Dear Coach Wojo

[dgies9156]

Dear Coach:

I've been a loyal Warrior since, well, as long as my feeble mind can remember. I've been through the good times (Al, the late 2000s) as well as the Dukiet years and the Deane years. But the last few weeks has just been more than my heart is used to, so I'm about to vent.

I know you're down to seven players. And, yes, I know Matt Carlino is our best offensive threat and he's on the bench with a concussion. But we were playing Creighton. Since Doug McDermott left, we should have been able to beat them in our sleep. There's probably less there than what we have. And yet we lose. We lose by making mistakes that mature teams don't make. I have to admit that after I saw that bozo Kreklow hit like eight three-pointers in a row and after I saw you yell at the guys not to leave three-point shots open, then Kreklow goes out and hits too many more, I went to lunch.

People tell me I should be patient. I should wait because help is on its way. But then I see our "first" signee under the Coach Wojo era, the kid that seemed to proud to be a Warrior, take a hike on us. There is a lot of speculation about Nick Noskowiak. I'll leave that to someone else. But I am concerned that some of the "help is on the way," just took a detour. We were so proud that our first Coach Wojo class was fourth in the nation. It probably still is pretty high, but one has to wonder what's happening.

I am concerned because I see a kid like Deonte Burton, who was supposed to be someone special, leave. Sort of like Jameal McKay and DJ Newbill. Boy, could both of those guys help us now. I'll bet Deonte could too, for all of the fuss. Instead, he'll be looking like a bad hot dog playing in those Iowa State colors rather than being the difference off the bench.

Coach, I know you inherited a mess when the Hillbilly left. I think he wasn't man enough to face up to the mess he created, so he went to rubeland USA. I know it takes time but when we see this team play and we see the roster machinations, we get nervous. We know these kids are trying, but we see crap. How many times today were we down to nothing on the shot clock and suddenly Derrick Wilson was shooting? You might as well have me out there shooting! The result would be the same. We played right into Creighton's hands and even Duncan, my cocker spaniel, knows Derrick's the last guy on the team to shoot. I like Derrick, by the way and think he sometimes get a bum rap (Ners, are you listening), but senior leadership should know that you find someone other than Derrick to put that last-second shot up.

The three-pointers over and over again. Geez, after awhile, put a chase man on that one shooter. He's the guy who is gonna kill us. 15 points at halftime.... good Lord!

So, please use the rest of the season to figure it out. Try something new on offense. I don't know. I know the guys have been physically working hard, but is there a way to get their heads in the game too? Give us some reason for hope and we'll return it a hundredfold with enthusiasm and commitment.

As it is now, baseball looks really good.

Thanks for reading Coach!

[Hards Alumni]

shame.

[NickelDimer]

Pretty sure this belongs in your diary. And what are you talking about...Trent Lockett? 

[ATL MU Warrior]

Dear Coach:

I've been a loyal Warrior since, well, as long as my feeble mind can remember. I've been through the good times (Al, the late 2000s) as well as the Dukiet years and the Deane years. But the last few weeks has just been more than my heart is used to, so I'm about to vent.

I know you're down to seven players. And, yes, I know Matt Carlino is our best offensive threat and he's on the bench with a concussion. But we were playing Creighton. Since Doug McDermott left, we should have been able to beat them in our sleep. There's probably less there than what we have. And yet we lose. We lose by making mistakes that mature teams don't make. I have to admit that after I saw that bozo Kreklow hit like eight three-pointers in a row and after I saw you yell at the guys not to leave three-point shots open, then Kreklow goes out and hits too many more, I went to lunch.

People tell me I should be patient. I should wait because help is on its way. But then I see our "first" signee under the Coach Wojo era, the kid that seemed to proud to be a Warrior, take a hike on us. There is a lot of speculation about Nick Noskowiak. I'll leave that to someone else. But I am concerned that some of the "help is on the way," just took a detour. We were so proud that our first Coach Wojo class was fourth in the nation. It probably still is pretty high, but one has to wonder what's happening.

I am concerned because I see a kid like Deonte Burton, who was supposed to be someone special, leave. Sort of like Trent Lockett and DJ Newbill. Boy, could both of those guys help us now. I'll bet Deonte could too, for all of the fuss. Instead, he'll be looking like a bad hot dog playing in those Iowa State colors rather than being the difference off the bench.

Coach, I know you inherited a mess when the Hillbilly left. I think he wasn't man enough to face up to the mess he created, so he went to rubeland USA. I know it takes time but when we see this team play and we see the roster machinations, we get nervous. We know these kids are trying, but we see crap. How many times today were we down to nothing on the shot clock and suddenly Derrick Wilson was shooting? You might as well have me out there shooting! The result would be the same. We played right into Creighton's hands and even Duncan, my cocker spaniel, knows Derrick's the last guy on the team to shoot. I like Derrick, by the way and think he sometimes get a bum rap (Ners, are you listening), but senior leadership should know that you find someone other than Derrick to put that last-second shot up.

The three-pointers over and over again. Geez, after awhile, put a chase man on that one shooter. He's the guy who is gonna kill us. 15 points at halftime.... good Lord!

So, please use the rest of the season to figure it out. Try something new on offense. I don't know. I know the guys have been physically working hard, but is there a way to get their heads in the game too? Give us some reason for hope and we'll return it a hundredfold with enthusiasm and commitment.

As it is now, baseball looks really good.

Thanks for reading Coach!

Lame attempt at humor or serious?

[dgies9156]

Lame attempt at humor or serious?

Naah, just irritated as all get out. When you put today's loss together with Noskowiak decommitting and Deonte leaving, you just gotta wonder.

[ATL MU Warrior]

Naah, just irritated as all get out

LOL.  Yeah, me too.

[reinko]

I question how you were raised.

[dgies9156]

I question how you were raised.

I was left out in the back yard to graze with the cows.

[Wojo'sMojo]

Great post!!

[Blackhat]

Way too much effort

[Marquette Fan in WI]

What's the lockett part?

[lab_warrior]

Go take a f***ing nap

[We R Final Four]

Yeah--great point.  I can't believe Trent Lockett left the team. Where did he transfer to again? 

[MUfan12]

Naah, just irritated as all get out. When you put today's loss together with Noskowiak decommitting and Deonte leaving, you just gotta wonder.

You really have no clue.

How could they not get Lockett more eligibility?!

[brandx]

Once Wojosmojo agrees, you know you screwed up. I would guess that Texas Western & duanewade will love it as well.

[jesmu84]

If you don't have first-hand knowledge about departures (Burton) or de-commits (NN), then why start speculating? What good does that do?

Further, if Wojo really does have this great plan for a culture change and a long-term strategy in mind, let's let him build it, with his players. I'd offer the same chance for any new coach.

[NickelDimer]

* waits for dude to explain wtf he was talking about re Trent Lockett*

[Wojo'sMojo]

Once Wojosmojo agrees, you know you screwed up. I would guess that Texas Western & duanewade will love it as well.

Lol, why don't you stick to commenting on posts in the superbar, where you might have a clue what you're talking about.

[dgies9156]

* waits for dude to explain wtf he was talking about re Trent Lockett*

My apologies. I meant McKay. How I got the two mixed up I never will know. McKay was probably a reach but it is part of an overall trend that goes back to the Hillbilly. Too many of our recruits are coming and going so quickly that you need a scorecard to keep up. Newbill.

Personally, I want some stability too. I was hoping we might get it finally with Wojo. I hope we do but the whole NN thing just kind of struck me the wrong way. And on the same day that Creighton handed us our heads...

[ChicosBailBonds]

My apologies. I meant McKay. How I got the two mixed up I never will know. McKay was probably a reach but it is part of an overall trend that goes back to the Hillbilly. Too many of our recruits are coming and going so quickly that you need a scorecard to keep up. Newbill.

Personally, I want some stability too. I was hoping we might get it finally with Wojo. I hope we do but the whole NN thing just kind of struck me the wrong way. And on the same day that Creighton handed us our heads...

Give it some time.  Every guy you mention was originally a Buzz recruit.  Every one.  Yes, I know Wojo got NN to recommit, but he also had to do that quickly. 

No idea if Wojo will work out, but I'm not sweating this year one bit.

[HutchwasClutch]

My apologies. I meant McKay. How I got the two mixed up I never will know. McKay was probably a reach but it is part of an overall trend that goes back to the Hillbilly. Too many of our recruits are coming and going so quickly that you need a scorecard to keep up. Newbill.

Personally, I want some stability too. I was hoping we might get it finally with Wojo. I hope we do but the whole NN thing just kind of struck me the wrong way. And on the same day that Creighton handed us our heads...

Wow, that distraught over a high school kid going elsewhere, huh?  If it were Henry asking out of his LOI, I could see being down, but Noskowiak???

[MUfan12]

Wojo gave Nick a ton of rope. Pinning any of that situation on the coach is idiotic.

[HutchwasClutch]

Wojo gave Nick a ton of rope. Pinning any of that situation on the coach is idiotic.

Well, there's a lot of idiots commenting here these days. 

[mu1642]

You are an idiot!

[muwarrior69]

Give it some time.  Every guy you mention was originally a Buzz recruit.  Every one.  Yes, I know Wojo got NN to recommit, but he also had to do that quickly.  

No idea if Wojo will work out, but I'm not sweating this year one bit.

...or next regardless of our season record. Have to see how he restocks this team over the next 2 seasons. I don't think Wojo like loosing as much as we do.