Next Year Is Here

[Galway Eagle]

i would disagree with both of you:
1. AD's think about what/who their donors will support...while buzz doesn't go from a great coach to a bad coach overnight, i'm sure they have some inside information that would certainly raise some questions (importance of juco's in his system, ability to get along with his superiors, etc.).  i love buzz, but if i were hiring at a big name school this year would raise some concerns, and i'd certainly have a number of questions i'd want answered before giving him the keys to the program.

2.  what coach is picked to have a top 15 team and conference champion team...then fails to make the NCAA, and doesn't feel heat from fans?  if anything this should make buzz realize how he's built a reputation at MU that will allow him to work through down years.  the heat he's feeling in milwaukee is much less than if he were at a blue blood program.  if this is getting to him (and i don't think it is), then he should realize he has less of it here than anywhere else he could leave for. 

I would kill to feel any heat in Milwaukee right now.

[Wojo'sMojo]

Love the idea and reasoning.  I hate to continually pile on De. Wilson, but I've never seen so many ill-advised passes and decisions with the ball (volunterly dribbling towards a double team) as I did Sunday. 

Lose at Providence, and you scrap that starting line-up in search of a spark for the future.

Yeah, I really see no downside as we have nothing to lose at this point. Maybe we catch lightning in a bottle!

[brandx]

If they end up in the NIT, fine! NIT is a good tourney.

If you enjoy watching teams who only finished above .500 because of the early cupcakes on their schedules.

[keefe]

Because the young guys aren't as good.

So we can expect more of the same for the next three years?

By the way, who recruiting these guys?

[willie warrior]

I think with better guard play we will make the tourney next year.  We will have senior leadership in the guards and some really good newcomers.  That equals success in college basketball.  Though the frontcourt will be weaker which will lead to an early NCAA tourney exit.

Sure will be great if that happens Dano, but we had some really good newcomers this year, and Senior Leadership with 20 years experience for 4 guys, including one being a guard, and look what has happened. I do not believe that leadership next year will come from Mayo, maybe some from Derrick, but both he and Juan's games are extremely limited. And will Buzz ply those "really good newcomers" next year? Don't know--which is why next year could be more of the same.

[wardle2wade]

If you enjoy watching teams who only finished above .500 because of the early cupcakes on their schedules.

Disclaimer... I'm not defending the NIT, just more of an fyi.  There's an automatic NIT entry for regular season conference champions who lost in their conf tournament and didn't gain an at-large.  Last year's bracket consisted of 9 of those out of the 32 teams.  Solid teams who would never would make an at-large, had winning seasons, then whiffed in their conference tourney.

[Coleman]

Disclaimer... I'm not defending the NIT, just more of an fyi.  There's an automatic NIT entry for regular season conference champions who lost in their conf tournament and didn't gain an at-large.  Last year's bracket consisted of 9 of those out of the 32 teams.  Solid teams who would never would make an at-large, had winning seasons, then whiffed in their conference tourney.

That only leaves 23-ish at large NIT teams. Interesting.

[Galway Eagle]

Disclaimer... I'm not defending the NIT, just more of an fyi.  There's an automatic NIT entry for regular season conference champions who lost in their conf tournament and didn't gain an at-large.  Last year's bracket consisted of 9 of those out of the 32 teams.  Solid teams who would never would make an at-large, had winning seasons, then whiffed in their conference tourney.

So the strength of the NIT varies tremendously year to year based on how the auto bid conferences do

[MU82]

i would disagree with both of you:
1. AD's think about what/who their donors will support...while buzz doesn't go from a great coach to a bad coach overnight, i'm sure they have some inside information that would certainly raise some questions (importance of juco's in his system, ability to get along with his superiors, etc.).  i love buzz, but if i were hiring at a big name school this year would raise some concerns, and i'd certainly have a number of questions i'd want answered before giving him the keys to the program.

2.  what coach is picked to have a top 15 team and conference champion team...then fails to make the NCAA, and doesn't feel heat from fans?  if anything this should make buzz realize how he's built a reputation at MU that will allow him to work through down years.  the heat he's feeling in milwaukee is much less than if he were at a blue blood program.  if this is getting to him (and i don't think it is), then he should realize he has less of it here than anywhere else he could leave for. 

Bruce Weber was run out of Champaign as a disgraced loser ... and immediately he was hired at Kansas State, where he was seen as a guy who took two programs to numerous NCAA bids, including one to the NCAA title game.

Tony Bennett got the heave-ho at Washington State after barely going .500 his final season and losing in the first round of the NIT ... and before March was over he was hired at Virginia, where he was seen as a guy who had made Washington State a viable program.

Tim Floyd was a total failure in the NBA and at USC, where he even had NCAA regulation people sniffing around before he was shown the door ... yet he wasn't unemployed very long before UTEP came a-callin', no doubt remembering the winning he did at Iowa State a decade and a half earlier.

Plenty more examples, too.

ADs and college presidents see what they want to see. I'm quite certain that more of them would look at Buzz as a guy who went S16-S16-E8 while putting together heralded recruiting classes for the future than a guy who missed the tourney in 2014.

[MU82]

I think for the next 2 games and the BE tournament we should start Dawson, JJJ, Burton, Taylor, and Gardner. Maybe they can give this team a spark, maybe not. We have nothing to lose!! If the normal starters don't like it, tough crap. They have had all season to prove who they are and that is a middle of the road BE team. I know this won't happen, but the thought at least excites me and would most likely be more enjoyable to watch.

It's a fan board, and you are allowed to think whatever you want to think. But coaches don't think like this.

Coaches think, "I'm going to go with the lineup that helped me win five of six games before we stunk out the gym in Philly."

I'm not saying you're wrong and Buzz is right. Hell, I'd like to see that lineup, too, just for a change of scenery.

I'm just telling you that coaches don't think like fans, and that's a very, very, very good thing.

[Big Papi]

I'm not giving up on this year as we still have a small chance and if by chance we don't make the NCAA then I will follow and root for a NIT Championship.  The off-season is way too long.

For next year, I am hoping for the following:

1. Steve Taylor becomes the beast down low that he showed a glimpse of his freshmen year.
2. De. Wilson takes about 10,000 shots this summer and is confident and able to shoot and hit a mid-range jumper with consistency
3. That Duane Wilson and Dawson have an all-round game that allows them to get at least a combined 15 minutes of pg play a game in addition to some off-guard minutes.
4.  That we get consistent 3 point shooting from 3 of our players between Mayo, JJJ, Dawson, Duane Wilson and Hill.  We need to as a team to be hitting at least 7 threes a game consistently and at a good percentage.
5. That Luke Fisher is the real deal
6. That Burton gets a much better understanding of what is a good shot.  I am not sold on him yet as he is a volume shooter who needs to improve on his all around game.

 

[The Equalizer]

Bruce Weber was run out of Champaign as a disgraced loser ... and immediately he was hired at Kansas State, where he was seen as a guy who took two programs to numerous NCAA bids, including one to the NCAA title game.

Tony Bennett got the heave-ho at Washington State after barely going .500 his final season and losing in the first round of the NIT ... and before March was over he was hired at Virginia, where he was seen as a guy who had made Washington State a viable program.

Tim Floyd was a total failure in the NBA and at USC, where he even had NCAA regulation people sniffing around before he was shown the door ... yet he wasn't unemployed very long before UTEP came a-callin', no doubt remembering the winning he did at Iowa State a decade and a half earlier.

Plenty more examples, too.

ADs and college presidents see what they want to see. I'm quite certain that more of them would look at Buzz as a guy who went S16-S16-E8 while putting together heralded recruiting classes for the future than a guy who missed the tourney in 2014.

Bennett was definitely not given the "heave-ho" from Washington State. 

[MU82]

I'm not giving up on this year as we still have a small chance and if by chance we don't make the NCAA then I will follow and root for a NIT Championship.  The off-season is way too long.

For next year, I am hoping for the following:

1. Steve Taylor becomes the beast down low that he showed a glimpse of his freshmen year.
2. De. Wilson takes about 10,000 shots this summer and is confident and able to shoot and hit a mid-range jumper with consistency
3. That Duane Wilson and Dawson have an all-round game that allows them to get at least a combined 15 minutes of pg play a game in addition to some off-guard minutes.
4.  That we get consistent 3 point shooting from 3 of our players between Mayo, JJJ, Dawson, Duane Wilson and Hill.  We need to as a team to be hitting at least 7 threes a game consistently and at a good percentage.
5. That Luke Fisher is the real deal
6. That Burton gets a much better understanding of what is a good shot.  I am not sold on him yet as he is a volume shooter who needs to improve on his all around game.

 

These are all realistic things to hope for. Much more realistic than hoping Derrick goes back to being a 10 mpg guy, because that's not gonna happen. Maybe Vander would be willing to work with him!

I especially agree with No. 4. In today's NCAA basketball, it's very difficult to win when you open a game losing 18-0 or 27-0 or 33-0 from the 3-point line.

[MU82]

Bennett was definitely not given the "heave-ho" from Washington State. 

You're right and I shouldn't have said so.

Doesn't change the point that the Virginia administration wasn't the least bit scared off by his bad final season at Washington State, just as Whatever U. wouldn't be hesitant to hire Buzz after this season.

[Wojo'sMojo]

I'm not giving up on this year as we still have a small chance and if by chance we don't make the NCAA then I will follow and root for a NIT Championship.  The off-season is way too long.

For next year, I am hoping for the following:

1. Steve Taylor becomes the beast down low that he showed a glimpse of his freshmen year.
2. De. Wilson takes about 10,000 shots this summer and is confident and able to shoot and hit a mid-range jumper with consistency
3. That Duane Wilson and Dawson have an all-round game that allows them to get at least a combined 15 minutes of pg play a game in addition to some off-guard minutes.
4.  That we get consistent 3 point shooting from 3 of our players between Mayo, JJJ, Dawson, Duane Wilson and Hill.  We need to as a team to be hitting at least 7 threes a game consistently and at a good percentage.
5. That Luke Fisher is the real deal
6. That Burton gets a much better understanding of what is a good shot.  I am not sold on him yet as he is a volume shooter who needs to improve on his all around game.

 

Derrick Wilson will be going into his sr year next year. If he was a freshman or sophomore I could see him making the jump into a decent shooter. He could shoot a million jump shots this summer and I don't think it would do any good. He is what he is. The most telling stat is he is a 47 percent ft shooter...I mean if he's going to improve anything he could have worked on that to become at least respectable, but for whatever reason he's still terrible at that.

[keefe]

Tony Bennett got the heave-ho at Washington State after barely going .500 his final season and losing in the first round of the NIT ... and before March was over he was hired at Virginia, where he was seen as a guy who had made Washington State a viable program.

Tony Bennett was NOT fired by Wazzou.

[only a warrior]

Bruce Weber was run out of Champaign as a disgraced loser ... and immediately he was hired at Kansas State, where he was seen as a guy who took two programs to numerous NCAA bids, including one to the NCAA title game.

Tony Bennett got the heave-ho at Washington State after barely going .500 his final season and losing in the first round of the NIT ... and before March was over he was hired at Virginia, where he was seen as a guy who had made Washington State a viable program.

Tim Floyd was a total failure in the NBA and at USC, where he even had NCAA regulation people sniffing around before he was shown the door ... yet he wasn't unemployed very long before UTEP came a-callin', no doubt remembering the winning he did at Iowa State a decade and a half earlier.

Plenty more examples, too.

ADs and college presidents see what they want to see. I'm quite certain that more of them would look at Buzz as a guy who went S16-S16-E8 while putting together heralded recruiting classes for the future than a guy who missed the tourney in 2014.

Great post - couldn't agree more

[avid1010]

Bruce Weber was run out of Champaign as a disgraced loser ... and immediately he was hired at Kansas State, where he was seen as a guy who took two programs to numerous NCAA bids, including one to the NCAA title game.

Tony Bennett got the heave-ho at Washington State after barely going .500 his final season and losing in the first round of the NIT ... and before March was over he was hired at Virginia, where he was seen as a guy who had made Washington State a viable program.

Tim Floyd was a total failure in the NBA and at USC, where he even had NCAA regulation people sniffing around before he was shown the door ... yet he wasn't unemployed very long before UTEP came a-callin', no doubt remembering the winning he did at Iowa State a decade and a half earlier.

Plenty more examples, too.

ADs and college presidents see what they want to see. I'm quite certain that more of them would look at Buzz as a guy who went S16-S16-E8 while putting together heralded recruiting classes for the future than a guy who missed the tourney in 2014.

i have no doubt that buzz could get a job at programs in similar situations to UVA, K-St, or UTEP (when they hired their respective coaches) tomorrow...

i'm a big buzz fan, but this year raises questions that previously might not have been asked.  is his stock as hot as it was last year...no way.  we can name plenty of coaches that were hot names for bigger programs, who dropped off that radar after some rough years.  one bad year does raise questions, and it makes it more difficult to the sell the coach to the donors that are going to fund the hire.  no doubt in my mind that a buzz+UCLA match would have been easier to sell to the donors last year than this year. 

[NersEllenson]

6. That Burton gets a much better understanding of what is a good shot.  I am not sold on him yet as he is a volume shooter who needs to improve on his all around game.

You should probably jump on the Deonte stock right now.  He is going to be a monster next year.  Would not surprise me in the least if he was able to leave MU after junior year and get drafted in first round.  Rare blend of girth and athleticism - a la Charles Barkley.

Being a volume shooter isn't a bad thing - especially when you have a relatively high shooting percentage.  Deonte can get a shot every single time down the floor - not all guys can do that at this level.  He is a match up nightmare for opposing coaches...and I'm going to say will be the most fun and dominant player to watch at MU since Wade...

[GGGG]

If that is the case, then Buzz may have made some serious mistakes recruiting them. If JJJ, Burton and DuWilson aren't significantly better than Juan, Jamil and Derrick are right now, we will have serious problems.

They have higher ceilings.  That doesn't mean they are better right now.

[Eldon]

It's a fan board, and you are allowed to think whatever you want to think. But coaches don't think like this.

Coaches think, "I'm going to go with the lineup that helped me win five of six games before we stunk out the gym in Philly."

I'm not saying you're wrong and Buzz is right. Hell, I'd like to see that lineup, too, just for a change of scenery.

I'm just telling you that coaches don't think like fans, and that's a very, very, very good thing.

Well I wish coaches thought more pragmatically: "After losing to Butler, I see the ceiling for this team.  I'm not going to repeat the same thing and hope for a different outcome.  My only hope of making a bid is winning the conference tourney.  This current lineup has a very slim chance of meeting that goal.  Start Dawson (and maybe Burton) now and we get real-game experience and more game film to analyze.  Plus, they'll have more experience come next season."

What yes-men were telling our coach that our typical lineup would take us to an at-large bid?  SMH, this season has been very frustrating.

[tower912]

You should probably jump on the Deonte stock right now.  He is going to be a monster next year.  Would not surprise me in the least if he was able to leave MU after junior year and get drafted in first round.  Rare blend of girth and athleticism - a la Charles Barkley.

Being a volume shooter isn't a bad thing - especially when you have a relatively high shooting percentage.  Deonte can get a shot every single time down the floor - not all guys can do that at this level.  He is a match up nightmare for opposing coaches...and I'm going to say will be the most fun and dominant player to watch at MU since Wade...

He is going to need a position.   The NBA doesn't have a lot of 6'4 combination forwards.   

[Wojo'sMojo]

He is going to need a position.   The NBA doesn't have a lot of 6'4 combination forwards.   

Charles Barkley was 6'5" and he seemed to do just fine.

[GGGG]

Charles Barkley was 6'5" and he seemed to do just fine.

1.  Deonte Burton might grow up to be Charles Barkley.  He's not there yet.

2.  Barkley's NBA was a different era than this NBA.  He was at his peak 20 years ago. 

[Wojo'sMojo]

1.  Deonte Burton might grow up to be Charles Barkley.  He's not there yet.

2.  Barkley's NBA was a different era than this NBA.  He was at his peak 20 years ago.  

He's a freshman and obviously he's not there yet...if anything size is less of a factor now than in Barkley's heyday. The days of giant physical centers are gone in the NBA. It's turning into more of the Euro center which should only help his cause.