Hunt is alive

[JTBMU7]

I think Mike Hunt rubbed Buzz the wrong way and gave him the cold shoulder.  At that point Hunt decided to phone it in.

yeah it was pretty obvious the past 2 seasons that buzz had almost completely shut out the local guys, especially Hunt. i cant remember any of his blog posts or articles that referenced a one-on-one conversation. based on the way Hunt covered Buzz's departure (mentioning his insecurity, need for adoration, etc...) and the way he keeps pointing out all the things Wojo is doing that Buzz did not, seems to indicate pretty clearly that Buzz pretty clearly didnt communicate with him.
as far as the way Wojo seems to be coaching, it's definitely refreshing. I always thought buzz's style worked well for the JUCO and lower-rated guys(jimmy, jae, junior, DJO), but it didnt seem to translate as well into more skilled part of the game. MU has been an awful shooting team for almost all of Buzz's time and as was noted countless times, they won more on effort and hustle than on skill/ability.
not to say buzz didnt know what to do with a younger, more skilled group that needs to be refined a bit, but he certainly didnt seem to be able to make much progress with this years freshman.
im really looking forward to seeing a team that plays more team basketball and shoots the ball well, though i do think i'll miss the bulldog/toughness label that brought so much success...

[Nukem2]

Actually, other than the past season, Buzz's teams shot well from outside... Jerel,Wes, Lazar, Cooby and Mo (as seniors), Jimmy, DJO, Jae.  Junior and Vander and Jamil also made a bunch of crucial treys in the Elite 8 season.

[JTBMU7]

Actually, other than the past season, Buzz's teams shot well from outside... Jerel,Wes, Lazar, Cooby and Mo (as seniors), Jimmy, DJO, Jae.  Junior and Vander and Jamil also made a bunch of crucial treys in the Elite 8 season.

no way, the only year they shot well was lazar's senior year team, other than that they have been somewhere between bad and awful. here are %'s by season, only once did they finish higher than 140th int he country in 3pt%

2014: 32%
2013: 29%
2012: 33%
2011: 34%
2010: 41%
2009: 34%

[brandx]

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.

I always thought that showed up in his substitution patterns. How many times in the last 6 years did we see guys enter the game and be back out again in less that 30-60 seconds?

The other thing that drove me crazy is that he didn't have any idea how to go to the "hot" hand. His habit of subbing for a guy that had just hit 2 or 3 shots drove me nuts.

[keefe]

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......

Something I have never known, rara. I am the third generation of military pilots so a transient lifestyle is in the DNA. I saw how my wife's family congregated for events and holidays and know there is a lot to be said for that. My side never had that so I am grateful for my wife's family traditions, especially for my children.

[ChicosBailBonds]

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.

Agree.  John Wooden was a phenomenal college basketball player...he was also an ok coach.

Also harder to be a great coach than a great player imo.  A lot more has to go right.   

[muwarrior97]

When is he going to have the Scott Merritt interview done? Lady Warriors hoopin' it up

[StillAWarrior]

Also harder to be a great coach than a great player imo.  A lot more has to go right.   

Switching sports on you...but that's one of my favorite answers from wrestling and coaching legend Dan Gable.  When asked whether he was prouder of his wrestling record or his coaching record, he didn't hesitate in saying coaching.  Essentially, he said it's harder and more rewarding to bring excellence out of others than to bring it out of yourself.  Easy for him to say, since he was probably the greatest wrestler of all time.  I (and others) have often said that Michael Jordan was the Dan Gable of basketball.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Switching sports on you...but that's one of my favorite answers from wrestling and coaching legend Dan Gable.  When asked whether he was prouder of his wrestling record or his coaching record, he didn't hesitate in saying coaching.  Essentially, he said it's harder and more rewarding to bring excellence out of others than to bring it out of yourself.  Easy for him to say, since he was probably the greatest wrestler of all time.  I (and others) have often said that Michael Jordan was the Dan Gable of basketball.

100% agree.  There are also circumstances in coaching that can make being "successful" a challenge that may be impossible or very difficult to achieve vs individual accomplishments.  a lot has to go right when muliple people are involved, including talent levels.

[keefe]

Switching sports on you...but that's one of my favorite answers from wrestling and coaching legend Dan Gable.  When asked whether he was prouder of his wrestling record or his coaching record, he didn't hesitate in saying coaching.  Essentially, he said it's harder and more rewarding to bring excellence out of others than to bring it out of yourself.  Easy for him to say, since he was probably the greatest wrestler of all time.  I (and others) have often said that Michael Jordan was the Dan Gable of basketball.

One of the greatest in any sport. This is a man who has done it to the absolute highest standards as a player, coach, and member of his community. Comparing the morally obtuse Michael Jordan with Dan Gable is far too superficial and demeans the character, integrity, and honor of a true man. Jordan was a great basketball player but quite frankly he is not worthy of even sniffing Dan Gable's jock strap. 

[StillAWarrior]

One of the greatest in any sport. This is a man who has done it to the absolute highest standards as a player, coach, and member of his community. Comparing the morally obtuse Michael Jordan with Dan Gable is far too superficial and demeans the character, integrity, and honor of a true man. Jordan was a great basketball player but quite frankly he is not worthy of even sniffing Dan Gable's jock strap. 

You'll get no argument from me.  Gable was one of my heroes when I was growing up...and is even more now.  I had a chance to meet him very briefly years ago, and got his autograph.  Without question, the most starstruck I've ever been.  I grew up wanting my parents to buy me a pair of Gables...not Jordans.

[GGGG]

Don't look now, but Cael Sanderson has already exceeded Gable's record as a wrestler and may do so as a coach as well.

[StillAWarrior]

Don't look now, but Cael Sanderson has already exceeded Gable's record as a wrestler and may do so as a coach as well.

Exceeded as a wrestler?  I disagree.  May exceed his record as a coach?  Perhaps.  Time will tell.

And for the record, I'm also a big fan of Sanderson.  I was following closely and rooting for him to finish his NCAA career undefeated.  He's incredible.  Obviously the undefeated collegiate career and four NCAA titles exceeds Gable as an college wrestler, but there's more to it than that.  Obviously, winning the Olympic gold medal without giving up a single point is a biggie.

[GGGG]

Exceeded as a wrestler?  I disagree.  May exceed his record as a coach?  Perhaps.  Time will tell.

And for the record, I'm also a big fan of Sanderson.  I was following closely and rooting for him to finish his NCAA career undefeated.  He's incredible.  Obviously the undefeated collegiate career and four NCAA titles exceeds Gable as an college wrestler, but there's more to it than that.  Obviously, winning the Olympic gold medal without giving up a single point is a biggie.

Yeah that is why I said his *record* as a wrestler.  I don't know enough to know who was actually the better wrestler.

[Lennys Tap]

One of the greatest in any sport. This is a man who has done it to the absolute highest standards as a player, coach, and member of his community. Comparing the morally obtuse Michael Jordan with Dan Gable is far too superficial and demeans the character, integrity, and honor of a true man. Jordan was a great basketball player but quite frankly he is not worthy of even sniffing Dan Gable's jock strap. 

I have a print by Leroy Neiman hanging in my family room titled "Gable's Gold", a gift from one of my oldest and best friends and a guy I wrestled with in high school. Gable was America's most famous athlete in eastern Europe and anyplace else where amateur wrestling was popular.