The next season conundrum

[1SE]

Wojo will be back next season and therein lies a conundrum.

How do we reconcile wanting Wojo gone with wanting Marqueete to win? The more Wojo wins next year, the more likely we keep him around.

A scenario: next year Wojo eeks out  .500 BE season and makes it to Dayton, where he loses.

I think that would be a better season finish than most of us predict, incl the Board who could grasp on to "progress" and this year being a COVID year, and then give Wojo an extension (assuming they don't this year). We are then stuck in mediocrity hell. 1st round NCAA exits are would just good enough to keep Wohljo around forever.

Better that we finish 10th so there is no question about starting over?

[Silent Verbal]

I think the more Wojo wins next year, the more likely it is he jumps ship to another job.  I can't see Carton and Garcia staying for 2022-23.  Wojo will have nothing left, and he'll need to jump ship if he does well.  Whether he wins or loses, he'll only be our coach for one more season.

I want him gone now, though.

[panda]

I think the more Wojo wins next year, the more likely it is he jumps ship to another job.  I can't see Carton and Garcia staying for 2022-23.  Wojo will have nothing left, and he'll need to jump ship if he does well.  Whether he wins or loses, he'll only be our coach for one more season.

I want him gone now, though.

Nail on the head and why this is the biggest problem with him. He has to know the fan base doesn't want him here. He's a lame duck coach going into next year and it's just another year of the program barely treading water. He's fired or he takes a job elsewhere.

I don't think he'll come close to achieving results that would appease all parties involved at MU next season.

[Warrior of Law]

I'd love to see MU win next year, be a relevant program, and have Wojo be courted by someone else. Perfect scenario.

The anti-Wojo crowd is now at the Dukiet level, and likely worse. Far worse than Deane level; Deane actually had supporters.  Wojo has no support outside of the person(s) that matter.

[ATL MU Warrior]

I'd love to see MU win next year, be a relevant program, and have Wojo be courted by someone else. Perfect scenario.

The anti-Wojo crowd is now at the Dukiet level, and likely worse. Far worse than Deane level; Deane actually had supporters.  Wojo has no support outside of the person(s) that matter.

So you would like for us to finally have a successful season only to have to start all over again with a new guy?  Makes sense.

[tower912]

There is no conundrum.  I always want the team to do well.

[TedBaxter]

I'd love to see MU win next year, be a relevant program, and have Wojo be courted by someone else. Perfect scenario.

The anti-Wojo crowd is now at the Dukiet level, and likely worse. Far worse than Deane level; Deane actually had supporters.  Wojo has no support outside of the person(s) that matter.

The only reason you think its at the Dukiet level is because its social media time now and people are more outspoken. 

I don't care who's coaching at Marquette.  I will support whoever is in charge unless they are breaking rules. 

[brewcity77]

I reconcile it the same way I did this year. I want Marquette to win. And I would love for Wojo to still prove me wrong. If he finishes near the top of the Big East, makes the tourney, I'll be cheering for the team all the way.

I think the kids are a big part of it too. Last year, I desperately wanted Markus to go out on a high, even as I saw more and more clearly the flaws in the Wojo system. This year, I wanted to see Theo, Jamal, and Koby have a successful season.

Just like this year, I couldn't cheer against the team even when I knew fire losing was the only thing that would get Wojo expelled.

[BallBoy]

There is no conundrum. MU is a program not a coach. I just want a winning team and don't care who the coach is. If MU does well and extends Wojo and he does well moving forward, great.

I won't root for or against MU based on a coach's job status.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Just like this year, I couldn't cheer against the team even when I knew fire losing was the only thing that would get Wojo expelled.

Even worse, it turns out that wasn't important in the decision.

[RushmoreAcademy]

There is no conundrum.  I always want the team to do well.

This is it. Thread closed.

[Boozemon Barro]

I've moved on from wanting wojo fired. That's like needing air to breathe, it can be assumed that is what everyone wants. We should probably turn our attention to the jackasses who got us in a situation where we can't afford to fire an underperforming coach. The board of trustees, the university executives. They've guided the whole university into the toilet, not just the basketball program.

[Mu8891]

I agree ....

It's time to put some pressure on the
BOT.  They have sat by while Lovell has the entire university on a downward trajectory.

I know two BOT members and will be making calls. 

[The Sultan]

I know two BOT members and will be making calls. 

Fight the good fight.

[cheebs09]

I agree ....

It's time to put some pressure on the
BOT.  They have sat by while Lovell has the entire university on a downward trajectory.

I know two BOT members and will be making calls.

Scoop letter writing campaign?

[Big Papi]

I want to win and if we win win Wojo that would be great.  The reason we want Wojo gone is that it is obvious that we are not going to finish in the top half of the league next year.

How about we support the women's program with money and attendance.  Show everyone that success matters and we fully support a program that succeeds.   Top 3 finishes and NCAA tourny berths is the expectation and the men's program has failed badly on that front over Wojo's tenure.

[MU82]

Agree with those who say it's no conundrum at all.

I will root for us to win every single game next season, and for us to have a great season overall. I believe Wojo should have been fired, but I am hoping he proves me and everybody else wrong next season.

All "conundrums" should be solved this easily.

We Are Marquette!

[#UnleashSean]

I want Wojo gone, I believe he's a terrible coach.

However, if Marquette were to right the ship next year and make a deep ncaa run, I'll be rooting for wojo to succeed.

However, I don't think that will happen.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Assuming Norlander is correct, which at this moment I believe he is but things can change, the best thing for the program would be for Wojo to improve as a coach, prove us all wrong, and lead us to a high seed in the NCAAT accompanied by a few wins in March, and for him to stay and continue on that path. I don't think it is the most realistic, but it is the best. I'll hope for the best until the best becomes impossible.

[Galway Eagle]

Assuming Norlander is correct, which at this moment I believe he is but things can change, the best thing for the program would be for Wojo to improve as a coach, prove us all wrong, and lead us to a high seed in the NCAAT accompanied by a few wins in March, and for him to stay and continue on that path. I don't think it is the most realistic, but it is the best. I'll hope for the best until the best becomes impossible.

This. Maybe he performs better with a fire under his ass and that's what gets him over the hump.

One thing is for sure and that's that Wojo will either be a man on a mission over the next year or he'll be completely checked out. I'd prefer the former but if it's the later then he's gone anyways.

[panda]

This. Maybe he performs better with a fire under his ass and that's what gets him over the hump.

One thing is for sure and that's that Wojo will either be a man on a mission over the next year or he'll be completely checked out. I'd prefer the former but if it's the later then he's gone anyways.

If he stays, he needs to accept his failures and make changes. New assistants and stronger emphasis on protecting the ball (not popping balloons).

It's going to be ugly next year and he needs to sell himself and the program to disgruntled fans. Same Wojo won't work.

[Scoop Snoop]

Assuming Norlander is correct, which at this moment I believe he is but things can change, the best thing for the program would be for Wojo to improve as a coach, prove us all wrong, and lead us to a high seed in the NCAAT accompanied by a few wins in March, and for him to stay and continue on that path. I don't think it is the most realistic, but it is the best. I'll hope for the best until the best becomes impossible.

First of all, thank you for the highlighted. Stating unequivocally that Wojo  will be back without proof or solid evidence is contrary to our Marquette educations.I agree that we should hope to be proven wrong. Yes, its not realistic but its all we have.

Another poor performance will not help Wojo find a new job. It will, however, present Marquette in a very bad position when trying to attract a good prospective coach and players.   

[GoldenWarrior11]

Unfortunately, the school has chosen to be between a rock and a hard place. 

In choosing to keep Wojo, between Hausergate, the lack of any postseason success, year-end losing stretches, the blowout losses and the inability to consistently finish in the top-half of the conference, the school is choosing to ignore the failures because of either: the financial cost in making a move and/or the misplaced self-righteousness of ignorantly choosing to keep an optically successful head coach, without the actual results to back it up.  If/when Wojo returns next year, fan support will go down.  Ticket sales will go down.  Optimism is already down.  For the fans that still choose to attend games, there will undoubtedly be booing of our own school/team if/when it underachieves and loses. 

The problem is that even if Marquette miraculously does well next year, the losses we will experience will be highlighted more than the wins we get - due to the past experiences of this Wojo-era.  If we make a run in the tournament, it will be branded as the exception, not the rule, of his run as head coach.  In this regard, there is no pathway towards sustainable success under Wojo (however right or wrong that is).  Wojo has already established in the eyes of many (not just MU fans) that he is not a consistently successful head coach. 

Thus, no matter what, our problems are not easy solvable next year.  And the problems are rooted not just in the coaching of the program, but the oversight and direction set forth by the school.  Very unfortunate. 

[panda]

First of all, thank you for the highlighted. Stating unequivocally that Wojo  will be back without proof or solid evidence is contrary to our Marquette educations.I agree that we should hope to be proven wrong. Yes, its not realistic but its all we have.

Another poor performance will not help Wojo find a new job. It will, however, present Marquette in a very bad position when trying to attract a good prospective coach and players.   

FWIW

https://twitter.com/CoachingChanges/status/1370377282867580930?s=20

[jesmu84]

FWIW

https://twitter.com/CoachingChanges/status/1370377282867580930?s=20

I don't understand the relevance?