Maurice O'Field - 2015 - 6'5" SF from Midland College

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

2) Tom Crean at that stage had far more charisma than does Steve Wojo at present or ever will.

Honest question:  Before Wojo was hired as our head coach - who EVER liked the guy as a player or as a Duke assistant?? 

Do you go with Wojo on recruiting trips? Have you even met him before? How the flying f*ck do you know how charismatic he is?

[wadesworld]

Bobby Knight, Jim Boeheim, Thad Matta, John Wooden, Lute Olson.......yep...lots of charisma in those great coaches....

Anybody trying to evaluate Wojo at this juncture is just being silly......give him some time........

Good to see someone else gets it too.

[NersEllenson]

Do you go with Wojo on recruiting trips? Have you even met him before? How the flying f*ck do you know how charismatic he is?

I've seen him interviewed.  Listened to his radio show.  He's a square.  Nothing wrong with that.  Lots of successful squares in this world.  Usually though in more scientific/empirical types of positions.

Coach K is a sqaure, and he's won more games than any other college basketball coach.  It by no means excludes one from being successful in the coaching profession.  

Yet I feel in college basketball you need a coach with some panache and charisma at a school like Marquette that has its share of recruiting challenges.

[NersEllenson]

Good to see someone else gets it too.

Wades - You are all bullish on Wojo.  And you are a Crean hater - so - let's make a wager - $500.

I say Crean's first 5 years on the job are better than Wojo's - and Crean came into a much tougher situation at MU.

Care to put your money where your mouth is?  Is 5 years enough time? Or do we need more for Wojo?

[NersEllenson]

Bobby Knight, Jim Boeheim, Thad Matta, John Wooden, Lute Olson.......yep...lots of charisma in those great coaches....

Anybody trying to evaluate Wojo at this juncture is just being silly......give him some time........

One is not like the other:  Indiana, Syracuse, Ohio State, UCLA, Arizona, Marquette.

[Ellenson Guerrero]

This board is ridiculous.  Somehow the fact that Deonte Burton's mom died and Noskowiak had some type of domestic situation blow up means that Wojo is not charismatic enough to bring in top recruits?  That is just asinine. 

We don't need to ramp up every rough patch to Hiroshima.  Maybe give the coach who has already landed the highest rated Marquette recruit in 30 years a full off-season before you throw him under the bus. 

[PGsHeroes32]

One is not like the other:  Indiana, Syracuse, Ohio State, UCLA, Arizona, Marquette.

Cuse? Indiana?

[NersEllenson]

This board is ridiculous.  Somehow the fact that Deonte Burton's mom died and Noskowiak had some type of domestic situation blow up means that Wojo is not charismatic enough to bring in top recruits?  That is just asinine. 

We don't need to ramp up every rough patch to Hiroshima.  Maybe give the coach who has already landed the highest rated Marquette recruit in 30 years a full off-season before you throw him under the bus. 

I personally don't put Nick leaving on Wojo.  Burton?  Absolutely.  Deonte did NOT leave MU exclusively because of the passing of his Mom.  The primary reason:  He wasn't happy with his role...AT ALL.

We'll see how Wojo recruits now that he has a full year of coaching under his belt and a Win/Loss record to contend with.  Hopefully he can still reel in Top 100 talent moving forward.

These 4 open scholarships are critical to the future of the program under Wojo.

[Ellenson Guerrero]

I personally don't put Nick leaving on Wojo.  Burton?  Absolutely.  Deonte did NOT leave MU exclusively because of the passing of his Mom.  The primary reason:  He wasn't happy with his role...AT ALL.

We'll see how Wojo recruits now that he has a full year of coaching under his belt and a Win/Loss record to contend with.  Hopefully he can still reel in Top 100 talent moving forward.

These 4 open scholarships are critical to the future of the program under Wojo.

I don't see how the fact that Burton was unhappy with his role leads to the conclusion that it is Wojo's fault he left.  It isn't a coach's job to make sure everyone is happy. 

Every scholarship is "critical" in a certain sense, but Marquette will be fine even if we have to bank a schollie or two.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

So, how about that Maurice O'Field?

[TSmith34, Inc.]

This board is ridiculous. 

No, just a couple of people. And those that get sucked in to responding to the ever changing asinine narrative.

[Atticus]

What are th program's biggest recruiting obstacles? I honestly dont know which is why I am asking...

Conference affiliation is solid.
Facilities are in line with most top 25 programs.
Playing in an NBA arena isnt necessarily a bad thing (I dont support the claim that it's an advantage, though).
I dont think academics interfere with recruiting.
Good fanbase with above average attendance.
I'd imagine the Nike contract provides players with an adequate amount of shoes/gear that is in-line with other contracts.

The only thing that comes to mind is the fact that we dont have a top-tier national reputation. Maybe that is the end-all, be-all?

So what else?

[Brewtown Andy]

What are th program's biggest recruiting obstacles? I honestly dont know which is why I am asking...

Conference affiliation is solid.
Facilities are in line with most top 25 programs.
Playing in an NBA arena isnt necessarily a bad thing (I dont support the claim that it's an advantage, though).
I dont think academics interfere with recruiting.
Good fanbase with above average attendance.
I'd imagine the Nike contract provides players with an adequate amount of shoes/gear that is in-line with other contracts.

The only thing that comes to mind is the fact that we dont have a top-tier national reputation. Maybe that is the end-all, be-all?

So what else?

I think having NBA teams practice at the Al when they're in town to play the Bucks is a bigger deal than playing in the same building as the Bucks.

[NersEllenson]

No, just a couple of people. And those that get sucked in to responding to the ever changing asinine narrative.

I agree. I'll see what I can do to avoid gettin sucked into the ridiculous narrative approximately 10 avid posters have here.

[wildbill sb]

I was charismatic once.  In the old days.  And look how successful it all turned out for me.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I've seen him interviewed.  Listened to his radio show.  He's a square.  Nothing wrong with that.  Lots of successful squares in this world.  Usually though in more scientific/empirical types of positions.

Coach K is a sqaure, and he's won more games than any other college basketball coach.  It by no means excludes one from being successful in the coaching profession.  

Yet I feel in college basketball you need a coach with some panache and charisma at a school like Marquette that has its share of recruiting challenges.

The guy before Buzz was a square....he landed some good players.  Hank Raymonds was a square.  Tom Izzo is a square.  Steve Alford.  You are correct, many squares can do just fine.  I just don't agree with your recruiting challenges comment about MU.  We have the 2nd largest budget in DI, all of our games are on national television, wonderful practice facility, basketball only school, 90 miles from Chicago, play in a basketball centric conference.  Yes, the weather isn't great, but plenty of other schools deal with this as well. 

You seem to be making an argument for style over substance

[Class71]

I personally don't put Nick leaving on Wojo.  Burton?  Absolutely.  Deonte did NOT leave MU exclusively because of the passing of his Mom.  The primary reason:  He wasn't happy with his role...AT ALL.

We'll see how Wojo recruits now that he has a full year of coaching under his belt and a Win/Loss record to contend with.  Hopefully he can still reel in Top 100 talent moving forward.

These 4 open scholarships are critical to the future of the program under Wojo.

Ners, I agree fully that Deonte was unhappy with his role. I also think he has tremendous talent and upside. IMO  he simply seems to be uncoachable. Raw talent will not do it at this level. He needs to play as a team and play D. I hope he can learn that at another school but I do have my doubt's that the ego will allow it.

[Lennys Tap]

I've seen him interviewed.  Listened to his radio show.  He's a square.  Nothing wrong with that.  Lots of successful squares in this world.  Usually though in more scientific/empirical types of positions.

Coach K is a sqaure, and he's won more games than any other college basketball coach.  It by no means excludes one from being successful in the coaching profession.  

Yet I feel in college basketball you need a coach with some panache and charisma at a school like Marquette that has its share of recruiting challenges.

Some squares are as they appear - old school and genuine - Wooden, Coach K, even Knight. I think Wojo is like that and I have no problem with that. Other squares are just squirmy guys with little or no personality - Crean, Alford, Matta, etc. They do OK as long as they have something to give away, but if I'm going squirmy at all give me a personality like Al or Buzz over them.

[connie]

The guy before Buzz was a square....he landed some good players.  Hank Raymonds was a square.  Tom Izzo is a square.  Steve Alford.  You are correct, many squares can do just fine.  I just don't agree with your recruiting challenges comment about MU.  We have the 2nd largest budget in DI, all of our games are on national television, wonderful practice facility, basketball only school, 90 miles from Chicago, play in a basketball centric conference.  Yes, the weather isn't great, but plenty of other schools deal with this as well. 

You seem to be making an argument for style over substance

Style over substance.  I think that's a pretty decent diagnosis.

[Atticus]

Some squares are as they appear - old school and genuine - Wooden, Coach K, even Knight. I think Wojo is like that and I have no problem with that. Other squares are just squirmy guys with little or no personality - Crean, Alford, Matta, etc. They do OK as long as they have something to give away, but if I'm going squirmy at all give me a personality like Al or Buzz over them.

Matta has only done "ok?" You would take buzz over matta? Wow.

And thank you for defining "squares" - "guys with little to no personality." Haha. That's some hard-hitting analysis.

[Pakuni]

Some squares are as they appear - old school and genuine - Wooden, Coach K, even Knight. I think Wojo is like that and I have no problem with that. Other squares are just squirmy guys with little or no personality - Crean, Alford, Matta, etc. They do OK as long as they have something to give away, but if I'm going squirmy at all give me a personality like Al or Buzz over them.

Buzz over Matta?
Hmmm. Not so sure about that.
Heck, I don't think many outside of this place would take Buzz over Crean or Alford, but over Matta?

[Lennys Tap]

Buzz over Matta?
Hmmm. Not so sure about that.
Heck, I don't think many outside of this place would take Buzz over Crean or Alford, but over Matta?

Shouldn't have included Matta. His record clearly surpasses Buzz's. I stand by my opinions of Crean and Alford.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Style over substance.  I think that's a pretty decent diagnosis.

It also appears to be his methodology for how many minutes he thinks players should be promised.

[muwarrior69]

Good thing Ners is not the AD. We would be going through new coaches every year if they don't give minutes to the players he think should play.

[4everwarriors]

So, how about that Maurice O'Field?

Who?