Mark Few should be removed for cause!

[warthog-driver]

His defection rate is outrageous!

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/collegesports/2016113260_zags05.html

[77ncaachamps]

Gone-zaga
Incoming class of 2008-09
Demetri Goodson Transferred to Baylor to play football.
Andy Poling Transferred to Seattle Pacific.
Grant Gibbs Transferred to Creighton.

Incoming class of 2009-10
Bol Kong Headed to St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia.
Manny Arop Transferred to Indiana State.
G.J. Vilarino: Transferred to Appalachian State.

Incoming class of 2010-11
Keegan Hyland Transferred to Vermont, then Fairfield.


I thought this was telling: "Vilarino's father, Gerry, is critical of Few's communication skills with players, and adds, "You almost have to be in the mold he's looking for. G.J. was a different breed of guard, with more of an athletic, scoring kind of mentality, not the typical kind of point guard Gonzaga had over the years that made them successful.

"(Few) has one style for everybody, and that doesn't work for all kids.""

Maybe that's so, but if a coach knows his SYSTEM and his players, he should be targeting recruits that FIT his system and BUY INTO what he's doing. Likewise for the recruits and their parents. I don't know if Few is that honest with his players.

I just hope Buzz and company are when they are recruiting.

My gut says they are, despite the transfers we have had.

[LA]

I think a big part of Few's problem is that he is forced to reach on so many recruits while looking for a diamond in the rough. These kids aren't transferring to comparable programs, they got there and weren't as good as both Few and the player had hoped.

Spokane, Washington is an awful, AWFUL place to live and I can't imagine it's easy to get recruits willing to go to a 3,500 student university there. They have to rely on searching under stones for the next Dan Dickau or Adam Morrison.

I'm not arguing that his transfer rate is a good thing, I just think that there might be reasons for it.

[GGGG]

Not to defend Few here, but DJ Goodson spent three years there and then transferred to Baylor to play football?

[LCDutchman]

Mark Few is a great coach and a credit to his university.  This discussion is a waste of time.

[tower912]

Few is a good coach.   I think warthog started this as a shot at he-who-must-not-be-named, as well as others (bucky fans) who think MU's transfer rate is too high.   

[bilsu]

Maybe that's so, but if a coach knows his SYSTEM and his players, he should be targeting recruits that FIT his system and BUY INTO what he's doing. Likewise for the recruits and their parents. I don't know if Few is that honest with his players.

I just hope Buzz and company are when they are recruiting.

My gut says they are, despite the transfers we have had.
[/quote]

First of all the players should be willing to fit into the style the team plays when they are picking a school and the style should be obvious to them.

Second of all, I think all coaches tell the recruits what is expected of them. Then the recruit tell the coaches what they want to hear. I still remember the video of Roseborro saying how hard he was going to work at MU. I am sure that is what he told the coaches. I suspect Mbao said he wanted to work hard to get better also. Guess what, the recruits either misunderstood what hard work was or lied to get the scholarship. I do not think you can blame this on the coach. A player that wants a scholarship is not going to tell Buzz or any other coach that he is going to dog it, not play defense or be disruptive. What do you think the Maymons's said to Buzz when Buzz told them he would push Maymon hard to be the best player and person he can become? I expect Maymon's father said something to the effect that is what we want. He did not say and oh by the way I will be in your face when you do not play my son the the way I want.

[classof70]

"Spokane, Washington is an awful, AWFUL place to live and I can't imagine it's easy to get recruits willing to go to a 3,500 student university there. They have to rely on searching under stones for the next Dan Dickau or Adam Morrison."

As one who lived in Spokane, I couldn't disagree more.  Spokane is a great place to live.  GU is a great University in the Jesuit tradition.   And, Few is a great coach. 

[StillAWarrior]

"Spokane, Washington is an awful, AWFUL place to live and I can't imagine it's easy to get recruits willing to go to a 3,500 student university there. They have to rely on searching under stones for the next Dan Dickau or Adam Morrison."

As one who lived in Spokane, I couldn't disagree more.  Spokane is a great place to live.  GU is a great University in the Jesuit tradition.   And, Few is a great coach. 

My brother went to Gonzaga and would agree with you...he loved it.

[LA]

"Spokane, Washington is an awful, AWFUL place to live and I can't imagine it's easy to get recruits willing to go to a 3,500 student university there. They have to rely on searching under stones for the next Dan Dickau or Adam Morrison."

As one who lived in Spokane, I couldn't disagree more.  Spokane is a great place to live.  GU is a great University in the Jesuit tradition.   And, Few is a great coach. 

I never said GU isn't a good school, nor that few isn't a good coach. I'm sorry though, Spokane simply doesn't have much to offer an 18 basketball star. I'm sure it is great for people who love meth and living 15 years behind the rest of the country, but every GU and WSU grad I know left as soon as they were finished with school.

[StillAWarrior]

I never said GU isn't a good school, nor that few isn't a good coach. I'm sorry though, Spokane simply doesn't have much to offer an 18 basketball star...every GU and WSU grad I know left as soon as they were finished with school.

Honestly, I think the same things can be said for pretty much any non-urban, non-commuter school.  And as someone who isn't from the Milwaukee area (or even Wisconsin for that matter), most MU grads that I know left Milwaukee as soon as they were finished with school.  Newsflash:  many, many kids "go away" for college and leave as soon as they finish.  This is not unique to GU or WSU.

[Canadian Dimes]

Incoming class of 2009-10
Bol Kong Headed to St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia.
Manny Arop Transferred to Indiana State.

These two surprise me.

1. Bol Kong was a superstar in the Canadian college ranks.  Absolutely lit Marquette up when we went on our Canadian trip.  Then sat out a year to transfer to the Zags and had a solid first year at Gonzaga.  His best games were probably Wake Forest (12 points) and Oklahoma (14).

2. Arop really surprises me too.  As a sophomore, he killed MU.  He shot 7-8, for 15 points against MU and had 4 big rebounds, all offensive IIRC, in 22 minutes.  Maybe the 22 minutes is a reason, but as a Sophomore those are not terrible minutes.

Those two really stood out to me as while some are saying Few has to look for the "Needle in the Haystack" ( I agree), those are two kids that can play anywhere.   

[PJDunn]

I never said GU isn't a good school, nor that few isn't a good coach. I'm sorry though, Spokane simply doesn't have much to offer an 18 basketball star. I'm sure it is great for people who love meth and living 15 years behind the rest of the country, but every GU and WSU grad I know left as soon as they were finished with school.

Newsflash...WSU is in Pullman.  Pullman is podunk hell.  Spokane is a fantastic midsize city.  They aren't 15 years behind anybody and meth unfortunately is a universal problem.

Few is fantastic coach.

[MUBurrow]

Six transfers in two years is definitely bad news bears, but I'm guessing thats the exception, not the rule. The transfer to Creighton is interesting since its to a school at the same level as GU, but who knows what personal issues are at the heart of one or all of these transfers. That being said if Few or any coach averaged three per, that would be an issue.

[classof70]

I never said GU isn't a good school, nor that few isn't a good coach. I'm sorry though, Spokane simply doesn't have much to offer an 18 basketball star. I'm sure it is great for people who love meth and living 15 years behind the rest of the country, but every GU and WSU grad I know left as soon as they were finished with school.

The fact that the Wazoo grads to whom you spoke thought they'd moved out of Spokane immediately after graduation speaks volumes for their veracity and observational skills, let alone their grades in geography.   Maybe it was the Meth they were on that clouded their judgement.   I'd suggest you not let those testimonials color your view of Spokane. 

[LA]

The fact that the Wazoo grads to whom you spoke thought they'd moved out of Spokane immediately after graduation speaks volumes for their veracity and observational skills, let alone their grades in geography.   Maybe it was the Meth they were on that clouded their judgement.   I'd suggest you not let those testimonials color your view of Spokane. 

Haha, I try not to listen to too many wazoo grads in the first place.

Apparently some here really love Spokane, I can't say I share the love but more power to you. I would say that a "fantastic midsize city" would be more along the lines of Madison than Spokane.

[dgies9156]

Spokane, Washington is an awful, AWFUL place to live and I can't imagine it's easy to get recruits willing to go to a 3,500 student university there. They have to rely on searching under stones for the next Dan Dickau or Adam Morrison.

This is snotty elitism. Spokane is what you make of it. I have two clients there and have found the city quite pleasant to visit. The mountains are nearby and for a small city, it has much character.

There are elitists who think MIlwaukee is an inconsequential bump in the road -- a backwater city with no redeeming social value. Having gone to Marquette and stayed close to the Milwaukee environment I know better. And, I know Spokane has a lot going for it as well. A city is what you make of it.

[LA]

This is snotty elitism. Spokane is what you make of it. I have two clients there and have found the city quite pleasant to visit. The mountains are nearby and for a small city, it has much character.

The wording I used could have been better, you are correct in that it was elitist (I will admit I am biased towards Seattle and western Washington). However, you said it correctly in that Spokane is okay to visit. The fact of the matter is that for a city its size, it is severely lacking in quality jobs and is plagued with a rather serious drug and crime problem.

If you contend that there aren't many more desirable places to live with similar amenities, then I guess we will have to agree to disagree.

[Rudy]

I just dropped my daughter off at Gonzaga for her freshman year. I loved the City of Spokane. Downtown was pretty cool, but it appeared a bit sleepy. 

Because I was shopping and helping my daughter set up her room, I spent a good deal of time on Division Street, which is urban sprawl on steroids, but I really enjoyed downtown. 

As far as the campus goes, I found it to be a wonderful, small, centralized campus. Nice and green. Very pleasant.

Bob