So what do you all think Wojo has learned from his first season as Coach?

[naginiF]

Learn listen be smarter than your own ideas ..... Throw away your cookie cutter!  Season could've been a whole lot better with the personnel you had in the beginning communicate better with your new family .... It took coach k a while to get where he is and in the beginning the duke faithful wanted him fired!  .... Forget what you think duke is .... You're at MARQUETTE now! .... You let 2 get away!

Insanity has been restored .... If this isn't TW, beers are on me tonight.

I'd say 'welcome back' but .... a) nobody would say that seriously and .... b) i don't think your stay will be long enough to warrant it....

[real chili 83]

Insanity has been restored .... If this isn't TW, beers are on me tonight.

I'd say 'welcome back' but .... a) nobody would say that seriously and .... b) i don't think your stay will be long enough to warrant it....

Look at his post history.  It's Dawson's dad.  He's been posting since Dawson committed.

[tower912]

Insanity has been restored .... If this isn't TW, beers are on me tonight.

I'd say 'welcome back' but .... a) nobody would say that seriously and .... b) i don't think your stay will be long enough to warrant it....

Beers are on you.   Dawson papa. 

[naginiF]

Beers are on you.   Dawson papa. 

I truly am sorry that the program evokes such bad feelings and wish his son nothing but the best.  All things work out in the end.

Anyone in the KC area that wants those beers can PM me (i'd prefer to pay at the Brookside Patty's Day parade tomorrow though)

[brewcity77]

Learn listen be smarter than your own ideas ..... Throw away your cookie cutter!  Season could've been a whole lot better with the personnel you had in the beginning communicate better with your new family .... It took coach k a while to get where he is and in the beginning the duke faithful wanted him fired!  .... Forget what you think duke is .... You're at MARQUETTE now! .... You let 2 get away!

Because posting on message boards worked out so well the last times...   

On a serious note...
.

• Zone is easy: Have to commend the staff for implementing it successfully so fast. It will be nice to have that in the back pocket going forward as we shift back to aggressive man-to-man.
  
• You can't please all the people all of the time: Most notably, Dawson and Burton. Hell, Dawson is apparently still so upset about his departure that he needs his dad to come over to Scoop to post about it. While that's likely not actually the case, that's how it looks. Very poor form for his family members to throw stones months after he left.
  
• Don't compromise: I do like that Wojo was willing to glue JJJ to the bench for a game despite the thin roster, and love that he got better results out of him going forward.
  
• Refs hate rookies: Wojo definitely didn't get the respect from refs experienced coaches get. It's okay...Buzz didn't at first either. It came in time, it will for Wojo. Most of his technicals worked out well.
  
• You need a backup plan: The zone worked out as a backup on defense, but it would have been nice had it been available in the second half against UNO. Not enough backup plans on offense, though. Hopefully depth will help that.

[RubyWiscy]

Well duh, get better players and more of them.

[GGGG]

Learn listen be smarter than your own ideas ..... Throw away your cookie cutter!  Season could've been a whole lot better with the personnel you had in the beginning communicate better with your new family .... It took coach k a while to get where he is and in the beginning the duke faithful wanted him fired!  .... Forget what you think duke is .... You're at MARQUETTE now! .... You let 2 get away!

I really think it is time for everyone to move on.  I wish John well, but this is really not a good look.

[MUfan12]

I really think it is time for everyone to move on.  I wish John well, but this is really not a good look.

Agreed. I'll just leave it at I hope that things work out with the new coach at Liberty.

[dddawson]

To make it clear I'm speaking from a coaches point of view ..... Don't hate WOJO if I came from a frustrated fathers point of view it wouldn't be nice .... This is just pure uncut advice

[WI inferiority Complexes]

You let 2 get away!

The fact someone would suggest that it pretty sad.

[brewcity77]

To make it clear I'm speaking from a coaches point of view ..... Don't hate WOJO if I came from a frustrated fathers point of view it wouldn't be nice .... This is just pure uncut advice

Maybe so, but that's not how it comes across. This is why I advised against posting on this board years ago and continue to do so now. Your viewpoint will never be viewed as objective, and you and nevada233 continuing to post here about Wojo makes it look like sour grapes and that you can't let go.

Whatever the case may be, it's not good form. It never was. Fan sites just aren't a good place for family and friends of players to visit, and even worse places for them to post. I have no idea what Liberty is like, but I would again implore you to not post on their sites either. At best, it will come across as being an overly controlling relative, at worst it will come across as a malcontent, but no matter what, it will reflect more on your son than it does on you.

Bottom line, you posting on message boards makes John look bad. No matter your intent, no matter how objective you may think you are, it reflects poorly on your son. If you continue to do it, here or otherwise, it WILL make John look bad. If that is your intent, I guess you can feel free to continue.

[GGGG]

To make it clear I'm speaking from a coaches point of view ..... Don't hate WOJO if I came from a frustrated fathers point of view it wouldn't be nice .... This is just pure uncut advice

Really?

When you imply a lack of communication and end with "You let 2 get away," one of whom is your son, you think that comes across as advice?

[Lennys Tap]

Learn listen be smarter than your own ideas ..... Throw away your cookie cutter!  Season could've been a whole lot better with the personnel you had in the beginning communicate better with your new family .... It took coach k a while to get where he is and in the beginning the duke faithful wanted him fired!  .... Forget what you think duke is .... You're at MARQUETTE now! .... You let 2 get away!

Welcome back, Mr Dawson. From everything you've posted here I conclude that you are a good and reasonable man who loves his son. Sorry things didn't work out - hope for nothing but the best for John and your entire family.

[Golden Avalanche]

Welcome back, Mr Dawson. From everything you've posted here I conclude that you are a good and reasonable man who loves his son. Sorry things didn't work out - hope for nothing but the best for John and your entire family.

Dunno. Didn't seem to be much reason in his message.

For example, what does "be smarter than your own ideas" mean? Does it mean your ideas are stupid? Does it mean your ideas don't make sense? Does it mean absolutely jack$hit nothing?

Also, what does a cookie cutter have to do with coaching ball? And, finally, no one with an ounce of reason would think the MU season would be any different than what it was if Burton was playing 11 minutes a game and Dawson was still racking up DNPs.

[real chili 83]

Welcome back, Mr Dawson. From everything you've posted here I conclude that you are a good and reasonable man who loves his son. Sorry things didn't work out - hope for nothing but the best for John and your entire family.

Agreed. Best of luck to you and your son.  Hoping he at least took you to Real Chili during his tenure.  Probably not as good as NM chili.  

[g0lden3agle]

Dunno. Didn't seem to be much reason in his message.

For example, what does "be smarter than your own ideas" mean? Does it mean your ideas are stupid? Does it mean your ideas don't make sense? Does it mean absolutely jack$hit nothing?

Also, what does a cookie cutter have to do with coaching ball? And, finally, no one with an ounce of reason would think the MU season would be any different than what it was if Burton was playing 11 minutes a game and Dawson was still racking up DNPs.

He's basically saying Wojo shouldn't have tried to force Burton and Dawson into Wojo's mold/cookie cutter.  He should have let them be them and blindly dole out minutes to them, thereby undermining the message Wojo has been trying to send and will continue to send.

Unless someone can prove that what Wojo told these guys when he was first hired and they decided to stay is different than what he was preaching during the first semester when they decided to leave there is nothing to see here.

[dgies9156]

He's basically saying Wojo shouldn't have tried to force Burton and Dawson into Wojo's mold/cookie cutter.  He should have let them be them and blindly dole out minutes to them, thereby undermining the message Wojo has been trying to send and will continue to send.

Unless someone can prove that what Wojo told these guys when he was first hired and they decided to stay is different than what he was preaching during the first semester when they decided to leave there is nothing to see here.

Look, I would have liked John Dawson and Deonte Burton to have worked out. It sounds like they both are pretty decent human beings and I wish them well in their new endeavors.

That said, sorry to say that John was in over his head. The fact that Marquette West, Iowa State, didn't scream for him is telling. More importantly, Liberty aint no Marquette. I think John is probably where he belongs.

Deonte probably should have worked at Marquette. I have no idea what really happened. Perhaps a red shirt year this year would have made this difference but, whatever. Good luck to both and see you down the road.

[MUSF]

Strong fundamentals and crisp execution are critical to the offense he wants to run - current roster needs significant work

Coaching in game is tough - probably has even more respect for Coach K after this season

It's hard to get players recruited and developed to play in a specific system to buy in to a completely different system

Fouls called in ACC are not fouls in the BEast - May need to tweak the offense to account for this and players need to be stronger, especially bigs

[MU82]

To make it clear I'm speaking from a coaches point of view ..... Don't hate WOJO if I came from a frustrated fathers point of view it wouldn't be nice .... This is just pure uncut advice

You are not speaking from a coach's point of view. You are a player's father. As the dad of two former high school players, one of whom went on to play in college, I know it is impossible to be truly objective about one's own kids.

I hope John enjoys Liberty as a college experience and I hope he gets the minutes he had no chance of getting at a high major.

I echo those who encourage you and all other family members to steer clear of fan sites. Nothing good can come of it. Nothing.

[brandx]

Strong fundamentals and crisp execution are critical to the offense he wants to run - current roster needs significant work

Coaching in game is tough - probably has even more respect for Coach K after this season

It's hard to get players recruited and developed to play in a specific system to buy in to a completely different system

Fouls called in ACC are not fouls in the BEast - May need to tweak the offense to account for this and players need to be stronger, especially bigs

I agree - except the last sentence. I have seen no evidence that the BE is "tougher" than any other major conference (except maybe the pac-12 )

[willie warrior]

1. Don't play zone very much.
2. It sucks when a mess was left to you--leave it better than you found it.
3. We are not the Duke of the Midwest, yet. (Hopefully he believes we can be)
4. The jury is still out on three guard offense (unless you are Villanova)
5. PG's must be able to shoot and make FT's--find one that does.
6. Milwaukee/Wisconsin does have basketball talent and talented kielbasa.
7. Need a stud PF and PG.
8. Some players need to hit the weight room.
9. Al McGuire's shadow still looms large, even almost 40 years removed.
10. A power point presentation got me this gig, but now I need to show my stuff.
11. Being the Head Guy is real tough.
12. The BEast is pretty damn good, a lot better than was realized on Tobacco Road. But DePaul still sucks.
13. Jay Wright sure as hell knows what he is doing.
14. The Bradley Center is sure different than the Cameron Crazies.
15. Who the hell was the phony cowboy?
16. Recruiting a world class high jumper to the team, who just happens to have a Burger Guy younger brother, can pay big dividends.
17. Matching Coach K's first 3 years at Duke may be tougher than I thought. (38-47)
18. I sure want to kick Bo Ryan's ass on the BB floor before he retires.
19. I damn sure will make this work--sooner rather than later.
20. Most importantly---this is not a stepping stone job, but a destination.

[JakeBarnes]

1. Don't play zone very much.
2. It sucks when a mess was left to you--leave it better than you found it.
3. We are not the Duke of the Midwest, yet. (Hopefully he believes we can be)
4. The jury is still out on three guard offense (unless you are Villanova)
5. PG's must be able to shoot and make FT's--find one that does.
6. Milwaukee/Wisconsin does have basketball talent and talented kielbasa.
7. Need a stud PF and PG.
8. Some players need to hit the weight room.
9. Al McGuire's shadow still looms large, even almost 40 years removed.
10. A power point presentation got me this gig, but now I need to show my stuff.
11. Being the Head Guy is real tough.
12. The BEast is pretty damn good, a lot better than was realized on Tobacco Road. But DePaul still sucks.
13. Jay Wright sure as hell knows what he is doing.
14. The Bradley Center is sure different than the Cameron Crazies.
15. Who the hell was the phony cowboy?
16. Recruiting a world class high jumper to the team, who just happens to have a Burger Guy younger brother, can pay big dividends.
17. Matching Coach K's first 3 years at Duke may be tougher than I thought. (38-47)
18. I sure want to kick Bo Ryan's ass on the BB floor before he retires.
19. I damn sure will make this work--sooner rather than later.
20. Most importantly---this is not a stepping stone job, but a destination.

+1 This is a really nice summary.

[jesmu84]

Learn listen be smarter than your own ideas ..... Throw away your cookie cutter!  Season could've been a whole lot better with the personnel you had in the beginning communicate better with your new family .... It took coach k a while to get where he is and in the beginning the duke faithful wanted him fired!  .... Forget what you think duke is .... You're at MARQUETTE now! .... You let 2 get away!

Awful.

[willie warrior]

I really think it is time for everyone to move on.  I wish John well, but this is really not a good look.

C'mon Sultan. If the kid's dad wants to speak his piece here, let him. Others think he should not even post here, "because no good can come of it"--says somebody with several thousand posts. Opinions here are all over the map, some good, some not so good, but when the thought police try to control a kid's Dad who may have some "legitimate grievances" (to quote our illustrious emperor), that really is not a good look either!!!

[MuMark]

Yes all opinions are welcome...no matter how stupid and uniformed.......