One last time - Butch's HS coach Hartjes' comments about MU and Crean

[warriorfred]

Had to respond to this post.  As an Appleton West graduate from the 1980's, and as someone that visits Appleton regularly, I can attest that Marquette and the city of Milwaukee are different continents to most people from Appleton; a city like Chicago is a different planet  .  I followed the Brian Butch recruiting saga and would have been completely and totally shocked if he had selected Marquette.

I fondly remember my guidance counselor handing me a Wisconsin application, and then being confused when I explained that I didn't need it and I was applying to Marquette.  At which point she spent approximately ten minutes attempting to talk me out of that decision.  If I warranted ten minutes of UW persuasion, Brian Butch received weeks-years of pro-UW arm-twisting

In a way that UW bias is kind of sad because teachers and counselors naturally direct a lot of students to UW, which may not be the best fit for many students.  Thinking back twenty years, I was shocked at the number of high school classmates that had dropped-out of UW.

With respect to Brian Butch, it would have been nice to have him at Marquette, but not a huge loss.  He was not a good fit for Marquette's style of play, and UW with a slow methodical half-court offense is a better fit.  He made the correct decision, but I could live without the condescension from his old hick basketball coach.

[Knight Commission]

Didn't Butch put on about 15-20 pounds in his red-shirt year at UW? I thought coming out of high school he was real athletic and would be able to play on the perimeter, and was a very good 3 pt shooter. If I'm remembering correctly then I think if he comes to MU he doesn't put on as much weight he'd be very good due to his athleticism. I thought one thing that UW fans were angry at was he put on too much weight and as a result took away some of his athleticism.  I'm sorry I'm completely wrong in remembering this, but if he came out of high school as real athletic he could have been a great addition by being a big man and being able to spread it out with his 3 pt ability.

Good point. In a Chicago Sun Times article back in February 2003, Greg Hartjes compared Butch to Dirk Nowitzki. For some strange reason, Butch has not evolved into a Nowitzki type player. Perhaps thats because of Bo Ryan?

My, Hartjes loved the spotlight back then. Greg, do you have any comment now?

This is the quote from the Sun Times back in February 2003 (before MU was a Final 4 team):

Going with the trend of big men, Butch isn't seen as a back-to-the-basket center.

He's not a traditional 5 player. His dribbling, passing and shooting allow him to play outside," Appleton West coach Greg Hartjes said. I liken him to Dirk Nowitzki. He can really score."

[mviale]

Jarrod Lovette was the best big man taken from Wisconsin over the last 20 years.

How bout them apples.

[Pakuni]

Jarrod Lovette was the best big man taken from Wisconsin over the last 20 years.

How bout them apples.

Hate to say it, but you'd have to consider Mike Wilkinson ahead of Lovette.

[mviale]

dont agree - lovette was a great player - inside/outside play - prior to the health issues.

[mviale]

I also want to point out development at MU vs. UW:

Ooze averaged 2 pts/ 2 Rebs and 10 min, his Freshman year.  in his Junior year, he averaged 8/7 in 27 min.
Butch averaged 3/2 and in 10 min, as a frosh. In his 4th yr (junior), he averaged 9/6 in 20 min.

Seems to me Ooze progressed much more considering his background. 

[augoman]

Cheebs and Knight hit it on the head!  Butch, coming out of HS, was thin, athletic, and quick.  Unfortunately, Ryan wanted him to be a center, red-shirted him- in order to bulk him up, and changed his game completely.  I seem to remember Butch winning the McD's All-American 3 point shooting contest.  He much more of a Novak style player, soft around the rim, great outside shot, not bad ball handling.  Ryan ruined him in MHO.  Would have been an asset to MU, if not misused.

[🏀]

Cheebs and Knight hit it on the head!  Butch, coming out of HS, was thin, athletic, and quick.  Unfortunately, Ryan wanted him to be a center, red-shirted him- in order to bulk him up, and changed his game completely.  I seem to remember Butch winning the McD's All-American 3 point shooting contest.  He much more of a Novak style player, soft around the rim, great outside shot, not bad ball handling.  Ryan ruined him in MHO.  Would have been an asset to MU, if not misused.

Wasn't a three point contest, it was the 2-Ball competition. Which still takes great shooting skills.