Wojo's Trade

[ecompt]

Buzz loses another.......http://vtsports.blogs.timesdispatch.com/2014/07/04/sources-emelogu-left-tech-basketball-team/

The buzzards will be circling after his third 12-19 season.

[bilsu]

It's too easy for me to beat on Buzz (and I really want to) but coaching transitions will lead to departures.
Guys who were loyal to the previous coach will want to leave.
Players who were on the fence will stick it out as long as they can until their feelings later change.

It is not unusual to have a player transfer due to a coaching change, but four players is a lot to have transfer. Besides that Buzz has always had transfers.

[MU1980]

a shot at our first national championship in track since the 1930s

Three national champions, 6 different times since Ralph Metcalfe was a 6 time national champion in the 1930's in the 100 yard and 220 yard dash.  Wally wouldn't even be our first national champion in the high jump. 

Keith Hanson - National Champion in 10,000 meters in 1986
John Bennett - National Champion in Long Jump in 1953 and 1954
Ken Weisner - National Champion in High Jump in 1944, 1945, 1946

[GurneeHitchkr]

Hey, we are taking too much for granted.  In many other programs, with a new coach, many players who were already thinking about transferring, didn't because of Wojo (JJJ, STJ, etc.)  Wojo kept our current roster intact.  That in itself was a great accomplishment. He's picked up some add'l help and is making great strides in getting some great players.  We'll be competitive next year, but things will blossom after that. I like what I see so far.  In many other programs, things would have been a lot worse than they are.  I like what Wojo has done with so little available options.

[Tugg Speedman]

Hey, we are taking too much for granted.  In many other programs, with a new coach, many players who were already thinking about transferring, didn't because of Wojo (JJJ, STJ, etc.)  Wojo kept our current roster intact.  That in itself was a great accomplishment. He's picked up some add'l help and is making great strides in getting some great players.  We'll be competitive next year, but things will blossom after that. I like what I see so far.  In many other programs, things would have been a lot worse than they are.  I like what Wojo has done with so little available options.

+1

MU lost what most thought was a bright young coach and replaced him with the unknown quantity of a promoted assistant.  Zero Transfers

VT, after finishing last in the ACC the last few years, fires it's coach and "breaks the bank" with a splashy hire of a big name to turn around its program.  Four Transfers including its two best returning players.

Please explain?  The answer will tell you how good the Wojo trade has been.

[jsglow]

Three national champions, 6 different times since Ralph Metcalfe was a 6 time national champion in the 1930's in the 100 yard and 220 yard dash.  Wally wouldn't even be our first national champion in the high jump. 

Keith Hanson - National Champion in 10,000 meters in 1986
John Bennett - National Champion in Long Jump in 1953 and 1954
Ken Weisner - National Champion in High Jump in 1944, 1945, 1946

Cool. Thanks.  I suspect few knew.

[keefe]

Hey, we are taking too much for granted.  In many other programs, with a new coach, many players who were already thinking about transferring, didn't because of Wojo (JJJ, STJ, etc.)  Wojo kept our current roster intact.  That in itself was a great accomplishment. He's picked up some add'l help and is making great strides in getting some great players.  We'll be competitive next year, but things will blossom after that. I like what I see so far.  In many other programs, things would have been a lot worse than they are.  I like what Wojo has done with so little available options.

Gurnee

Is the hitch hiker in your avatar wearing any pants?

[GGGG]

+1

MU lost what most thought was a bright young coach and replaced him with the unknown quantity of a promoted assistant.  Zero Transfers

VT, after finishing last in the ACC the last few years, fires it's coach and "breaks the bank" with a splashy hire of a big name to turn around its program.  Four Transfers including its two best returning players.

Please explain?  The answer will tell you how good the Wojo trade has been.

Marquette...a solid program that doesn't need much more than tinkering.

VT...a bad program that needs a complete overhaul.

That's the explanation.

[dgies9156]

I repeat my point -- the Hillbilly is gone. Let it go people!

Wojo faced what any new coach faced. A fluctuating roster, departing recruits and a need to rebuild. He's midway through his first semester and I think his mid-term grade is an A+. We know the tough part of any semester is the second half, so we'll see where things go as the season draws near.

So far, things are looking VERY good!

[GurneeHitchkr]

Gurnee

Is the hitch hiker in your avatar wearing any pants?

I'm not going have to change it if I say "No she isn't", am I?
(I'm a huge Roger Waters fan, and that is the cover to one of his albums)

[Boone]

Shine on, you crazy diamond.

[WesleyPipes]

I'm not going have to change it if I say "No she isn't", am I?
(I'm a huge Roger Waters fan, and that is the cover to one of his albums)

+1

[ChicosBailBonds]

Marquette...a solid program that doesn't need much more than tinkering.

VT...a bad program that needs a complete overhaul.

That's the explanation.

Yup.  MU didn't want to lose any current kids.  Buzz definitely wanted some of his current VT kids to move on, and they have.

[brandx]

I'm not going have to change it if I say "No she isn't", am I?
(I'm a huge Roger Waters fan, and that is the cover to one of his albums)

We could discuss the Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking.

[keefe]

All that needs to be done is to show that he can win on the court. 

Well, there is that.

Seriously, I am thrilled with the hire thus far. And since he not only played at an elite level but studied at the feet of a master of the craft I cannot help but be optimistic for his future as our coach. From what I have heard the human dignity and decency factor has sky rocketed in the building since the other guy loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Well, there is that.

Seriously, I am thrilled with the hire thus far. And since he not only played at an elite level but studied at the feet of a master of the craft I cannot help but be optimistic for his future as our coach. From what I have heard the human dignity and decency factor has sky rocketed in the building since the other guy loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly.

Yup, people actually enjoy working there again.  Amazing, the head coach bothers to acknowledge their presence as human beings, colleagues, etc.

[willie warrior]

Well, there is that.

Seriously, I am thrilled with the hire thus far. And since he not only played at an elite level but studied at the feet of a master of the craft I cannot help but be optimistic for his future as our coach. From what I have heard the human dignity and decency factor has sky rocketed in the building since the other guy loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly.

Keefe: How dare you suggest that you have heard rumors that things may be improving at MU with the kick out of the downhome lonesome cowboy. There were about 10 or more people on this board who worshipped the ground he walked on, felt he could do no wrong, knew that what Buzz felt was best, and in him they trusted. Now that more and more comes out, those same people have suddenly stopped that worship and/or gone underground with those feelings. Those people know who they are, but you, Keefe, should be ashamed of yourself for spreading information that could be contrary to their life beliefs about the phony downhome lonesome cowboy.

[Jay Bee]

The buzzards will be circling after his third 12-19 season.

Gonna be difficult for them to eat without paying a lot for a plate of that grub. The "golly, I don't even have a real agent" stuff sounds nice, but the reality is Buzz did better than most agents could dream of. He owns VT. Could get interesting.

[willie warrior]

Gonna be difficult for them to eat without paying a lot for a plate of that grub. The "golly, I don't even have a real agent" stuff sounds nice, but the reality is Buzz did better than most agents could dream of. He owns VT. Could get interesting.

the only thing Buzz "owns" is the lonesome cowboy shtik.

[NersEllenson]

Yup, people actually enjoy working there again.  Amazing, the head coach bothers to acknowledge their presence as human beings, colleagues, etc.

Wasn't there a similar feeling when Buzz took over for Crean?  Pretty sure this was the case.  And pretty sure Buzz was well liked in the AD his first 3-4 years...just as Crean was?  From what I've heard it deteriorated a lot once Pilarz and Williams got on board....and once the attitude is gone south...hard to get it back in a good place.  Of course doesn't excuse not treating colleagues well...yet wonder how much of that becomes a function of the pressures of the job, ego building success...etc., that both Buzz and Crean experienced?

[Tugg Speedman]

Yup.  MU didn't want to lose any current kids.  Buzz definitely wanted some of his current VT kids to move on, and they have.

Including his two best players?

[jsglow]

Including his two best players?

+1  No way Buzz wanted this much turnover.  He's now seemingly dependent on an incoming (albeit talented) Frosh.  That'll be a challenge especially given his track record.

[keefe]

Gonna be difficult for them to eat without paying a lot for a plate of that grub. The "golly, I don't even have a real agent" stuff sounds nice, but the reality is Buzz did better than most agents could dream of. He owns VT. Could get interesting.

I didn't read Bert's contract but I am confident there is a moral turpitude clause. I would hope there is also something addressing mental competence/capacity. VPU must have put a benign looking behavior dagger in the text on which Bert can be removed for, well, being Bert.

[keefe]

Wasn't there a similar feeling when Buzz took over for Crean?  Pretty sure this was the case.  And pretty sure Buzz was well liked in the AD his first 3-4 years...just as Crean was?  From what I've heard it deteriorated a lot once Pilarz and Williams got on board....and once the attitude is gone south...hard to get it back in a good place.  Of course doesn't excuse not treating colleagues well...yet wonder how much of that becomes a function of the pressures of the job, ego building success...etc., that both Buzz and Crean experienced?

As a pilot I know a lot of divorced airline pilots.  And every single one of those guys thought their bride was the greatest woman in the world at first...

[ChicosBailBonds]

Wasn't there a similar feeling when Buzz took over for Crean?  Pretty sure this was the case.  And pretty sure Buzz was well liked in the AD his first 3-4 years...just as Crean was?  From what I've heard it deteriorated a lot once Pilarz and Williams got on board....and once the attitude is gone south...hard to get it back in a good place.  Of course doesn't excuse not treating colleagues well...yet wonder how much of that becomes a function of the pressures of the job, ego building success...etc., that both Buzz and Crean experienced?

Buzzard took it out on the wrong people, the day to day people.  He had no need for the little guy any longer.  If you weren't there to help him in some fashion, you might have well have been a leper.