Best MU men's basketball coach since Al

[tower912]

Make your case.   

[GoldenWarrior11]

I voted for Crean (although probably unpopular) in that he really elevated Marquette to a level of success not seen since Al.  The case could be made that he rode the success of Wade to the Final Four (and his high status), but his reach was bigger than that.  He took us to consistent winning, year-in and year-out, which Buzz then took over from and built upon. 

I would also say that Crean's big get, in addition to Wade, was getting James, McNeal and Matthews in the same class.  That really started a boom in recruiting that allowed us to get Lazar, and, eventually via Buzz, Vander, Taylor, Johnson, Du. Wilson, etc. 

[GooooMarquette]

Kevin O'Neill

He took over a train wreck that was on its way to becoming mid-major, and got us to the Sweet Sixteen.  MU's financial commitment to men's hoops was still small - pretty sure he took a huge bump to go to UT - and the facilities were awful.  If KO hadn't come long, we would all be looking forward to our annual rivalry game against...Loyola.

TC and Buzz are both worthy of consideration - TC took us the furthest and Buzz had the longest run of getting us to the second weekend - but neither would have even considered MU if it hadn't been for KO.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I didn't vote, seriously.


I'll also be interested to see if votes change over the next month(s) and year

[WadeATKBurton]

All these Brent slurpers..I voted Tom Crean

[MUSF]

I think it's Buzz by a fairly significant margin. I understand the arguments for O'Neill and Crean, but nobody had a better sustained run of success than Buzz. He kept the program relevant throughout our run in the Big East by proving that MU could compete consistently in the Big East, not only on the court but in recruiting.

Full disclosure: I became an MU fan during the Deane era.

[WadeATKBurton]

All of you that voted Brent are still in your feelings about Tom Crean leaving. GET OVER IT. Tom Crean elevated a hopeless Marquette program and reached the FINAL FOUR!!!!

[MUSF]

All of you that voted Brent are still in your feelings about Tom Crean leaving. GET OVER IT. Tom Crean elevated a hopeless Marquette program and reached the FINAL FOUR!!!!

Funny, I would bet that many who would vote for Crean still have hurt feelings about Buzz. I also think many would take issue with your hopeless program comment.

[RealWarriorFan]

Buzz did a better job of sustaining success.  Crean did a nice job of building the foundation, Buzz kept it going.  I hope we do this survey again in 15 years and it will be Wojo. 

[BrewCity83]

O'Neill and Crean both helped grow the program.  Buzz reaped the benefits and had (by far) the most success on the court.  I voted Buzz.  I'm hoping Wojo surpasses them all...

[Coleman]

I'm a slurper!!!!!!!!


But only cuz you didn't have Wojo as a choice 

[WadeATKBurton]

I bet yall boy flops at VA Tech lol

[Coleman]

In all seriousness though, I don't know how there could be any doubt. Buzz surpassed any other coach by a mile.

Now, I don't think as highly of him as a person as I might have a couple months ago, but there's no doubt MU did more in his time here than any other coach.

If I had to go further down the list, id rank them....

1. Buzz
TIE 2. TC and K O'Neill
4. Hank

[WadeATKBurton]

That FINAL FOUR by Tom Crean surpasses EVERYTHING Brent did!

[GooooMarquette]

I also think many would take issue with your hopeless program comment.

Yes.  The last time the program truly seemed hopeless was in the wake of Dukiet, when KO took over.  Dukiet averaged a horrific 13 wins per season during his tenure - and that was against pretty weak competition.  Deane - for all his flaws - still averaged 20 wins per season, and did it against competition that was starting to improve (Great Midwest and then C-USA).  TC did an awesome job elevating the program even further, getting us to the Final Four and into the Big East...but the program he inherited was light years ahead of what KO had to deal with.

[brandx]

I'd like to hear some basketball wisdom from the person who voted for Dukiet.

Yes - I realize it was probably a sarcastic vote

[wadesworld]

That FINAL FOUR by Tom Crean surpasses EVERYTHING Brent did!

Oh.

[Groin_pull]

Hands down, KO. He was given a sinking dogsh*t program and was able to pull in some top talent and eventually reach the Sweet 16.

MU was headed for the Horizon League (if they were lucky) before KO arrived.

Without KO, there's no TC, Big East, the Al Center, etc.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

I didn't vote, seriously.


I'll also be interested to see if votes change over the next month(s) and year

none of the above, aina?

You gonna put your hat on the ballot too, kin?

[CTWarrior]

1 - Kevin O'Neill - brought us back from the brink of being a middle of the pack Horizon school
2 - Buzz Williams - Consistent top 20 program, built on predecessor's accomplishment, cemented Marquette brand
Could swap 1 and 2 and no argument from me
3 - Tom Crean - Final 4, turned downward trajectory back to right direction
4 - Mike Deane - Did a great job coaching O'Neill's players.  Couldn't get his own
5 - Hank Raymonds - Preciptious drop from McGuire heights rather quickly
6 - Rick Majerus - Not ready for prime time
7 - Bob Dukiet - Continued downward spiral  to near impossible depths

[WadeATKBurton]

How many Final Fours does Brent has??

[Aughnanure]

I vote Wade.

[Tums Festival]

1 - Kevin O'Neill - brought us back from the brink of being a middle of the pack Horizon school
2 - Buzz Williams - Consistent top 20 program, built on predecessor's accomplishment, cemented Marquette brand
Could swap 1 and 2 and no argument from me
3 - Tom Crean - Final 4, turned downward trajectory back to right direction
4 - Mike Deane - Did a great job coaching O'Neill's players.  Couldn't get his own
5 - Hank Raymonds - Preciptious drop from McGuire heights rather quickly
6 - Rick Majerus - Not ready for prime time
7 - Bob Dukiet - Continued downward spiral  to near impossible depths

This sums it up pretty well for me too.

[MattyWarrior]

Crean, as much as I hate to say it. A once proud,tradition rich program fallen on hard times. Made us relevant in CBB again
brought money in for facilities and some good players and made it a good program again. Turns out neither TC or Buzz
were very good at developing guys or in game coaching.

[buckchuckler]

So I voted Crean, and here is why.

First and foremost, the pinnacle of his success tops anyone else.  Only non Al coach to get MU to the FF.  The E8 and conf championship were fantastic, but they weren't a final four.  
2) the Big East, the success Crean had allowed MU to be a legit candidate for the Big East.
3) the players.  Crean brought in players that are MU all time greats.  Wade of course, but also Novak, Diener, James, Jerel, Wes, Hayward.  Half of MU's top 10 in scoring were brought in by Crean.  
4)Tournament appearances.  In the 10 years before TC, MU was in the tourney 4 times.  TC got MU there 5 times and really built the foundation that Buzz continued.  

There can be no denying what Buzz did.  He had a great run of success, but I think that the higher plateau for Crean and the players that rewrote the record book, established MU as a NBA pipeline and put a face on MUBB, put Crean ahead of Buzz.  

I can certainly understand other points of view.  But my vote went Crean.