It’s one of the most basic rules of college basketball. Right up there with traveling, goaltending and the occasional muting of Dick Vitale.
When you’ve got a good head coach, schools who don’t will want yours. And if those schools are bigger than your school, come springtime, you’re gonna have to sweat.
This is nothing new for the Marquette faithful, who got quite familiar with the concept during Tom Crean’s reign. And I suspect they’re about to get another not-so-gentle reminder.
Because the University of Oklahoma fired head coach Jeff Capel Monday afternoon, and not too long afterward, Buzz Williams’ name started popping up in my Twitter feed.
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| Buzz may not be shopping himself, but schools will come shopping for him. Photo by Gary Dineen/Winning Image Photog |
See, I spent about a decade living and working in the Sooner State, and since I’ve still got plenty of Okie friends, I like to keep tabs on what’s happening down there. Well, what’s happening now is a lot of folks are hoping that Buzz becomes the next head coach at Oklahoma.
It makes sense. Williams has strong ties to the area as both a Texas native and a graduate of Oklahoma City University, which is about a half-hour north of OU’s campus in Norman. Plus, his ability to recruit that area has no doubt drawn notice. Already, he’s being touted as a candidate by the hometown Norman Transcript as well as Tulsa World columnist Dave Sittler.
I talked with a couple friends who are quite well-connected to OU athletics, and they fully expect the Sooners will make a run at Buzz. This does not mean Buzz would listen to such overtures. And even if he does, it does not mean he’ll get a job offer. And even if that offer comes, it does not mean he’ll accept it.
But it does mean is the Xavier game won’t be the only reason for Marquette fans to be nervous in the coming days.
Of course, this is the last thing the notoriously focused Williams will want floating around with the tournament on tap. But in a way, the unwelcome attention is the ultimate compliment you can pay to Marquette’s program. Because for three seasons, Eagles fans have enjoyed all the benefits of having a talented, charismatic and dedicated head coach.
Williams united a program that could’ve been torn asunder in the wake of former coach Tom Crean’s abrupt departure. He brought a contagious personality to every aspect of his job, providing the school with a spokesman it can be proud of. He’s successfully recruited nationally rated players into the Marquette fold. And he’s secured NCAA Tournament bids in each of his three seasons, even when he wasn’t necessarily favored to do so.
So by most measurements, Marquette’s hiring of Williams has been a success. And the inevitable price of success is playing a game of Poach the Coach.
But it’s a game Marquette can certainly win. Even if the call comes from Oklahoma (or Arkansas or Texas Tech, whose jobs have also generated Williams speculation), it’s far from a guarantee that Buzz would jump at them.
To begin with, he’s never struck me as the kind of coach who was constantly looking for his next job. Mainly because I think he really does love his current one, and he’s genuinely appreciative that Marquette gave him the opportunity.
Moreover, he can be excited about what he’s built. The program’s transitioning into a phase where it truly bears his stamp, and given the talent Marquette should have in the next few years, it’s a stamp worth watching.
Finally, for every advantage that a place like Oklahoma can offer, Marquette can offer a counterpoint. The Sooners can surely splash more cash than Marquette and offer all the amenities of a state-supported university that’s fanatical about sports. Plus, they boast a nationally renowned athletic department that’s one of the Big 12’s standard bearers.
But OU will always be a football school, one that’s struggled to draw basketball fans since the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder came to town, and its on-campus arena doesn’t exactly boast a fan-friendly atmosphere. Plus, an ongoing NCAA investigation casts a shadow on the program.
At Marquette, meanwhile, men’s basketball will always be king, and the unparalleled Big East is its castle. It’s a place where Al McGuire built a long-term legacy, and it’s a place where Williams can follow suit. Then there are the intangibles – the cozier atmosphere, the Milwaukee lifestyle, and the nest that he’s started to carve out here. It will all come into play, and I think it might be enough to keep him here for quite some time.
But in the end, only Williams himself knows what’s really important. And I suspect we’ll get the chance to learn a little more about that in the coming weeks.
Because Marquette has the kind of coach that makes a lot of other schools envious.
So don’t be surprised when they act on that envy.
NUTSHELLS
If You’re Curious…
Marquette to the second round, losing to Syracuse. Wisconsin to the Sweet 16, losing to Pitt. Duke to win it all.
If You’re Really Curious…
UW-Milwaukee to the NIT second round, losing to Boston College. Marquette women to the second round, losing to Tennessee.
Brewers Bruises
Check out these names.
Jonathan Lucroy, Cory Hart and Zack Greinke. Rickie Weeks, Mat Gamel and Ryan Braun. Manny Parra, Mark Rogers and Chris Dickerson. Yuniesky Betancourt, Mitch Stetter and Carlos Gomez.
No, it’s not just random names from the Brewers spring training roster. It’s a list of Brewers who’ve been linked with some sort of injury since camp began a few short weeks ago. And it’s not even a complete list.
So after watching the injury-ravaged seasons of the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Bucks, what must be going through the minds of Brewers fans?
But in the words of the best-selling book in the history of the universe, Don’t Panic. After all, it’s just spring, and most of these Brewers bumps aren’t expected to last too far into the regular season, if it all. Besides, it’s not like there could possibly be some grand conspiracy to rain pain and destruction upon every Wisconsin pro sports team.
We think.
Your NFL Update
You could spend day upon day reading story upon story about the NFL lockout. Or you could take what each side is saying about the other and boil it down to 10 words.
Owners: They’re lying.
Players: They’re lying.
Fans: They’re children.
Repeat.
Feel free to follow me on Twitter, where I tweet as howiemag. And tune in every Tuesday morning at 6:30 when I join Doug Russell and Mike Wickett on SportsRadio 1250 AM for Tuesdays with Howie.
