There's a new Buzz at Marquette
One of the toughest jobs in America is coaching in Milwaukee, Wisc. No, my friends, I am not talking about the Bucks or the Brewers, but the University of Marquette.
Think about it. Yes, there is a buzz on the campus, but new coach Buzz Williams has some mighty big shoes to fill. There will be pressure galore because of the popularity of Tom Crean.
Now Crean is trying to rebuild the program at Indiana. He was Mr. Milwaukee and he did a phenomenal job there, bringing spirit, energy and enthusiasm to the Marquette program.
Think about how hard it will be to replace Tom Crean. In his nine seasons, Marquette averaged 20 wins a year, won a conference championship and made eight postseason appearances, including the 2003 Final Four. In 2008, the Golden Eagles made the big dance before falling in the second round to Stanford. Since 2001, Crean had directed the Golden Eagles to 190 victories.
That is a tough, tough act to follow. Another aspect which makes it a challenge to the new coach are the big expectations this year. Marquette fans will have their expectations run wild because of the returning talent.
The Golden Eagles have Jerel McNeal, Dominic James and Wesley Matthews all back in the lineup. Lazar Hayward returns up front and there are other role players back on the roster. It will be important for coach Williams to get off to a great start to build credibility and confidence among the faithful of the Marquette Golden Eagles.
Williams certainly has a solid background in his own right. Last season he served as an assistant coach with the Golden Eagles in his first season at Marquette. The team finished 25-10 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2003. His coaching career has included stints as an assistant, associate head and head coach. He has nearly 15 years of experience at the NCAA Division I level. Williams has recruited and coached over 20 players who have earned all-conference accolades, including one league player of the year and two conference freshmen of the year.
Williams also gained valuable experience as the head coach at New Orleans. It is so important to know the expectations and responsibilities of running a Division I program. Having that under his belt will make the transition at Marquette easier this season.
The other big challenge is competing in the deepest league in America. Marquette has tremendous talent on the roster, but going up against the likes of Connecticut, Louisville, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Villanova, Georgetown, Syracuse and on and on is difficult. Williams knows what is ahead of him and it will be interesting to watch the progress at Marquette.
The pressure is on in Milwaukee, but Buzz Williams believes he is equipped to handle all that is thrown at him.
