Tyler Thornton- New Grad Assistant?

[MUfan12]

@steve_wojo: Proud & excited to add @tythornton3 to our staff today. Will impact our program/players big time! Honored to give him his start. #family

[mujivitz06]

Probably will be in the Sports Leadership program - same track that Blair and Lyle were in.

[Ben Golds Five]

 Posted: Wednesday, June 25, 2014 8:10 pm | Updated: 8:16 pm, Wed Jun 25, 2014.

Staff and wire report

Tyler Thornton, who completed his Duke career three months ago, could join Marquette's coaching staff as a graduate assistant.

The Associated Press reported Wednesday that Thornton is working a summer camp at Marquette, where former Duke assistant Steve Wojciechowski is a first-year head coach, and Thornton hopes to get admitted to graduate school.

"All the guys that he's been around a lot over the past year, anything that we can do to ease his transition here, we would be willing to do," Wojciechowski told the AP.

Wojciechowski's staff already includes former Duke standout Chris Carrawell.

Thornton, a point guard, committed to Duke even though the Blue Devils were also recruiting Kyrie Irving, the top-ranked point guard in the same class.

Irving played one season at Duke and was the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. Thornton had a four-year career in Durham, contributing tough defense, strong leadership, an unselfish approach, plenty of fouls and the occasional clutch shot.

Despite being less talented than many of the players at a program that attracts McDonald's All-Americans, Thornton started 53 career games, including 25 as a senior.

"Tyler is going to be a coach one day," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said during Thornton's junior season. "He really understands the game."

[barfolomew]

Finally!
It's about time we got a coach who was a former point guard.

[BCHoopster]

Finally!
It's about time we got a coach who was a former point guard.

I think now the coaches can beat the varsity!

[swoopem]

How many grad assistants are you allowed to have?

[4everwarriors]

Hope he gets inta grad school comin' from Duke and such.

[Galway Eagle]

How many grad assistants are you allowed to have?

Probably as many ex Blue Devils as can get into grad school

[Lennys Tap]

A guy who started 53 games at Duke despite being lower rated/less talented than the average Blue Devil. Coach K's very own version of Derrick Wilson? (Please, Ners, don't respond that Derrick made 1 three point shot and 42% from the line or that we were 17-15 last year. That's been established. Just sayin' that I'm sure some Dookies were scratching their heads wondering how Coach K could play this guy ahead of the burger boys.)

[keefe]

Hope he gets inta grad school comin' from Duke and such.

You read my thoughts, Doc. Does MU's grad school have a FFP program to help those who are academically deficient get up to speed?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Now I'm confident the coaches can beat the players in a game of pickup

[swoopem]

You read my thoughts, Doc. Does MU's grad school have a FFP program to help those who are academically deficient get up to speed?

Nah, Pilarz decided it'd be a good idea to get rid of FFP. Horrible idea.

[Jay Bee]

Now I'm confident the coaches can beat the players in a game of pickup

Only bc the coaches have the height advantage

/teal

[Dawson Rental]

Nah, Pilarz decided it'd be a good idea to get rid of FFP. Horrible idea.

Seriously?  Was FFP dropped?

[VegasWarrior77]

Tyler Thornton @tythornton3  ·  3h
I have been blessed with a great opportunity to join coach @Steve_Wojo at Marquette University. I'm really excited to be here. #GoEagles

Miles Plumlee @milesplumlee13  ·  2h
Congrats @tythornton3 on the new job! You have the knowledge, work ethic, and demeanor to be a great coach!! Proud of you man

Matt jones @matt13jones_  ·  2h
In just one year my man @tythornton3 Taught me so much and now he's a coach! Thanking God for him being in my life #Marquette #congrats

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

I dunno guys. These hires really make me feel like Wojo is in for the long haul. I feel like MU has found their guy for the next 15+ years.

[77ncaachamps]

Let's just keep the Duke coaching hires away from our lacrosse team.


But seriously, as one poster pointed out, when was the last time the coaching staff could really hang with the team in practices?
This coaching staff lacks height, but there are some (still) young legs out there.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Maybe Duke will hire Thornton instead of Wojo when Coach K retires

[keefe]

Maybe Duke will hire Thornton instead of Wojo when Coach K retires

Now THAT was clever

[Spotcheck Billy]

Maybe Duke will hire Thornton instead of Wojo when Coach K retires

Everyone thinks Duke will hire another Dukie to replace Coach K but I think they might have noticed how that didn't work for UNC when Dean Smith retired, lucky for them they did have a Roy Williams which Duke doesn't.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Everyone thinks Duke will hire another Dukie to replace Coach K but I think they might have noticed how that didn't work for UNC when Dean Smith retired, lucky for them they did have a Roy Williams which Duke doesn't.

In case you don't know, teal is used to denote sarcasm on this site.

I happen to agree with you. I think all the assumptions about Wojo being the automatic choice for the Duke job are unfounded and are a result of having 3 of the last four coaches leave for greener pastures. I think there will be a lot of big names up for that job. Wojo will have to do a helluva lot to earn that spot. I also don't buy Coach K's recent (few months ago) statement about "wanting to coach for 5 more years." I think he's gone in three. Which gives Wojo even less time to build a resume.

[Dawson Rental]

Everyone thinks Duke will hire another Dukie to replace Coach K but I think they might have noticed how that didn't work for UNC when Dean Smith retired, lucky for them they did have a Roy Williams which Duke doesn't.

What do you mean by saying that UNC "did have a Roy Williams which Duke doesn't"?  Do you mean a former assistant who got head coaching experience elsewhere?  Won't Duke have Amaker, Chris Collins, and Wojo fit that description when Coach K retires?

IIRC, the guy who replaced Dean at UNC who didn't work out was Guthridge who had stayed at UNC as an assistant and hadn't gotten HC experience elsewhere.

[GGGG]

Seriously?  Was FFP dropped?

No.  They upped the admittance requirements. 

[VegasWarrior77]

(Hopefully) Wojo will be to MU what Roy Williams was to Kansas!

[GGGG]

nm