[PaintTouches]Buzz offers his explanation for MU departure

[PaintTouchesSays]

Buzz offers his explanation for MU departure

“Whatever’s in the bottle, when it’s tipped over, will come out,” Buzz Williams lectured his basketball pupils in 2010. “When it’s tipped over, whatever is in you will come out. That will be your character being revealed.” One of the lasting phrases Buzz instilled into the Marquette lexicon during his tenure was that of character […]<img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=painttouches.com&blog=28348875&post=11867&subd=painttouches&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />

Source: Buzz offers his explanation for MU departure

[bilsu]

Buzz needs to feel loved. Everybody loves a winner and nobody loves a loser. He needs to win at Virginia Tech and I am sure the VT fans are envisioning going to NCAA very soon. Going to VT to for lower expectations only works for one or two years.

[MUDPT]

Bravo, Paint Touches.  Great, great article.  As I mentioned on a previous thread, Hanner quoted a couple of weeks ago, VPI is one of 2? schools in D1 whose efficiency went down the last 4 years straight. Nowhere to go but up.

[4everwarriors]

He is one, strange, lovable, motherfooker. Felt the heat and grabbed the first gig that would pay him big shekels before the whole charade went down. I know, for a fact, Bumstead went after the Auburn job that Pearl snatched.

[NickelDimer]

Buzz needs to feel loved. Everybody loves a winner and nobody loves a loser. He needs to win at Virginia Tech and I am sure the VT fans are envisioning going to NCAA very soon. Going to VT to for lower expectations only works for one or two years.

I think it's realistic to expect Buzz to take them to new heights, (not saying much), given his ability to recruit which is unquestioned.  Then the VT fanbase and media will laud him and stroke his ego as he clearly desires above all else.

Excellent article PT.  Knocked it out of the park. My only hope is GP reads it

[Wojo'sMojo]

I think it's realistic to expect Buzz to take them to new heights, (not saying much), given his ability to recruit which is unquestioned.  Then the VT fanbase and media will laud him and stroke his ego as he clearly desires above all else.

Excellent article PT.  Knocked it out of the park. My only hope is GP reads it

I hope Buzz reads it too.

[Spotcheck Billy]

this too:

Parrish states Isaac Chew is an assistant with Virginia Tech, but I’ve sent seven emails to their SID and he still hasn’t confirmed that. It also isn’t on the website. In fact, VT is the only school to not have officially filled its coaching vacancies, which have been open for almost three months now. You may ask what my obsession with this may be, and you’d be right to think it’s not normal, but I’m waiting to pull a Buzz and file an FOIA on Chew’s contract to see the terms of the deal and how they compare to his terms at MU. So long as the hiring isn’t official, VT has no responsibility to abide by my FOIA request. The struggle is real.

[classof70]

Good analysis.  I must admit I feel a little sorry for Buzz and the demons he carries with him.   Nonetheless, the way he left Marquette, in my opinion, showed his true character--a little bit of the huckster or charlatan.  The reported reaction of his former players, if true,  says volumes.   I think we should put him behind us and move on.  He's simply not worth the emotional capital.

[Skatastrophy]

Some people are good at running startups. Some people are good at growing you from a $1MM company to a $500MM company. Some people are talented at running large successful corporations.

Buzz capped his talents out at MU and exited for a place that he could rebuild. He's never rebuilt before. He ditched the NO job when it was too tough, and he was handed a sweet gig at MU. Time will tell if Buzz knows himself well enough to put himself into positions that he can be successful or not. He's proven that he has no qualms about leaving place that he, for whatever reason, doesn't believe he'll continue to be successful.

Odd duck.

[NickelDimer]

Some people are good at running startups. Some people are good at growing you from a $1MM company to a $500MM company. Some people are talented at running large successful corporations.

Buzz capped his talents out at MU and exited for a place that he could rebuild. He's never rebuilt before. He ditched the NO job when it was too tough, and he was handed a sweet gig at MU. Time will tell if Buzz knows himself well enough to put himself into positions that he can be successful or not. He's proven that he has no qualms about leaving place that he, for whatever reason, doesn't believe he'll continue to be successful.

Odd duck.

The article makes it clear Buzz sees failure as an inevitablity.  Such a strange approach to a career anywhere.  Maybe he deserves credit for having a very good sense of his limitations. 

[RubyWiscy]

What I still don't get is Buzz' paranoia about maintaining success. Buzz' teams got stronger and went further each year save his last. There was every indication MU would be even better going into 2013. Plus Buzz had a top 10 recruiting class coming in for 2014. I understand that the BE got weaker and FS1 was starting at the bottom, but MU was poised to take another big step up and potentially dominate the BE for the next few years.  

Maybe he was taking a long-term view of things. I think more likely there was more going on behind the scenes as has been alleged. From an outside fan/observer perspective though, there was no indication that momentum at MU was starting to falter going into 2013.

[starting5]

this too:

Parrish states Isaac Chew is an assistant with Virginia Tech, but I’ve sent seven emails to their SID and he still hasn’t confirmed that. It also isn’t on the website. In fact, VT is the only school to not have officially filled its coaching vacancies, which have been open for almost three months now. You may ask what my obsession with this may be, and you’d be right to think it’s not normal, but I’m waiting to pull a Buzz and file an FOIA on Chew’s contract to see the terms of the deal and how they compare to his terms at MU. So long as the hiring isn’t official, VT has no responsibility to abide by my FOIA request. The struggle is real.

Chew is on Buzz's staff, family is in the process of relocating to Blacksburg.  #DONEDEAL

[CoachRaymondsClass]

I liked Williams but I never thought that he was perfect.

That said, I think that Williams exhibits a behavior often seen by employees who are fired, laid-off or told "it would be better to look for another opportunity." So they criticize their former employer to rationalize the departure. Quirky guy that Williams is, he carries it to the extreme with studies etc.

He worked hard and achieved at MU. He also had some messes of varying degree. Paint Touches nailed him about his character inconsistencies. Some other juicy tidbits about what he is doing about his coaches (for sidestepping recruiting rules ?) and the dropping of twitter relationships with practically all remaining players. Where would Williams be today without MU?  He came up with a new job because of MU. He ought to just let go of his rejection.

[barfolomew]

There is one thing that becomes clearer to me with each new piece of information that is revealed about The Departure. It does not really matter what the actual chain of events was that led to it; a cancer was growing somewhere, and its removal means that Marquette basketball will be healthier in the long run.

[willie warrior]

"Odd Duck"; "Quirky"; "Strange". Here is the real deal:

Phony.

[Tums Festival]

Brent is a piece of trash, plain and simple.

[The Lens]

Brent is a piece of trash, plain and simple.

Maybe, but he was the only coach we've had since Al that had me thinking we could win it all.

#AllInOnWojo

[NersEllenson]

There is one thing that becomes clearer to me with each new piece of information that is revealed about The Departure. It does not really matter what the actual chain of events was that led to it; a cancer was growing somewhere, and its removal means that Marquette basketball will be healthier in the long run.

Well said.  The relationship between Buzz and MU ran its course.  Best for both parties to move on, yet in some ways really sad that Buzz ultimately in ways let his success get to his head, become more high maintenance and in so doing forgot about how good of thing he had going at MU and could have built long term.  Sadly last year he changed....as he really and truly lost that whole team...for the first time in his MU tenure...

Also pretty sure Buzz unfollowing all of his former MU guys (other than Juan) likely was a result of having to see tweets that were positive about Wojo...and the new atmosphere being a breath of fresh air.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Maybe, but he was the only coach we've had since Al that had me thinking we could win it all.

#AllInOnWojo

Never thought that because we never got close to that far.  Only one coach since Al got us into the last weekend.

[The Lens]

Never thought that because we never got close to that far.  Only one coach since Al got us into the last weekend.

And that coach could never us to the 2nd weekend again.  And he had 5 more cracks at it after Robert Jackson graduated.

Buzz had us playing on the 2nd weekend 3 years in a row and then he brought in ESPN's 11th ranked class.  There was reason for optimism.

[ChicosBailBonds]

And that coach could never us to the 2nd weekend again.  And he had 5 more cracks at it after Robert Jackson graduated.

Buzz had us playing on the 2nd weekend 3 years in a row and then he brought in ESPN's 11th ranked class.  There was reason for optimism.

Yup, it's a crapshoot.   That ESPN 11th ranked class got us nothing, not even a NIT.  You just never know.

My point is to win it all, you have to get close.  Only once since Al have we played in that last weekend.  That week leading up to that game, you start to have illusions of grandeur, hopes of winning it all.  Every Final Four team does.  Those dreams were dashed quickly, just like dreams of even getting to the Final Four again were dashed quickly in the first half against Syracuse.

[Lennys Tap]

And that coach could never us to the 2nd weekend again.  And he had 5 more cracks at it after Robert Jackson graduated.

Buzz had us playing on the 2nd weekend 3 years in a row and then he brought in ESPN's 11th ranked class.  There was reason for optimism.

+1000. Buzz had us on the brink of being an elite program for the first and only time since Al. If DWade gets a 17 (or whatever the lowest qualifying number was then) on his ACT there's a very good chance that TC is gone before a team of his plays in an NCAA tournament game, let alone wins one.

[mileskishnish72]

He certainly is one strange dude. Too bad it didn't last here.

[ChicosBailBonds]

+1000. Buzz had us on the brink of being an elite program for the first and only time since Al. If DWade gets a 17 (or whatever the lowest qualifying number was then) on his ACT there's a very good chance that TC is gone before a team of his plays in an NCAA tournament game, let alone wins one.

On the brink...sounds like horseshoes and hand grenades.  Ifs and butts....if Davidson doesn't piss themselves, we don't get out of the first game.  If D-Wade doesn't get whatever score, then we don't go to the Final Four.  If Crean wasn't born, Rome would not have fallen. 

[Vander Blue Man Group]

On the brink...sounds like horseshoes and hand grenades.  Ifs and butts....if Davidson doesn't piss themselves, we don't get out of the first game.  If D-Wade doesn't get whatever score, then we don't go to the Final Four.  If Crean wasn't born, Rome would not have fallen. 

Does derailing a thread that wasn't about Crean into a discussion that has been had ad nauseam ever get tiresome to you? 

Probably a stupid question on my part......

[ChicosBailBonds]

Does derailing a thread that wasn't about Crean into a discussion that has been had ad nauseam ever get tiresome to you? 

Probably a stupid question on my part......

I don't believe I derailed it.  I responded to a comment about winning it all.  Feel free to put me on ignore, it's really simple.

[keefe]

Only one coach since Al got us into the last weekend.

One of the most shameful night's in the long, proud, storied history of our beloved Warriors. To be humiliated in such convincing fashion in so public a venue with a roster laden with NBA talent made it not just hurtful but hateful.

[ChicosBailBonds]

One of the most shameful night's in the long, proud, storied history of our beloved Warriors. To be humiliated in such convincing fashion in so public a venue with a roster laden with NBA talent made it not just hurtful but hateful.

Shameful, nah.  I enjoyed the fact we were there for the first time 25+ years.  I guess Kansas didn't have any NBA talent (4 of their 5 starters played in the NBA) and were ranked #2 in the country for kicks.   

[brandx]

Back to the topic at hand - excellent article, Andrei.

[3Mer]

I'm trying to picture Brent's interview at VT:

Q: So why are you interested in coaching here?
A: Because I've set the bar so high at MU that I anticipate getting fired for failing to meet expectations.
Q: So you plan to set a lower bar at VT that you can consistently exceed?
A: Exactly.

[Spotcheck Billy]

I'm trying to picture Brent's interview at VT:

Q: So why are you interested in coaching here?
A: Because I've set the bar so high at MU that I anticipate getting fired for failing to meet expectations.
Q: So you plan to set a lower bar at VT that you can consistently exceed?
A: Exactly.

priceless!

[AlumKCof93]

priceless!

That's great

[4everwarriors]

"Odd Duck"; "Quirky"; "Strange". Here is the real deal:

Phony.

Somethin' he has in common with his predecessor at MU, aina?

[humanlung]

I'm trying to picture Brent's interview at VT:

Q: So why are you interested in coaching here?
A: Because I've set the bar so high at MU that I anticipate getting fired for failing to meet expectations.
Q: So you plan to set a lower bar at VT that you can consistently exceed?
A: Exactly.

The key for Buzz was taking over 45 minutes to say this while incorporating a reference to every profession ever mentioned in every children's story ever written.  At the end, VT officials were so confused (and impressed he could do it in one breath) that they offered him the job on the spot.

[keefe]

Chew is on Buzz's staff, family is in the process of relocating to Blacksburg.  #DONEDEAL

SOURCE???

[willie warrior]

Somethin' he has in common with his predecessor at MU, aina?

Yup--what is your point? One phony excuses the other?

[EnderWiggen]

Does derailing a thread that wasn't about Crean into a discussion that has been had ad nauseam ever get tiresome to you? 

Probably a stupid question on my part......

You only have five posts, yet you already know Chicos' shtick   

[Tums Festival]

Maybe, but he was the only coach we've had since Al that had me thinking we could win it all.

#AllInOnWojo

Yes, he was successful. But then he tried to throw the program under the bus on his way out the door which kinda throws some cold water on that success. The good news is we got Wojo out of all of it!

[Jay Bee]

I find that many "numbers guys" throw out numbers that don't matter or are not understood.

I also find that some people who work a ton are incredibly inefficient.

When someone talks about "the seven days to sign guys in the early signing period", it's an indication of... something. (paraphrasing the quote; and, it's eight days)

[4everwarriors]

Yup--what is your point? One phony excuses the other?

My point is Bumstead learned from the mother of all phonies durin' the year he was an assistant.

[willie warrior]

My point is Bumstead learned from the mother of all phonies durin' the year he was an assistant.

Oh, I see. Buzz learned his schtick from Crean. Very Sherlockian.

[4everwarriors]

Crean sucks

[Wojo'sMojo]

Crean sucks

Yeah, well so does Buzz.

[77ncaachamps]

I'm trying to picture Brent's interview at VT:

Q: So why are you interested in coaching here?
A: Because I've set the bar so high at MU that I anticipate getting fired for failing to meet expectations.
Q: So you plan to set a lower bar at VT that you can consistently exceed?
A: Exactly.

And that's why he'll be a builder and not an elite program coach: he can recruit enough to be successful, but he doesn't have the will enough to withstand the bumps that comes along with being an elite program coach.

As Buzz continues to think of himself as a high-priced free agent coach, he's eventually going to price himself out.

[keefe]

I'm trying to picture Brent's interview at VT:

Q: So why are you interested in coaching here?
A: Because I've set the bar so high at MU that I anticipate getting fired for failing to meet expectations.
Q: So you plan to set a lower bar at VT that you can consistently exceed?
A: Exactly.

Absolutely f ucking perfect!

[El Duderino]

Since the switch to FS1 from ESPN seemed to bother Buzz a lot, it made me forget how much was the difference between the offers from ESPN and Fox? Was it substantial?

When the switch was made, i do remember being quite leery of leaving sports giant ESPN for a basically start up sports station in FS1.

For as annoying as ESPN can be with some of it's shows, i gotta admit that they are who i mostly watch for a numbers of things from highlights, shows like NFL Live/Baseball Tonight, to sporting events. On the flip side, i can't recall ever watching anything on FS1 besides a Marquette game.

I didn't post this as any sort of excuse for Buzz bolting to take a less pressure job, but in general, do most people here think switching from ESPN to FS1 is largely irrelevant either way as to whether the new Big East  and Marquette will thrive going forward, was a positive for the league/MU, or a negative?

[keefe]

Since the switch to FS1 from ESPN seemed to bother Buzz a lot, it made me forget how much was the difference between the offers from ESPN and Fox? Was it substantial?

When the switch was made, i do remember being quite leery of leaving sports giant ESPN for a basically start up sports station in FS1.

For as annoying as ESPN can be with some of it's shows, i gotta admit that they are who i mostly watch for a numbers of things from highlights, shows like NFL Live/Baseball Tonight, to sporting events. On the flip side, i can't recall ever watching anything on FS1 besides a Marquette game.

I didn't post this as any sort of excuse for Buzz bolting to take a less pressure job, but in general, do most people here think switching from ESPN to FS1 is largely irrelevant either way as to whether the new Big East  and Marquette will thrive going forward, was a positive for the league/MU, or a negative?

Well, the Duderino needs to get his sh1t together and get with the program

[source?]

Since the switch to FS1 from ESPN seemed to bother Buzz a lot, it made me forget how much was the difference between the offers from ESPN and Fox? Was it substantial?

When the switch was made, i do remember being quite leery of leaving sports giant ESPN for a basically start up sports station in FS1.

For as annoying as ESPN can be with some of it's shows, i gotta admit that they are who i mostly watch for a numbers of things from highlights, shows like NFL Live/Baseball Tonight, to sporting events. On the flip side, i can't recall ever watching anything on FS1 besides a Marquette game.

I didn't post this as any sort of excuse for Buzz bolting to take a less pressure job, but in general, do most people here think switching from ESPN to FS1 is largely irrelevant either way as to whether the new Big East  and Marquette will thrive going forward, was a positive for the league/MU, or a negative?

If I'm not mistaken we were looking at less than half the money from ESPN. The AAC received around half of what we got from FS1, and that was for both football and basketball.

[keefe]

If I'm not mistaken we were looking at less than half the money from ESPN. The AAC received around half of what we got from FS1, and that was for both football and basketball.

Where did you hear that??

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I'm a little late to the game on this one, but I'll add my armchair pysch. analysis.

#1 He's always going to view himself as the kid at the JUCO sweeping floors. He's told that story a million times, and he really believes its who he is. No matter how much money he makes. No matter how many wins he gets. Buzz is always going to view himself as the underdog. I don't know if this is good or bad, but it's how the dude is built.

#2 Buzz is excellent at overperforming in his role. In just about every position he's ever held, he's overperformed. This is going on 20 years.

#3 When Buzz meets resistance or criticism, it's VERY hard on him. He takes veiled shots at critics through the media, and I'm sure he lashes out behind the scenes. He takes this stuff very personally. At both NEO and MU, Buzz took some heat when his teams underperformed, and that clearly frustrated him to the point of looking elsewhere (among other reasons). 

#4 Buzz might not be cut out for a true "high-major" program, because it's very hard to overperform at those programs. I don't know if his personality would be able to handle a couple "down years" at a place like Kentucky. The expectations at the high level programs are nearly impossible to meet, and Buzz would literally go crazy if people were critiquing a team that "only" went to the S16 or E8.

#5 Buzz is a basketball mercenary. I think he does believe in what he preaches, but I also think he knows the life of a professional coach. Very few coaches ever "retire". They are almost always fired. With this said, I think he has an interesting approach to his career path. He might be a genius, he might be an idiot. I can't tell yet. Either way, it's unique.

[GGGG]

Where did you hear that??

http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/dollars/post/_/id/3163/a-comparison-conference-television-deals

If I have the numbers right, the AAC will get $180M over basically six years for both sports.  That is $30M per year.  With 12 members that is about $2.5M per school.

Reportedly the BE payout exceeds $4M annually.  So it's not less than half, but it does look like BE schools are getting more from their television deal than AAC schools are.

[source?]

The "less than half" portion of that comment was meant about the basketball schools. If the two sport schools got Approximately 63% of what we got, then I'm guessing we were in for about $1.5-1.75 mil. Just a guess.

[alexius23]

As Hemingway once told Fitzgerald "Remember him for what he once was and move on"

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Love and agree with most of the analysis CG and A

[keefe]

http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/dollars/post/_/id/3163/a-comparison-conference-television-deals

If I have the numbers right, the AAC will get $180M over basically six years for both sports.  That is $30M per year.  With 12 members that is about $2.5M per school.

Reportedly the BE payout exceeds $4M annually.  So it's not less than half, but it does look like BE schools are getting more from their television deal than AAC schools are.

Sultan I was just funnin' "source"

The $2.5 MM figure for the AAC is pretty solid.