Comments

Calling Coach John Wooden ‘Johnny Wooden’ is insulting.  Only people that did not like Coach Wooden called him ‘Johnny’, it was used to insult Coach Wooden.  Bz is very disrespectful of Coach Wooden at the same time he is trying to use Coach Wooden comments to defend himself and shift the blame to his players.  This is the new culture he is installing at WF?

R Victor Walsh on 03/24/2011 (1:47 pm)

I think that this is exactly what has to happen.  Probably more people in this program need to leave.  Think of it this way: if everything was good, Bzdelick would not be here. If you take over a company, there will probably be some turn over from the previous regime.  I am impressed with McKie - it looks like he is buying in…  College coaches need to be salesmen and the players need to drink the kool-aid.  Is there any doubt who is in charge in Durham?  Any issues with effort at Duke?  I am willing to give Bzdelick some time - not unlimited, but we have to give him a chance to run the business.  And run it with his people.  Stewart needed to go.  There should be a few more.  There were problems before Bzdelick arrived.  He needs to clean house and get the players to drink the kool-aid.  The fans are easy - just win.  But the players take more work.  The Pistons, the Heat, and the Jazz are examples of players who are not buying what the coach is selling.  Celtics, Duke, UConn, St Johns - these players are “all in” for their coach.  Will it happen at Wake?

Tony on 03/11/2011 (9:42 am)

As painful as this might be I think this is exactly what Ron Wellman was looking for in a coach following Gaudio. The problem with Wake teams the last couple of years has not been talent, but terrible attitude. I hate to throw guys under the bus, but as talented as the Jeff Teagues and James Johnsons of the world were it is fairly obvious that they possessed individual agendas that led to the downfall of the team. Wake needed someone that would get rid of all the selfishness and create more cohesive unit. So as talented as Ari Stewart is, if He can’t get his act together and help this team he needs to find a spot elsewhere.

Garrett on 03/10/2011 (7:40 pm)

Ari looked terrible this year: simply not trying.  You watch Kyle Singler or Ryan Kelly on TV, players with less physical ability, regularly get the job done and then drive all the way to Winston and see Ari not try very hard.  I hope Ari finds some athletic desire and gets back to being a contributor for the Deacs.  But if he doesn’t, I won’t be crying because I know without redirection he would have not helped anyway.  Congrats to Coach Bzdelik for calling it like it is.  If the walk-ons are showing more desire to play, and we are being embarassed anyway, then play the walk-ons!

DannyB on 03/10/2011 (11:47 am)

Dan - I am sorry but I just dont get some of your bloggers - why oh why is it always the coach?? - Stewart now suspended for grade issues is treating college academics as he does basketball & thats not giving anywhere near 100% - lets look @ McKie??...Coach B get any credit for his determantion, hustle or heart??....probably not so why would Bz be the issue with this over-rated sophmore who prances around the court with effort but not the effort thats needed - does Bz have to go class’s for him to now and take his tests?? - you guys just continue to ride this coach & at this point I do not think its justified - how many of these guys can walk away & start on other teams??....Mckie & THATS IT - they arent as talented as there hype - but - some or most have serious upside so I say we relax & see if they get better next time - Ari??..........no big loss…......he’s been a turnover machine all season - give me 2 or 3 more Mckie’s & then you would all be happy with Bz - make the players responsible - the only gripe I have with the coach is I think 25 should play more - have a good day !

Rich on 03/10/2011 (8:56 am)

I do not have a problem with holding players accountable but they have a tutoring center where they all get help.
Just a few years ago ( I believe I am correct) Jane Caldwell of the academic center was named MVP of the team by the players. I think it is the coach’s responsibility to know early when a player is in trouble. We did not seem to have this problem in the past.

Ed on 03/10/2011 (7:17 am)

stewart has played very poorly this year. his hustle , defense and ball handling have been atrocious. when he played only 4 minutes at BC, i knew he wouldn’t be back next year. he is gone.

wake22fan on 03/09/2011 (10:56 pm)

Personally, I don’t want athletes who don’t want to put in the necessary work on and off the court to represent Wake Forest (and my hometown).  While I have a problem with the lack of production from this team, I have no problem with the way Coach B has handled his disciplinary matters.  We need 100 percent buy-in to compete at the highest level, and if that means addition by subtraction…so be it.  You can’t teach someone to care, in my opinion.

John Paul on 03/09/2011 (10:51 pm)

Stewart is possibly the first to depart for other environs. Is this the only one or Who will be next???

Tom Willis on 03/09/2011 (9:35 pm)

Dan,

I am now wondering about Coach Bzdelik and I’m not liking what I’m seeing. First, there’s Tony Woods….I completely understand why he’s gone but Bz didn’t step up for him at all. Then there’s Melvin Tabb….very little explanation and “poof”, no Melvin. Now Ari and his deal….There is a VERY disturbing pattern taking place here and I’m not liking it at all. Makes me seriously wonder if Bz is taking his job seriously and two, if he even likes being at Wake in the first place. I’m seriously beginning to think that replacing Bz would be the best thing for our basketball program. He’s taking all of Dino’s players, who were highly touted, and getting rid of them one-by-one and all he can recruit are two stars at best. Disturbing! Surely he knows that by playing “scrubs” (and I certainly mean no disrespect to them) that we have much less a chance at victory tomorrow. And if Wellman wants to hang with BZ, maybe President Hatch should do away with both of them. I do not like what I’m seeing of the head coach anymore. It’s time to can Bz. He is not what our program needs. I’ve seen enough!!! It’s almost as if Bz is giving 100% to running the program in the ground, therefore it is time for Wellman and/or Hatch to clean the basketball office of Bz.

Just sign me: exasperated, disappointed, in despair and TOTALLY done with Bzdelik!!

Ken Green on 03/09/2011 (7:13 pm)

This looks terrible on the coach to me. Ari Stewart definitely regressed this year. I thought, based on what I saw as a freshman, he could be all-ACC as a senior. You want a coach who will not let the players run the show, but there is some kind of sad disconnect going on. Melvin Tabb was dismissed. It may be years before we see someone of his girth and potential talent here. Ty Walker and JT Terrell, arguably our most talented players outside of Mckie, play less than 15 minutes in our last game. What is going on? Obviously, there is some kind of disconnect. Are we going to loose more of our talented young players? Does Bzdelick even want these highly rated recruits? Is he more comfortable with the easier to coach, less talented players he is used to recruiting, and is now recruiting for Wake? I do not know all of these answers, but the questions are quite troubling.

Ken Nowell on 03/09/2011 (5:50 pm)

Dan,

This is disappointing to read, but not surprising.  I am sure that Ari’s role on future Wake Forest teams (or lack thereof) will provide excellent fodder for the blog, but I think it is important to remember that even Bzdelik’s predecessor found himself frustrated by Ari’s lack of defensive awareness (willingness?). 

There were a few instances last year where Coach Gaudio defended his reluctance to put Ari on the floor by stating that scoring ability doesn’t matter when you give up just as many points on the other end of the floor.

There was absolutely zero improvement this year.  The fact that a player of Ari Stewart’s obvious physical ability cannot get with the program is incredibly frustrating.  But given what we’ve seen in his first two years, perhaps a fresh start is in the best interest of both Ari and the Wake Forest basketball team.  My sincere hope is that Ari stays on and has a breakout junior year (he wouldn’t be the first to pull off such a feat).  But if he leaves, I certainly would like to thank him for his efforts.

DC on 03/09/2011 (5:38 pm)