Recruiting

[Clam Crowder]

http://247sports.com/Coach/Steve-Wojciechowski-1770

Not sure how much this is worth, but Wojo gets the big boys...

I think it is a great hire.

[WadeATKBurton]

Will his recruits follow him here?

[Clam Crowder]

No but he is going from the number 1 to number 2 recruiting budget. He should be able to keep this going.

[Beer Brats Bags]

I don't post much around here but the coaching search has got me out of the woodwork, like it or not to some of the elitist... But IMO it's not that hard to get the "big boys" to go to duke. Marquette is a different story.

I sure hope this pans out, and I think it will. Coach Wojo will have some good success at Marquette. It's not the big impact we were promised/told would happen, but they could have done worse, and MU has done better with worse (see Buzz). My biggest concern is that in 5-6 years we are doing this same song and dance as coach leaves to go back to Duke.

[WadeATKBurton]

I don't post much around here but the coaching search has got me out of the woodwork, like it or not to some of the elitist... But IMO it's not that hard to get the "big boys" to go to duke. Marquette is a different story.

I sure hope this pans out, and I think it will. Coach Wojo will have some good success at Marquette. It's not the big impact we were promised/told would happen, but they could have done worse, and MU has done better with worse (see Buzz). My biggest concern is that in 5-6 years we are doing this same song and dance as coach leaves to go back to Duke.

+1000. I love this post

[nyg]

Wojo has been at Duke for almost two decades, which is almost as long as some of the young "scoopers" have been on this planet. He worked for the Coach K, the alltime college winning coach, not at Eastern Michigan, Middle Tennessee, etc.  

I guarantee that Wojo has the phone numbers of all the National AAU program's coaches in his I-phone and that is the success in the recruiting field, the relationship developed with those coaches, who are most times mentors to the players.  

I am sure once the excitement dwindles with his signing, he and his new staff will do their best to continue their success at MU.  

I don't care about 5 to 6 years down the road, why is everyone so beat up about that.  Enjoy the current ride of excitement now. 

[brandx]

I don't post much around here but the coaching search has got me out of the woodwork, like it or not to some of the elitist... But IMO it's not that hard to get the "big boys" to go to duke. Marquette is a different story.

I sure hope this pans out, and I think it will. Coach Wojo will have some good success at Marquette. It's not the big impact we were promised/told would happen, but they could have done worse, and MU has done better with worse (see Buzz). My biggest concern is that in 5-6 years we are doing this same song and dance as coach leaves to go back to Duke.

For him to go back to Duke will have meant that he had great success at MU. That is a plus and will further be a plus in getting the next guy.

[brandx]

Wojo has been at Duke for almost two decades, which is almost as long as some of the young "scoopers" have been on this planet. He worked for the Coach K, the alltime college winning coach, not at Eastern Michigan, Middle Tennessee, etc.  

I guarantee that Wojo has the phone numbers of all the National AAU program's coaches in his I-phone and that is the success in the recruiting field, the relationship developed with those coaches, who are most times mentors to the players.  

I am sure once the excitement dwindles with his signing, he and his new staff will do their best to continue their success at MU.  

I don't care about 5 to 6 years down the road, why is everyone so beat up about that.  Enjoy the current ride of excitement now. 

+1

AAU is where it's happening when it comes to recruiting.

[Beer Brats Bags]

Wojo has been at Duke for almost two decades, which is almost as long as some of the young "scoopers" have been on this planet. He worked for the Coach K, the alltime college winning coach, not at Eastern Michigan, Middle Tennessee, etc.  

I guarantee that Wojo has the phone numbers of all the National AAU program's coaches in his I-phone and that is the success in the recruiting field, the relationship developed with those coaches, who are most times mentors to the players.  

I am sure once the excitement dwindles with his signing, he and his new staff will do their best to continue their success at MU.  

I don't care about 5 to 6 years down the road, why is everyone so beat up about that.  Enjoy the current ride of excitement now.  

Yes, he has the aau connections. He knows all the right people. I am excited about that.

Why I'm concerned about 5-6 years down the road... I'd like some stability in our program. I'm tied of getting assistants from other programs, shining them up, and watching them move on to greener pastures.

Yes, if he goes back to duke that means that Marquette is very successful and that's awesome. Maybe this is the coach we get before we get the coach that will view this as a destination. Or maybe all this worry is for nothing and Wojo sticks around forever and falls in love with MU.

[AlumKCof93]

For the past few years, many of us were concerned that the Texas gig would open up and Buzz would leave as a result.  With the success he had, prior to this year - it seemed a likelihood that Texas would go after him and Buzz would leave.

With all of the other coaches from Coach K, should we be concerned that Wojo will leave when K retires?  Even if Wojo achieves great success, it would seem that Brey, Dawkins, Amaker, Collins and I'm sure others would all want to the job.  Its no slam dunk that Wojo would be offered the job due to the competition - even if he succeeds at the level we all hope.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

+1

AAU is where it's happening when it comes to recruiting.

Ugh, I hate the AAU circuit. It absolutely kills some players careers but unfortunately it is a huge recruiting tool.

[WadeATKBurton]

For him to go back to Duke will have meant that he had great success at MU. That is a plus and will further be a plus in getting the next guy.

You're ok with that? That has stepping stone written all over it.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

You're ok with that? That has stepping stone written all over it.

Except for the fact that its Duke...99.99% of NCAA teams would be a stepping stone for Duke.

[Sharpie]

Wojo being a duke assistant and player - do you think MU will garner more
Media exposure now that he is at the helm than we have seen in the past few years? My gut says that we do.

I'm excited to see how the start of the Wojo era commences.

[LAZER]

You're ok with that? That has stepping stone written all over it.

Do you consider Kansas a stepping stone?

[rabid652]

You're ok with that? That has stepping stone written all over it.

Stepping stone to Duke?  I've got no problem with that.  To Va. Tech, on the other hand, not so much.  This, of course, is assuming Wojo is next in line for Duke which I don't believe is the given so many people are making it out to be.  

[Beer Brats Bags]

Except for the fact that its Duke...99.99% of NCAA teams would be a stepping stone for Duke.

Good point. I think with Crean it was "well, it's Indiana..." And Williams it was a weird "get the F out of dodge" move. I'd hate to lose Wojo for "well, it's duke... "

I don't think we would ever get away from the stepping stone issue, it just bothers me that it's duke... Because almost every team is a stepping stone for duke. I'd feel better if it were a lesser rich with tradition team.

[WadeATKBurton]

Do you consider Kansas a stepping stone?

The perception of coaches is that Marquette is a stepping stone. Its obvious

[Beer Brats Bags]

Stepping stone to Duke?  I've got no problem with that.  To Va. Tech, on the other hand, not so much.  This, of course, is assuming Wojo is next in line for Duke which I don't believe is the given so many people are making it out to be.  

I hope you're right

[Tums Festival]

For the past few years, many of us were concerned that the Texas gig would open up and Buzz would leave as a result.  With the success he had, prior to this year - it seemed a likelihood that Texas would go after him and Buzz would leave.

With all of the other coaches from Coach K, should we be concerned that Wojo will leave when K retires?  Even if Wojo achieves great success, it would seem that Brey, Dawkins, Amaker, Collins and I'm sure others would all want to the job.  Its no slam dunk that Wojo would be offered the job due to the competition - even if he succeeds at the level we all hope.

Odds are if he doesn't end up back at Duke he'll end going to some other BCS level program.

[28thBrew]

Wojo must be a good hire if folks are already worried about him leaving. Makes me more excited to see what he can do in fact.

[nyg]

Good point. I think with Crean it was "well, it's Indiana..." And Williams it was a weird "get the F out of dodge" move. I'd hate to lose Wojo for "well, it's duke... "

I don't think we would ever get away from the stepping stone issue, it just bothers me that it's duke... Because almost every team is a stepping stone for duke. I'd feel better if it were a lesser rich with tradition team.

Well thank goodness Duke hasn't had to hire a coach in 34 years.  Coach K was hired in 1980.  Not alot of stones stepped on in recent years to get there.  

Worry about that whenever, enjoy, life's too short.

[Mike Deane]

Yes, he has the aau connections. He knows all the right people. I am excited about that.

Why I'm concerned about 5-6 years down the road... I'd like some stability in our program. I'm tied of getting assistants from other programs, shining them up, and watching them move on to greener pastures.

Yes, if he goes back to duke that means that Marquette is very successful and that's awesome. Maybe this is the coach we get before we get the coach that will view this as a destination. Or maybe all this worry is for nothing and Wojo sticks around forever and falls in love with MU.

I came to accept that the MU coach position is a stepping stone job, after Brent left.

I can't worry about 5 years down the road what the coach will do, given any success.  I am just thinking what future recruits will think about the coach that is recruiting them.

[Beer Brats Bags]

I came to accept that the MU coach position is a stepping stone job, after Brent left.

I can't worry about 5 years down the road what the coach will do, given any success.  I am just thinking what future recruits will think about the coach that is recruiting them.

Good way to look at it. Again, for all we know he will fall in love with Marquette and have big success here and never want to leave.

Forever coaches are hard to find these days. I'm looking forward to what kind of style he will bring and what players he will bring in

[humanlung]

I have been a well (and perhaps overly...) documented Howland proponent.

My concern with Wojo is this...he has been at Duke his entire career.  One would argue a school/basketball program that sells itself - even knowing that for McD's All-Americans it's a dog fight between the blue bloods.

Can Wojo, who has little (perhaps no) experience doing so, walk into a gym to look at Joe Fulce and find a Jimmy Butler?  Or see the potential in a Devante Gardner?  Does he have the ability to look past the incredibly talented high school players that are recruited by Duke to identify a two star rated player who is really a four star in disguise?

I hope he's a master at this and my concerns are completely unfounded but it is a legit set of questions in my opinion, considering where he is coming from.