Wojos presser

[MU82]

How is his restraint rewarded? By a student "reporter" going right back to the "could it be the  coaching?"  narrative.

Classic "shoot the messenger" stance.

Wojo is a grown-up - and a well-compensated grown-up at that.

It was a perfectly good question ... but even if it wasn't, handle it with class.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Every thread after every loss we keep getting the same message. Underclassmen don't win big basketball games. Kind of weird they figured it out against the same guys on the road, though. Happy coincidence, I guess.

When Markus is a 20 year old senior, are we still going to give him the same out for being young? Lots of redshirt freshmen turn 20 in their first year playing, after all.

It's not that underclassmen don't win big games (and I think you know that). It's that underclassmen are more inconsistent and in most cases have their best basketball in front of them. You keep getting the same message this season because the fact that we are young has not changed. It will change next year when that fact does change.

Three ways to win at a high level in college basketball:
1. Get one and dones (Duke and Kentucky)
2. Get old (Purdue, Wichita State, etc)
3. Combination of the two (Michigan State, Louisville, etc)

[Lennys Tap]

Three ways to win at a high level in college basketball:
1. Get one and dones (Duke and Kentucky)
2. Get old (Purdue, Wichita State, etc)
3. Combination of the two (Michigan State, Louisville, etc)

Three ways to win at a high level in college basketball:
1.Have the best players.
2.Have the next best players.
3.Have a combination of the best players and the next best players.

IOW, have really good players. We're not there yet.

[skianth16]

Three ways to win at a high level in college basketball:
1.Have the best players.
2.Have the next best players.
3.Have a combination of the best players and the next best players.

IOW, have really good players. We're not there yet.

Shoot. We should stop paying the coaches all this money, then.

[Lennys Tap]

Shoot. We should stop paying the coaches all this money, then.

They're the ones who get the players.

[skianth16]

They're the ones who get the players.

I'll rephrase. Coaches should really stop putting all that effort in after a guy signs his LOI. What a waste of time!

[Lennys Tap]

I'll rephrase. Coaches should really stop putting all that effort in after a guy signs his LOI. What a waste of time!

Coaches make a difference, especially when the talent level is close. Buzz could take his guys and beat Wojo's or take Wojo's guys and beat a VPI squad coached by Wojo, for example.

But coaching only takes you so far, especially at a level where virtually all of the coaches are at least competent. Then talent generally wins out.

[BM1090]

Coaches make a difference, especially when the talent level is close. Buzz could take his guys and beat Wojo's or take Wojo's guys and beat a VPI squad coached by Wojo, for example.

But coaching only takes you so far, especially at a level where virtually all of the coaches are at least competent. Then talent generally wins out.

Yes that's why us and VT have had nearly identical seasons the past 2 years. Are you saying we're that much more talented than VT? We have a better offense, they have a better defense although they also are outside the top 100. I've seen 5-6 VT games this year and they have a lot of talent. Why are they 5-5 in conference with only 1 top 40 win and losses to Ball State and Indiana?

[brewcity77]

Yes that's why us at VT have had nearly identical seasons the past 2 years. Are you saying we're that much more talented than VT? We have a better offense, they have a better defense although they also are outside the top 100. I've seen 5-6 VT games this year and they have a lot of talent. Why are they 5-5 in conference with only 1 top 40 win and losses to Ball State and Indiana?

Last year the game I wanted early was Marquette v Oklahoma State. This year I think us and Va Tech would be really fun. Great up-and-down game in Dayton.

[NorthernDancerColt]

Classic "shoot the messenger" stance.

Wojo is a grown-up - and a well-compensated grown-up at that.

It was a perfectly good question ... but even if it wasn't, handle it with class.

Sometimes the "messenger" is a "message-er" as well. Officials sometimes try to be "the show", and take away from the game. It happens with the media as well. I'm sure you were the consummate pro, but I can't watch either Fox News or CNN anymore with all the "reporters" trying to make a name for themselves. Everyone thinks they are the next Woodward +/or Bernstein.  Wojo had a right to be irked. It was a stupid question.

[WarriorDad]

Yes that's why us and VT have had nearly identical seasons the past 2 years. Are you saying we're that much more talented than VT? We have a better offense, they have a better defense although they also are outside the top 100. I've seen 5-6 VT games this year and they have a lot of talent. Why are they 5-5 in conference with only 1 top 40 win and losses to Ball State and Indiana?

Va Tech didn't play Indiana or Ball State this year.  They did lose to Saint Louis.

[skianth16]

Sometimes the "messenger" is a "message-er" as well. Officials sometimes try to be "the show", and take away from the game. It happens with the media as well. I'm sure you were the consummate pro, but I can't watch either Fox News or CNN anymore with all the "reporters" trying to make a name for themselves. Everyone thinks they are the next Woodward +/or Bernstein.  Wojo had a right to be irked. It was a stupid question.

It was a fine question. A good question, even. It was just a follow up from something Wojo had said recently. On one hand, it was a follow up seeking more clarity, and on the other hand, it forced Wojo to actually take ownership over that comment. I think it was great, and it had nothing to do with the reporter trying to upstage the coach. Not even close.

[MU82]

Wojo had a right to be irked. It was a stupid question.

We'll have to agree to strongly disagree.

[BM1090]

Va Tech didn't play Indiana or Ball State this year.  They did lose to Saint Louis.

Huh. Who the hell's Kenpom page was I looking at

[wadesworld]

Huh. Who the hell's Kenpom page was I looking at

Notre Dame's.

[NickelDimer]

Of course it was sarcastic. That's my whole point. All year he has shouldered the blame when we came up short. He starts the presser with how much he loves his team, still doesn't lay any blame on the players. So badly wants to do what K did, but correctly bites his tongue. How is his restraint rewarded? By a student "reporter" going right back to the "could it be the  coaching?"  narrative.

I'm surprised at how many still haven't realized that Wojo was simply asked to elaborate ON HIS OWN WORDS FROM THE PREVIOUS WEEK. Listen to the PC again. No one asked Wojo whether he can coach. He was asked to expand on his own assertion made the days before this game that he needs to coach better

[NorthernDancerColt]

It was a fine question. A good question, even. It was just a follow up from something Wojo had said recently. On one hand, it was a follow up seeking more clarity, and on the other hand, it forced Wojo to actually take ownership over that comment. I think it was great, and it had nothing to do with the reporter trying to upstage the coach. Not even close.

Fair enough. I just meant "stupid" in that Wojo had already made clear how the game did NOT come down to the last play. When the reporter asked the question, I got the feeling Wojo was like, "Does he really want to go over every single play in the game and how my coaching had an impact on it?" Coaches are detail-oriented animals, and the question was seen as  logistically ridiculous or meant to undermine the coach, and Wojo was having none of it. Hence the "You go through the tape and tell me how I can improve" retort by Wojo.

[NorthernDancerColt]

We'll have to agree to strongly disagree.

Sounds good. I'm having a hard time finding who loses in this endgame. Andrew Goldstein has got to be loving this. Wojo finally shows some emotion and probably fired up his team for the rest of the season. Wojo detractors (I know you're not among them, '82) are like, "See, told ya so. he's thin skinned." Wojo apologists (ok, put me in that camp..I think he's about to prove his worth very soon) got to see some fire from the guy they believe in. Wojo clearly showed he hates to lose. And so do we all.

[BM1090]

Notre Dame's.

Odd because I distinctly remember seeing VT beat ND. I must have clicked on ND halfway through and not realized it

[MU82]

Sounds good. I'm having a hard time finding who loses in this endgame. Andrew Goldstein has got to be loving this. Wojo finally shows some emotion and probably fired up his team for the rest of the season. Wojo detractors (I know you're not among them, '82) are like, "See, told ya so. he's thin skinned." Wojo apologists (ok, put me in that camp..I think he's about to prove his worth very soon) got to see some fire from the guy they believe in. Wojo clearly showed he hates to lose. And so do we all.

Reasonable post, except I believe you are in the distinct minority in thinking that the question wasn't legit.

And yes, if I were Andrew Goldstein - and I did have many similar situations, including a few as a kid at the Trib - I would be wearing this as a badge of honor.

[swoopem]

Anyone have a link to the St. John's presser? I can't find it and want to see it