Coaching Changes: A Cautionary Tale

[MullinMayhem]

I think you can be critical of things like recruiting, sub patterns, etc. after first few years. But obviously can't call for someone's firing until at the earliest after 4 years of coaching IMO. Both can be true. Coaches get paid many millions to coach a college sport...they are allowed to be scrutinized by fans. Marquette for example has a real case to fire Wojo. Not sure what his contract is, but Marquette was right up there with Georgetown around realignment when we thought they'd dominate the new conference with Nova. Georgetown has been terrible since realignment and doubt Ewing is going to solve that. Just seems like former NBA players as coaches fail 99% of the time...much more often than typical for whatever reason. But Marquette was no doubt supposed to be a very good team in the new league. I believe I remember seeing a chart that had Marquette having the most money or close to the most money to invest in its program in our conference. Prior recent success nationally, lots of money...that's not supposed to equal a team that made the tourney like 2 yrs in the last however many. Is Wojo too strict? He doesn't seem very likeable. Not sure why he's failing at Marquette.

[jbarajas0490]

Wojo needs to go, he is a horrible in game coach, has no recruiting strategy, it looks like he just takes the highest rated players he can get and now all of the players on the team look the same its weird, a whole bunch of wings with one pg and one c. As far as player development I would say he's average but that's because his best players were already 4star recruits I can't think of a 3star he has developed into all conference. Also there is plenty of talent around the Milwaukee area and in state but he doesn't even bother, thats why his teams seem to lack identity imo. A coach and players just in it for themselves no pride or connection to the city or state or school. That's why I think Mike Anderson is a pretty good coach he has a system and recruits locally, Wojo I don't even think has a system, he's more concerned about his "Duke" lineage.

[MUBoxer]

Strongly Disagree on the Milwaukee area take. Marquette's best players have rarely been from Milwaukee area. We're a national school and should recruit as such. Heck we're closer to Chicago than to Madison so even being from Wisconsin shouldn't be a big factor.

Everything else is true. He has no idea about what type of tempo, D has been non existent most years, he keeps recruiting "PGs" that he turns into shooting guards or wings (Markus, Elliott, Koby, Duane Wilson) and the can't figure out why we have no real ball manager, we always have grade school level turnovers, he hasn't reeled John or Koby in from ridiculous fouls every game. It's trash ball.

[jbarajas0490]

Well in 21 class there are 2 4star players in the Milwaukee area and also the number one player in the country. And there are a couple 3star players every year, prime example is Tyrese Haliburton went from a 3star player not far from Milwaukee to the 12th pick of the nba draft.

[MUBoxer]

Well in 21 class there are 2 4star players in the Milwaukee area and also the number one player in the country. And there are a couple 3star players every year, prime example is Tyrese Haliburton went from a 3star player not far from Milwaukee to the 12th pick of the nba draft.

Baldwin was never coming to MU he's not originally from Milwaukee either, he's here because his dads coaching UWM. You're right Tyrese Halliburton is a phenomenal story. I think for every Tyrese Halliburton there's 150 Dexter Akanno, Sacar Anim, Greg Elliott, Jamal Cain type players. I won't argue about the talent around Milwaukee but only that whether it's Al (except Chones), Crean (except Novak & Deiner), or Buzz the biggest names have not been from Milwaukee.

[GumbyDamnit!]

he keeps recruiting "PGs" that he turns into shooting guards or wings (Markus, Elliott, Koby, Duane Wilson) and the can't figure out why we have no real ball manager, we always have grade school level turnovers,

I think about the Marq teams of the 2000's with D. James, McNeal and Matthews and there was just a mental toughness to that group of guards that you guys desperately need. I recall some epic battles between those guys and Randy Foye, Kyle Lowry, Nardi and Scotty Reynolds. Just a tough, tough team to play. Whether it is recruiting or player development Marq has lost that mentality.

Word from several Nova posters has been that Stevie MItchell from Reading, PA is a player that fits that description. Natural PG; big motor; a competitor; plays both sides of the floor, etc. In fact at one point there was a long discussion--prior to anyone making any commitments--about which PG we were recruiting was better: Mitchell or Diggins (top 50 going to UConn). Many on the board thought Mitchell was the better long-term prospect. I think he'll help you guys for sure.

[MUBoxer]

he keeps recruiting "PGs" that he turns into shooting guards or wings (Markus, Elliott, Koby, Duane Wilson) and the can't figure out why we have no real ball manager, we always have grade school level turnovers,

I think about the Marq teams of the 2000's with D. James, McNeal and Matthews and there was just a mental toughness to that group of guards that you guys desperately need. I recall some epic battles between those guys and Randy Foye, Kyle Lowry, Nardi and Scotty Reynolds. Just a tough, tough team to play. Whether it is recruiting or player development Marq has lost that mentality.

Word from several Nova posters has been that Stevie MItchell from Reading, PA is a player that fits that description. Natural PG; big motor; a competitor; plays both sides of the floor, etc. In fact at one point there was a long discussion--prior to anyone making any commitments--about which PG we were recruiting was better: Mitchell or Diggins (top 50 going to UConn). Many on the board thought Mitchell was the better long-term prospect. I think he'll help you guys for sure.

While that's a great endorsement if it means another year of Wojo count me out. I don't want to see this crap any longer. I'll defend that it hasn't been as terrible from years 2-6 as some make it out and his recruiting hasn't been as horrific as some claim but the in game coaching, the lack of system, the poor fundamentals all have been abysmal.

[MullinMayhem]

My thought is that Marquette doesn't have enough top level guards. It's tough to win in the Big East without at least a few big time guards. We can never get real big men to come here for whatever reason, but we have almost always had some good to very good guards: Jordan, Harrison, Ponds, Greene, Posh, LoVett, etc. You guys had Howard obviously but he was more of a pure shooter. I think you need at least 3 legitimate guards who can shoot but also drive and finish with good defense. The recipe seems to be: 1 great guard, 2 good guards, 1 real center, 1 solid or better wing. Marquette just seems like a collection of forwards. Same issue IMO with PC. It's funny how inverted some of the teams are in our conference...if SJ had Watson and Freemantle, we would probably be in the top 25 right now. As an outsider, Wojo teams just seem like they always look good on paper but then underperform. Marquette got throttled by Murray State in the tourney in a year they could've gone to the Sweet 16 or better with all the talent they had. A team with Theo John, Markus Howard, and TWO Hausers should be almost a lock for top 25 all year and a Sweet 16 run. I know Ja Morant is a crazy talent but can't let 1 star player blow you out especially as a mid major. You're right about Marquette lacking identity. When I think of them I think of good players but minimal results and no system. I feel like you guys are where we were with Lavin...tons of talent, big time recruits, but no development and always underperform even in 20 win years when you should've been better.

[Husky_U]

he keeps recruiting "PGs" that he turns into shooting guards or wings (Markus, Elliott, Koby, Duane Wilson) and the can't figure out why we have no real ball manager, we always have grade school level turnovers,

I think about the Marq teams of the 2000's with D. James, McNeal and Matthews and there was just a mental toughness to that group of guards that you guys desperately need. I recall some epic battles between those guys and Randy Foye, Kyle Lowry, Nardi and Scotty Reynolds. Just a tough, tough team to play. Whether it is recruiting or player development Marq has lost that mentality.

Word from several Nova posters has been that Stevie MItchell from Reading, PA is a player that fits that description. Natural PG; big motor; a competitor; plays both sides of the floor, etc. In fact at one point there was a long discussion--prior to anyone making any commitments--about which PG we were recruiting was better: Mitchell or Diggins (top 50 going to UConn). Many on the board thought Mitchell was the better long-term prospect. I think he'll help you guys for sure.

Y'all Philly folk are really anti-Diggins. His game seems solid and he was an integral part in the recruitment of fellow top 100 players, Johnson, Hawkins, and Floyd. I'm quite happy.

[MullinMayhem]

Damn...just saw Marquette's record. I knew they weren't doing well, but didn't realize they were this bad. That roster has so much talent and a 40 yr old Theo John...absolutely 0 excuse for Marquette being bad this year. Was expecting them to be top 3-4.