Wojos presser

[MU82]

I'm with topper here.  I want Wojo to be grumpy at times like this.  Now if the guy asking the question was a reporter for MU Wire or the Tribune (my sense from reading is that he might be) then Wojo should reach out to him privately and apologize as it would be one thing to fire on Ben Steele who gets a paycheck for this but getting heated at a Trib reporter who frankly asked a damn good and probing question is another.  Wojo gets paid a crap ton of money.  He's expected to win and needs to appreciate that there will be external pressure if he doesn't.  The press is part of that pressure.

Oh, and one more thing.  Who's fault is it that we're the youngest team in the oldest conference?  Bingo.

All right ... I'll weigh in now. I had mostly stayed away from Scoop the last coupla days, both because I didn't want to be sucked into the Cavern of Angst & Anger, and because I was busy dealing with my effen broken cellphone (and no, I didn't throw it in disgust!). I just watched the video of this Wojo presser a few minutes ago.

First, just a teeny bit of personal background for those who didn't already know or who care too little to remember ... I am a former sportswriter. I probably attended 5,000 press conferences. During my 30 years, I asked great questions and stupid questions and softball questions and everything in between. I mostly had very good professional relationships with the people I interviewed, but there were a few testy answers. It happens.

And final disclosure (again, something most Scoopers already know): I am in the pro-Wojo camp. I wanted Shaka, he turned us down, and I thought Wojo was a good hire after that. I think he has done a good job rebuilding the program, has improved as a coach, but needs to get better.

OK ... enough preliminaries.

I attached this to glow's comment because I agree with his viewpoint on this. Wojo took out his frustrations on a student reporter who actually asked a pretty darn good question. Frankly, it was a weasel move.

I agree with the many who say that in the context of BIG things, this was a pretty small one. But I also agree with those who say that dealing with the media is Wojo's job. And given that he gets very little negative publicity, especially nationally - I mean, Bilas blows him weekly! - he has to be grown up enough to understand that when he has a 4-game losing streak in Year 4 and looks like he'll miss the NCAAs a year after making them, he might get a tiny bit of criticism. And again, I'm not even sure the amount of criticism he has gotten (other than on Scoop) can even be called "tiny."

The "pitchforks" comment was idiotic and over-the-top. It sounded paranoid, as much of his mini-tirade did.

It is fine to talk about how young the team is when asked about it - as he was. But then ... asked and answered, as they say in the courtroom. Don't trot it out 10 more times in the same 7-minute presser. When you do that, it goes from being a fact - which it is - to an excuse and then to a lame excuse. Especially when punctuating it with "I'm not making a big deal of it" ... which he clearly was.

To be set off so easily by a student reporter's decent question, Wojo came off looking a little small and thin-skinned.

Those who think he actually was taking responsibility with the way he answered the questions ... he wasn't. By saying, "Blame me for everything," he really was saying, "Who the hell are you to blame me for anything?"

Yes, I much prefer honesty and even frustration to coach-speak all the time, but Wojo simply didn't handle this press conference very well.

To those who say that nobody (relatively) will see it, that's true. And that's good.

BTW, this press conference did not make me less happy with how the team is progressing under him. I still am bullish on our future.

It's just that how a person handles adversity is important. Given the lack of real criticism he has received so far makes me a little worried about how he will react if it comes. I hope Wojo goes back and watches that video, learns from it and handles things more professionally next time.

[WindyCityGoldenEagle]

Very well said 82. Bravo.

[skianth16]

It's just that how a person handles adversity is important. Given the lack of real criticism he has received so far makes me a little worried about how he will react if it comes. I hope Wojo goes back and watches that video, learns from it and handles things more professionally next time.

Bingo. It often seems clear when a player goes through a coaching moment, but sometimes it isn't apparent when coaches run into a similar scenario. This is one of them. It's not likely to draw criticism from the media or the university, but he should still consider ways to avoid this kind of scenario again, which I'm sure he will.

Your point about how little actual criticism he's received is also spot on. I know most commentators and sportswriters don't want to critique a coach and question his methods too regularly, but at a certain point, when expectations have increased for Wojo and the program, I've got to think he'll begin to be held to a different standard when it comes to winning. If we drop an early game or two next year, I wouldn't be surprised to see more questions like he got Saturday.

[Eldon]

All right ... I'll weigh in now. I had mostly stayed away from Scoop the last coupla days, both because I didn't want to be sucked into the Cavern of Angst & Anger, and because I was busy dealing with my effen broken cellphone (and no, I didn't throw it in disgust!). I just watched the video of this Wojo presser a few minutes ago.

First, just a teeny bit of personal background for those who didn't already know or who care too little to remember ... I am a former sportswriter. I probably attended 5,000 press conferences. During my 30 years, I asked great questions and stupid questions and softball questions and everything in between. I mostly had very good professional relationships with the people I interviewed, but there were a few testy answers. It happens.

And final disclosure (again, something most Scoopers already know): I am in the pro-Wojo camp. I wanted Shaka, he turned us down, and I thought Wojo was a good hire after that. I think he has done a good job rebuilding the program, has improved as a coach, but needs to get better.

OK ... enough preliminaries.

I attached this to glow's comment because I agree with his viewpoint on this. Wojo took out his frustrations on a student reporter who actually asked a pretty darn good question. Frankly, it was a weasel move.

I agree with the many who say that in the context of BIG things, this was a pretty small one. But I also agree with those who say that dealing with the media is Wojo's job. And given that he gets very little negative publicity, especially nationally - I mean, Bilas blows him weekly! - he has to be grown up enough to understand that when he has a 4-game losing streak in Year 4 and looks like he'll miss the NCAAs a year after making them, he might get a tiny bit of criticism. And again, I'm not even sure the amount of criticism he has gotten (other than on Scoop) can even be called "tiny."

The "pitchforks" comment was idiotic and over-the-top. It sounded paranoid, as much of his mini-tirade did.

It is fine to talk about how young the team is when asked about it - as he was. But then ... asked and answered, as they say in the courtroom. Don't trot it out 10 more times in the same 7-minute presser. When you do that, it goes from being a fact - which it is - to an excuse and then to a lame excuse. Especially when punctuating it with "I'm not making a big deal of it" ... which he clearly was.

To be set off so easily by a student reporter's decent question, Wojo came off looking a little small and thin-skinned.

Those who think he actually was taking responsibility with the way he answered the questions ... he wasn't. By saying, "Blame me for everything," he really was saying, "Who the hell are you to blame me for anything?"

Yes, I much prefer honesty and even frustration to coach-speak all the time, but Wojo simply didn't handle this press conference very well.

To those who say that nobody (relatively) will see it, that's true. And that's good.

BTW, this press conference did not make me less happy with how the team is progressing under him. I still am bullish on our future.

It's just that how a person handles adversity is important. Given the lack of real criticism he has received so far makes me a little worried about how he will react if it comes. I hope Wojo goes back and watches that video, learns from it and handles things more professionally next time.

Phenomenal post, great insight.

The bold part is why the presser is worth discussing.  The number of views is irrelevant.  What is relevant, however, is what it can reveal about his personality, how he handles (perceived) criticism, etc. 

I'm going to extrapolate a bit here--okay, a lot--and take a guess that the assistant coaches gingerly avoid saying anything to Wojo that could be perceived as a criticism. 

[jesmu84]

Phenomenal post, great insight.

The bold part is why the presser is worth discussing.  The number of views is irrelevant.  What is relevant, however, is what it can reveal about his personality, how he handles (perceived) criticism, etc. 

I'm going to extrapolate a bit here--okay, a lot--and take a guess that the assistant coaches gingerly avoid saying anything to Wojo that could be perceived as a criticism.

Of course you would extrapolate that. It fits your narrative

[GoldenZebra]

I didnt see any issues, there have been way worse post-game pressers.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

MU Athletics deleted the videos of both Wojo and Sam's post-game pressers form YouTube. Only Ed Cooley's video is up there still.

Wrong.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbjD7Yf0f00

[CTWarrior]

Just watched. Not a good look. After a tough loss on top of some bad losses, it is easy to see how he can be frustrated and emotional in the moment.  That said, as the leader of this program, he needs to be more composed or send out Stan.

He missed a Homer interview a few games ago and now this hissy fit. MU AD needs to prepare him a bit more instead of sending him out there like that.  Good lord, that mic took some CTE shots. Reminds me when Buzz went nutso on Mac after a tough loss.

Buzz went nutso on Mac after a win over Georgetown.  And Mac lobbed him a softball question that was complimentary of the team coming back after a slow start or something like that.  Then Buzz went off on him.  He must have misunderstood the question (focused on the slow start part or something).  I don't normally listen to the postgame radio but I happened to be listening that day.  That remains the strangest/most inappropriate response to a question I have ever heard from a coach.  I remember thinking that our new coach has a screw loose after that.

[MUDPT]

He skipped Xavier and butler in the last week no?

He didn't skip Butler. He came on really, really late. You could tell Homer and Mac were struggling to find things to talk about.  I had dropped off a friend in Brookfield by the time he came on.

[Stretchdeltsig]

Wojo is definitely feeling the pressure from losing.  Hey, we all want him to succeed.  He has put together a very good, granted young, talented team.  The losses show that he is not preparing the players or putting them in the best offensive and defensive schemes to win.  He is right in admitting that he is responsible for the losses.  He is.  So up your coaching.  Coach us to win.  For starters designate a rim protector to stop layups.

[burger]

Instead of the portion of the press conference that was truly "coach speak".....

He actually does need to re-examine everything......The scouting reports have to be "piss pour" or they are not being "instituted"......

All I know is the end result from and X's and O's perspective on the floor is atrocious......

That is only part 1.......

Part 2:Then when you get to special situations......That play at the end of the game was so lame......you have a play in your back pocket that you have been practicing for "weeks" in practice to bring it out at the right time......(Eagles yesterday for an example)

Part 3: Everybody says we are who we are......Well we are now much more than we were......Has even thought about John and Harry on the floor at the same time.....With Elliot Cain, and a diminutive guard and play a 3 2 zone with Howard at the Top , the 2 wings and a pair of Rim protectors.....on the offensive side.....Grind it out.....Harry and John on every play down in the post......Lay the LUMBER!

These are just examples thrown out.....of thought.....trying things.....no going back to the same old "stubborn" "coach speak"crap......

Stupid is as stupid does......

Either "really" adapt or don't let the door hit you......

We can do better......

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

There have been significant defense adjustments throughout this season. They have all had mixed results. The idea that Wojo is not trying anything new is a myth.

[Floorslapper]

There have been significant defense adjustments throughout this season. They have all had mixed results. The idea that Wojo is not trying anything new is a myth.

No doubt that trying something new was on full display when (inexplicably) Wojo chose to go small against Providence who were abusing us at the basket throughout the game.  Cooley recognized it and they went at the basket and scored nearly every possession against our small lineup. 

Theo 24 minutes?  Contrary to anyone saying differently, Theo is a well-enough conditioned athlete to play 30+ minutes EVERY game.  Yet he has "low mileage" on this year as it relates to game playing time.  One thing to think Howard/Rowsey/Sam might be hitting a bit of a wall with all of their minutes, but Theo is as fresh as can be.

[jaygall31]

I don't care that he went off.  Fine. What's a touch bothersome is how the whole thing lacked direction.  He had no idea what he was saying, it was a rambling mess.  Nice name drop on the #13 offense tho.  Always good to know your KenPom stats when you have 10 losses on Feb 4th.

This may be the best post so far. It definitely lacked direction. He talked about himself coach better sarcastically. like really?

[tower912]

Burger, not mentioning Sam is stupid.  Second, when is the last time you saw a 3-2 zone?   What team? Let me know, so I can watch the next game they play and file it away and use it next year when I coach.

[NorthernDancerColt]

This may be the best post so far. It definitely lacked direction. He talked about himself coach better sarcastically. like really?

He appeared to lack direction because he was dancing around the fact that these simply ARE young kids who after three tough losses already had fragile psyches. As Sultan pointed out, you don't go off on these kids like Coach K went off on his guys after their loss to St. Johns. Maybe next year...but not this year.

[vogue65]

Phenomenal post, great insight.

The bold part is why the presser is worth discussing.  The number of views is irrelevant.  What is relevant, however, is what it can reveal about his personality, how he handles (perceived) criticism, etc. 

I'm going to extrapolate a bit here--okay, a lot--and take a guess that the assistant coaches gingerly avoid saying anything to Wojo that could be perceived as a criticism.

Does Wojo talk to his assistants?  Does he listen to them?  Do they say anything?  I never see communication during the time outs.  During one time out I saw Rowsey, who had fouled out, wondering around sort of in the huddle.   

If Wojo is asking for all the blame/credit does that mean that the assistants are superfluous, is it all on him?  Does he do everything, recruit, game plan, train, drill, coach in the game?

Seems to me that most coaches use a different management style.  Some teams even have a huddle of assistants prior to the team huddle.  Am I missing something?  Even Buzz, the evil one, had a retired long beard by his side for some insight. 

[brewcity77]

All right ... I'll weigh in now.

Great post, 82. No need to quote it all, you know what you wrote, but I think it was spot on.

[jaygall31]

He appeared to lack direction because he was dancing around the fact that these simply ARE young kids who after three tough losses already had fragile psyches. As Sultan pointed out, you don't go off on these kids like Coach K went off on his guys after their loss to St. Johns. Maybe next year...but not this year.

Agree with that, 100%. I just didn't appreciate how, IMO, he got very fiesty when talking about himself needing to coach better. Almost sarcastic.

I believe when that question was asked around the 4:30 mark, the question referred to a previous statement about Wojo saying he himself needed to coach better. Anyone have a link/article/video from that initial comment?

[MU82]

Almost Abso-freakin-lutely sarcastic.

FIFY

[NorthernDancerColt]

FIFY

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.

It IS, at some point, about "players making plays." Of course. But I guess you'll say he was playing "mind games" by not ripping into them from the start. Maybe he should have. Maybe he has...... just not publicly.

[real chili 83]

So, I just got done watching the game on Dvr this morning.  I would have never guessed this game came down to the wire and we were in a position to win.

Theo was outstanding. Period.  Sacar and Greg were very serviceable.  Not bad for a couple of youths.  Shame on Marcus for being barely 18. 

This team has a loooong way to go to be elite.  In the meantime, we are going to win a lot of games as the pieces come together. Especially next year when we have an interior defense.

[muwarrior69]

So, I just got done watching the game on Dvr this morning.  I would have never guessed this game came down to the wire and we were in a position to win.

Theo was outstanding. Period.  Sacar and Greg were very serviceable.  Not bad for a couple of youths.  Shame on Marcus for being barely 18. 

This team has a loooong way to go to be elite.  In the meantime, we are going to win a lot of games as the pieces come together. Especially next year when we have an interior defense.

I think our interior defense suffers because our bigs have to help our guards which are not very good defenders. We need a guard that can defend.

[wadesworld]

I think our interior defense suffers because our bigs have to help our guards which are not very good defenders. We need a guard that can defend.

Amen.

We will miss Rowsey's offensive abilities quite a bit.  But simply having Greg in instead of Rowsey defensively will make our defense better.

If we can add a defensive minded point guard that can handle the ball, we will be in for a very good season next year.

[skianth16]

So, I just got done watching the game on Dvr this morning.  I would have never guessed this game came down to the wire and we were in a position to win.

Theo was outstanding. Period.  Sacar and Greg were very serviceable.  Not bad for a couple of youths.  Shame on Marcus for being barely 18. 

This team has a loooong way to go to be elite.  In the meantime, we are going to win a lot of games as the pieces come together. Especially next year when we have an interior defense.

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.