Seriously, Does anyone want Wojo fired?

[Goose]

I see a lot of posts that imply that Wojo should be fired after this season and others asking the question. At this point, I am NOT in favor of Wojo being fired. Just curious of folks really want that or just blowing off steam. My hope is that, even the highly frustrated (me), are not hitting the real panic button too soon.

[GoldenZebra]

A large part of it is surely blowing off steam/frustration at being a weak program for the last couple years, which most fans are not used to. I doubt there are actually people that honestly believe firing will solve problems. If anything it will make it way worse. If Wojo is gone, a lot of recruits/current players might not stick around. Rebuild continues for another several years.

[Goose]

I agree and wish the fire Wojo now talk would end on here. Holding for feet to the fire with expectations is fine, but canning him is premature...even for me.

[MikeDeanesDarkGlasses]

The devil is in the details.

I can handle not making NCAAs as long as future looks bright.  Problem is that Wojo has failed to install a defensive identity in 3 years. There's not excuse for that.  That's just poor coaching especially at D1 level where you can take average athleticism and turn it into a defensive stalwart if the coach knows what he's doing.  MU plays defense historically bad......not just bad.  It hasn't gotten better in 3 years.  Regardless of talent that comes in here, a lack of defense will prohibit any significant NCAA run of more than 1 game.  Defense carries you in the tournament and conference schedules.

[Let's Go Warriors]

One more season to make the tournament....

That being said, the situation being worse and that he will take kids with him is NOT a reason to keep him.  IF it never works out that will happen then anyway.  And we will just have to wait longer.  Doesnt make any sense for that as a reason to keep him.  A coach leaves and kids will follow, that will happen no matter when it happens.

[GoldenDieners32]

I dont want him fired he has made huge progress since his first season. 13-19 his first year, almost making the tourney last season, and hopefully making it this year. We might not make it this year but wojo doesn't have the right players yet. I think the 2018-2019 season will be huge for MU

[MikeDeanesDarkGlasses]

I dont want him fired he has made huge progress since his first season. 13-19 his first year, almost making the tourney last season, and hopefully making it this year. We might not make it this year but wojo doesn't have the right players yet. I think the 2018-2019 season will be huge for MU

We still can't play defense.......
Players have gotten worse under Wojo - Fischer + Wilson ......

It's amazing how a few 4* recruits will keep people falling for you.

[GoldenDieners32]

We still can't play defense.......
Players have gotten worse under Wojo - Fischer + Wilson ......

It's amazing how a few 4* recruits will keep people falling for you.

We need to recruit those long athletic type guys. Hope we can land Elliot, Hauser, Ayo, and Race Thompson. Also is Brendan Bailey here next year?

[Badgerhater]

Can he hire Mike Deane as a defensive assistant?

[Eye]

I dont want him fired he has made huge progress since his first season. 13-19 his first year, almost making the tourney last season, and hopefully making it this year. We might not make it this year but wojo doesn't have the right players yet. I think the 2018-2019 season will be huge for MU

I agree with your general premise, but MU didn't almost make the tourney last year. There were at least 17 teams (NIT at larges) in front of them for an NC2A bid last year.

[T-Bone]

Can he hire Mike Deane as a defensive assistant?

Preferably just the dark glasses.

Keep Wojo.  I like the program and it's trajectory. 

[GoldenDieners32]

I agree with your general premise, but MU didn't almost make the tourney last year. There were at least 17 teams (NIT at larges) in front of them for an NC2A bid last year.

You are right but this season i feel like we will make the tourney just need to play a little better down the stretch. We got this

[MikeDeanesDarkGlasses]

Can he hire Mike Deane as a defensive assistant?

Few can handle the intensity Deane brings on the sideline.  Deane can't even control himself at times......hence, the seatbelt.

[LloydsLegs]

No.  No.  No. 

[muwarrior69]

The devil is in the details.

I can handle not making NCAAs as long as future looks bright.  Problem is that Wojo has failed to install a defensive identity in 3 years. There's not excuse for that.  That's just poor coaching especially at D1 level where you can take average athleticism and turn it into a defensive stalwart if the coach knows what he's doing.  MU plays defense historically bad......not just bad.  It hasn't gotten better in 3 years.  Regardless of talent that comes in here, a lack of defense will prohibit any significant NCAA run of more than 1 game.  Defense carries you in the tournament and conference schedules.

Wojo took a lot of crap on this board for playing Derrick Wilson   because he had no offensive game. Now he is taking crap because our guys can't play defense. Damned if you do damned if you don't. Name one coach that could this program around in 2 years.

[shoothoops]

Take a look around.  Compare and contrast.

What are the goals? For me almost annual NCAA's, mix in 2nd weekend/sweet 16 NCAA run every few to several years, deeper every long while.  Be in the top portion of league almost annually, contend for league title every several years. Be strong with rivals and non-conference.

Now, how long does it take? Depends on how program was left to you and were you already there as an assistant.

For outsiders inheriting challenging situations, in my observations.....average time is 4 years to get it going, 3 on short end, 5 on long end, generally speaking.

[MikeDeanesDarkGlasses]

Wojo took a lot of crap on this board for playing Derrick Wilson   because he had no offensive game. Now he is taking crap because our guys can't play defense. Damned if you do damned if you don't. Name one coach that could this program around in 2 years.

It's not about turning the program around.  It's about installing a defensive scheme.  The defensive scheme should have been implemented from day 1 to create an identity.  Fast forward to year 3 and we're giving up historic quantities of points to opponents.  Nothing has changed and these are his guys for the most part.  If you expect them to make a jump next year and be lockdown defenders.....you're crazy.

[MU82]

Like Glasses and Al Davis, I want Wojo fired yesterday!

Most of our players can leave and the top recruits can go elsewhere and we can hire another guy to start from scratch, and we can have this conversation again in 2-3 years.

It will be fun!

But wait ... KO turned it around fast!

Yes, if 4 years is considered fast.

But wait ... Shaka ... oh wait, he's 10-15 in Year 2 at Texas. (I had to mention Shaka because that drives some folks here nuts.)

But wait ... Coach K ... oh wait, I'm not allowed to mention any coaches who took 3-4-5-6 years to finally win big because ... I don't know why ... but I'm not.

But at least we won't hire some career assistant who obviously can't be good or else he'd have a job already. I mean, Roy Williams and Tom Izzo suck!

Anyways - let's fire a guy who won 20 games his second season and beat the No. 1 team his third season (and still has the Warriors on the edge of an NCAA berth) because it will be fun to start all over again!

Fun!

[RJax55]

No.

There's still a good deal of basketball yet to be played. 5 games, plus the BET. However, this a big period for Wojo.

The last 5 games have been bad, especially GT, but there's still time to make a run. I don't see this team playing consistently enough to get a NCAA bid, but the opportunity is still there for post-season play. Getting to the NIT would be frustrating considering the position we had after the Nova win, but it is still an upward trend for the program.

With that said, if we end the season the way we have been playing, and the bottom falls-out, his seat should be very hot going into next year.

[Lennys Tap]

I definitely don't want Wojo fired. My opinion is that so far his performance has been mixed but my hope is that he improves. And I'm willing to give him 2 more years to do that.

In the meantime, however, I'm not going to BS myself or anyone else by donning blue and gold spectacles. Those glasses turn Traci Carter and Haanif Cheatham into impact players. And when we go 9-3 in coin toss games people wearing them opine that with a little luck (9-3 isn't lucky to them, only 12-0 fits that bill) we would have been dancing last year. That's Fantasyland. So is the idea that Wojo is incompetent, has lost the team, can't evaluate talent or teach defense, etc.

I love Marquette as much as anyone here and more than most. In tough times (now) and good times (after Creighton and Villanova), I try to temper my sorrow or joy with realism.

[Goose]

Lenny

Spot on, again. Last year all I heard was praise for "The Engine" and wondered to myself "have these folks ever seen a high level D1 PG"?

[CTWarrior]

It's not about turning the program around.  It's about installing a defensive scheme.  The defensive scheme should have been implemented from day 1 to create an identity.  Fast forward to year 3 and we're giving up historic quantities of points to opponents.  Nothing has changed and these are his guys for the most part.  If you expect them to make a jump next year and be lockdown defenders.....you're crazy.

We have a very clear man-to-man defensive scheme, one that works well for some teams.  We do not have the athletes to execute it, either through lack of quickness or lack of discipline.  Our guards can't keep their man in front of them and we don't have multiple interior guys who can challenge at the rim.  Because of that, I think the only scheme this team can handle is a pack it in zone.  Our best defense has been the 1-3-1 because we generally get two guys near the ball and the offense has to pass well to beat it.  Biggest problem with that defense is that our poor rebounding gets even worse.

I think Wojo is focused on instilling the way he wants us to play as a program.  It remains to be seen if that is what is best for us long term, but it probably hurts us now.  OTOH, I don't know what defense this group could play successfully against high quality competition.

[MikeDeanesDarkGlasses]

We have a very clear man-to-man defensive scheme, one that works well for some teams. We do not have the athletes to execute it, either through lack of quickness or lack of discipline. Our guards can't keep their man in front of them and we don't have multiple interior guys who can challenge at the rim.  Because of that, I think the only scheme this team can handle is a pack it in zone.  Our best defense has been the 1-3-1 because we generally get two guys near the ball and the offense has to pass well to beat it.  Biggest problem with that defense is that our poor rebounding gets even worse.

I think Wojo is focused on instilling the way he wants us to play as a program.  It remains to be seen if that is what is best for us long term, but it probably hurts us now.  OTOH, I don't know what defense this group could play successfully against high quality competition.

In other words, Wojo doesn't know how to teach his scheme and recruit players that fit it.

[CTWarrior]

In other words, Wojo doesn't know how to teach his scheme and recruit players that fit it.

Thus far, he hasn't.  No argument there.  I'm hoping long term he will, but I understand anyone who is frustrated and not optimistic about it, since I feel that way more and more.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Firing Wojo after this season would be a disaster.

Thankfully, we all know this isn't even close to on the table, even if MU were to go 0-6 and miss the NIT.