It is not that I don't like Buzz....

[denverMU]

hell, I don't know Buzz.  He could be great, we will have to wait and see.  I have 2 issues.  First, recruiting, yes I know that was his main job, but as can be seen with T Taylor, players knew Crean and were coming to play for him.  It is going to take 2-4 years for Buzz to make a Name for himself in order to attract top quality, BEAST talent.  Second, he is young, so in 4-5 years he does a great job and leaves to replace Crean at Indiana.  I'm sick of MU highering young coaches to be a stepping stone for their careers.  I think it would have been in MU's best interest to hire a more established coach, with more name recognition (to keep and get recruits) and make this his home until retirement.  All this said I will still be cheering for MU!!!

[leglegle]

I think we fancied ourselves too much...MU is not a destination program...that is the bottome line.

Who is an established coach that would end his career at MU?

[denverMU]

Bob McKillop!!!

[ecompt]

Maybe Packer was right. In coach's eyes we (and most Catholic schools) are a steppingstone. That said, I can't believe the vitriol being directed at this guy. We're automatically assuming he's going to fall flat on his face and we'll be back in the Dukiet era, except on a much larger scale. I do resent the fact that MU apperantly listened to Crean's recommendation (I have visions of Bill Parcells recommending Ray Handley to the Giants' brass in 1990), but I will support the guy until he shows he cannot do the job.  

[StillAWarrior]

I think we fancied ourselves too much...MU is not a destination program...that is the bottome line.

Unfortunately, this is the fundamental issue.  When Crean left, my first thought was that now we'd find out how far we've really come as a "program."  Here's our answer.  Like the original post, it's not that I don't like Buzz -- I don't know too much about him.  But, assuming that our administration is not utterly incompetent (have at it, boys, I know that many of you are unwilling to make that assumption), Marquette isn't in a place where we can attract the type of coach that we all wanted.  Although it's hard to know for sure who we talked to, it would seem that Miller, Bennett and Grant weren't willing to leave where they are for Marquette -- even for a lot of cash.  Given that cold reality, I'm not willing to fault the administration for hiring Buzz (at least yet).  Maybe they've found the proverbial diamond in the rough.  Just because others weren't beating down his door doesn't mean that he's not a great hire.  He might be the greatest coach for Marquette since Al.  Or, he might be the worst.  At this point, all we can do is wait and see.

[leglegle]

Bob McKillop?  What did he do?  He rode a hot shooter in the tournament.  Now, don't get me wrong I loved the Davidson victory over Bucky.  What is he going to bring to the program...Stephen Curry ain't walking through that door.

[denverMU]

Your an idiot.  He is at a school of 1700.  First of all he got Curry to go to school there.  He's won his conference title,been coach of the year and gone to the NCAA multiple times.  He has New york connections and is well respected in the coaching community.  He has definitely got a better head coaching record than 14-17.  As for "riding a hot shooter" that is just stupid, I guess Phil Jackson just rode a hot shooter (MJ) to all his titles.

[rocky_warrior]

First of all he got Curry to go to school there. 

Well, yes.  But you're talking about this Stephen Curry:
http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=8&c=1&nid=1159193

A 3-star prospect (not bad) that was only recruited by Davidson, Virginia Commonwealth, and VA Tech.  When Tech didn't made him an offer, he fell into the other two choices.  He decided on the school 20 miles from his home (Charlotte, NC).

Nothing against McKillop - I think he's a decent coach.  But he did hit a recruiting jackpot, and rode it to the tournament.

[Ready2Fly]

First of all he got Curry to go to school there. 

Well, yes.  But you're talking about this Stephen Curry:
http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=8&c=1&nid=1159193

A 3-star prospect (not bad) that was only recruited by Davidson, Virginia Commonwealth, and VA Tech.  When Tech didn't made him an offer, he fell into the other two choices.  He decided on the school 20 miles from his home (Charlotte, NC).

Nothing against McKillop - I think he's a decent coach.  But he did hit a recruiting jackpot, and rode it to the tournament.

He also signed the NCAA assists leader, from Barrington, IL.