick. Stranger things have happened. And if he is playing a lot next year, we will be having the same type of season and Buzz seat will be starting to warm up a little bit.

[GGGG]

Admittedly, it is blind hope on my part. I guess I hope that Dawson and Duane play up to their vast potential and don't give Buzz any other choice but to sit Derrick. Stranger things have happened. And if he is playing a lot next year, we will be having the same type of season and Buzz seat will be starting to warm up a little bit.

LOL...no.  Not even close.

[Lennys Tap]

No, I started the slurper, so I get to define it: Anybody (other than Buzz's immediate family) who continues to rain down hosannas and praise offering up excuses for Buzz for this year's performance. Also anybody that gives Buzz an A+ for his 5 year performance as Coach at MU is by default a slurper.

Are explanations and excuses the same thing? Are you the sole arbiter?

[tower912]

Buzz's seat warm next year?    You have truly jumped the shark.   Next year's team is going to be incredibly young, so the expectations will be lower.   Crean's last 5 years at MU included 2 NIT bids and one NCAA tourney win and his seat here wasn't even tepid.   Unless there is some huge scandal, Buzz's seat at MU will be just fine for the next few years.  

[Wojo'sMojo]

LOL...no.  Not even close.

I didn't say he would get fired, I just said his seat would start to warm up. I think for the kind of money he's making, 3 years in a row of seasons like this he might be shown the door. Next year with Wilson playing a lot would be the 2nd. Now I don't expect that to happen...I was just using that scenario as context to my opinion.

[GGGG]

I didn't say he would get fired, I just said his seat would start to warm up. I think for the kind of money he's making, 3 years in a row of seasons like this he might be shown the door. Next year with Wilson playing a lot would be the 2nd. Now I don't expect that to happen...I was just using that scenario as context to my opinion.

If next year is like this year, Buzz's seat won't even come close to coming warm. 

[Archies Bat]

All of the above...along with a "kool-aid drinker."

And I actually agree that the freshman should get more playing time overall as the season progresses, conditions permitting.  It's just some of the folks that agree with more freshman play (not necessarily MUBuzz, who I replied to and I've found also listens when posting) need to say it loud, say it often, ignore counterpoints, and ignore stats when it pleases them.

[NersEllenson]

What on God's green earth leads you to believe that Derrick will be the 3rd PG next year...outside of blind hope on your end?  Name one player under Buzz who has seen their minutes *significantly* decrease over the course of their MU tenure not due to injury or suspension?

You better get used to him, because while he may not play the 29 mpg he is playing now, he will be playing a lot.  

If Derrick gets 25+ minutes per game next year, I'll guarantee you right now we won't make the NCAA tourney next year.  Without Gardner in the post, and all the attention he gets, and a PG who simply cannot shoot - life will be hell for JJJ, Mayo, Hill, Burton, Steve Taylor, et al.

Sultan - Do you think you could find one other junior (hell forget junior) just any PG in all of D-1 Hoops who gets 29 minutes per game and has made 1, 3 point shot for the year on 8% shooting?  That shoots 46% from the FT line?  

I mean, those numbers are almost impossible to post.  I know you say you understand Derrick's limitations - but man - to think he's better than Dawson - Dawson must be really, really bad...

[Wojo'sMojo]

If next year is like this year, Buzz's seat won't even come close to coming warm. 

I disagree, I think you are underestimating the split that has occurred with the fans this year. Everyone loved Buzz when we were winning...now that we are having a down year, I think his persona has become very polarizing and back to back seasons of this will only make it worse. And after next year i said start to get warm. This is why message boards are fun, everyone has their own opinion and it's fun to talk about this stuff. Oh and for the record I love Buzz and hope he's here a long time...was just bringing up a hypothetical.

[tower912]

What the dimwitted denizens whine about on this board does not represent a split of opinion by ANYONE WHO ACTUALLY MATTERS in regards to Buzz's future employment by MU.   The only people in the MU hierarchy who were even rumored to not like Buzz are gone.   The BoT chose Buzz.     There is frustration, but there is no 'split'.

[BenCat12]

What the dimwitted denizens whine about on this board does not represent a split of opinion by ANYONE WHO ACTUALLY MATTERS in regards to Buzz's future employment by MU.   The only people in the MU hierarchy who were even rumored to not like Buzz are gone.   The BoT chose Buzz.     There is frustration, but there is no 'split'.

Here is a hypothetical, (if we are still allowed to post these here) what if they play poorly the rest of the season and the booing continues?  Will Buzz still play the, "as long as they want me card?"  He has proven to be pretty thin skinned about those things, curious as to what the message board police think.....Will the booing continue and if so will Buzz be able to handle it?  Will a select few students and message board maniacs be enough to make Buzz want to leave?  Just curious, fire away "experts."

[MerrittsMustache]

Here is a hypothetical, (if we are still allowed to post these here) what if they play poorly the rest of the season and the booing continues?  Will Buzz still play the, "as long as they want me card?"  He has proven to be pretty thin skinned about those things, curious as to what the message board police think.....Will the booing continue and if so will Buzz be able to handle it?  Will a select few students and message board maniacs be enough to make Buzz want to leave?  Just curious, fire away "experts."

I'm not sure how Buzz "has proven to be pretty thin skinned" in regards to booing. Because he mentioned it in a postgame interview? Anything else?

I highly doubt that the select few will be enough, or even anywhere close to enough, for Buzz to have some sort of angry, public outburst or be pushed to the point of considering resigning.

[Rudy]

Anybody with a mind....

Please save me some time and a ton of anxiety...

I read the first post. I have also watched a few Northwestern games this year.  I am hoping someone pointed out that the players who stepped in were already experienced and logging a lot of time when this young man went down. I hope they also asked how this type of thing can be used for a blueprint.

If you tell me that they did, I will be able to skip over the rest, which likely continues with the themes which I promised not to read or respond to regarding why Buzz does not know anything anymore and that player x should get more time and player z sucks.

Thank you.

[BenCat12]

It's somewhat of a fair question, although I'm not sure how Buzz "has proven to be pretty thin skinned" in regards to booing. Because he mentioned it in a postgame interview? Anything else?

As mentioned in another thread, he complained about booing back in 2011.  He has proven to be testy on other occasions as well, the McIlvaine incident comes to mind.  

I just have a feeling that if the losing with Derrick and Jake continues, the booing is going to become overwhelming..

[MerrittsMustache]

Anybody with a mind....

Please save me some time and a ton of anxiety...

I read the first post. I have also watched a few Northwestern games this year.  I am hoping someone pointed out that the players who stepped in were already experienced and logging a lot of time when this young man went down. I hope they also asked how this type of thing can be used for a blueprint.

If you tell me that they did, I will be able to skip over the rest, which likely continues with the themes which I promised not to read or respond to regarding why Buzz does not know anything anymore and that player x should get more time and player z sucks.

Thank you.

Fear not...
http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=41832.msg564043#msg564043

[Rudy]

Fear not...
http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=41832.msg564043#msg564043

Thank you Merritt!