Virginia Tech vs. Virginia

[KenoshaWarrior]

I effing hate Buzz.

Why?

[GGGG]

The local kid Buzz screwed up on was LaChance.

A lot of people screwed up on him.

[Tugg Speedman]

The local kid Buzz screwed up on was LaChance.

If I remember, Nolan was a real doubt to qualify at the time as well.

That is what I remember too, below explains why he was at Seton Hall to see Buzz that day.

http://www.nhregister.com/article/NH/20120618/NEWS/306189959
Posted: 06/18/12,

After playing at Milwaukee-Vincent his first two years of high school, Nolan decided to go off to Huntington Prep in West Virginia. It didn't last long -- he left right around Thanksgiving break after playing just a couple of scrimmages and one game -- but Nolan made a positive impression on coach Rob Fulford.

"He's a really good kid, kind of laid-back," said Fulford. "From a basketball standpoint, he's long, athletic, he can stretch the floor a little bit with his shooting. Phil's got a ton of potential. He's gotten better since the last time I saw him."

Nolan simply struggled conforming to Huntington's strict academic guidelines.

"I think he was trying, but we have a tough academic setting," Fulford said. "It's not for everyone. We could sense there was going to be some struggle with him. He was trying. It was his first time away from home, and I'm not sure he was 100 percent sold on being away from home."

Nolan returned to Milwaukee for Thanksgiving, realized he wouldn't be able to transfer into a city public school and went out to St. Benedict's Prep in New Jersey for the remainder of the season.

[Lennys Tap]

Good for Buzz.  There are days the man can coach, and days he doesn't bother to show up.  I watched them the other day at home against West Virginia and it was amazingly awful.  Reminded me of his last year at MU as they lost by 25 and he was AOL after the game.

One of Chico's favorite ploys is the pat on the back as he buries the knife in your stomach. As his victim lies bleeding to death he'll tell you how much he liked him - "Didn't you just see me pat him on the back?" Totally phony.

[MUfan12]

A lot of people screwed up on him.

No doubt, but I didn't like the way he approached that situation.

[tower912]

Best coach at Marquette since Al.   I expect him to take Virginia Tech into the upper portion of the ACC.    Better than Duke/UNC?   If he is still there when K retires and the sanctions finally hit the fan at UNC, possibly.    Not before then.    The farther removed we get, the clearer it is that the relationship between and the MU administration had deteriorated beyond repair.   I am sure Buzz feels MU moved away from him, and I am sure that MU felt Buzz had moved away from them.   Usually, there is truth to both sides.   

But the man can coach.   

[GGGG]

Best coach at Marquette since Al.   I expect him to take Virginia Tech into the upper portion of the ACC.    Better than Duke/UNC?   If he is still there when K retires and the sanctions finally hit the fan at UNC, possibly.    Not before then.    The farther removed we get, the clearer it is that the relationship between and the MU administration had deteriorated beyond repair.   I am sure Buzz feels MU moved away from him, and I am sure that MU felt Buzz had moved away from them.   Usually, there is truth to both sides.   

But the man can coach.   

I only question if he has the ability to stay in a place long enough to build a program.  He may have found his sweet spot at VPI, or he may burn out and move on.  Time will tell.

[tower912]

Fair point.   All indications are that he has a restless spirit.   MU was the longest he has stayed anywhere up to that point.    Maybe as he ages.......?    But it is entirely possible he will be a Larry Brown-like vagabond.   

[wadesworld]

Best coach at Marquette since Al.   I expect him to take Virginia Tech into the upper portion of the ACC.    Better than Duke/UNC?   If he is still there when K retires and the sanctions finally hit the fan at UNC, possibly.    Not before then.    The farther removed we get, the clearer it is that the relationship between and the MU administration had deteriorated beyond repair.   I am sure Buzz feels MU moved away from him, and I am sure that MU felt Buzz had moved away from them.   Usually, there is truth to both sides.   

But the man can coach.

The difference between VT and UNC, Duke, and even to lesser extents schools like UVA and Louisville is that VT is 100% a football school.  Duke and UNC are basketball schools, while UVA and Louisville are both.  Based on what I've heard about his time at MU, especially the last couple of years, I cannot see Buzz remaining happy playing second fiddle in an athletic department.  There will be some issues there.  If there's not and VT doesn't mess with happy, he'll get them into the 2nd tier of ACC basketball, but I don't see them ever being the class of the ACC.

[GGGG]

I think the whole basketball school / football school labeling doesn't make a lot of sense in today's world of college athletics.  I don't think there is anything that prevents schools from being successful at both.  Florida, Michigan, Ohio State are all schools that show you can be good at both if you direct the resources that way.  In fact an attractive football program can benefit the basketball program.  I think that is one of the reasons he wanted to go to a P5 conference.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Why?

Because he is pretty much directly responsible for the past 2.5 years. He left us nothing when he jumped ship.

[GGGG]

Because he is pretty much directly responsible for the past 2.5 years. He left us nothing when he jumped ship.

His recruiting mistakes are what caused his poor last year at MU as well. 

[MerrittsMustache]

Because he is pretty much directly responsible for the past 2.5 years. He left us nothing when he jumped ship.

Did you like him when he was guiding MU to 3 straight Sweet 16s and an Elite 8 appearance?

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Did you like him when he was guiding MU to 3 straight Sweet 16s and an Elite 8 appearance?

Of course I did. I wasn't around for Crean but as least he left Buzz something to work with when he left.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

His recruiting mistakes are what caused his poor last year at MU as well.

Looking back I agree but at the time that was our best recruiting class ever under Buzz. Duane just got hurt and Vander left.

[GooooMarquette]

I think the whole basketball school / football school labeling doesn't make a lot of sense in today's world of college athletics.  I don't think there is anything that prevents schools from being successful at both.  Florida, Michigan, Ohio State are all schools that show you can be good at both if you direct the resources that way.  In fact an attractive football program can benefit the basketball program.  I think that is one of the reasons he wanted to go to a P5 conference.

Yes, schools can be good at both...but there is always a program that serves as the backbone of the school's identity.  In the cases of the three schools you listed, all are clearly "football schools," even though they have had real success on the court.  Likewise, some "basketball schools" like Duke and UNC have had

IMHO, the way you get a "second" program (hoops in these examples) to have sustained success is to find a guy who has the personality to be comfortable being the #2 coach on campus.  Beilein and Matta have been successful at UM and tOSU, yet their salaries are roughly half (Matta) or one-third (Beilein) what the football coach gets paid.  And Florida has new coaches in both sports, with the new BB coach receiving half of what the new FB coach gets.

Not sure Buzz has the personality to play #2 to a football coach very long, especially if he revives VT hoops and still isn't BMOC.  The guy can coach, but he also has a huge ego.

[GGGG]

Looking back I agree but at the time that was our best recruiting class ever under Buzz. Duane just got hurt and Vander left.

His 2011 class was Anderson, Mayo, Derrick Wilson
His 2012 class was Durley, Ferguson, Steve Taylor, TJ Taylor

That was the ultimate problem of Buzz's last year and Wojo's first two years.  Two guys who never played a game for MU, two others who ultimately transferred, one who was a dumbass, and two marginal players.

Even his 2010 class, which included Blue and Gardner, also included Jamail and Reggie Smith.

Too many recruiting mistakes.

[rocket surgeon]

i was really surprised to see how empty the arena was.  ain't not much of a rivalry??  VT hosting #4/5 and they can't fill 'er up?  that's not good.  there were A LOT of empty seats.  the first thing al would do when he walked in to the arena was look at the 4 corners...if they were full, he felt he did his job

[GGGG]

i was really surprised to see how empty the arena was.  ain't not much of a rivalry??  VT hosting #4/5 and they can't fill 'er up?  that's not good.  there were A LOT of empty seats.  the first thing al would do when he walked in to the arena was look at the 4 corners...if they were full, he felt he did his job

A Monday night in Blacksburg, Virginia, when students aren't around, is a sparsely populated place.

[rocket surgeon]

A Monday night in Blacksburg, Virginia, when students aren't around, is a sparsely populated place.

ohhh-forgot that the students are still on break-thanks

[rocket surgeon]

although, the kansas had a great crowd of students last night, but i'm sure #1 vs. #2 will do that-what a game!  triple overtime.  i wonder if we were in the running for that buddy guy?  holy schnikees is he good-POY right there

[wadesworld]

I think the whole basketball school / football school labeling doesn't make a lot of sense in today's world of college athletics.  I don't think there is anything that prevents schools from being successful at both.  Florida, Michigan, Ohio State are all schools that show you can be good at both if you direct the resources that way.  In fact an attractive football program can benefit the basketball program.  I think that is one of the reasons he wanted to go to a P5 conference.

Sure.  But like a Michigan State where you have the coaches of the basketball and football programs supporting each other, I don't see any way possible that Buzz gets told he can't have something go his way within the athletic department.  And I don't think an athletic department that is as committed to football as Virginia Tech is will be willing to give Buzz everything he's going to want.  And when Buzz gets told "No," things get ugly.  Has less to do with football vs. basketball and more to do with Buzz Williams and his ego.

[wadesworld]

although, the kansas had a great crowd of students last night, but i'm sure #1 vs. #2 will do that-what a game!  triple overtime.  i wonder if we were in the running for that buddy guy?  holy schnikees is he good-POY right there

This should be a great POY race.  Valentine, Hield, and Dunn are all great college basketball players, and then you have a guy like Simmons who is an unbelievable freshman talent.

[GGGG]

Sure.  But like a Michigan State where you have the coaches of the basketball and football programs supporting each other, I don't see any way possible that Buzz gets told he can't have something go his way within the athletic department.  And I don't think an athletic department that is as committed to football as Virginia Tech is will be willing to give Buzz everything he's going to want.  And when Buzz gets told "No," things get ugly.  Has less to do with football vs. basketball and more to do with Buzz Williams and his ego.

I guess time will tell, but I don't think that conflicts with football will be much of a concern with Buzz.

[Tugg Speedman]

VT signature win over #4 Virginia looking a little less impressive as Virginia lost at Georgia Tech by 4.  Virginia was down by 11 with one minute to play so they made a big run.

Couple more weeks like this and the Cavalier faithful with pack Bennett's bags to send him to Wisconsin.