7 years since Hiroshima

[Blackhat]

and the outcome was still obvious to most posters.

[tower912]

Marquette lost to Providence 7 years ago.  Significance?

[rocky_warrior]

Marquette lost to Providence 7 years ago.  Significance?

Juan Anderson had only 5 minutes in that game, 1 missed FGA, and 1 foul.  In a 2 OT game! Buzz was a dolt.

[Uncle Rico]

7 years since people "magically" found out about Buzz's kids wasn't Hiroshima IMO, just bad optics by a phony cowboy who tried to soften the blowback for when he left Marquette

[GoldenWarrior11]

Going into the Providence game, MU was 17-13 (9-7 in BE).  They lost their final three games to Providence (81-80, 2OT), St. John's (91-90, 2OT) and Xavier in the BET 68-65.  Obviously, Buzz was halfway out the door at that point (or at least it was assumed), but had the ball bounced the other way in those three games, MU finishes 19-13 going into the BET, beats X to get to 20-13, and is sitting pretty going into the tournament (X was 2nd to last team in, with NC State being the last team in at 21-13.

What might have been.

[brewcity77]

Going into the Providence game, MU was 17-13 (9-7 in BE).  They lost their final three games to Providence (81-80, 2OT), St. John's (91-90, 2OT) and Xavier in the BET 68-65.  Obviously, Buzz was halfway out the door at that point (or at least it was assumed), but had the ball bounced the other way in those three games, MU finishes 19-13 going into the BET, beats X to get to 20-13, and is sitting pretty going into the tournament (X was 2nd to last team in, with NC State being the last team in at 21-13.

What might have been.

That team also had the close loss at ASU & OT losses to Butler and Nova earlier in the year. A lot of coin flip games went against them.

[NickelDimer]

"Mailing-it-in" Buzz >>> Wojo. Sad!

[Pakuni]

Wouldn't be the last time Buzz tanked a season that wasn't going well.

[Galway Eagle]

It was the opposite of the 2010 season only on the surface should've been set up so much better

[The Lens]

Never forget that Buzz's rock bottom was 9-9 in conference.

[Uncle Rico]

Never forget that Buzz's rock bottom was 9-9 in conference.

And then he quit and high tailed it out off town

[Viper]

And then he quit and high tailed it out off town

considering MU's AD at the time, not sure I blame him.

[Pakuni]

considering MU's AD at the time, not sure I blame him.

You have a problem with Bill Cords?

[Uncle Rico]

considering MU's AD at the time, not sure I blame him.

The phony cowboy is a vagabond and isn't going to be a guy that stays anywhere for a long time.  He's a builder.  Having expectations isn't where he succeeds.

[panda]

The phony cowboy is a vagabond and isn't going to be a guy that stays anywhere for a long time.  He's a builder.  Having expectations isn't where he succeeds.

This is true of the majority of D1 coaches. We call Marquette a stepping stone job, but that's true of most schools. Successful coaches get hired away. 

[Uncle Rico]

This is true of the majority of D1 coaches. We call Marquette a stepping stone job, but that's true of most schools. Successful coaches get hired away.

Buzz is simply a guy that thrives as the underdog or perceived underdog.  That's who he is.  He also can't handle any form of criticism and takes it as a slight.  That's not a fault per se, it's part of what makes him successful and so competitive.  He's not a guy that can be successful at a Kentucky or Indiana or UNC or UCLA.  He'd burn out fast.

It's no surprise that once he had real expectations at Marquette, his team struggled.  He learned this and that's why as soon as Virginia Tech reached their apex under him, he bolted.  I don't believe he'll be long term at A&M despite being "home."  Something will "drive" him away at some point.

[MUfan12]

Buzz's talents, when it comes to coaching, are best suited on an NBA bench. He'd make a great assistant coach. Data driven, loves scouting, good tactically. But I think he enjoys the "father figure" role in college too much to jump.

[The Sultan]

You have a problem with Bill Cords?

Right.  Both the President and Athletic Director he didn't get along with were gone.  He had complete job security.

[panda]

Buzz is simply a guy that thrives as the underdog or perceived underdog.  That's who he is.  He also can't handle any form of criticism and takes it as a slight.  That's not a fault per se, it's part of what makes him successful and so competitive.  He's not a guy that can be successful at a Kentucky or Indiana or UNC or UCLA.  He'd burn out fast.

It's no surprise that once he had real expectations at Marquette, his team struggled.  He learned this and that's why as soon as Virginia Tech reached their apex under him, he bolted.  I don't believe he'll be long term at A&M despite being "home."  Something will "drive" him away at some point.

MU had lofty expectations for the 2011/12 season and 2012/13 season and he delivered both seasons. Buzz left because of differences with the administration, not because he was scared of lofty expectations.

Buzz left Va Tech after their most successful stretch in the history of their program because he wanted to go home, TAMU PAID him and VA Tech is VA Tech.

Your narrative is totally wrong and very biased.

[wadesworld]

Buzz's talents, when it comes to coaching, are best suited on an NBA bench. He'd make a great assistant coach. Data driven, loves scouting, good tactically. But I think he enjoys the "father figure" role in college too much to jump.

Imagine "Life Lessons" with NBA players.  "I'm gonna tip the bottle over.  And some sand is gonna spill out.  And then you're going to set it upright and I'm gonna tip the bottle over.  And some more sand is gonna spill out."

[Pakuni]

Buzz left because of differences with the administration, not because he was scared of lofty expectations.

This is nonsense. To whatever degree there was a civil war within the administration, Buzz won it. His nemeses, i.e. Scott Pilarz and Larry Williams, had been ousted and Buzz again was king of the castle. He high-tailed it out of town anyhow at the first opportunity.

[panda]

This is nonsense. To whatever degree there was a civil war within the administration, Buzz won it. His nemeses, i.e. Scott Pilarz and Larry Williams, had been ousted and Buzz again was king of the castle. He high-tailed it out of town anyhow at the first opportunity.

Buzz was afraid of failure so he left for Virginia Tech? Not buying it.

[Galway Eagle]

Buzz was afraid of failure so he left for Virginia Tech? Not buying it.

Don't know about afraid of failure but he claimed he did a analysis on the likelihood to meet or exceed his prior success and came to the conclusion that he wouldn't meet the new high expectations and that non football schools don't go to Final Fours. Of course since the Wichita St, Gonzaga, Loyola and Villanova have said otherwise.

So maybe he wasn't afraid of failure so much as looking for reasons to talk himself into a rational reason to leave.

[Uncle Rico]

MU had lofty expectations for the 2011/12 season and 2012/13 season and he delivered both seasons. Buzz left because of differences with the administration, not because he was scared of lofty expectations.

Buzz left Va Tech after their most successful stretch in the history of their program because he wanted to go home, TAMU PAID him and VA Tech is VA Tech.

Your narrative is totally wrong and very biased.

They were still the underdogs in the old Big East hierarchy and once they became/supposed alphas, he bolted.  You need to take a long look at the man, what he's said and done.

Why do you think he went on his media parade about Buzz's Kids when he left Marquette?  Good press in case he got bad press.  He played a con on Marquette fans and the media so when he left, you couldn't criticize him off a press tour like that.  He is very calculated in everything he does despite what he wants you to think.  Who do you think was leaking his interest in all those job openings the year before he left?

[shoothoops]

This is nonsense. To whatever degree there was a civil war within the administration, Buzz won it. His nemeses, i.e. Scott Pilarz and Larry Williams, had been ousted and Buzz again was king of the castle. He high-tailed it out of town anyhow at the first opportunity.

Some coaches don't have to go through the L Williams/Pilarz situations. Buzz' experience at MU, and decisions could have been different if some of the above experiences were better. It's a bit too simplistic to say Buzz won the battle with the school AD and school President, without also saying having to go through those experiences can affect one's future decisions. There were plenty of factors, and those bad experiences count too.