Hunt is alive

[Mike Deane]

Ted Williams was the greatest hitter of all time. Charlie Lau couldn't hit a lick. Ted was a failure as a coach/manager, Charlie is considered by some to be the greatest hitting coach of all time. Doing and teaching are two very different skill sets.

Well, the article says the assistant coaches were teaching skill, while Coach is observing.  I think that means Coach will be tactician here, meaning you will have both the skills and hopefully the brain.

[4everwarriors]

Wojo being a big time player at a big time school definitely means something to the kids. One major gripe I had with Buzz was his lack of experience as a player. Much easier for kids to relate to a coach that played at high level and easier for coach to understand players limits as a player.

Absolutely correct. A former Warrior also told me during Crean's regime, that since T-Cubed never played the game, it was an issue.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Ted Williams was the greatest hitter of all time. Charlie Lau couldn't hit a lick. Ted was a failure as a coach/manager, Charlie is considered by some to be the greatest hitting coach of all time. Doing and teaching are two very different skill sets.

Totally fair, but Charlie was at least a player at the MLB level.

I can't/won't pretend that former players are somehow masterful teachers... it doesn't work like that.

BUT, I can see 2 players on MU's roster who seem to have the ability, but lack a certain feel/skill when it comes to shooting. For these guys, getting specific skill instruction will be beneficial.

Buzz's teams always played hard, and they were always tough. I'd like to see what these kids can do with some more advanced skill development.

[MUCam]

Will we see Marquette move away from having a reputation as one of the hardest working and toughest teams in college basketball? It will be interesting to see how that pans out.

Crean and Buzz were both self-made, in that they had to work twice as hard to get to their respective positions given that they were not former high level basketball players. They are proof that if you work hard enough, you can achieve great things. From a personal experience standpoint, they know only the hard work necessary to create success and therefore they both clearly stressed hard work and toughness.

Wojo was known as a tenacious and hard working basketball player. But as pointed out, he also knows from personal experience the skillset needed to succeed. Following Coach K's tutelage, perhaps he sees a different path to success, which involves stricter adherence to skills and fundamentals and less focus on abstract concepts like hustle or toughness, or paint touches or deflections (that should have been a meme matchup, if it wasn't).

It will be exciting to see the identity Wojo instills in his team. There is more than one way to skin a cat. We've just been skinning them the same way for over a decade. Will we change? To be determined....

[Goose]

Lenny,

Agreed on your post. I do think at college level things are slightly different. A coach is taking guys that do not all have NBA talent and can definitely help tweak things. If nothing else it definitely gives a coach more credibility in working with the kids. Have mentioned it several time but in last year several former players said to me "it is obvious that Buzz never played the game". I am not sound enough ball guy to filly understand the comment and simply took it as something very obvious was being missed. To me it meant D Wilson playing 30 minutes a night but sure much deeper than that.

[The Lens]

What I like about Wojo is while he was a great player, highly recruited, played at a high level, etc, he seemed to be a guy who got there because he outworked people.  I think he's going to be a nice hybrid of the TC / Buzz hard worker mentality + skill.

My biggest thing:

We've been damn good since 2002.  Let's keep that rolling.  This program doesn't need a full reboot, but tweaking never hurt. 

[GooooMarquette]

Eh...they say it makes a difference, but I am not sure it really does.  How many top coaches were "big time players?"  

Numerically, I can't say.  But John Wooden was an all-american at Purdue and things worked out pretty well in his coaching career.  Al played at a high level as well.  For more modern examples, Kevin Ollie just won a NC, and Danny Manning's coaching career looks promising.

That said, I am FAR more excited that we have a guy who learned coaching from one of the best (perhaps the best) coaches of the modern era.

[79Warrior]

Eh...they say it makes a difference, but I am not sure it really does.  How many top coaches were "big time players?"  

I think it means alot. It is only natural to have respect for someone who has done the job well. I have more respect for a boss who has done what I do versus one who never walked in my shoes. Same for players.

[GGGG]

I think it means alot. It is only natural to have respect for someone who has done the job well. I have more respect for a boss who has done what I do versus one who never walked in my shoes. Same for players.

Yet many top coaches weren't "big time players."  In fact very few of them.  Marquette spent a great deal of time chasing around a guy who played at D3 Kenyon College before turning to Wojo.

[keefe]

I wonder how effective USAF UPI would be if none of the instructors were pilots?? A physics or engineering professor can impart theory but he can't teach you the art of flying or how to most effectively employ your aircraft with exquisite lethality. There is no substitute for experience in mastering skills. An IP with 4,000 hours and significant combat experience can not only teach proficiency but also provide insight that might save your life.  

[real chili 83]

Nice article Mike Hunt.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Absolutely correct. A former Warrior also told me during Crean's regime, that since T-Cubed never played the game, it was an issue.

I always thought it was a bigger issue with Crean. You'd see Buzz horsing around and shooting with the kids. I don't even think Crean was coordinated. I remember when Game Day was here. Bilas (?) asked Crean to talk a shot during a play walk through and he flat refused. Compare that with a diminutive guy like Izzo, who is constantly taking kids on in FT contests. It obviously not a huge thing, but it's a thing. If your coach can't make a layup, I'd think you'd be quicker to tune him out.

[Nukem2]

Yet many top coaches weren't "big time players."  In fact very few of them.  Marquette spent a great deal of time chasing around a guy who played at D3 Kenyon College before turning to Wojo.

Yes, D3.  But he was all-conference as a senior and was Kenyon's all-time assist leader.  Have to give him some credit.

[T-Bone]

I don't even think Crean was coordinated.

But he's got a neat karate outfit.

[4everwarriors]

I always thought it was a bigger issue with Crean. You'd see Buzz horsing around and shooting with the kids. I don't even think Crean was coordinated. I remember when Game Day was here. Bilas (?) asked Crean to talk a shot during a play walk through and he flat refused. Compare that with a diminutive guy like Izzo, who is constantly taking kids on in FT contests. It obviously not a huge thing, but it's a thing. If your coach can't make a layup, I'd think you'd be quicker to tune him out.
[/


You could actually piss your trousers watchin' Crean try to golf. If he broke 120, it was a good round.

[Earl Tatum]

Like the quote from players--- Means, Wojo has been there, done that, as has the coaches. (Carawell, Nelson, and
Gainey). Any word on Diener joining the staff. Was mentioned or was it a "wish he would". GREAT ARTICLE!

Now let's change the name back to WARRIORS, WARRIORS. And never kiss a reporter's a--!

[GGGG]

Diener has been offered the job and is considering it...but his team is still alive in Italy.

[keefe]

Diener has been offered the job and is considering it...but his team is still alive in Italy.

If I'm Diener I stay in Italy. I thought he was also a member of the Italian National Team, having become an Italian citizen.

[Nukem2]

Diener needs to weigh his options of continuing his playing career ( while enjoying La Dolce Vita ) versus bringing his family back to the homeland and continue the rest of his life pursuing a coaching career. 

[GGGG]

If I'm Diener I stay in Italy. I thought he was also a member of the Italian National Team, having become an Italian citizen.

He's a dual citizen....but also has a child ready to start school.

[keefe]

He's a dual citizen....but also has a child ready to start school.

All the more reason to stay. My folks put me in Japanese grade school for the first three years. Our kids grew up overseas in completely international environments and we always felt this was one of the best gifts we gave to them. Our daughter has worked in primitive conditions in places like Somalia and Botswana and looks forward to continuing her work in the developing world once she completes her graduate work. We know that her experiences growing up in places like Indonesia are core to her career interests.

Our oldest lives in Italy. The first time I met his Italian girl friend I told my wife he's not ever coming home. She corrected me by stating that he is home.

As much as I would like to see him as an MU assistant because he would be a great asset for the program I am not sure why he would give up his current lifestyle. Milwaukee v. Capri? C'mon.

[GGGG]

Family is important to both of them and they are all in the midwest.

[mu-rara]

Milwaukee v. Capri? C'mon.

Keefe,

I often question the sanity of living in WI from January through March.  April through December is another story.  

He has family ties here, and those can be tough to stay away from.  I moved back to my hometown so my kids would be surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins......

[barfolomew]

If I'm Diener I stay in Italy. I thought he was also a member of the Italian National Team, having become an Italian citizen.

So then he will be changing his name to "Dienero"?

[79Warrior]

Yet many top coaches weren't "big time players."  In fact very few of them.  Marquette spent a great deal of time chasing around a guy who played at D3 Kenyon College before turning to Wojo.

Who cares if they were "big time". Just playing in college ball and understanding how tough it is goes a long way.