Buzz left because of the realignment

[ChicosBailBonds]

Look, you can't sit here and tell me that the Big East is alright and has no problems. They were a crap conference this year. It was two good teams and eight mediocre ones. The ACC this year was FAR better and there's no denying that.

Buzz had a meeting with his players and was off. It's interesting to note that a couple of those players fired off tweet bashing Buzz and how he left. I'm not denying or calling into question that something is fishy here (leaving for less and a bad program), but wouldn't Buzz tell his players the REAL story behind closed doors? These are the young men he mentored for 1-6 years of their career, I'd like to think he'd be real with them...especially if he indeed was forced out. Don't think his own players would bash his decision in that way if he was forced out.

As for this, it's meant to be an opinion, I hope that people realize. It's a blog that encourages me to use opinion. Anyways, thanks for reading and for the constructive criticism.  I know we're all still a little shocked, but don't go immediately assuming the guy was forced to leave just because the move makes no sense.

That's a little extreme....40% made the dance from each conference.  To say 2 teams that made the dance are "crap" is a bit much. 

Understand your opinion, what I still have trouble squaring with is this idea that Buzz thinks the conference isn't very good and yet Buzz shat the bed in this conference he says isn't very good, despite having (on paper) the best or second best team in the conference.  I find that more than a bit ironic that he is blaming the conference, television coverage (every game on television) for his inability as a coach this year.

[Tugg Speedman]

That's a little extreme....40% made the dance from each conference.  To say 2 teams that made the dance are "crap" is a bit much. 

Understand your opinion, what I still have trouble squaring with is this idea that Buzz thinks the conference isn't very good and yet Buzz shat the bed in this conference he says isn't very good, despite having (on paper) the best or second best team in the conference.  I find that more than a bit ironic that he is blaming the conference, television coverage (every game on television) for his inability as a coach this year.

+1

Who is at fault the conference did not have 5 teams?  Buzz!  He had the best team going in.  He more than anyone else caused the conference problems this year and then blames the conference when leaving?

Please

[WarriorGreg1965]

IMO, Buzz did a crappy job coaching this year, and the new Big East is a crappy conference.

Who doesn't think MU would go to the ACC if given the chance?

[ChicosBailBonds]

IMO, Buzz did a crappy job coaching this year, and the new Big East is a crappy conference.

Who doesn't think MU would go to the ACC if given the chance?

But that is never going to happen.  As such, the Big East is the best basketball only conference in the country and was rated 4th best overall, including higher than the ACC. 

So when people say it is a crappy conference, in comparison to what?  The Big 12, Big Ten, Pac 12?  OK, fine.  Are there better teams in some other conferences...of course.  Are other conferences top to bottom necessarily better?  No.  For all the Dukes, UNCs, Virginias, there is Va Tech (ironic), Ga Tech, Boston College, etc.   Three teams in the ACC actually finished WORSE than DePaul in the RPI.

[Tugg Speedman]

But that is never going to happen.  As such, the Big East is the best basketball only conference in the country and was rated 4th best overall, including higher than the ACC. 

So when people say it is a crappy conference, in comparison to what?  The Big 12, Big Ten, Pac 12?  OK, fine.  Are there better teams in some other conferences...of course.  Are other conferences top to bottom necessarily better?  No.  For all the Dukes, UNCs, Virginias, there is Va Tech (ironic), Ga Tech, Boston College, etc.   Three teams in the ACC actually finished WORSE than DePaul in the RPI.

+1

It is impossible for us to go to the ACC or B1G as football drives the decisions and we do not have a football team.  So stop with this.

CBB is right, the NBE is the best possible situation for non-football schools.  It's will get better in the next few years as we poach the A10 and/or Horizon (we poach them as the NBE means more money for them).

[Buchec18]

Hmmm... after seeing Buzz's interview on CBS today, I think it makes my point a lot more valid.

He wasn't fired, nor do I think he was forced out. He seemed genuinely happy and excited about the opportunity at Va. Tech. He even went on to say that he "likes the challenge" of bringing a team like the Hokies from the bottom to the top and joining "the premier basketball conference in America".

"I'm not the kind of person to say atodaso, but atodaso..."

[Eldon]

Hmmm... after seeing Buzz's interview on CBS today, I think it makes my point a lot more valid.

He wasn't fired, nor do I think he was forced out. He seemed genuinely happy and excited about the opportunity at Va. Tech. He even went on to say that he "likes the challenge" of bringing a team like the Hokies from the bottom to the top and joining "the premier basketball conference in America".

"I'm not the kind of person to say atodaso, but atodaso..."

Bro, are you serious?

[GoldenWarrior11]

Hmmm... after seeing Buzz's interview on CBS today, I think it makes my point a lot more valid.

He wasn't fired, nor do I think he was forced out. He seemed genuinely happy and excited about the opportunity at Va. Tech. He even went on to say that he "likes the challenge" of bringing a team like the Hokies from the bottom to the top and joining "the premier basketball conference in America".

"I'm not the kind of person to say atodaso, but atodaso..."

He also looked uncomfortable and dodged the first question, "Why did you leave?"

Something(s) definitely happened behind the scenes.  While we may never know what, we do know there was something that pushed him out.

[wadesworld]

Hmmm... after seeing Buzz's interview on CBS today, I think it makes my point a lot more valid.

He wasn't fired, nor do I think he was forced out. He seemed genuinely happy and excited about the opportunity at Va. Tech. He even went on to say that he "likes the challenge" of bringing a team like the Hokies from the bottom to the top and joining "the premier basketball conference in America".

"I'm not the kind of person to say atodaso, but atodaso..."

You think if he was shown the door he would've came out and said, "Well, Marquette wouldn't have me back."  I think I could've answered the questions the exact same way he did, and I've never coached basketball in my life and am not the former coach of Marquette and new coach of Virginia Tech.

[NickelDimer]

Bro, are you serious?

Seriously

[Avenue Commons]

Bro, are you serious?

He has to be serious. I mean, it's totally logical that a 41-year old father of four children takes a $1.5 million dollar pay cut and moves his family half way across the country for a less prestigious job because of conference realignment.

Makes perfect sense.

[Buchec18]

He literally said that he looks forward to the challenge of entering the premier conference in America. I look forward to hearing more details about why he was "shoved out" of Marquette..but you can't put on a straight face and tell me there's actual evidence he was shown the door right now. It's pure speculation and Scoopers getting anonymous tips from people.

It seems at this point in his life he wanted a change and used a 17-15 year as the time to do it. Sorry if you think I'm crazy, but that's almost exactly what he said in the interview.

[keefe]

but wouldn't Buzz tell his players the REAL story behind closed doors? These are the young men he mentored for 1-6 years of their career, I'd like to think he'd be real with them...especially if he indeed was forced out. Don't think his own players would bash his decision in that way if he was forced out.

Sure, because egomaniacs are really good about discussing personal failure.

[Silkk the Shaka]

He literally said that he looks forward to the challenge of entering the premier conference in America. I look forward to hearing more details about why he was "shoved out" of Marquette..but you can't put on a straight face and tell me there's actual evidence he was shown the door right now. It's pure speculation and Scoopers getting anonymous tips from people.

It seems at this point in his life he wanted a change and used a 17-15 year as the time to do it. Sorry if you think I'm crazy, but that's almost exactly what he said in the interview.

Do you not comprehend the concept of positive spin?

[club cheezes VIP lounge]

He literally said that he looks forward to the challenge of entering the premier conference in America. I look forward to hearing more details about why he was "shoved out" of Marquette..but you can't put on a straight face and tell me there's actual evidence he was shown the door right now. It's pure speculation and Scoopers getting anonymous tips from people.

It seems at this point in his life he wanted a change and used a 17-15 year as the time to do it. Sorry if you think I'm crazy, but that's almost exactly what he said in the interview.

As CBB pointed out earlier in this thread, 4 leagues had a better a RPI than the ACC.  One was the BEast.  Can you show me actual evidence that the ACC is the premier conference in college basketball as buzz claims it is? 

[keefe]

Hmmm... after seeing Buzz's interview on CBS today, I think it makes my point a lot more valid.

He wasn't fired, nor do I think he was forced out. He seemed genuinely happy and excited about the opportunity at Va. Tech. He even went on to say that he "likes the challenge" of bringing a team like the Hokies from the bottom to the top and joining "the premier basketball conference in America".

"I'm not the kind of person to say atodaso, but atodaso..."

WTFO??

[77ncaachamps]

Here's my theory de l'heure

The team sucked this year.  Buzz didn't like hearing jeers from fans.  Buzz does not see anyone stepping and taking the leader role a la Vander, DJO/Jae, JFB, Lazar, etc.  He's confident that next year could be worse than this year.  Two years missing the NIT?  Buzz thinks to himself, surely Marquette will can me and who will take me then?  I better sell now, as my stock is only going to fall if I stay an additional year.

Other coaches/ADs/etc realize "hey maybe Buzz isn't that great after all."  Folks in the media are saying that Buzz was actually interested in the Auburn job.  AUBURN! That should lay to rest the whole Buzz-left-for-the-better-conference theory.  Think about it.  Do you think Shaka Smart leaves VCU to coach Clemson?  Would Mark Few leaves the Zags to coach at DePaul simply because it's a much better league?

Perhaps this season exposed Buzz for who he is--someone who relies heavily on senior leadership.  Buzz needs a fourth assistant coach, if you will.  Why do you think his calls went from Oklahoma, Oregon, and UCLA to USF, Auburn, and VTech?  Buzz was exposed and the coaching world knew it.  KO pointed it out when calling games.  His exposure is evidenced further given the fact that neither Wake nor BC gave Buzz a blink.

Boom.

Relevancy. You have to stay relevant.

Problem is: you leave behind short tenures with some success but never really show you're good enough for the long run.

And bottom line to that is: you continually get paid to rebuild and raise expectations, making you look like a messiah.

[Avenue Commons]

I look forward to hearing more details about why he was "shoved out" of Marquette..but you can't put on a straight face and tell me there's actual evidence he was shown the door right now.

Actual evidence:
1) $4.0 Million > $2.5 Million;
2) Buzz's own admission of "changed" relationships;
3) Marquette made no counter offer or even engaged in negotiations.

[keefe]

Actual evidence:
3) Marquette made no counter offer or even engaged in negotiations.

Marquette stipulated specific expectations and BW refused to accept those conditions so it was time to part ways.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Marquette stipulated specific expectations and BW refused to accept those conditions so it was time to part ways.

You've said this a few times. What exactly were these expectations?

[Avenue Commons]

Marquette stipulated specific expectations and BW refused to accept those conditions so it was time to part ways.

Right. As I understand it dollars were never even discussed. Just basically mutual agreement it was time to go at the end of what has been basically a 2-3 year long process.

And, no, I was not in the room.

[Avenue Commons]

You've said this a few times. What exactly were these expectations?

Player conduct.
Handling of disciplinary issues.
Parameters for recruiting.
Admission standards.

[keefe]

Player conduct.
Handling of disciplinary issues.
Parameters for recruiting.
Admission standards.

Yep.

[Avenue Commons]

Yep.

Sounds like you heard the same. Those were the broad strokes I got.  Looking back, it isn't really anything we hadn't heard before about the tense relationship between our former coach and the administration.

[Eldon]

The guy who I believe first broke the news about the lower buyout said "minnesota would have gotten Buzz, but the buyout was too much." That was when the buyout was $2M.

The buyout was lowered to $100k. What does that mean?  That means Marquette virtually put Buzz on the market. Roughly speaking, it went from "you wanna buy Buzz from us, pony up $2M" to "you wanna buy Buzz from us, just give us $100k and we'll call it a deal."

Buzz has to put VT in the most positive light possible, it's only rational.