Poll: Wojo should keep his job if...

[avid1010]

I'm curious as to where most fans stand.  I've been happy with Wojo's recruiting, the manner in which he and his players represent MU, and obviously want to see him be discussed as going to Duke rather than being fired.  All the talk has been interesting, but not many are stating what they feel is required (different than expected) for them to feel comfortable with Wojo for another year.

[Galway Eagle]

Safely in. If we get beat I'd say it's because the team doesn't have much ncaa experience or the matchup wasn't great. As long as we are safely in I'm content this year.

[Its DJOver]

Based on his relationship with Lovell, I think he gets one more year in any of the scenarios listed.  If we are not safely in, I will be convinced that Wojo is not the man for the job, but would not expect him to be fired for another year because of the relationship with Lovell.

[WhiteTrash]

Barring a complete disaster (no NIT), I see him here 1 more year for financial reasons. MU is already playing a dangerous game by not extending his contract but Wojo has not earned it. I can't fault the school for taking a wait and see approach.

[SaveOD238]

Barring a complete disaster (no NIT), I see him here 1 more year for financial reasons. MU is already playing a dangerous game by not extending his contract but Wojo has not earned it. I can't fault the school for taking a wait and see approach.

There's also the roster to consider.  Might as well let Wojo play out one more year with Howard, Hauser, and Sacar as seniors.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

It will be an interesting question. My first thought was that I doubt he is fired for failing to meet season expectations for the first time so barring complete disaster he's getting another year. But strategically, it could be better to get a new coach after this season.

If you keep Wojo and then he doesn't do enough in 19-20 and fire him then, the new coach is going to have to rebuild immediately. That team will be losing its two best players in Markus and Sam, a solid role player in Sacar, and Ed who I don't know enough yet to know how big of a loss he will be. Plus you have whatever transfers come with the coaching change. We don't know at this point, but that could be another multi-year rebuild. My head might explode at that point.

If you cut ties, you hand the new coach a roster that on paper should be an NCAA level tournament team. It gives the coach a buffer year to do his own recruiting and get some credibility before building his own team. Similar to the situation that Buzz walked into. It could speed up the process considerably.

Ultimately it comes down to whether the administration thinks Wojo will be the guy at the end of the season. Fortunately, I think Wojo will make the decision for them. I'm still confident that we are dancing with a high seed this season.

[Galway Eagle]

It will be an interesting question. My first thought was that I doubt he is fired for failing to meet season expectations for the first time so barring complete disaster he's getting another year. But strategically, it could be better to get a new coach after this season.

If you keep Wojo and then he doesn't do enough in 19-20 and fire him then, the new coach is going to have to rebuild immediately. That team will be losing its two best players in Markus and Sam, a solid role player in Sacar, and Ed who I don't know enough yet to know how big of a loss he will be. Plus you have whatever transfers come with the coaching change. We don't know at this point, but that could be another multi-year rebuild. My head might explode at that point.

If you cut ties, you hand the new coach a roster that on paper should be an NCAA level tournament team. It gives the coach a buffer year to do his own recruiting and get some credibility before building his own team. Similar to the situation that Buzz walked into. It could speed up the process considerably.

Ultimately it comes down to whether the administration thinks Wojo will be the guy at the end of the season. Fortunately, I think Wojo will make the decision for them. I'm still confident that we are dancing with a high seed this season.

I think even losing Sacar, Markus and Hauser we'd be fine for at least another year barring transfers we'd have a really solid experienced core with senior Koby, Theo, Jamal and Gregg. Not exactly all Americans but solid enough I'd expect a third bid

[jutaw22mu]

I think with this roster he has to finish top 3 big east and not sweat out selection Sunday.  If we aren't a bubble team on selection Sunday, I would think he should be able to get at least a win--but anything can happen.

Also no losses to the DePauls or Seton Halls of the world.  Not this year.

I am hoping the IU and first 3/4ths of the PC game were aberrations for this season and due to incorporating new guys into the roster who are still learning their roles.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I think even losing Sacar, Markus and Hauser we'd be fine for at least another year barring transfers we'd have a really solid experienced core with senior Koby, Theo, Jamal and Gregg. Not exactly all Americans but solid enough I'd expect a third bid

In the scenario I'm describing, the team hasn't made the tournament or barely made the tournament hence Wojo getting fired. A bubble/NIT team losing its two best players plus Sacar and Ed with likely no recruiting class because of coaching change is not going to be projected to make the tourney. If players like Koby, Theo, Jamal, and Greg play that well, Wojo is not likely to get fired.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

I don't think Wojo is even on the hot seat if MU somehow misses the tourney this season.  But the seat definitely got warmer.

Hopefully this isn't an issue. 

[Silkk the Shaka]

Safely in. If we get beat I'd say it's because the team doesn't have much ncaa experience or the matchup wasn't great. As long as we are safely in I'm content this year.

Same

7 seed or better counts as safely in for me

Barring injury, need to be in contention for the league title going into the last week at the bare minimum. The league is way down this year, have to show you can take advantage of the opportunity especially when this is the year you've been building toward. 8-1 or better at home, 5-4 or better on the road. The pieces are there, have to make it work.

[Galway Eagle]

Same

7 seed or better counts as safely in for me

Barring injury, need to be in contention for the league title going into the last week at the bare minimum. The league is way down this year, have to show you can take advantage of the opportunity especially when this is the year you've been building toward. 8-1 or better at home, 5-4 or better on the road. The pieces are there, have to make it work.

I'm thinking 6 seed or better but I'm pretty much with you.

[muwarrior69]

You left two options out:

Final 4

NCAA Champions

I am going with NCAA Champions.

[tower912]

That wouldn't be enough for some.

[1SE]

Depends. I think missing the NCAA we might as well boot him. That would be a pretty big disaster.

If we squeak in, I don't like it and it's not great long term, but the roster for next year is sufficiently stacked that even a sub-par coach should make a sweet 16 run.

So if we squeak in this year, keep him. If we squeak in this year AND next year - give him the boot then.

[T-Bone]

Final Four + Daily delivery of Arbynator, Potato Cakes and Jamoca Shake.

[mu_hilltopper]

Barring a complete disaster (no NIT), I see him here 1 more year for financial reasons. MU is already playing a dangerous game by not extending his contract but

Can you explain this?

What dangerous game?  That a Horizon League team might swoop in and take him away?  Or am I missing something.

.. That being said, I also believe Wojo will be MU's coach for 3+ more years.  We'll keep getting to 18ish wins, middle of the BE, bubble city, but we'll have a clean program and Dr. Lovell will leave well enough alone.    Because Arby's.

[TallTitan34]

Barring some unforeseen scandal, Wojo will be the coach next year since they are returning everyone except Heldt and Cam.

[Goose]

1SE
If you think next years squad is stacked, I would keep him. For me, I do not think we are stacked this year, and barring a 4-5 star recruit coming in, we will not be stacked next year. IMO, aside from MH and the Hausers, there are a slew of nice role players. It will take a great coaching job to get the most out of the talent assembled.

[1SE]

1SE
If you think next years squad is stacked, I would keep him. For me, I do not think we are stacked this year, and barring a 4-5 star recruit coming in, we will not be stacked next year. IMO, aside from MH and the Hausers, there are a slew of nice role players. It will take a great coaching job to get the most out of the talent assembled.

I guess "stacked" by MU standards (which mainly means "old"). The kind-of consensus is that this is a talented roster that should be a top-half (if not top quarter) NCAA seed. Next year is basically the same roster but a year older. Presumably expectations for that roster should be at least as high (if not higher)

[wadesworld]

Barring some unforeseen scandal, Wojo will be the coach next year since they are returning everyone except Heldt and Cam.

Tuny.

[MUBurrow]

Regardless of performance this year, I don't really seen any upside to making a change before the end of the 2019-2020 season (unless everyone involved just kind of gives up on it, a la 2013-2014).  Let Wojo see this thing through with the Howard, Sam, Sacar group.  Then, if the whole thing just doesn't pan out, bring someone else in, and be able to show candidates that Marquette gives coaches an entire recruiting cycle before changing directions (I think that's a big deal for MU given its profile, financial commitment, and the schools its competing with for coaches).  The cupboard won't be bare, but I think an incoming coach has an easier time working with a senior class of versatile guys like Elliott and Cain than a team centered around Howard, anyway.

[TallTitan34]

Tuny.

Crap, good catch.  I forgot about him.  Doesn't change my thoughts though. 

[Herman Cain]

Barring a complete disaster (no NIT), I see him here 1 more year for financial reasons. MU is already playing a dangerous game by not extending his contract but Wojo has not earned it. I can't fault the school for taking a wait and see approach.

MU will have to pay out 4 years on Wojo's contract if they fire him. So I don't want to see him fired . I would prefer the scenario where he is hired away by a Power 5 football program looking to revive its basketball fortunes.

I believe if Wojo gets the team into the NCAA this year he will be in the discussion when the annual coaching carousel comes around this spring. His biggest value to another program is his clean image. It may take a couple years though for the right job to open . In the meantime Wojo can keep cranking out performance like he has and his value only goes up.

I do hope a deal comes through from another school this year. As I believe we will lose Stan next year to a head coaching job.

[Pakuni]

Barring a cheating scandal, a Larry Eustachy-like situation or a season with no postseason appearance, Wojo is going to keep his job.