Tom Crean in 1999 or Buzz Williams in 2008

[The Lens]

Part of my hesitancy in getting excited about Buzz is I don't think he's as good a candidate as TC was in 1999.  Back then MSU was just about to peak as the premier program (or Duke), Tom was the assoc head coach who was there, left and went to two other spots and then came back.  He was instrumental in recruiting Final Four talent and building the MSU program.

I don't think Buzz's resume is anywhere near TC's.

IMO if we're goig to go the assistant coach route, there are programs like UCLA, Florida, Ohio State etc to emulate and steal from.

In essense, why are we know settling for a candiate with a less impressive resume than our 1999 hire (when we had no juice as a program)?

[romey]

great point.  What was the attraction at MU in '99 that we don't have now?

[MUSF]

Part of my hesitancy in getting excited about Buzz is I don't think he's as good a candidate as TC was in 1999.  Back then MSU was just about to peak as the premier program (or Duke), Tom was the assoc head coach who was there, left and went to two other spots and then came back.  He was instrumental in recruiting Final Four talent and building the MSU program.

I don't think Buzz's resume is anywhere near TC's.

IMO if we're goig to go the assistant coach route, there are programs like UCLA, Florida, Ohio State etc to emulate and steal from.

In essense, why are we know settling for a candiate with a less impressive resume than our 1999 hire (when we had no juice as a program)?

You have a point but MU is not the same program it was in 1999. I don't think there was any significant desire for continuity in the MU program in '99. If we had just finished a 25 win season and potentially returning 4 starters with a chance to win a Big East title, we probably wouldn't have fired the coach and we definitely would want to sustain our positive momentum.

Out of context, you are absolutely right. I just think you are overlooking some obvious differences between the 2 scenarios. For the record, I am not a huge fan of hiring Buzz now but I would understand the move and I would love to retain him as an assistant.

[esotericmindguy]

Part of my hesitancy in getting excited about Buzz is I don't think he's as good a candidate as TC was in 1999.  Back then MSU was just about to peak as the premier program (or Duke), Tom was the assoc head coach who was there, left and went to two other spots and then came back.  He was instrumental in recruiting Final Four talent and building the MSU program.

I don't think Buzz's resume is anywhere near TC's.

IMO if we're goig to go the assistant coach route, there are programs like UCLA, Florida, Ohio State etc to emulate and steal from.

In essense, why are we know settling for a candiate with a less impressive resume than our 1999 hire (when we had no juice as a program)?

In all fairness, Buzz has only been at MU 1 year so I don't see how you can compare.  Also, I believe Buzz was responsible for recruiting the A&M team that went to the final four 3-4 years back.  He also was the only coach in the Mountain West conference to recruit a top 20 class.  In the one year at Marquette he supposedly responsible for landing both Erik Williams, O'Tule, Fulce, and Taylor.....I'd say he has a great resume, just not as much tenure in a solid program as Crean circa 99'. 

Seriously, coaching is coaching....its more about inspiring players and getting them to battle for you game in and game out.  And with the kind of talent he recruits and their apparent loyalty to his style, I don't have any worries.

[Norm]

when did Texas A&M get to the Final Four?

[The Lens]

when did Texas A&M get to the Final Four?

The Buzz people are out of control.

A&M made the Sweet 16 when Buzz was at UNO on the backs of some of Buzz's players but mostly due to Acie Law who was recruited by Melvin Watkins.

In Buzz's two seasons at A&M they went to the NIT Quarters (which was impressive b/c the year before they were 0 for the Big 12) and then the NCAA 2nd Round (or as TC calls it, the holy land).

[esotericmindguy]

when did Texas A&M get to the Final Four?

The Buzz people are out of control.

A&M made the Sweet 16 when Buzz was at UNO on the backs of some of Buzz's players but mostly due to Acie Law who was recruited by Melvin Watkins.

In Buzz's two seasons at A&M they went to the NIT Quarters (which was impressive b/c the year before they were 0 for the Big 12) and then the NCAA 2nd Round (or as TC calls it, the holy land).

Was going off the top of my head sorry, but I think out of control may be a bit over the top.  The guy is a solid choice, I think most people on this board agree that the man can recruit....that is the most important aspect of college basketball.

[MUinCO]

when did Texas A&M get to the Final Four?

The Buzz people are out of control.

A&M made the Sweet 16 when Buzz was at UNO on the backs of some of Buzz's players but mostly due to Acie Law who was recruited by Melvin Watkins.

In Buzz's two seasons at A&M they went to the NIT Quarters (which was impressive b/c the year before they were 0 for the Big 12) and then the NCAA 2nd Round (or as TC calls it, the holy land).

Was going off the top of my head sorry, but I think out of control may be a bit over the top.  The guy is a solid choice, I think most people on this board agree that the man can recruit....that is the most important aspect of college basketball.

No I would say making the assertion that Buzz is a "solid choice" is definitely out of control and just plain ridiculous. 

35 years old, he's been an average to above average recruiter, he had one dismal year as a HC at a dismal program with dismal results.  He has had only one year at MU and the incomming recruiting class that he (and TC) put together not only did not turn any heads, it's about to partially fall apart regardless if he's named HC or not.

Maybe he's the second comming in a few years...let him get some actual coaching experience on someone else's dime at a mid-major before comming to MU.  I'm not diluded to the point that I think MU is going to compete for the best and top coaching jobs in the country, but we should - at the very least - be able to do better than a young assistant that has done very little to prove he can even come close to doing the job well.

Buzz is not qualified for this job...period.  Don't believe me...look at his friggn resume!

[esotericmindguy]

I just don't see how winning 20 games in the Horizon League makes you more qualified. 

[MUinCO]

Even, ahem, the head coach at some gold-domed school now knows there is a big difference between a lifetime at deputy dog and being the top banana.

Buzz doesn't even have 20 wins at the Crean's monthly checkers tournament night.  Maybe he has a bingo record we don't know about...