Nice Buzz Article

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Again, to me, there's a difference between "Boys will be boys" and "Boys will be criminal, and I'll help them cover that up."  Some people buy into the "Just win baby" mentality, and as long as that's happening, meh, who cares if the coach wants to bring in kids who start a girl's hair on fire or wants to make sure to get his whole team together to ensure they all have the same story to tell authorities in a sexual assault case involving his players, or refuses to acknowledge any person that isn't directly involved with men's basketball within the athletic department, etc?  And that's fine and their right.  Me?  I want to win, but if it comes down to having a few seasons below the standard Marquette has set for itself on the court before we start winning at that level again in order to clean up the major issues within the basketball program or just continue to become Cinci of the Thuggins days I'll take the couple down seasons before we're back to where we need to be.

If what you paint above is fact you should be even more angry at Pillarz/admin -- they are the ones who let you down as maybe they should have fired Buzz.  What you paint above seems vaguely criminal.

No they didn't, they let it fester and did a bunch of passive aggressive stuff and instituted silly rules that others don't live to...so I dont know the truth & bad things happen in all programs...you just hope the admin responds the right way and continues to compete on a level playing field with the NCAA.

I trust the new admin is doing it the right way.

[GGGG]

I've said this before and I will say it again.

Buzz is lucky that the alleged sexual assault incidents occurred in an era prior to Paterno and Briles getting fired.  Not because the players were guilty, but because of how he handled the incidents.

[Lennys Tap]

For those who kissed Crean's ass or Buzz's ring when they were here and turned on them after they left (because they left) I have zero respect. Climbing on high horses, looking for rationales to explain irrational butt hurt is pathetic.

Those who hated Crean when he was here and still hate him - I agree with your analysis.

Those who hated Buzz when he was here and still hate him - I think you have it wrong but I nonetheless respect your opinion.

[GGGG]

For those who kissed Crean's ass or Buzz's ring when they were here and turned on them after they left (because they left) I have zero respect. Climbing on high horses, looking for rationales to explain irrational butt hurt is pathetic.

Those who hated Crean when he was here and still hate him - I agree with your analysis.

Those who hated Buzz when he was here and still hate him - I think you have it wrong but I nonetheless respect your opinion.

Or maybe we should realize that coaches are human beings complete with positive and negative attributes like the rest of us are.

For instance... I liked the way Buzz's teams played, and I liked his quirky personality, but I didn't like the way the sexual assault issue was handled from the moment it was disclosed.  I'm not going to be one of those fans who thinks a coach is God among us and that anything negative during their oversight couldn't possibly have happened.  Life doesn't work that way.

[Lennys Tap]

Or maybe we should realize that coaches are human beings complete with positive and negative attributes like the rest of us are.

For instance... I liked the way Buzz's teams played, and I liked his quirky personality, but I didn't like the way the sexual assault issue was handled from the moment it was disclosed.  I'm not going to be one of those fans who thinks a coach is God among us and that anything negative during their oversight couldn't possibly have happened.  Life doesn't work that way.

There's nothing wrong with people acknowledging mistakes along with all the good. What I object to is people who want to turn a narrative they've staunchly defended on its head because a guy takes a new job. It says nothing (to me) about the the guy who left but volumes about the butt hurt fan on his imaginary high horse.

[wadesworld]

There's nothing wrong with people acknowledging mistakes along with all the good. What I object to is people who want to turn a narrative they've staunchly defended on its head because a guy takes a new job. It says nothing (to me) about the the guy who left but volumes about the butt hurt fan on his imaginary high horse.

Or it says people may have received more details/information since one of the coaches left.  I never had any doubt that Bert would try to bend the rules when he could to give him an advantage.  When he was here I thought it was solely on the academic side of things, which I couldn't care less about because that's what happens in college athletics, some kids who wouldn't get into some schools end up there because they are gifted athletes and it benefits both sides, and that's great.  I refused to believe that the reason for Bert's "final straw" in terms of getting out of MU was that the administration would not let Bert bring in a recruit who lit a girl's hair on fire because while I knew Bert would take advantage of the administration giving him quite a bit of leeway, I didn't think even the slimiest of slimy coaches would see the problem with refusing to allow the kid into MU.  I thought that was a Scoop myth and didn't think any coach could be that hard headed in getting his way, but it turned out to absolutely be true, and now the kid gets kicked off of the college that did let him in.  Shocking.

But you did get one thing right, some of the things that did happen under Buzz were very much criminal.

[TheGym]

Or maybe we should realize that coaches are human beings complete with positive and negative attributes like the rest of us are.

For instance... I liked the way Buzz's teams played, and I liked his quirky personality, but I didn't like the way the sexual assault issue was handled from the moment it was disclosed.  I'm not going to be one of those fans who thinks a coach is God among us and that anything negative during their oversight couldn't possibly have happened.  Life doesn't work that way.

Just to be clear, there were more than one sexual assault incidents under Buzz's watch.

[Lennys Tap]

But you did get one thing right, some of the things that did happen under Buzz were very much criminal.

OMG. It's been more than 2.5 years since Chico promised (bogusly) that "other shoes would drop". When do you expect Buzz (and the rest of his criminal enterprise) will be heading to the big house?

The only crime he committed was breaking your heart.

[wadesworld]

OMG. It's been more than 2.5 years since Chico promised (bogusly) that "other shoes would drop". When do you expect Buzz (and the rest of his criminal enterprise) will be heading to the big house?

The only crime he committed was breaking your heart.

Breaking my heart?  I couldn't care less that he left.  Good riddance.  We're better off without him.

If you're cool with a head coach that is leading 18-22 year old kids that are being molded into men gathering everyone up for dinner at his house to ensure that they all have the same story to tell the authorities when they come and interview them regarding a sexual assault accusation then good on you guy.  That's "vaguely criminal" and it's exactly what happened.

[GGGG]

OMG. It's been more than 2.5 years since Chico promised (bogusly) that "other shoes would drop". When do you expect Buzz (and the rest of his criminal enterprise) will be heading to the big house?

The only crime he committed was breaking your heart.

Well, his inaction caused Marquette to be in violation of the law.  Close enough?

[GGGG]

Breaking my heart?  I couldn't care less that he left.  Good riddance.  We're better off without him.

If you're cool with a head coach that is leading 18-22 year old kids that are being molded into men gathering everyone up for dinner at his house to ensure that they all have the same story to tell the authorities when they come and interview them regarding a sexual assault accusation then good on you guy.  That's "vaguely criminal" and it's exactly what happened.

And to find out what the alleged victim's story was too.

[4everwarriors]

Crean was, is, and will always be a phony and a fraud masqueradin' as a stellar human bein' and basketball coach. He should kiss DWade's left butt cheek every night for pavin' his driveway in gold bullion. Utterwise, he's accomplished absolutely nothin',  ai na?

[tower912]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/how-buzz-williams-has-transformed-long-struggling-virginia-tech-231137300.html

[GGGG]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/how-buzz-williams-has-transformed-long-struggling-virginia-tech-231137300.html

"There was nothing that transpired at Marquette that made me want to leave, not the administrative changes there or anything relative to the league," Williams said.

[MattyWarrior]

Hes got them drinking the kool-aid down there, it was mostly about the money, but hia roots
story still plays well. If not for coaching,he'd make a great con man.

[Lennys Tap]

"There was nothing that transpired at Marquette that made me want to leave, not the administrative changes there or anything relative to the league," Williams said.

Buzz taking the high road - nothing wrong with that.

Here's the thing - when he had to entirely remake his roster by year 3 at Marquette (and made the tournament) it was remarkable but some said, "It's Marquette!" Looks like he may do the same thing in freakin' Blacksburg, Va.

Imagine where we would be if Wojo had to totally rebuild his roster in 3 years. Without Luke, JJJ and Duane we would be bottom feeders battling St Johns and DePaul for the basement. Even with them we're likely not as good right now as "no tradition, how could he even consider the job" Va Tech. The guy knows what he's doing much better than his critics here.

[77ncaachamps]

Buzz still needs to prove he will be a a legendary coach.

As it stands now, he can turn around programs. But legendary status is achieved when he becomes an immovable and beloved figure at an institution who can handle the heat and deflect the bullets even at the worse times, i.e., Boeheim.

But I think it's not in his blood.

He likes to move.

VT is NOT a destination program.
He's leaving in 2-3 years.
Right when the Coal Factories start kicking up the dust in the air.

[GGGG]

Of course he is a good coach. Best since Al. That isn't in doubt.

[BM1090]

Buzz taking the high road - nothing wrong with that.

Here's the thing - when he had to entirely remake his roster by year 3 at Marquette (and made the tournament) it was remarkable but some said, "It's Marquette!" Looks like he may do the same thing in freakin' Blacksburg, Va.

Imagine where we would be if Wojo had to totally rebuild his roster in 3 years. Without Luke, JJJ and Duane we would be bottom feeders battling St Johns and DePaul for the basement. Even with them we're likely not as good right now as "no tradition, how could he even consider the job" Va Tech. The guy knows what he's doing much better than his critics here.

I agree with most of what you say regarding Buzz but this is just not fair. Wojo DID have to completely rebuild his roster. He had to rebuild this roster as much as Buzz had to rebuild Va Tech's roster.

Wojo had 8 players in his first year once the dust settled, and 3 of those were seniors (Juan, Derrick, Carlino). He had a freshman (Sandy) that he HAD to sign just because he needed players. He had JJ...that's true, but JJ was not a good player when Wojo got here, and I have my doubts that he'd be a good player now if Buzz stayed. Wojo and staff's reconstruction of JJ's shot is the main reason that he's a good player.

Also, Wojo has done a really good job of filling needs so far given what he had left, and it's not fair to say "Without Luke, JJJ, Duane then we would be bottom feeders", because he knew he didn't have to recruit to replace those guys. If he had to recruit to those positions, we probably would have another quality center and wing on the roster. Just like he adequately filled the PG and SG position in 2 years, he likely would have done the same at SF and C

Duane is good and I like him, but the team wouldn't be much different in quality without him.

Edit: If Wojo makes the tournament here in year 3, I'd argue it's just as big of an accomplishment as Buzz making it in year 3, given what both had left on their roster.

[T-Bone]

"There was nothing that transpired at Marquette that made me want to leave, not the administrative changes there or anything relative to the league," Williams said.

I cannot hear the word relative in that context without feeling a little nauseous.

[Lennys Tap]

VT is NOT a destination program.
He's leaving in 2-3 years.
Right when the Coal Factories start kicking up the dust in the air.

Marquette is NOT a destination program either. Al was gone but for coaching in an era when contracts actually mattered. Even at that he changed careers rather than coaching at MU into his 50s.

[4everwarriors]

I cannot hear the word relative in that context without feeling a little nauseous.

Ya don't mean dat in a bad way, do ya, hey?

[Golden Avalanche]

Buzz taking the high road - nothing wrong with that.

Here's the thing - when he had to entirely remake his roster by year 3 at Marquette (and made the tournament) it was remarkable but some said, "It's Marquette!" Looks like he may do the same thing in freakin' Blacksburg, Va.

Imagine where we would be if Wojo had to totally rebuild his roster in 3 years. Without Luke, JJJ and Duane we would be bottom feeders battling St Johns and DePaul for the basement. Even with them we're likely not as good right now as "no tradition, how could he even consider the job" Va Tech. The guy knows what he's doing much better than his critics here.

This is true. People on Scoop are not very good at tampering.

[keefe]

Only if you want to ignore a couple of the more unseemly things that occurred during the Buzz regime.

We laugh and chortle when the same ole folks who didn't get their ass kissed the right way tune in with the "Crean sucks" posts.  The more I understand what happened under both eras, the more I think that Crean was a MUCH better fit here.

Sultan

I respect your perspective and rather enjoy your caustic take on things.  But let me say that I have first hand knowledge of Crean's outrageous behavior and unacceptable treatment of others.

Tom Crean's lack of concern, consideration, and respect for those around him, indeed those who contributed to his success, had no place in a Jesuit institution.

Buzz likely doesn't know where the line is and, in any event, is an extremely bizarre person. Crean knows where the line is but simply doesn't give a sh1t.

[vogue65]

Buzz is a class act, the only problem is that he is not the class to which most Marquette Scoopers aspire.  Marquette suffers from an inferiority complex, that is why the hireing of ND, Gerogetown, Duke types.   The days of looking at a dude from the Rockaways or Belmont Abbey are long gone.
Lets face it, we have become, in our unique way, snobs.  Therefore, all the Buzz hate, I  am really glad that Buzz has found a loving home at VT, good for him.

I hope that MU can become BC lite or Duke like, however,  I  have my doubts.

Lets concentrate on the game at hand and show Buzz the respect that he continues to show Marquette.  Before Buzz we were a very long time in the wilderness, without him we would have been there for a much longer time.  I hope we can pull off the Duke corporate image successfully, if not, back to the wilderness.