The Phone That Won't Ring

[tower912]

AD's are going to look at 5 straight NCAA appearances, Sweet 16, sweet 16, elite 8, 69-39 in the Big East, 139 wins in 6 years.     The only people in the entire college basketball world who think Buzz (A) is on a seat that is remotely warm, (B) suddenly got stupid, (C) isn't capable of taking a team deep at any time, (D) had anything other than an off year are some denizens of the Marquette message boards.    And Badger fans, hoping MU is dumb enough to listen to the few unhappy people, diminishing their in-state rival.

It was a bad year.   Reasons abound.    Bury it, learn from it, move on.  

[Stretchdeltsig]

I'm not worried about Buzz leaving.  I worry about his coaching and recruiting.  He is responsible for the team period.  It seemed that the player development was very poor this year... almost going backwards.  It's disturbing why he didn't play the best talent, lock in on a rotation and let them develop.  It seemed like he was clueless too often and the team was disorganized.  I think the players were as confused as the fans.

[wadesworld]

Pass the Buzz mushrooms, Wadesworld.

Hey good answer to the question Willie.  Can always count on some great insight out of you.

[wadesworld]

IMO, there is talent on this team and very good talent.  The problem is that some positions, especially in college ball, the talent is paramount for success.  Or another way to put it, we can have a ton of talent in three or four positions, but if it isn't there in the most important position, then it becomes a tough go.

Imagine a talented offensive line and wr's, but the QB is average at best...eventually you need the QB to make some plays. 

Fair answer.  When there are such big deficiencies at such important positions, it takes away some productivity from the other players.  I still don't see "very good talent" outside of 2 players (Gardner and Todd) on the roster.  Jamil has physical talent, but has never shown an ability to bring it out for more than about 15 minutes in a game (and in the last 4 games, he showed it for about 15 minutes total).  Deonte has talent but also huge deficiencies, so at this point it is more potential than talent.  That is the one area where Buzz really messed up this season.  Burton clearly could've helped score the ball on a team that struggled to score the ball a lot of times.  Other than that, what else can he change that makes the team better?

Juan is not overly talented (this is all relative to a Big East level of basketball).  Derrick is not overly talented.  Jake is not overly talented.  Steve is not overly talented (at least not while injured).  Dawson has potential, but at this point is not overly talented.  OTule is not overly talented.  JJJ has potential, but at this point is not overly talented.  There is a lack of basketball talent on the roster.

[Blackhat]

Need guards who can spread the d or/and finish at the rim.  Teams were allowed to sag off our pg essentially playing 4 on 5 on offense.  Can't win that way in big boy basketball.

[keefe]

AD's are going to look at 5 straight NCAA appearances, Sweet 16, sweet 16, elite 8, 69-39 in the Big East, 139 wins in 6 years.     The only people in the entire college basketball world who think Buzz (A) is on a seat that is remotely warm, (B) suddenly got stupid, (C) isn't capable of taking a team deep at any time, (D) had anything other than an off year are some denizens of the Marquette message boards.    And Badger fans, hoping MU is dumb enough to listen to the few unhappy people, diminishing their in-state rival.

It was a bad year.   Reasons abound.    Bury it, learn from it, move on.  

I agree with you on A through D. But that wasn't my original point. I have to believe that the cause of the annual angst many here suffered about Buzz leaving, especially for UT, is now on the back burner. Which is not to say he won't become a hot commodity once more in the future through renewed success at Marquette.

As a two-time resident of the Republic of Texas I can assure you that were Mr Patterson to hire Buzz Williams today we would hear the Austin lynch mobs from Seattle.

I think this year highlighted many of Buzz' less flattering characteristics and should give some AD's pause. Let's face it: Al McGuire could only have coached at a place like Marquette, St John's, or the Little Sisters of the Poor. He would have been a terrible fit at most campuses simply because he was eccentric. The same holds true for Buzz Williams.

Like all of us, Buzz can continue to grow in his profession. This season, like each of the five others at Marquette, is his responsibility. As you say, let's hope he invests some time in reflection and introspection and learns from the past 6 months.

[mu03eng]

+100000 - - This is where the frustration lies for many, and where the notion of Buzz being stubborn takes root....he REFUSED to ever change course significantly in the backcourt - and a backcourt at least at PG - that showed him he was going to get little to no production/purpose for being on the floor.  He made 1, 3 point shot for the year...I mean how in God's name do you not think you can help/upgrade your team by at least giving the freshman who shoots 81% from FT Line (usually indicative of being a good shooter elsewhere), 3 or 4 games of the same long leash Derrick got - full 20 minute halves of playing time...32+ minutes a game...and just freaking SEE what happens.  Was evident to anyone with a shred of basketball knowledge that the team wasn't going to make NCAA as of early January...if a change wasn't made...so here we sit...NIT bound...and never got any data on what could have been....although starting Burton last night was a step in right direction....but why did he not get major minutes all conference season long??

Your timeline is quite a bit off, they were in contention for a spot in February, they didn't fall out until March.  I also don't think you change up in the tourny about X, a team you've beaten before.  Having said that, St John's would have been the perfect game to see what you have.

I do think Burton could have had more minutes throughout the conference season, but he probably got the right amount of minutes that his performance earned and endurance allowed.  I would have liked to have seen an additional 5 minutes on average from Burton, but I don't think it would have been a huge difference maker.

[muwarrior69]

IMO, there is talent on this team and very good talent.  The problem is that some positions, especially in college ball, the talent is paramount for success.  Or another way to put it, we can have a ton of talent in three or four positions, but if it isn't there in the most important position, then it becomes a tough go.

Imagine a talented offensive line and wr's, but the QB is average at best...eventually you need the QB to make some plays. 

Right on! This season mirror's the season when Diener got hurt. Hope Du. W or Hill can fill the spot next season. I think loyalty to Derrick aside, Buzz will have more options at the point next season. I know everyone is giving Buzz and Derrick a lot of heat and rightfully so for this season, but to me Jamil was the bigger disappointment.

[keefe]

Right on! This season mirror's the season when Diener got hurt. Hope Du. W or Hill can fill the spot next season. I think loyalty to Derrick aside, Buzz will have more options at the point next season. I know everyone is giving Buzz and Derrick a lot of heat and rightfully so for this season, but to me Jamil was the bigger disappointment.

That season concluded with the Western Michigan debacle. Perhaps the most shameful moment in Marquette history.

[Big Daddy Z]

so whats going to happen next year when the won lose record will be very close to this one?

[keefe]

One factor that hasn't been mentioned is the prohibition against JUCOs instituted by Pilarz/Williams. A core component of Buzz' success model at Marquette was to fill specific needs and add toughness through JUCO recruitment. The impact of Pilarz in this season and next cannot be discounted.

[mu03eng]

so whats going to happen next year when the won lose record will be very close to this one?

You'll come here on the board and post that you told us so a year ago.

[brandx]

so whats going to happen next year when the won lose record will be very close to this one?

Might be a little different. This years team was basically the same in game 32 as it was in game 1.

Next year, I think the record might be a little better, but it will be an ascending team as the season goes on. Will show a lot of promise for the following year.

[MU82]

Marquette isn't going to fire Buzz, nor should we.

But if we did, his phone would ring plenty. IMHO, he would be considered for every excellent, good and decent job out there, and would land one of the best.

[mu03eng]

Might be a little different. This years team was basically the same in game 32 as it was in game 1.

Next year, I think the record might be a little better, but it will be an ascending team as the season goes on. Will show a lot of promise for the following year.

Next year will be very interesting.  If, as the doomers (anti-slurpers?) are saying, Buzz learns nothing and simply runs out the upperclassman because he is "loyal" than this team will likely be at least the same, if not worse.

However, if you look at it from a minutes distribution standpoint, even if he plays Derrick, Juan, and Mayo 32 minutes each(NEVER going to happen) that still leaves 104 minutes to assign else where....he HAS to play younger players, there is no choice.

So I think the team will be better next year, the question is how talented are the underclassman truly and how much is Buzz willing to turn it over to them?  If the underclassman are what we think they are, and Buzz gets the accountability he needs next years team could be considerably better than this year.

[MU82]

so whats going to happen next year when the won lose record will be very close to this one?

Um ... Buzz would still be able to get a great job and you'd still be a douchebag?

[mu03eng]

so whats going to happen next year when the won lose record will be very close to this one?

oohh, I know what you are looking.....if that happens the day after the end of the season they will find Amelia Erhart's plane

[bilsu]

I do not think there is an NBA player (maybe Burton) on this team. The team has talent, but it does not have top 25 team talent. That you can blame the roster on Buzz. The only team we lost to with lesser talent was Butler.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

One factor that hasn't been mentioned is the prohibition against JUCOs instituted by Pilarz/Williams. A core component of Buzz' success model at Marquette was to fill specific needs and add toughness through JUCO recruitment. The impact of Pilarz in this season and next cannot be discounted.

I have heard about this several times now. Can someone point me towards some evidence that this is true? We recruited McKay while Pilarz/Williams were around.


The only thing I remember was some comments about Jae Crowder not being academically qualified to come to Marquette....which were absolutely true. I appreciate what Crowder did but the man went to a non-accredited JUCO. When Buzz brought him he knew that there was no way that Jae would ever graduate before his eligibility wore out. Illegal? No. In line with Marquette's mission/values? Eh?

[Class71]

+100000 - - This is where the frustration lies for many, and where the notion of Buzz being stubborn takes root....he REFUSED to ever change course significantly in the backcourt - and a backcourt at least at PG - that showed him he was going to get little to no production/purpose for being on the floor.  He made 1, 3 point shot for the year...I mean how in God's name do you not think you can help/upgrade your team by at least giving the freshman who shoots 81% from FT Line (usually indicative of being a good shooter elsewhere), 3 or 4 games of the same long leash Derrick got - full 20 minute halves of playing time...32+ minutes a game...and just freaking SEE what happens.  Was evident to anyone with a shred of basketball knowledge that the team wasn't going to make NCAA as of early January...if a change wasn't made...so here we sit...NIT bound...and never got any data on what could have been....although starting Burton last night was a step in right direction....but why did he not get major minutes all conference season long??

At this point it is time to move on my friend. Some will always disagree. It doesn't matter. The important point is that the coach learns from this. Starting Burton is a start. If he plays him more than Jake, Jamil and Derrick in the NIT that will be the next step. Last, we need to see more Dawson and some JJJ in the NIT. If this happens the learning process is well underway IMHO. If not, no need to discuss since essentially most on this board already know what needs to be done. It only frustrates everyone more to remind us what should have been months ago. Remember this is just a game. There are much bigger issues in life that many on this page face every day. Be thankful if this is your biggest issue in life. You are then very lucky.

[NersEllenson]

At this point it is time to move on my friend. Some will always disagree. It doesn't matter. The important point is that the coach learns from this. Starting Burton is a start. If he plays him more than Jake, Jamil and Derrick in the NIT that will be the next step. Last, we need to see more Dawson and some JJJ in the NIT. If this happens the learning process is well underway IMHO. If not, no need to discuss since essentially most on this board already know what needs to be done. It only frustrates everyone more to remind us what should have been months ago. Remember this is just a game. There are much bigger issues in life that many on this page face every day. Be thankful if this is your biggest issue in life. You are then very lucky.

Well said 71 and duly noted. 

[keefe]

I have heard about this several times now. Can someone point me towards some evidence that this is true? We recruited McKay while Pilarz/Williams were around.


The only thing I remember was some comments about Jae Crowder not being academically qualified to come to Marquette....which were absolutely true. I appreciate what Crowder did but the man went to a non-accredited JUCO. When Buzz brought him he knew that there was no way that Jae would ever graduate before his eligibility wore out. Illegal? No. In line with Marquette's mission/values? Eh?

Pilarz/Williams was a disaster in many ways that go well beyond the basketball program. But Jae Crowder came to Marquette to become a professional basketball player. Just as Warrior Chick went to MU to become an accountant. And 4ever to become a dentist. Each is now plying their craft successfully and contributing to society thanks to the skills they developed at Marquette. I see no disconnect with Marquette's mission in any of that.

[Coleman]

Pilarz/Williams was a disaster in many ways that go well beyond the basketball program. But Jae Crowder came to Marquette to become a professional basketball player. Just as Warrior Chick went to MU to become an accountant. And 4ever to become a dentist. Each is now plying their craft successfully and contributing to society thanks to the skills they developed at Marquette. I see no disconnect with Marquette's mission in any of that.

Well said, as long as they can function as a citizen and productive member of society after their bball days are over (I.e. MU is still providing them an academic education), I agree wholeheartedly

[keefe]

Well said, as long as they can function as a citizen and productive member of society after their bball days are over (I.e. MU is still providing them an academic education), I agree wholeheartedly

Did Harvard College fail Bill Gates and should he return to Cambridge to complete his studies? Accomplishment is measured in many ways.

[Coleman]

Did Harvard College fail Bill Gates and should he return to Cambridge to complete his studies? Accomplishment is measured in many ways.

Right. I agree.

I do think NCAA schools should be doing more to provide athletes financial literacy, job skills for a post NBA career, etc. more real world education. I didn't mean advanced calculus.