This is just obnoxious

[willie warrior]

Aren't you the one blindly believing everything he says by taking his comments about Davante/Derrick/etc at face value and criticizing him for it?

Again, thanks for the name calling.

Oh, I get your point. Some of his comments we should take at face value and others we should not. Problem is...which ones? I do not take a lot of what he says at face value because a lot of it is his lonesome cowboy homespun Buzzspeak. Some Others on this board wait on his every comment, and take it as gospel. It does seem odd that he disses Gardner frequently when he is as near a stud as we have on the team, and he never says anything about the inconsistency of guys like Jamil or Todd. I find that as inconsistent treatment. Some others probably think it is charming. Point is, I guess, In Buzz We Trust to some, and to some it is hard difficult to know what he is saying. Biggest example is: Derrick is a game changer and the best defensive player he has ever coached. Buzz said that--and neither are true.

[brandx]

"We call him 'Avante' because he does not have any 'D'...."

Keep justinfying it all you want Buzz.

HE IS YOUR BEST GODDAMN PLAYER. Offense. Defense. HE IS YOU BEST PLAYER.

I know, I am not a college basketball coach(since this is a turning point for you wadesworld)  and you Buzz have done fantastic in your 6 years here. But this year is getting obnoxious.

STOP, finding reasons to pile on Davante. STOP going to creepy lengths to defend Derrick(hes playing well right now, just the defense mode from B is weird). Most importantly STOP starting Chris and Juan together.

They may be great people. They may come to practice and play hard. But, this is not 6th grade in house basketball. Play your best guys.

I should be just enjoying this win but this comment really pissed me off.

Why can't our good players get complements?

You're clueless as to motivation. Buzz is doing the exact same thing that Al McGwire did. He picks out one or two "whipping boys" - guys that he knows can take it and need it - and uses them as examples for the team. Davante knows exactly what Buzz is doing and why. Nobody plays in a vacuum when they are playing for Buzz.

We may not always know what is going on with the team, but every player certainly knows the reasons Buzz is doing what he is doing.

[PGsHeroes32]

Haywards, why are you getting so wrapped up in a few off-handed comments during a post game radio interview?

because Buzz gets wrapped up in what people say about Derrick?

same way he claims that he doesn't care what people say but yet always make a point to mention it.

I just do not get and will never get. Why he talks up lesser players for "little things" and looks for any way to find something wrong with Davante etc.. And no it isn't the "they are good they can take it, they are bad they need it" approach.

I'm not saying he has to bad mouth Derrick or anyone. But I'd like to see him go to bat for someone like Davante or Todd or Deonte like he does Derrick, Jake etc..

[reinko]

because Buzz gets wrapped up in what people say about Derrick?

same way he claims that he doesn't care what people say but yet always make a point to mention it.

I just do not get and will never get. Why he talks up lesser players for "little things" and looks for any way to find something wrong with Davante etc.. And no it isn't the "they are good they can take it, they are bad they need it" approach.

I'm not saying he has to bad mouth Derrick or anyone. But I'd like to see him go to bat for someone like Davante or Todd or Deonte like he does Derrick, Jake etc..

Are you their mother?  Again, why do you care?

[PGsHeroes32]

You're clueless as to motivation. Buzz is doing the exact same thing that Al McGwire did. He picks out one or two "whipping boys" - guys that he knows can take it and need it - and uses them as examples for the team. Davante knows exactly what Buzz is doing and why. Nobody plays in a vacuum when they are playing for Buzz.

We may not always know what is going on with the team, but every player certainly knows the reasons Buzz is doing what he is doing.

Yeah but it really isn't motivation.

I mean like I said he made it a point last game for calling out Davante not being smart and passing the ball to Derrick a 47% foul shooter.

a few games prior(Butler I believe) he was made that Davante was dribbling out the clock like a PG. This time he gives it up to the open man and it's not smart?

I mean if you don't want Derrick in that situation, why is he in the game? I just don't see how that can be called out as Davante's mental mistake...I mean hell it's sure as heck a lot better than throwing it up in the air to the other team which he did the next time lol.

[PGsHeroes32]

Are you their mother?  Again, why do you care?

Second uncle through adoption.

Now that we got that out of the way...


Same reason people care that Juan gets his props for hustling!!!

I want our good players getting their props for being the only reason we are not challenging Temple for who is worse at basketball.

[brandx]

Yeah but it really isn't motivation.

I mean like I said he made it a point last game for calling out Davante not being smart and passing the ball to Derrick a 47% foul shooter.

a few games prior(Butler I believe) he was made that Davante was dribbling out the clock like a PG. This time he gives it up to the open man and it's not smart?

I mean if you don't want Derrick in that situation, why is he in the game? I just don't see how that can be called out as Davante's mental mistake...I mean hell it's sure as heck a lot better than throwing it up in the air to the other team which he did the next time lol.

It is motivation. When I played, I needed a coach that would jump on me every time I screwed up. I needed it to play better. I knew when I made a bad play and I knew that the coach knew I made a bad play. And once he jumped on me - then it was gone from my mind.

[PGsHeroes32]

It is motivation. When I played, I needed a coach that would jump on me every time I screwed up. I needed it to play better. I knew when I made a bad play and I knew that the coach knew I made a bad play. And once he jumped on me - then it was gone from my mind.

Yeah I know. There are players who need to and can handle being yelled at. And there are those ones that need to be kindly told what they did wrong.

But you don't need to make it a point to publicly yell at the best player. Especially when in some cases(like the giving the ball to derrick for fts) you are even more at fault for allowing that scenario an opportunity to play out.

[brandx]

Second uncle through adoption.

Now that we got that out of the way...


Same reason people care that Juan gets his props for hustling!!!

I want our good players getting their props for being the only reason we are not challenging Temple for who is worse at basketball.

At the end of the season, Buzz will bring in Stuart Smalley to give each player a button that says "I am good enough"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DIETlxquzY

[CTWarrior]

I have to admit, I don't understand this thread at all.  Why get bent out of shape about what Buzz says in a quickie radio interview after a game?  Why get mad at fellow MU fans for their interpretation of those comments?  None of us has any idea why Buzz says anything he says, or how helpful or harmful it is.  Why even think about it?

I completely understand arguments about who he plays, defensive strategy, starting lineups, use of freshmen, etc.  This one mystifies me.

[brandx]

I have to admit, I don't understand this thread at all.  Why get bent out of shape about what Buzz says in a quickie radio interview after a game?  Why get mad at fellow MU fans for their interpretation of those comments?  None of us has any idea why Buzz says anything he says, or how helpful or harmful it is.  Why even think about it?

I completely understand arguments about who he plays, defensive strategy, starting lineups, use of freshmen, etc.  This one mystifies me.

You're right - that was kinda my point. Buzz picks out some guys to criticize, some guys he always defends. It is strictly a motivational tool that has to do with the inner dynamics of the team that we know nothing about.

[keefe]

It is strictly a motivational tool that has to do with the inner dynamics of the team that we know nothing about.

Exactly. I rather doubt Gardner was ever curled up in the fetal position in the bathtub crying because Buzz made him the butt of a joke.

Now, Larry Williams calling out Buzz's job performance in the Milwaukee Journal is a very different matter.

[NavinRJohnson]

I completely understand arguments about who he plays, defensive strategy, starting lineups, use of freshmen, etc.  This one mystifies me.

Pretty simple really...someone looking for something to complain about. Since the game went pretty well. Dawson played. Thomas scored, etc., some folks just need to find something for which they can criticize Buzz, or they won't wont be happy.

[brandx]

Pretty simple really...someone looking for something to complain about. Since the game went pretty well. Dawson played. Thomas scored, etc., some folks just need to find something for which they can criticize Buzz, or they won't wont be happy.

+1000

[reinko]

I'm sad, Buzz Williams is making my team's basketball players sad, by saying sad things to some of them and nice things to others.

NOT FAIR!

[jpvegas]

He does what he can to motivate his playes. Besides that does anyone here think Gardner is an overall good defensive player? He is decent in the low block, but has limitations as his player takes the ball outside.

Agree totally.  People are not understanding what Buzz is doing to motivate.  If Gardner reads the boards, or if the boards are any indication of the fan base, then he has everyone telling him how great he is, whereas Jake and DWill, have everyone telling them they suck. Buzz is just building up the unsung players, (Chris, Jake and DWill) letting them know he appreciates their contributions and how important their contributions are to the team's success. while letting Davante know he has room for improvement.

[tower912]

Gardner's mom told Buzz to stay on him.     Momma knows how to motivate DG. 

[BenCat12]

I never understand criticizing players publically.  Never have, never will.  If Buzz wants to rip Davante to pieces in practice I have no problem with it.  His defense does need work and if ripping him helps motivate him to play better, have at it.  But Davante's defense is the least of this teams worries, yet it is the most commented on deficiency by the head coach.  Most of the posters are right, different players do need different types of motivation.  We all know that Derrick doesn't need to be publically ripped any more than he already has been.  I personally prefer the "we" answer to all questions by the media.  Point is all of this stuff should be done behind closed doors.  I haven't heard anyone give a good reason why this is necessary.  Because Buzz does it, so it must be right, isn't a good answer.  It doesn't add up, and does come off as "obnoxious."

[GGGG]

I never understand criticizing players publically.  Never have, never will.  If Buzz wants to rip Davante to pieces in practice I have no problem with it.  His defense does need work and if ripping him helps motivate him to play better, have at it.  But Davante's defense is the least of this teams worries, yet it is the most commented on deficiency by the head coach.  Most of the posters are right, different players do need different types of motivation.  We all know that Derrick doesn't need to be publically ripped any more than he already has been.  I personally prefer the "we" answer to all questions by the media.  Point is all of this stuff should be done behind closed doors.  I haven't heard anyone give a good reason why this is necessary.  Because Buzz does it, so it must be right, isn't a good answer.  It doesn't add up, and does come off as "obnoxious."

Who said it is necessary?  I just don't think it's that big of a deal.

[BenCat12]

Who said it is necessary?  I just don't think it's that big of a deal.

Its not a big deal, its obnoxious.  I'm sure you can relate

[NickelDimer]

The constant questioning of what Buzz does, given his track record of success, is f*cking mind boggling

[ChicosBailBonds]

Exactly. I rather doubt Gardner was ever curled up in the fetal position in the bathtub crying because Buzz made him the butt of a joke.

Now, Larry Williams calling out Buzz's job performance in the Milwaukee Journal is a very different matter.

Larry calling out Buzz got a lot of other people crying in the bathtub. 

[mu-rara]

This thread is a great example of why whining parents make coaches lives miserable.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Sigh...I don't have the energy to read this entire thread. But to respond to the OP.

Davante has enough people telling him he is great. To keep him grounded, Buzz criticizes his play.

Derrick has enough people telling him he is awful (not just on here, people have contacted him directly to scream at him). To get his confidence up, Buzz talks him up.

I use this strategy as a supervisor all the time. I challenge my star employees so they don't get content and push themselves even more. I do this up to the point that they get frustrated (if they ever get there) and then I switch to supporting them. My less than stellar employees I support them so they don't lose hope and gain confidence. I do this until they either become star employees, or they are to the point of being a  significant detriment to the team. Then I challenge them to step up or be let go.

It's called Samford's Theory of Challenge and Support. It is a widely used strategy and has been employed by thousands of supervisors and many coaches in all sports.

[tower912]

It seems consistent with banishing his gifted players for the summer to work on their attitudes while stopping practice to have a communal acknowledgement of Mbao making his first basket in a scrimmage.