Jeff Goodman. The dedicated lover.

[77ncaachamps]

Williams creating buzz at Virginia Tech
September, 12, 2014

Buzz Williams left an established program in Marquette to build Virginia Tech into a contender.
When the rumblings began that Buzz Williams was leaving Marquette -- a program with a storied history that includes three Final Four appearances and a national championship -- for Virginia Tech, just about everyone associated with college hoops wondered whether Buzz hadn't lost more than just the hair on his noggin.

What in the heck was he thinking?

There's one school of thought that says Williams was concerned about the direction of the program at Marquette. If he stayed, you're dealing with the transition from the old Big East to the new Big East where the exposure is a mere shell of what it once was. Williams was worried about lofty expectations, in which his own success was as much to blame as anything, and saw the writing on the wall when he looked at the projected roster for this season. Marquette's talent level was mediocre.

Then there's the administration. Williams and the previous athletic director, Larry Williams, hadn't seen eye-to-eye -- and even though Larry Williams had resigned (many will claim Buzz had something to do with that), Buzz was worried about who would be his next boss.

The options just weren't there for Buzz -- the self-described hick from Texas who also happened to boast one of the most coveted rollover contracts in all of college basketball at Marquette. Rick Barnes is back on solid footing after a tremendous season in Austin. Billy Kennedy wasn't reassigned, as some anticipated would be the case. Cuonzo Martin got Tennessee to the NCAA tourney, and didn't appear to be in any danger of being fired (he later left for California).

So, Williams left for Blacksburg on March 21 -- and proceeded to floor the college basketball community.

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/jeff-goodman/post?id=4040

[Groin_pull]

Yup. Nice to see he's still shoveling for his good ol' buddy, Brent.

[4everwarriors]

Whatever problems/obstacles Bumstead had at MU, were created, in one way or another, by, and only by, Bumstead. He is one strange ass mf'er, hey?

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Basically I read this as Buzz was too scared to keep at a program where expectations were high so he quit and took a job where people could continue to feed his ego. About right?

[4everwarriors]

He panicked and bailed. Took the first gig that bought his chit and would pay him. Wanted Auburn, but they wisely hired Pearl instead.

[77ncaachamps]

America loves their underdogs.

Always be the underdog...

[muhoosier260]

First of all, the title of Goodman's article has nothing to do with the content of the article. A more accurate title would be "Why Williams buzzed out of Milwaukee". Buzz and Goodman must really see how dumb this move was, as there are still articles being pumped out nearly 6 months later justifying why he left.

[AZWarrior]

First of all, the title of Goodman's article has nothing to do with the content of the article. A more accurate title would be "Why Williams buzzed out of Milwaukee". Buzz and Goodman must really see how dumb this move was, as there are still articles being pumped out nearly 6 months later justifying why he left.

Indeed.  Buzz doth protest too much, methinks.   

[jpvegas]

I appreciated Buzz for all he did here in his tenure, but one line that got to me from the article "Marquette's talent level was mediocre" for next year.  Buzz had been here 6 years and the talent level was mediocre, so I would guess that Buzz is to blame for that occurring.  Not only that, if Buzz had stayed, 2 or maybe 3 of the returnees were rumored to be leaving, so the talent would have been more diluted.

I guess Buzz saw the writing on the wall, a 17-15 season followed by a potential losing season and his star would be dimmed.  He took the first job that came calling and made it out of town while he was still a "hot" rising coach.
 

[Tugg Speedman]

Indeed.  Buzz doth protest too much, methinks.   

+1

[source?]

I appreciated Buzz for all he did here in his tenure, but one line that got to me from the article "Marquette's talent level was mediocre" for next year.  Buzz had been here 6 years and the talent level was mediocre, so I would guess that Buzz is to blame for that occurring.  Not only that, if Buzz had stayed, 2 or maybe 3 of the returnees were rumored to be leaving, so the talent would have been more diluted.

I guess Buzz saw the writing on the wall, a 17-15 season followed by a potential losing season and his star would be dimmed.  He took the first job that came calling and made it out of town while he was still a "hot" rising coach.
 

Yeah, I thought that was funny too. "When I saw the house was burning down, I figured I should grab my gasoline and lighter and get the hell out of there."

[NCMUFan]

If that article doesn't motivate Wojo and the team, nothing will.  It will be interesting to see if Virginia Tech remains a doormat in the ACC and if Marquette continues to be a BB power.

[River rat]

Umm thats what coaches do... As soon as the rose is off the bloom n they fear termnation or the lack of a rollover extension they bail for a new honeymoon period and a new rollover.  Guys like tubby, alford, buzz and others do it all the time.  You really cannot blame yhem if they think its the case.  In their shoes would u rather possibly get fired or a new opportunity else where.  Is it that hard of a decision when ur in ur 40s, or 50's n still want to be a head coach at a big time institution?  Something Crean might want to consider right about now

[NCMUFan]

Since Indiana is supposed to be an elite location, what excuse could Crean give for bailing?

[HutchwasClutch]

I really believe MU didn't want Buzz anymore and he knew it.  I'm hearing more about this being the case, plain and simple.  I think pretty damning evidence of this is a) he took a bad college basketball job for LESS money, and b) I've never heard or read anything in the months of aftermath of his departure about MU making any toward of a play to try to change his mind, sweeten his deal at MU, get the fat cat alumni donors together to offer him something to stay, etc.   Those two circumstances don't collide unless you have a coach who knows he's not wanted anymore by his employer.  

He is a weird guy and maybe he didn't like the new Big East, but those two things do not drive a man to less money at a terrible men's basketball program. Especially when he could have had much better jobs before VT.  You look at the timing of all of this, and it just points to Buzz knowing full well the MU community was tired of his sleazy act.

[77ncaachamps]

Here's the screen grab from the ACTUAL title and subtitle (See pic).


"Bad times have a scientific value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

[HutchwasClutch]

Basically I read this as Buzz was too scared to keep at a program where expectations were high so he quit and took a job where people could continue to feed his ego. About right?

And anyone who buys the crapola of his leaving being due to high expectations surrounding the program is really gullible.  That theory is a total crock.  Expectations have always been very high at MU, and when he took over, he was taking over a team and program dominated by a senior class, had been to three consecutive NCAA's, was only 5 years removed from a Final Four, will forever live in the McGuire era shadow, etc..  We've always expected big things of this program and consistency.  

(chitownwarrior, I know you were only trying to paraphrase the article, my comments are not directed at you.)

[HutchwasClutch]

I'm not as convinced as others that Goodman is totally in the bag for Buzz (which frankly I could care less if he is) as much as ESPN loves ACC basketball almost as much as they love the Yankees and Red Sox.

[GGGG]

Goodman was in the bag for Buzz when he was at MU too.  It just didn't annoy us then.

[kryza]

Anyone care to share the comments to the article? I'm interested in seeing what the general public has to say about the article.

[Goose]

I predict that in five years that Buzz will have a more checkered post MU career than KO. He caught lightning in a bottle here and glad he did. That said, it is hard to do that again. Three years ago the school tired of him and he knew it. He will be a guy making lateral or backwards career choices from here out.

[River rat]

Since Indiana is supposed to be an elite location, what excuse could Crean give for bailing?

Well i guess i can translate for u.  If crean thinks he may be fired he can do what many coaches do and that is take a new say 7 year deal at another bcs institution.  Instead of getting fired in a year or two and being an assistant somewhere or taking a job at a lesser institution.  Happens all the time alford to nm, tubby to minny n again to tt, buzz to vt.

[GGGG]

Buzz wasn't going to get fired.  Not anytime soon at least.

[AlumKCof93]

Is there that much interest in buzz or virginia tech that this story keeps getting re-told over and over without revealing any new info?  If not affiliated with mu or vt, why would anyone care?  And since no one at vt cares about basketball during football season, it's more difficult to understand why this story is being rehashed once again.

[Dawson Rental]

Since Indiana is supposed to be an elite location, what excuse could Crean give for bailing?

Wanting a bigger challenge.