Comments

I don’t coach basketball, but I firmly believe I could have done a better job of managing talent than Coach Bzdelik did. There is a huge difference between holding players accountable and alienating them. I think he did more of the latter and the proof was on the court with Ari and JT completely falling apart as the season went on. Both were far worse players in March than November.

I see this happen every day with my girl softball players. If you build their trust and let them know you have confidence in them, their skills will come through and they will shine. But if they think you don’t trust their judgment or you doubt them, they begin to doubt themselves and they fall apart or zone you out and shut down. That is EXACTLY what we saw happen last season.

x’s and o’s, Coach Bzdelik may be the greatest coach ever, but his people skills are squat. To become a high major recruit, one generally has a high degree of talent and a pretty good grasp of the x’s and o’s of basketball. It requires people skills to draw out that knowledge and ability.

Joey D on 10/31/2011 (11:17 am)

JoeyD,

You make a very interesting analogy.  But I actually think that Dino Gaudio fits the Matt Doherty profile better.  Doherty recruited supremely talented players, but utterly failed to get them to reach their potential.  As you mentioned, Roy Williams came into the program and all of a sudden McCants, May, and Felton were playing at an elite level.  It bears noting that Williams’ first year with those guys wasn’t exactly smooth though.  But Williams had the name and public support necessary to take a “may way or the highway” approach to this group, and it worked. 

Like Doherty, Gaudio recruited (or had a hand in recruiting) a number of supremely talented players like Aminu, Teague, Johnson, Woods, Walker, Terrell, Stewart, Tabb, etc.  But he was unable to corral the egos involved and our teams consistently underachieved.

Unfortunately, Wake Forest did not have the luxury of having a Roy Williams to bring in to succeed Gaudio (nor the luxury of a roster full of NBA talent about to peak - like the roster that was squandered in the 2009 NCAA Tournament). 

However, even if you’re frustrated by last year’s results (who wouldn’t be?), Bzdelik held his players accountable for their actions on and off the court in much the same way Roy Williams did in his first year at UNC.  And more to the subject of this current post, I think that Coach Grobe would have handled things the same way too. 

But if the troublemaking players choose not to take advantage of their opportunity (sometimes numerous opportunities in the case of Tabb and Walker) to be a productive part of the team and the University, then I don’t see how you can pin that on the coach.

Accordingly, I’m willing to see how Coach Bzdelik does this year and next year before I make up my mind about him as a coach.  So far, when I think about the hand with which has been dealt, I think he’s done a pretty good job.

Greg on 10/28/2011 (3:12 pm)

I have coached teams and crew chiefed racers all my life. I’ve never found a kid who couldn’t be coached. The two things that I’ve found most important are “talent” and “money”.

Character IS learned behavior. Talent and money can’t be taught. They simply exist.

The thing about great talent is it exists because the person is aggressive and pushes the boundaries. That just doesn’t happen on the field, it happens in every part of his life. A lot of these young men haven’t had the best guidance and as a result, their decision making skills aren’t always sound. It’s a coach’s job to teach that skill.

Coach Bzdelik hasn’t done that. He’s already proven he can’t do that. Ari Stewart and JT Terrell are shining examples. They were the most talented and least controlled and Coach Bzdelik couldn’t handle them.

He reminds me of Matt Doherty at Carolina. He had all the talent in the world, but he couldn’t handle them. Bring in Roy Williams and you have a national champion, keep Matt Doherty and you end up with the kids leaving and a subpar basketball program.

Matt Doherty and Dino Gaudio had the excuse of being young and inexperienced. Jeff Bzdelik should know what he’s doing by now. The fact the he hasn’t succeeded at any college should be proof enough that he doesn’t.

JoeyD on 10/28/2011 (9:58 am)

First of all I have been a Deac fan all my life and I am not sold on Buzzy being the answer to our basketball program but I have to take issue with Tony that the program wasn’t broken.

First of all let’s look at the history to put things in perspective. Over the 20 years Tony refers to Wake is 423 & 242 (70% wp)which includes 178 & 158 (53% wp) in the ACC. We reached the NCAAs 14 out of 20 years with a combined mark of 16 & 14. We finished ranked in the top 20, 9 out of 20 years and had a record of 68-104 against top 5 competition. A close look at the numbers indicates that positive winning percentages was driven to a signifcant degree by the Tim Duncan and Chris Paul years. I am proud of that record but in reality we have not been a consistent national or even conference power that some would like to believe. Getting to a number 1 ranking is great but staying there is the real measure.

Clearly while there was additional success in 2009 and 2010 it came with an extremely high price tag. Note the numerous negative headlines, academic issues, early departures, dismissals, persistent negative undertones as well as commentary by credible media sources of a serious culture problem in the program.

Wake has had a solid, highly comeptitive and respected basketball program for most of the last 20 years in one of the toughest conference in the country over that same period of time. We should all be proud of that performance. I was not any happier of what I saw on the court last year than most of the peanut gallery but frankly I was disgusted by what I saw off the court and frankly the wins and ranking not withstanding I was no less disgusted with occurred around the program in 2008-2009 and 2009-2010.

I hope that we can get back to the level we belong which may not be as a consistent national power…but as a repected and highly comeptitive that does it the right way with the right kind of young men. I don’t know whether Buzzy is the guy to get us there or not, but clearly we were headed down a bad road prior to his arrival if you look at the price the unversity paid in terms of reputation and respect.

Deacon23 on 10/26/2011 (3:01 pm)

Tony,

Short answer to your question is.. NOPE!!!

Wake Forest basketball wasn’t broke and didn’t need fixing. It had 20 years of top division success in the ACC and a long history of postseason appearances.

Now, it needs fixing. I have a solution. There are about 3 high school coaches in Winston-Salem that could do a better job, pick one.

JoeyD on 10/26/2011 (12:13 pm)

I’m a long time Deac fan.  I graduated from another school, but had two children graduate from Wake.  I remember the days back in the late 80’s and early 90’s when the stands were mostly empty and students who did go seemed to spend most of their time with their backs to the field!  Well, things have certainly changed thanks to Coach Grobe!  One of the greatest things to me is the type of fans you see now.  Years ago, it was mostly alumni and friends and a few others.  Now, as I tailgate and look around, it is obvious that there are people from every walk of life out there and a lot of them are not alumni.  When I see this, I know Wake football has truly arrived because the fan base has expanded to include people who simply have become Wake fans because of the excitement and quality coach Grobe has brought.  This is how we will began to expand our fan base into at least a regional brand, and start “traveling” like fans of other schools do.  It’s exciting to look up into those stands and see a sellout or near sellout.  Go Deacs!

Jim on 10/26/2011 (8:37 am)

Thanks for the history lesson Dan.  As a relatively new Deac Fan (6 years) it opened up my eyes to a how truly great Coach Grobe’s accomplishments are.  But as far as I’m concerned the apogee of his success isn’t the Conference Championship in ’06 or his 100 wins at while coaching at traditionally weak football schools such as Ohio U & Wake Forest.  It’s that he’s done it the right way. 

Wake is a model for other schools with respect to combining winning with academic standards.  Another thing he’s done is implement consequences when a player steps out of line.  We’ve had some talented players leave the program the past few years for making bonehead moves off the field, yet instead of it hurting the program it’s actually strengthened it. 

While everyone will question coaching strategy and player personnel evaluations from time-to-time no one should question what Coach Grobe and his staff has done to make Wake a significant major college football program.

GO DEACS!

Deac Fan on 10/26/2011 (8:19 am)

Well I plan too…give Bzedlik the same consideration some weren’t even willing to give Coach Grobe last year. I really think he is a teacher, just like he said, but he had some “unteachables” last year. Its been so long since I played a team sport, but I remember the dynamics were really affected by the character of the individuals who made up the team….let’s hope Wake basketball is heading in the right direction. On the topic Coach Grobe is a very intuitive individual it seems. I only hope blind loyalty to his staff doesn’t become a liability. But he is a diffeence maker for sure.

pensive1 on 10/26/2011 (8:09 am)

Jim Grobe is the miracle man.  He has been able to accomplish things at Wake Forest that seemed impossible.  That said, he also does some nonsensical things.  A good example is keeping his best running back off the football field.

John Sanders on 10/26/2011 (7:36 am)

Jan, Thank you.

Doug on 10/26/2011 (5:59 am)

Thomas, I know we can work out something. I appreciate the interest. Were you by any chance planning on coming to any of the early-season basketball games? Is so, I could do it then. I’d love to meet you. Another possibility might be before a football game. That would certainly cut down shipping and handling. We’ll figure something out.

Dan Collins on 10/25/2011 (11:51 pm)

I am glad to see the support for Coach Grobe.  Wake is lucky to have him.  But I remember last year ... Most of you in the gallery wanted Grobe’s head.  It is easy to mention graduation rates and academic standards when the team is winning.  There is another coach at Wake with standards.  He is cleaning house.  But his team was terrible last year and they will not win too many this year.  Will you be patient with Bzdelik?  Give him a chance to clean up the mess and then recruit 4-5 classes of kids?  Regardless of the UNC outcome, I hope you still support Grobe.  When we ar 4-21 this February, I hope you are patient with Buzz.

Tony on 10/25/2011 (11:16 pm)

Grobe is a great fit at Wake because he is humble but quietly confident! Thanks Coach!

Ken Green on 10/25/2011 (8:22 pm)

Thanks for the history lesson and putting what Coach Grobe has done in perspective. Proud to be a Deac!

sdk on 10/25/2011 (7:59 pm)

Thanks Dan,

100 victories is great. Add in the years of super kids getting a great education and degrees from WFU, and that is a story

EK on 10/25/2011 (5:59 pm)

I love this -> `If anybody can think of a way to improve on 0-11’ and a lady said `How about just playing 10 games?’.

It reminds me of my favorite Jim Valvano story.  He said in his early years at NC State a “fan” told him if he didn’t start beating UNC he was going to kill Valvano’s dog.  Valvano replied that he didn’t have a dog.  The next day a new dog was delivered to his door with a note on it’s collar saying “Don’t get too attached”.

Charles on 10/25/2011 (4:12 pm)

Doug, reading your comments over the last couple years believe me you have more then 10%....

Jan on 10/25/2011 (4:03 pm)

Far be it from me to disagree with Coach Grobe - but, yes, Coach Grobe, it IS you!  Congratulations, Coach!  You make us Wake Forest fans proud in so many ways!

Matt on 10/25/2011 (2:47 pm)

It hit me hard after the Florida State game. I could not believe my luck. One of college footballs biggest fans and as a student I took the field when the late Bob Waters won his 100th game. And this past Saturday at Duke I at least had a front row seat. I know some will roll their eyes when I say this that is fine I can live with it, but I will take the CLASS of Bob Waters and Jim Grobe over the wins anyday. That is what makes me a fan. ( and wish I had 10% of that )

Doug on 10/25/2011 (2:41 pm)

Dan,

Thanks for the post.  I am grateful to have Coach Grobe and his staff at Wake Forest.  The success that the football team has had during Grobe’s tenure has certainly changed the expectations that the Wake Forest community has for the team going forward, as it is now established that we can compete with anyone.  As you mentioned, that truly is an amazing accomplishment when you consider the program’s difficult history. 

But I think that Coach Grobe’s biggest accomplishment is achieving that success without allowing the University’s reputation or standards (academic or otherwise) to be diminished in the process.  This just enhances my pride in Coach Grobe and the rest of the Wake Forest football team.  Keep up the good work!

DC on 10/25/2011 (2:40 pm)