Sound the alarm!

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

The more I think about this hiring and the more I read about the process, the more flabbergasted I become. I honestly believe it could very well go down as a colossal mistake even greater than that of the Golden Eagles fiasco of 1994.

Seriously, with Chris Lowery reported to be a “backup” choice to Williams (!), and reports that McCaffrey, Bruce Weber and Jim Les all expressed interest and with Tranghese, Cords and former players on our committee, how the HELL did we end up with Buzz Williams?

There is something wrong!

Did Tom Crean teach us nothing about appearances? Did we honestly choose a coach who chooses to shave his head bald and whose greatest professional reference is a skirt-chasing Texan named “Billy” over stealing away the Milwaukee-raised head coach of the University of Illinois?!?

Did we really offer Tony Bennett up to $2 million to be our head coach and then give him only a day to think it over before the rush to get Buzz Williams’ signature?

There is no conceivable way that all the individuals mentioned as being involved in this search could be on board with this hire.

Consider that we hired a coach that schools like Dayton, Fordham, St. Louis, St. Bonaventure, Wright St., UIC or even Loyola would not even consider and then tell me it’s a good hire. In fact, other than Marquette, I’m not sure what school would have hired this guy!

Consider that our head coach probably isn’t qualified to sit next to Bo Ryan as his assistant, much less compete with him for recruits and tell me it’s a good hire.

Consider our new head man is scheduled to fly to New Jersey to speak with Bob Hurley about the LOI one of his players signed and consider that Hurley’s housekeeper probably has more experience with players and tell me it’s a good hire.

Hurley should tell Williams to save the airfare.

Not only should Williams not have been hired, not only should he not have been on the “short list,” but he shouldn’t have been considered. As soon as he threatened to leave for Indiana, we should have said, “Bye-bye!”

Fr. Wild, our AD and everybody involved in this decision have significantly diminished our program by settling for a guy that – sadly – was seriously asked yesterday if he had to buy a new suit for the press conference.

Not only will this not work. It can’t work.

[madtownwarrior]

we get it - YOU DON'T LIKE THE HIRE.

How about go away and come back in a year?   We can take more of criticism in a year if it still is a bad hire then.

Really, go away...

[Marquette_g]

+1

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

It's not just that I don't like the hire...it's that it's impossible to defend!! There is zero justification for it. None.

[ATWizJr]

like the boy who cried "wolf" your continued negative, redundant outbursts are becoming irrelevant. I think you've made your point.  why not move on?  How much longer until you are done venting?

[mugrad99]

Offense?
Defense?
Recruiting?

I think most people would agree that recruiting is the biggest part of coaching.  Greats like Knight, Coach K, etc have bad years when they don't have the talent. Are you telling me Oliver Purnell is a better X's and O's guy than Coach K?

Buzz is known as a top notch recruiter. He can't be worse than our previous coach in adjusting during a game or in the last 2 minutes of a game.  I am sure we will land more prized Wisconsin recruits now that the old guy is gone. The key is landing 2 good assistants: 1 to recruit Chicago, and one to help with the actual game prep.

[4everwarriors]

If Crean hadn't pushed so hard for Buzz and pushed to all the right people i.e. major donors, we probably would still be going thru the hiring process.

[nyg]

Aw shucks PRN, Coach Hurley and those east coast boys will love the Buzz. Tell them to come down here you all. 

[jaygall31]

i'm excited for this team to get on the floor with multiple chips on their shoulders

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

The more I think about this hiring and the more I read about the process, the more flabbergasted I become. I honestly believe it could very well go down as a colossal mistake even greater than that of the Golden Eagles fiasco of 1994.

Did Tom Crean teach us nothing about appearances? Did we honestly choose a coach who chooses to shave his head bald and whose greatest professional reference is a skirt-chasing Texan named “Billy” over stealing away the Milwaukee-raised head coach of the University of Illinois?!?


Consider that our head coach probably isn’t qualified to sit next to Bo Ryan as his assistant, much less compete with him for recruits and tell me it’s a good hire.

Consider our new head man is scheduled to fly to New Jersey to speak with Bob Hurley about the LOI one of his players signed and consider that Hurley’s housekeeper probably has more experience with players and tell me it’s a good hire.

Not only should Williams not have been hired, not only should he not have been on the “short list,” but he shouldn’t have been

Please tell me how this isn't attacking the new coach?

Seriously dude.

You attack Crean all day everyday.

Now, before Buzz even coaches a game you are all over him.

Give it a rest. Honestly.

I can appreciate your passion... but honest, settle down... or fire up and really do something about it.

Gather up all of the people that are against Buzz, and start protesting at MU.

Starting 50 different threads on an internet message board is not going to change a thing.

[mu03eng]

I've tried to stay above the fray and avoid the board because it has been ridiculously negative however I can't anymore.

This is how you defend the hiring and its very easily done if you aren't biased.

Which hire is easier to defend Weber/Lowery/Les or Williams?  You say anyone than Williams?  Well shouldn't that tell you that Cottingham/Cords/BoT really believe in Buzz?  The safe hire for them was a "name" coach, people might have argued over the named coach but not nearly as much as we do have will Williams.  That combined with the fact that we supposedly paid 300K from UNO to get Buzz here as an assistant means to me there are a lot of confident, knowledgeable people who think this is a good idea.

Also, the current players seem to love Buzz.  In fact a good friend of mine who knows basketball very well, was at the Big East Tourney and came away very impressed with Buzz and how he handled the players on the bench.

In the end I will freely admit this is a risky hire, however I view it as also having the potential for very high reward.  Lets see what he can do next year.  If he can take this team deep in the tourney and recruit a very good incoming class for 2009-2010 than I think we will know its a very defensible hire.

[BrewCity83]

The Homer said yesterday that the MU people don't think that Buzz will be good...but that he will be special.  You're right mu03eng, it would have been much easier for Cottingham and Wild to make a safe pick with someone more established like Weber, but they apparently were so impressed by Buzz's intangibles that they went out on a limb to pick him.

That's really encouraging to me.

[Henry Sugar]

I still think it was a bad hire.  My opinion is that the administration didn't define what they wanted.  After they were rejected with their first set of choices, then they talked themselves into a decision on Buzz.

That said, what's done is done.  I'm not going to beat on Buzz nor blindly support him.  Basically, I'll hold off on my opinion until after the following:

• Coaching Staff
• Current Roster / Recruit Retention
• 2008 / 2009 Recruiting

Prove you can handle the job, Buzz

[Norm]

Wait, MU paid UNO the 300K for Williams' buyout clause? I thought Williams was suing to not have to pay the buyout?

[mr.MUskie]

No, MU paid Wms $300k salary to come asst. coach at MU.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I still think it was a bad hire.  My opinion is that the administration didn't define what they wanted.  After they were rejected with their first set of choices, then they talked themselves into a decision on Buzz.

That said, what's done is done.  I'm not going to beat on Buzz nor blindly support him.  Basically, I'll hold off on my opinion until after the following:

• Coaching Staff
• Current Roster / Recruit Retention
• 2008 / 2009 Recruiting

Prove you can handle the job, Buzz

+1

I don't really know enough about Buzz to critique him.

Let's see what happens.

[Norm]

I thought Buzz' salary last year was $200,000, up from the $150,000 he was making at New Orleans. The buyout clause was $300,000.

[MUshrooms]

None of you know exactly what happened during the hiring process.  All of your "opinions" on what happened during the interview process mean absolutely nothing.  Do you really believe that you are more qualified to hire a new coach than the athletic department? Give it a rest, wait until the season starts to judge Williams. 

[DAtruth]

i agree with prn on this 1..lowery as a 2 option?..good recruiters are generally aided by high profile coaches..like it or not tc was exactly that after dwade..when buzz was recruiting t taylor he was selling mu facilities, mu history, mu players, tc and tc's "system"..now buzz has to sell buzz and no1 can be 100% confident when they say he will b extremly successful {not much of a record to go on} bob knight relied on pat knight and mike davis as recruiters towards the end of his iu job{above average recruiters}..i dont see either 1 of them as great head coaches..

the other thing is how do we get over the "stepping stone job" label..i think buzz either stinks it up and is fired in 4 yrs or less..or hes great and leaves within 8 years for more money at a higher profile uni.. either way he isn't a "lifer" and we start all over.. PONY UP AND BRING SOME $$$..with a rediculous buy-out, or we will be having a coach search every 8-10 yrs regardless..with that said i hope buzz proves me wrong on every issue..now lets get to work..W's are all that matters..    GOOD LUCK BUZZ

[MU06CU10]

Good to see that PRN, aka Gordito Mojito, is taking his shtick nationally.

http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/04/08/marquette-chooses-a-quiet-buzz/

I'm assuming that is him due to the anger regarding Buzz, Crean, and the mascot change, but if not, it looks like PRN has a new friend.

[ToddPacker]

None of you know exactly what happened during the hiring process.  All of your "opinions" on what happened during the interview process mean absolutely nothing.  Do you really believe that you are more qualified to hire a new coach than the athletic department? Give it a rest, wait until the season starts to judge Williams. 

Bingo!  Why do all of these knuckleheads think that they know better how to hire a coach?  If they are so knowledgeable, why not make a career shift?  They could consult schools with job openings so that they don't make the mistake of making an indefensible hire. 

Buzz has the recruiting chops to be a very, very good coach at MU, if his fan base does not march to the front door of his house with torches in hand first. 

Anyone want to guess how many more threads PRN and his lackeys are going to open saying the exact same thing ad nauseum?  The over/under has to be around 50 or 60.

[79Warrior]

If Crean hadn't pushed so hard for Buzz and pushed to all the right people i.e. major donors, we probably would still be going thru the hiring process.

Yes. You know with certainty Crean was behind the hiring. Get a life.

[Pakuni]

That said, what's done is done.  I'm not going to beat on Buzz nor blindly support him.  Basically, I'll hold off on my opinion until after the following:

• Coaching Staff
• Current Roster / Recruit Retention
• 2008 / 2009 Recruiting

Prove you can handle the job, Buzz

You may want to add some trivial things like "wins and losses, player development and whether the team plays to its potential" to that list.

As to how to defend this hiring, there actually are many ways. Just as there are many ways to criticize it. But since we've seen plenty of the latter and are asked by PRN about the former, here goes:

- Buzz, unlike a guy like Lowery, has proven himself to be a quality recruiter at the high-major level. That is significant because
    a) recruiting is huge at a place like Marquette. Unlike some places, the school   doesn't recruit itself
    b) plenty of guys with success at the mid-major level flopped at the next level because they couldn't land the players they needed (see: Deane, Mike)

- Buzz provides continuity and MU's best hope to avoid a complete roster implosion. Regardless of who was selected, we were going to see some defections. But keeping Williams on board likely softens the blow and keeps some kids/recruits here who otherwise would have gone elsewhere.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

None of you know exactly what happened during the hiring process.  All of your "opinions" on what happened during the interview process mean absolutely nothing.  Do you really believe that you are more qualified to hire a new coach than the athletic department? Give it a rest, wait until the season starts to judge Williams. 

Bingo!  Why do all of these knuckleheads think that they know better how to hire a coach?  If they are so knowledgeable, why not make a career shift?  They could consult schools with job openings so that they don't make the mistake of making an indefensible hire. 

Because it's easy to sit on the sidelines and just critique everything.

If Buzz wins, everybody will be elated... but if he loses... you will get a ton of "I told you so's"

[only a warrior]

and that my friend is why Head Coaches get paid the big bucks....... to shoulder this b.s.

[Mayor McCheese]

We could have gotten Coach K to come to Marquette and PRN would find something bad about him...

he is too short
hasn't had success in the tournament the past 2 years
Too soft spoken
Too old school, when new school is the new thing
Balding....



honestly, why is shaving your head bald a bad thing?  I know plenty of people that do it, and are quite successful, you lost all hope of me listening to your rant PRN when you threw in that low blow, who cares what his hair style is, he is the man right now, and with a record of 0-0, he hasn't done anything wrong.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

he hasn't done anything wrong.

Incorrect.

He's MU's coach... and he's not Al Mcguire. That makes him wrong.

[Henry Sugar]

That said, what's done is done.  I'm not going to beat on Buzz nor blindly support him.  Basically, I'll hold off on my opinion until after the following:

• Coaching Staff
• Current Roster / Recruit Retention
• 2008 / 2009 Recruiting

Prove you can handle the job, Buzz

You may want to add some trivial things like "wins and losses, player development and whether the team plays to its potential" to that list.

Yes, of course... but those things are all 9-10 months away and the list above is short-term.

[ecompt]

Let's face it, some people here are going to rip this hire even if we go 25-5 next year. Buzz is in a no-win situation with the people who clamored for the school to throw ethics out the window and go after Calipari, Tarkanian, etc.

[TGM3]

As an outsider looking at the situation from afar, it seems to me that the administration floated Buzz's name way too early in the process to have a legit search.  IMO, no self respecting mid-major coach that has proven to be a winner on that level is going to go toe-to-toe in the hiring process with an unproven "head" coach like Buzz that already has the upper hand.  It would look awful for somebody like Lowery or Brownell to really put themselves out there and really go after the Marquette job only to lose out in the end to somebody that doesn't have their resumes.  In the end it doesn't look good to their fan bases or the other ADs around the country that might question the Buzz to Marquette hire.  Like I said, this is just my opinion and I hope Buzz works out for you guys. 





 

[Coobeys Oil Depot]

Let's face it, some people here are going to rip this hire even if we go 25-5 next year. Buzz is in a no-win situation with the people who clamored for the school to throw ethics out the window and go after Calipari, Tarkanian, etc.

I won't rip him next year.

With a working starting line-up back, six of our top seven scorers back, and outstanding recruits in Fulce and Otule there is no reason MU shouldn't win 25 games short of 2 season-ending injuries in December.

[lab_warrior]

Maybe retitle this post "Sound the "Beat the dead horse" alarm? 

[ChicosBailBonds]

If Crean hadn't pushed so hard for Buzz and pushed to all the right people i.e. major donors, we probably would still be going thru the hiring process.

Let me get this straight, the major donors and university that feel such disdain for Crean and feel he was such a jerk also decided to honor Crean's request that Buzz be the hire?

Are we trying to have it both ways again?

I'm scared as hell over this hire, I'm not on the ledge like PRN, but yeah I'm worried.  We could have gotten Buzz next week so I wish MU would have gone harder at coaches that were out there and not made a decision so quickly.  But they didn't and now we hope the powers that be were correct.  But back to your original point, so many people "in the know" say how furious the donors, etc were with Crean and are thrilled he's gone, yet you're saying these same people decided to give Crean one last crack at the goods?  Seems odd don't you think?

[ChicosBailBonds]

I still think it was a bad hire.  My opinion is that the administration didn't define what they wanted.  After they were rejected with their first set of choices, then they talked themselves into a decision on Buzz.

That said, what's done is done.  I'm not going to beat on Buzz nor blindly support him.  Basically, I'll hold off on my opinion until after the following:

• Coaching Staff
• Current Roster / Recruit Retention
• 2008 / 2009 Recruiting

Prove you can handle the job, Buzz

+1....and I hope like hell he proves you and I wrong!!!     Sure wish MU had given it more time, Buzz would be here next week.  We closed this process down very quickl IMO.  But here we are.

[Pakuni]

If Crean hadn't pushed so hard for Buzz and pushed to all the right people i.e. major donors, we probably would still be going thru the hiring process.

Let me get this straight, the major donors and university that feel such disdain for Crean and feel he was such a jerk also decided to honor Crean's request that Buzz be the hire?

Are we trying to have it both ways again?

I'm scared as hell over this hire, I'm not on the ledge like PRN, but yeah I'm worried.  We could have gotten Buzz next week so I wish MU would have gone harder at coaches that were out there and not made a decision so quickly.  But they didn't and now we hope the powers that be were correct.  But back to your original point, so many people "in the know" say how furious the donors, etc were with Crean and are thrilled he's gone, yet you're saying these same people decided to give Crean one last crack at the goods?  Seems odd don't you think?

This is the second time you've mentioned waiting a week before making the hire.

Does this mean you're OK with missing the final contact period before the spring signing period, essentially leaving MU with very little chance of filling any spots on a soon-to-be depleted roster so that they could have "gone harder" with guys who already declined?

I don't see much upside to that. It appears some of those guys, namely Miller and Bennett, were pretty set against leaving.

[ErickJD08]

WEBER?  I told my Illini Alum buddies that Weber was in the talks for MU's new coach and I couldn't see more excited people.  Why hasn't he returned to the Tourney?  He can not recruit.  I take the same stance as alot of people on the board.  He is a really risky hire.  But it could work out well, especially if he is a great recruiter.  I do hope he can hire some assistants to overcome some of his known shortcomings.  IF this hire can keep our roster and recruits together, I will be happy with the hire until something unthinkable happens next season.  

[Coobeys Oil Depot]

If Crean hadn't pushed so hard for Buzz and pushed to all the right people i.e. major donors, we probably would still be going thru the hiring process.

Let me get this straight, the major donors and university that feel such disdain for Crean and feel he was such a jerk also decided to honor Crean's request that Buzz be the hire?

Are we trying to have it both ways again?

I'm scared as hell over this hire, I'm not on the ledge like PRN, but yeah I'm worried.  We could have gotten Buzz next week so I wish MU would have gone harder at coaches that were out there and not made a decision so quickly.  But they didn't and now we hope the powers that be were correct.  But back to your original point, so many people "in the know" say how furious the donors, etc were with Crean and are thrilled he's gone, yet you're saying these same people decided to give Crean one last crack at the goods?  Seems odd don't you think?

This is the second time you've mentioned waiting a week before making the hire.

Does this mean you're OK with missing the final contact period before the spring signing period, essentially leaving MU with very little chance of filling any spots on a soon-to-be depleted roster so that they could have "gone harder" with guys who already declined?

I don't see much upside to that. It appears some of those guys, namely Miller and Bennett, were pretty set against leaving.

Can you provide a list of the major players that Crean was able to lure to Marquette in the spring recruiting period?

[RawdogDX]

Let's face it, some people here are going to rip this hire even if we go 25-5 next year. Buzz is in a no-win situation with the people who clamored for the school to throw ethics out the window and go after Calipari, Tarkanian, etc.

THis is a 'no-win situation' because some idiot on a message board will talk trash if he goes 25-5?  He'll be hailed as a hero by 99% of the fan base, i think calling it a 'no-win' is a huge stretch, he's taking over a big east team that will have 3 seniors and a jr starting all with a lot of talent and big game experience.  He could coast to a 22 win season and if the loses aren't embarising he'd finish the year with a high approval rating as long as he lands a decent recruiting class.

[ChicosBailBonds]

If Crean hadn't pushed so hard for Buzz and pushed to all the right people i.e. major donors, we probably would still be going thru the hiring process.

Let me get this straight, the major donors and university that feel such disdain for Crean and feel he was such a jerk also decided to honor Crean's request that Buzz be the hire?

Are we trying to have it both ways again?

I'm scared as hell over this hire, I'm not on the ledge like PRN, but yeah I'm worried.  We could have gotten Buzz next week so I wish MU would have gone harder at coaches that were out there and not made a decision so quickly.  But they didn't and now we hope the powers that be were correct.  But back to your original point, so many people "in the know" say how furious the donors, etc were with Crean and are thrilled he's gone, yet you're saying these same people decided to give Crean one last crack at the goods?  Seems odd don't you think?

This is the second time you've mentioned waiting a week before making the hire.

Does this mean you're OK with missing the final contact period before the spring signing period, essentially leaving MU with very little chance of filling any spots on a soon-to-be depleted roster so that they could have "gone harder" with guys who already declined?

I don't see much upside to that. It appears some of those guys, namely Miller and Bennett, were pretty set against leaving.

Pakuni, the final contact period for what at this point...scraps?  Yes, I'm ok with that.  Let's also not forget that the period with which you talk reopens only a week later, it's not earthshattering to hit that first date.  What it tells me is Bennett and Miller were options 1, Buzz was 2A. 

I'm not against Buzz, I just think he was available later this week where it appears by Friday or at the latest Saturday, our decision was already made.  Basically we gave it 2 or 3 days which isn't a lot for a position so important.  Is Stanford or OSU going to make a decision by today so they can beat that deadline?  Maybe, but I suspect they are also much better prepared and have a stronger list of candidates in their back pocket then we did.

Let's hope he is "special"....to act as quickly as we did he must be.

[HelixAir6]

WEBER?  I told my Illini Alum buddies that Weber was in the talks for MU's new coach and I couldn't see more excited people.  Why hasn't he returned to the Tourney?  He can not recruit.  I take the same stance as alot of people on the board.  He is a really risky hire.  But it could work out well, especially if he is a great recruiter.  I do hope he can hire some assistants to overcome some of his known shortcomings.  IF this hire can keep our roster and recruits together, I will be happy with the hire until something unthinkable happens next season.  

Not to mention that he only suspended one of his players for a year after he drove drunk into a tree and left his teammate to die on the side of the road.  Also, one of his 2009 recruits was kicked off his high school team for some reason too (something about going off on his coach).  At first i thought Weber would be a good hire if we could get some of his 09 class in here, but then my cousins, Alums of U of I, reminded me of this and said they wouldn't mind seeing Weber go.

[ATWizJr]

Delay the process?  MU had already had contact with it's major targets and they weren't leaving to come here.

but, I do like the title of this thread.  Mods, can you arrange all future posts from PRN to have this title of "Sound The Alarm" so that we can ignore them until our new coach has actually done something for which to be criticized?

[mosarsour]

Thank God we've got a new head coach. Now we can (as I've stated the last few days) move forward. Buzz is our head coach. Deal with it. We've got 4 seniors next year and Lazar is only entering his junior year.  We've got a a good base of players and team leaders. I'm excited for next season regardless of what PRN AKA Debbie Downer has to say. It's a new day for Marquette basketball and I, for one, can't be more thrilled. I'd rather we at least try to move forward then reflect on whowe would have had as coach (mind you, none of them wanted the job).

PRN is

[77fan88warrior]

Did Tom Crean teach us nothing about appearances? Did we honestly choose a coach who chooses to shave his head bald and whose greatest professional reference is a skirt-chasing Texan named “Billy” over stealing away the Milwaukee-raised head coach of the University of Illinois?!?


Consider that our head coach probably isn’t qualified to sit next to Bo Ryan as his assistant, much less compete with him for recruits and tell me it’s a good hire.

Not only will this not work. It can’t work.

I imagine if Buzz had hair like Bo Ryan, his last name was Bennet, and brought down Illinois' program he could fulfill all of PRN's convoluted visions.

[Bob "Big Daddy" Wild]

WEBER?  I told my Illini Alum buddies that Weber was in the talks for MU's new coach and I couldn't see more excited people.  Why hasn't he returned to the Tourney?  He can not recruit.  I take the same stance as alot of people on the board.  He is a really risky hire.  But it could work out well, especially if he is a great recruiter.  I do hope he can hire some assistants to overcome some of his known shortcomings.  IF this hire can keep our roster and recruits together, I will be happy with the hire until something unthinkable happens next season.  

Not to mention that he only suspended one of his players for a year after he drove drunk into a tree and left his teammate to die on the side of the road.  Also, one of his 2009 recruits was kicked off his high school team for some reason too (something about going off on his coach).  At first i thought Weber would be a good hire if we could get some of his 09 class in here, but then my cousins, Alums of U of I, reminded me of this and said they wouldn't mind seeing Weber go.

The Illinois alums who don't like Weber tend to be the ones who only casually pay attention to their basketball program and are overly critical/whiny.  He is an outstanding Xs and Os coach.  Yes his recruiting has been poor IN THE PAST, but is picking up a ton of speed.  His '09 class is very good, his '10 class is outstanding, McCamey is a darn good player (just finished frosh year), and Alex Legion will be very good for them too.  They are going to be loaded in 2 short years.

I think the B10 is going to get very tough in the next few years, and that Illinois will be at or near the top of it.  I had Weber at the top of my list - plus he may have never left for a better job.

Also, we don't know the details on the Jamar Smith 'incident'.  Yes what he did was awful, but I do know that Bruce stuck by him and saved that young man's future.  Sometimes it takes a lot of courage to keep the kid on the team rather than just wash your hands of it and throw him to the wolves.  I did some damn stupid things during my time at MU, the fact that no one got hurt is just as much luck as anything.  I am sure many people on this board can say the same...

[Litehouse]

I hope Buzz succeeds wildly, but I think this is a huge gamble for Cottingham and responsibility for this decision must fall back to him.  If Buzz ends up failing at MU and gets fired, I think Cottingham should also be gone.  Ultimately it's up to them to prove the doubters wrong.

[bma725]

WEBER?  I told my Illini Alum buddies that Weber was in the talks for MU's new coach and I couldn't see more excited people.  Why hasn't he returned to the Tourney?  He can not recruit.  I take the same stance as alot of people on the board.  He is a really risky hire.  But it could work out well, especially if he is a great recruiter.  I do hope he can hire some assistants to overcome some of his known shortcomings.  IF this hire can keep our roster and recruits together, I will be happy with the hire until something unthinkable happens next season.  

Not to mention that he only suspended one of his players for a year after he drove drunk into a tree and left his teammate to die on the side of the road.  Also, one of his 2009 recruits was kicked off his high school team for some reason too (something about going off on his coach).  At first i thought Weber would be a good hire if we could get some of his 09 class in here, but then my cousins, Alums of U of I, reminded me of this and said they wouldn't mind seeing Weber go.

The Illinois alums who don't like Weber tend to be the ones who only casually pay attention to their basketball program and are overly critical/whiny.  He is an outstanding Xs and Os coach.  Yes his recruiting has been poor IN THE PAST, but is picking up a ton of speed.  His '09 class is very good, his '10 class is outstanding, McCamey is a darn good player (just finished frosh year), and Alex Legion will be very good for them too.  They are going to be loaded in 2 short years.

It's not exactly his recruiting that has picked up speed.  The recent success is directly related to U of I hiring Jerrence Howard as an assistant.  Given that Howard is a former Illini player and alum, the odds of him going with Weber if he leaves aren't that good, so you'd be right back to having a good Xs and Os coach who can't recruit a lick.

[passion of da coach]

Yes it helps to have a Jerrance Howard, but the fact is Weber had to make in roads to schools he previously couldn't sniff while at SIU, this is no different for any other coach. In fact, U of I had gone through a Public League lock out following jimmy Collins departure to UIC that wasn't fixed until Bill Self came.  Howard can get the kids interested in looking at Weber's school, but Weber still has to convince the kid his style is a good fit for that recruit. 

I don't ever hear Rod Strickland getting  all the praise for the recruiting on Calipari's staff, same sitaution, so to say Weber can't recruit and Howard is the only reason his 09 and 10 classes are stellar is a joke.

Weber would have been a good fit, good hire.

[HelixAir6]

WEBER?  I told my Illini Alum buddies that Weber was in the talks for MU's new coach and I couldn't see more excited people.  Why hasn't he returned to the Tourney?  He can not recruit.  I take the same stance as alot of people on the board.  He is a really risky hire.  But it could work out well, especially if he is a great recruiter.  I do hope he can hire some assistants to overcome some of his known shortcomings.  IF this hire can keep our roster and recruits together, I will be happy with the hire until something unthinkable happens next season. 

Not to mention that he only suspended one of his players for a year after he drove drunk into a tree and left his teammate to die on the side of the road.  Also, one of his 2009 recruits was kicked off his high school team for some reason too (something about going off on his coach).  At first i thought Weber would be a good hire if we could get some of his 09 class in here, but then my cousins, Alums of U of I, reminded me of this and said they wouldn't mind seeing Weber go.

The Illinois alums who don't like Weber tend to be the ones who only casually pay attention to their basketball program and are overly critical/whiny.  He is an outstanding Xs and Os coach.  Yes his recruiting has been poor IN THE PAST, but is picking up a ton of speed.  His '09 class is very good, his '10 class is outstanding, McCamey is a darn good player (just finished frosh year), and Alex Legion will be very good for them too.  They are going to be loaded in 2 short years.

I think the B10 is going to get very tough in the next few years, and that Illinois will be at or near the top of it.  I had Weber at the top of my list - plus he may have never left for a better job.

Also, we don't know the details on the Jamar Smith 'incident'.  Yes what he did was awful, but I do know that Bruce stuck by him and saved that young man's future.  Sometimes it takes a lot of courage to keep the kid on the team rather than just wash your hands of it and throw him to the wolves.  I did some damn stupid things during my time at MU, the fact that no one got hurt is just as much luck as anything.  I am sure many people on this board can say the same...

I can say that my cousins are pretty die hard illini Alums ('05 and '00) that drive down for every football and basketball game from just outside of Chicago.  I agree, it took a lot of balls for Weber to stand by his kid, and i am all for second chances when it comes to getting busted by the law for somethings, but... leaving a teammate half-dead on the side of the road is inexcusable in my book, and that is a "detail" that is well-known and reported by several people.  I think Weber is a great coach, but I do understand why my family wouldn't mind seeing him go (not that they are trying to kick him out the door either).  I'm just saying that I don't want someone bringing these type of kids into the Marquette program or progrum, whatever it is now.  Sorry, didn't want to sidetrack the thread, but I'm just saying that maybe these reasons are why Weber was not heard to the extent some wanted him to be heard.

[bma725]

Yes it helps to have a Jerrance Howard, but the fact is Weber had to make in roads to schools he previously couldn't sniff while at SIU, this is no different for any other coach. In fact, U of I had gone through a Public League lock out following jimmy Collins departure to UIC that wasn't fixed until Bill Self came.  Howard can get the kids interested in looking at Weber's school, but Weber still has to convince the kid his style is a good fit for that recruit. 

I don't ever hear Rod Strickland getting  all the praise for the recruiting on Calipari's staff, same sitaution, so to say Weber can't recruit and Howard is the only reason his 09 and 10 classes are stellar is a joke.

Weber would have been a good fit, good hire.

The difference is that Cal was getting top flight kids before Strickland ever worked for him.  Weber was not, and the kids have talked about how much they like Jerrence Howard and how important he was in there decision to go to UofI.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Delay the process?  MU had already had contact with it's major targets and they weren't leaving to come here.

but, I do like the title of this thread.  Mods, can you arrange all future posts from PRN to have this title of "Sound The Alarm" so that we can ignore them until our new coach has actually done something for which to be criticized?

Perhaps the target zone should have been widened, and if you don't hit it you still have Buzz in the cross hairs a week later...hell, a month later if you wanted.  That's all.

[Pakuni]

If Crean hadn't pushed so hard for Buzz and pushed to all the right people i.e. major donors, we probably would still be going thru the hiring process.

Let me get this straight, the major donors and university that feel such disdain for Crean and feel he was such a jerk also decided to honor Crean's request that Buzz be the hire?

Are we trying to have it both ways again?

I'm scared as hell over this hire, I'm not on the ledge like PRN, but yeah I'm worried.  We could have gotten Buzz next week so I wish MU would have gone harder at coaches that were out there and not made a decision so quickly.  But they didn't and now we hope the powers that be were correct.  But back to your original point, so many people "in the know" say how furious the donors, etc were with Crean and are thrilled he's gone, yet you're saying these same people decided to give Crean one last crack at the goods?  Seems odd don't you think?

This is the second time you've mentioned waiting a week before making the hire.

Does this mean you're OK with missing the final contact period before the spring signing period, essentially leaving MU with very little chance of filling any spots on a soon-to-be depleted roster so that they could have "gone harder" with guys who already declined?

I don't see much upside to that. It appears some of those guys, namely Miller and Bennett, were pretty set against leaving.

Can you provide a list of the major players that Crean was able to lure to Marquette in the spring recruiting period?

Relevance?
And how do you define "major"?

[ChicosBailBonds]

The relevance is that usually the spring signing period is not as talented as the fall signing period, so the rush to get someone in when most of the remaining players are not as talented seems like an overvalued reason to make a hire.  IMO

[Coobeys Oil Depot]

The relevance is that usually the spring signing period is not as talented as the fall signing period, so the rush to get someone in when most of the remaining players are not as talented seems like an overvalued reason to make a hire.  IMO

This seems to sum it up, Pakuni.

Your main point above was that MU needed to act quickly so they could be settled heading into the spring contact periods. I simply don't recall many spring recruits that turned out to be an integral part of our success.

Trend Blackledge?
Mike Kinsella?
Jamil Lott?
Karon Bradley?
Marcus Jackson? (I'll give you this one as I loved MJax)

Others?

[Pakuni]

The relevance is that usually the spring signing period is not as talented as the fall signing period, so the rush to get someone in when most of the remaining players are not as talented seems like an overvalued reason to make a hire.  IMO

Under normal circumstances, you're correct.
These are not normal circumstances.

We're looking at heading into next year with as few as seven returning scholarship players and two newcomers. We'd have only two players over 6'6", one of them a very raw freshman.
That's not a little bit of a concern for you?
I mean, people liked to gripe about how Crean's teams wore down towards the end of the year. Just wait until the team goes seven, maybe eight, deep and only two deep in the post.
MU has to bring in a body or two this spring, especially if the Mbakwe and Hazel rumors are true. Probably if either is true. While the pickings may not be ideal, there are unsigned/JUCO players out there who could help at least provide some support off the bench to a team that has major asiprations, i.e. Ben-Eze, Edgar Garibay, Steve Goins, Maurice Sutton. Do you really think this team has a prayer in the Big East/NCAAs with only Burke and Otule up front?

Also, MU can't bank all those scholies. Supposing only two of the incoming frosh show up and all the transfer rumors are true. That's five unfilled scholarships for next year. Then you've got the three amigos and Burke for four more. That's nine slots to fill for the Class of 2009. Unless the rules have changed when I was napping (it happens) a school can't bring in more than five kids at a time which would leave MU with, at best, nine scholarship players for 2009-10. And even if that rules doesn't exist, do you really want to bring in that many newcomers in one season?

But ignoring all that, you still haven't addressed my other question: Why is it that you think any of MU's other choices would have changed their mind if the administration just waited a week and "pushed harder."
I doubt Tony Bennett is sitting in his office today thinking "I said no to Marquette because they only called three times. If they had made it six, I would have been so there."

[ecompt]

I think in the spring signing period we should go after Butch McRae, Ricky Roe and Leon Bodeaux.

[🏀]

I think in the spring signing period we should go after Butch McRae, Ricky Roe and Leon Bodeaux.

Bring the BIG BODEAUX!

[Pakuni]

I think in the spring signing period we should go after Butch McRae, Ricky Roe and Leon Bodeaux.

Who's going to spring for the new tractor?

[rocky_warrior]

Unless the rules have changed when I was napping (it happens) a school can't bring in more than five kids at a time which would leave MU with, at best, nine scholarship players for 2009-10.

That rule is now gone.  You just have to stay under 13 scholies total. 

[DegenerateDish]

Besides the tractor, we need to find a job for Butch's mom, get a gym bag full of cash for Ricky, and find someone to get Leon a car.

[Pakuni]

Unless the rules have changed when I was napping (it happens) a school can't bring in more than five kids at a time which would leave MU with, at best, nine scholarship players for 2009-10.

That rule is now gone.  You just have to stay under 13 scholies total. 

Which means we'd be looking at either a nine-member freshman class for 2009 or banking a few for 2-3 years and playing the '08-'09, '09-'10 and maybe '10-11 seasons with something other than a full roster.

The good news is that a nine-member class would rank high according to Hoop Scoop.

[Litehouse]

But ignoring all that, you still haven't addressed my other question: Why is it that you think any of MU's other choices would have changed their mind if the administration just waited a week and "pushed harder."
I doubt Tony Bennett is sitting in his office today thinking "I said no to Marquette because they only called three times. If they had made it six, I would have been so there."

Maybe Bennett wanted to wait to see what happened with LSU.  Now that they hired someone else, he'd be more serious about MU.  Maybe a different candidate is waiting to see what happens with Kansas, but would come to MU depending on how that plays out.  Just hypotheticals, but that's the argument for waiting.  Was Buzz going to take a different job in the mean time?

[🏀]

Besides the tractor, we need to find a job for Butch's mom, get a gym bag full of cash for Ricky, and find someone to get Leon a car.

Butch's mom also needs a white-picket fence house in the 'Burbs.

Leon needs another Lexus, does Bergstrom do Lexus?

[Pakuni]

Besides the tractor, we need to find a job for Butch's mom, get a gym bag full of cash for Ricky, and find someone to get Leon a car.

Butch's mom also needs a white-picket fence house in the 'Burbs.

Leon needs another Lexus, does Bergstrom do Lexus?

As good as those guys are, I'm not sure they'd offer MU much help in the long-term. Neon and Butch are probably one-and-done, and I have a sneaking suspicion Ricky is going to be injury prone.

[🏀]

Besides the tractor, we need to find a job for Butch's mom, get a gym bag full of cash for Ricky, and find someone to get Leon a car.

Butch's mom also needs a white-picket fence house in the 'Burbs.

Leon needs another Lexus, does Bergstrom do Lexus?

As good as those guys are, I'm not sure they'd offer MU much help in the long-term. Neon and Butch are probably one-and-done, and I have a sneaking suspicion Ricky is going to be injury prone.

Ricky was also impressed with the girls at Western, I hope he likes muffin tops!

[DegenerateDish]

You guys have left me with no choice, I must go home tonight and watch this movie.

[ecompt]

I love Al Bundy as the reporter.

[mugrad99]

But my best friend in high school was Eddie Bird's roommante....so we were able to play on that basketball court...in fact that was the last time I dunked..

I was actually in many of the scenes and Frankfort High School where they filmed may of the scenes....and I was in some of the crowd scenes in Hoosiers....

But it doesn't beat the scene my buddy was in Ferris Buellers day off..he was in the scene where Ferris was at Wrigley and he said if we were in school  they would be in gym class...and they showed guys running the track...he improvised on the track and acted like he was puking...if you watch this look for him.  Funny story is he was 2 rows behind Bartman at the Cubs Game   

I digress......how the hell did Matt Nover become such a wanted player?