Hiroshima?

[Wojo'sMojo]

How about he's doing that already? So are you also saying that Shaka Smart is trying to move on from VCU just cuz other schools want him? That is the nature of the business. If you are an AD and don't check in with guys like Shaka or Buzz, then you aren't doing your job.

But I'm guessing next week, Buzz will be leaving for SMU

Shaka Smart made it very clear he was happy at VCU last year and isn't going anywhere. You also don't hear his name mentioned with the Virginia Tech's, USF's, and SMU's of the world do you? It's funny, when Shaka is mentioned for a job he shoots it down, while Buzz lets it linger and doesn't acknowledge it. Is Villanova that much better of a job than Marquette? I don't think so...just kinda weird how their coach is never mentioned for these schools. I don't think Buzz is going to leave, but he sure does like having people pursue him.

[wadesworld]

I wouldn't be so quick to call the rumors insane...

And to those complaining that Buzz's name is in the news for coach openings, I would much, much rather have a coach who performs in such a way that other schools want to pursue him than have one who nobody wants.  That's just me though.

[keefe]

Keefe


I love Buzz as much as the next guy but I cannot figure out his motivations. Obviously he is smart, clever guy and says mostly the right things. Though I never 100% bought into with the messing with happy or I'll stay here as long as they want me. Mainly because messing with happy is easy way out if a guy chose that route. How can anyone ever dispute another person's happiness?

Have said it many times but he came a hayseed (in good way) and transitioned to Gucci's quite easily. Motivation changes throughout a lifetime and I think trying to figure Buzz out is more complex than figuring out the average guy.

Joe

I agree that his rube personae is 100% pure schtick and his fashion tastes have certainly transitioned from Boot Barn to Haute Couture. But I do think, on a fundamental level, he seems more genuine than a lot of his equally driven, highly motivated peers.

Al was all about Al but there was a sincerity about him that was refreshing. Some may not know but Al tried to leave MU but was held to his contract. I think BW is all about BW, too. Both men have very finely attenuated egos and I think we saw that manifest itself throughout this past year. And while both have a legitimate sincerity about them, BW's is far more nuanced than McGuire's ever was.

[Wojo'sMojo]

I wouldn't be so quick to call the rumors insane...

And to those complaining that Buzz's name is in the news for coach openings, I would much, much rather have a coach who performs in such a way that other schools want to pursue him than have one who nobody wants.  That's just me though.

Jay Wright, JTIII, Chris Mack, Mick Cronin, And Ed Cooley. These are all coaches who are in similar programs to MU and you never hear their coaches being rumored for other jobs...especially a lower profile job than their current one. There is a reason for this.

[LAZER]

Al was all about Al but there was a sincerity about him that was refreshing. Some may not know but Al tried to leave MU but was held to his contract. I think BW is all about BW, too. Both men have very finely attenuated egos and I think we saw that manifest itself throughout this past year. And while both have a legitimate sincerity about them, BW's is far more nuanced than McGuire's ever was.

I agree with BW being all about BW, and this is why at the end of the day I don't really worry about these rumors.  Going to Virginia Tech is not in BW's best interest.

[Goose]

Crash


Agree on Al being Al and Buzz being about Buzz. Al was easier to read IMO, but was different time in life. Al had no problem letting people know it was all about him. Buzz is more clever in his approach.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

I believe Buzz should be careful about leaving. As Chico pointed out, Buzz is practically adored at Marquette. Much of this, of course, is because of his recent success. Some of it is because he seems like such a genuine guy. Like it or not, I also believe some of it is because he is not his predecessor. People at Marquette have been dying for a coach to embrace since Al. That could have been O'Neill, but he got in his own way. Deane was too over the top. Buzz seems just right.

His little quirks and occasionally strange behavior may not be as likable when he's finishing 7-11 in the ACC.

[wadesworld]

Jay Wright, JTIII, Chris Mack, Mick Cronin, And Ed Cooley. These are all coaches who are in similar programs to MU and you never hear their coaches being rumored for other jobs...especially a lower profile job than their current one. There is a reason for this.

I would explain coach by coach how wrong you are, but you just tried to make an honest comparison between Buzz Williams and Ed Cooley.  The same Ed Cooley whose team got hot and won 3 games in 3 days to send him to his first NCAA Tournament in 8 seasons as a Division 1 head coach.  I don't think a response is going to help you understand...

[keefe]

I believe Buzz should be careful about leaving. As Chico pointed out, Buzz is practically adored at Marquette. Much of this, of course, is because of his recent success. Some of it is because he seems like such a genuine guy. Like it or not, I also believe some of it is because he is not his predecessor. People at Marquette have been dying for a coach to embrace since Al. That could have been O'Neill, but he got in his own way. Deane was too over the top. Buzz seems just right.

His little quirks and occasionally strange behavior may not be as likable when he's finishing 7-11 in the ACC.

The old adage be careful what you wish for is operational. I wonder how Tanned Tommy feels about Indiana now. As mubuzz noted, there is indeed a reason why BW's name keeps cropping up yet we never hear Jay Wright's. When you make the decision to pull chocks then press on. That leverage works in the short-term but always ends up badly. I am guessing BW has gone to that well more than once. 

[Avenue Commons]

Why do you people do this to yourselves?

Buzz is not going anywhere. To read this thread you'd think he was already pacing up and down the court at Va Tech of SFU or whatever half-assed land grant school is the basis of the most recent rumor.

[Wojo'sMojo]

I would explain coach by coach how wrong you are, but you just tried to make an honest comparison between Buzz Williams and Ed Cooley.  The same Ed Cooley whose team got hot and won 3 games in 3 days to send him to his first NCAA Tournament in 8 seasons as a Division 1 head coach.  I don't think a response is going to help you understand...

Ed Cooley has been at Providence for 3 years. His first year they were 15-17 and went 23-11 this year. His prior job was Fairfield where they went 13-19 his first year and 25-8 his last year. I would honestly compare Buzz and Cooley and if you didn't have your Buzz blinders on, you could probably see that they are not that bad of a comparison. Cooley is a great recruiter and it appears his team is trending up. He has turned around 2 programs now and he is a great coach. Buzz walked into a much better situation at Marquette than Cooley did at Providence.

[leever]

Buzz is gone.

On vacation?

[Goose]

Crash

Going to the well too often never sits well at any organization and MU has had feet held to fire many times over ther last two coaches tenure. It got old with TC and Buzz should know that. Buzz needs to put out rumor fires ASAP and move on. He has little chance of getting major pay increase here or elsewhere and has to decide where he is happiest.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Ed Cooley has been at Providence for 3 years. His first year they were 15-17 and went 23-11 this year. His prior job was Fairfield where they went 13-19 his first year and 25-8 his last year. I would honestly compare Buzz and Cooley and if you didn't have your Buzz blinders on, you could probably see that they are not that bad of a comparison. Cooley is a great recruiter and it appears his team is trending up. He has turned around 2 programs now and he is a great coach. Buzz walked into a much better situation at Marquette than Cooley did at Providence.

And Ed Cooley grew up around the corner from PC.  It's been his dream job since he was a kid.  So he said in an interview with Mike Francesca earlier this week.

[keefe]

Crash

Going to the well too often never sits well at any organization and MU has had feet held to fire many times over ther last two coaches tenure. It got old with TC and Buzz should know that. Buzz needs to put out rumor fires ASAP and move on. He has little chance of getting major pay increase here or elsewhere and has to decide where he is happiest.

Goose

I don't think BW wants to leave but I do think he understands leverage. There is a reason his name always crops up but he needs to think through pay scales and where he sits on that continuum. I concur that he now needs to figure out the situation that will make him happiest because it will be bloody difficult to squeeze much more out of the Marquette turnip.

[GOO]

Buzz is gone. It sounds like a done deal. Don't crucify me- just telling what I know.

No idea if this is right or wrong, but can we have a sticky at the top to track these type of predictions, so we can keep track of who is legit and who is full of it? This is an unequivocal statement that Buzz is leaving.  If it is wrong, I want to make sure I can reference this poster next year.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

No idea if this is right or wrong, but can we have a sticky at the top to track these type of predictions, so we can keep track of who is legit and who is full of it? This is an unequivocal statement that Buzz is leaving.  If it is wrong, I want to make sure I can reference this poster next year.

The only person I trust with info to the team is myself, bigdaddy, and dddawson

[Coleman]

Sorry, that was a joke.   The UCLA job was filled a year ago by Alford.   Referring both to the insanity of the rumors and Hunt's legendary accuracy and timeliness.   

Thing is, Hunt is so bad I actually believed it

[Aughnanure]

The old adage be careful what you wish for is operational. I wonder how Tanned Tommy feels about Indiana now. As mubuzz noted, there is indeed a reason why BW's name keeps cropping up yet we never hear Jay Wright's. When you make the decision to pull chocks then press on. That leverage works in the short-term but always ends up badly. I am guessing BW has gone to that well more than once. 

You're not paying attention enough then. Jay's name comes up every year in random articles. It's slowly gotten less and less frequent, but still happens. Kind of like how Mark Few's name still pops up. The longer Buzz stays, the less this will happen...but it will still happen.

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

If I may wax philosophical for a moment... an example from the organization I work for:

GE's CEO has said repeatedly that he loves the fact that the to 200 leaders in the company could pick up a phone and get a job as CEO of a Fortune 500 company, making more money. They'll frequently invite GE alums who have done so to come back and speak to that.

Here's how this relates to MU:
A "stepping stone" job is still an attractive job if the coaches from here end up at Blue Bloods, or highly compensated. I love Buzz, but the main concern should be with our board, president & AD that they are committed to filling that pipeline with top candidates, and giving them everything they need to be successful while they're here.

Bottom Line: I love that Buzz gets calls each offseason to coach elsewhere. It's not win/lose... MU will continue to be a solid program as long as we invest in the development of our coach & staff while they are here.

[Aughnanure]

Jay Wright, JTIII, Chris Mack, Mick Cronin, And Ed Cooley. These are all coaches who are in similar programs to MU and you never hear their coaches being rumored for other jobs...especially a lower profile job than their current one. There is a reason for this.

Where are you getting your info? Or are you ONLY paying attention to Buzz's name?

Cronin's name always pops up (which is always stupid because he Cincy through and through). Wright has had his name out there for years. JTIII? Okay, not that one, but he is kind of Georgetown family...almost as secure as you can get. Mack is a Xavier alum, but I still seem his name on message board and "rumor" BS articles.

We all THINK Buzz's name comes up more than others (and maybe it does...slightly) but that's because we're ONLY PAYING ATTENTION TO BUZZ'S NAME.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

If I may wax philosophical for a moment... an example from the organization I work for:

GE's CEO has said repeatedly that he loves the fact that the to 200 leaders in the company could pick up a phone and get a job as CEO of a Fortune 500 company, making more money. They'll frequently invite GE alums who have done so to come back and speak to that.

I actually remember reading that article also.  He said that if his workers are coveted by others than it means the company is doing it's job correctly, it's training it's workers right, etc.

[Goose]

College ball and corporate world are quite different animals. In corporate America there are hundreds and hundreds of A players and thousands of B players with upside. In addition, corporate America has luxury of time to upgrade people, even A players. There are few A players coaching college ball and odds of picking a B player with upside is long. We have done it three times, but harder than it looks.

[melissasmooth]

Where are you getting your info? Or are you ONLY paying attention to Buzz's name?

Cronin's name always pops up (which is always stupid because he Cincy through and through). Wright has had his name out there for years. JTIII? Okay, not that one, but he is kind of Georgetown family...almost as secure as you can get. Mack is a Xavier alum, but I still seem his name on message board and "rumor" BS articles.

We all THINK Buzz's name comes up more than others (and maybe it does...slightly) but that's because we're ONLY PAYING ATTENTION TO BUZZ'S NAME.

According to Feinstein, Cronin is friends with the Virginia Tech AD and has been talking up the AD to Buzz, telling Buzz how good the AD is. But at the same time Feinstein was saying that Buzz didn't get along with the MU administration, which to me indicates Feinstein still thinks Larry Williams is there, because I was under the impression Buzz didnt have any worries anymore. So who knows how suspect Feinstein's info is.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Where are you getting your info? Or are you ONLY paying attention to Buzz's name?

Cronin's name always pops up (which is always stupid because he Cincy through and through). Wright has had his name out there for years. JTIII? Okay, not that one, but he is kind of Georgetown family...almost as secure as you can get. Mack is a Xavier alum, but I still seem his name on message board and "rumor" BS articles.

We all THINK Buzz's name comes up more than others (and maybe it does...slightly) but that's because we're ONLY PAYING ATTENTION TO BUZZ'S NAME.

+1

Buzz has said he will be at MU as long as MU will have him. That's not going to keep him from taking calls and exploring job options. He does this to remind the administration that he can another job, whenever he wants. It's leverage. It's a basic tool of negotiation. And it's even more important in a year like this. Buzz is showing the administration that even after a bad year, he could still jump and land in a pretty decent job.