By Adam Zagoria on February 10, 2012, 11:03AM
GREENBURGH, N.Y. — If you believe everything you read these days, Jeremy Lin is single-handedly responsible for the Knicks’ modest three-game winning streak.
And Steve Novak will be the first to give Linsanity its just due.
“Everyone’s been able to see how valuable [he is], the way he gets in the paint on offense and finds guys, how valuable that is,” Novak, whose team meets Kobe Bryant and the Lakers tonight at Madison Square Garden, said earlier this week at the Knicks training facility.
Novak, perhaps more than any other Knick, has benefitted from Lin’s passing. (more…)
By Adam Zagoria on December 08, 2011, 11:59AM
NEW YORK — Buzz Williams has helped build a national powerhouse at Marquette in part by recruiting junior college players who slip under the radar.
Current stars Darius Johnson-Odom and Jae Crowder are both junior college products excelling for the No. 11 Golden Eagles (8-0).
With both players set to graduate this year, the next junior college star in the making at Marquette could be T.J. Taylor, a 6-4, 215-pound guard who will have three years of eligibility remaining after he arrives from Paris Junior College in Texas.
“He’s a big guard that can shoot the ball, can play multiple positions,” Paris coach Chuck Taylor told FiveStarBasketball.com. “He’s really athletic. He’s got a great frame.”
Click here to read the full story at FiveStarBasketball.com.
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By Adam Zagoria on December 07, 2011, 2:06AM
NEW YORK -- Maybe it is Jae Crowder’s hair.
Maybe it is Marquette’s history of success with junior college players.
Maybe it is coach Buzz Williams’ own background as a JUCO coach.
Or maybe it’s some combination of all those factors that has inextricably linked Marquette to the word “toughness” in recent years. (more…)
By Adam Zagoria on September 03, 2011, 10:36AM
Deonte Burton, a 6-foot-4, 236-pound small forward originally from Milwaukee, verbally pledged to Marquette Friday.
“I picked Marquette because it felt like the perfect place for me and as soon as I stepped foot on campus, I felt Marquette was the place for me,” Burton said by text. “Then Buzz [Williams] is the perfect coach for me and I feel he will push me to limits I didn’t know was possible.”
Now at Brewster (N.H.) Academy, Burton is the Rivals No. 8 small forward in the Class of 2013.
The commitment was first reported by NY2LASports.
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By Adam Zagoria on April 01, 2011, 12:21PM
Marquette coach Buzz Williams has signed a seven-year rollover contract extension at $2 million annually.
“The new agreement is an acknowledgement of Buzz’s standing as one of the rising stars in collegiate coaching,” Marquette AD Steve Cottingham said. “The current direction of the program under his leadership fits perfectly into the mission and values of the University. Buzz has done a tremendous job guiding the program to successes both on and off the court and we look forward to that continuing for many years to come.” (more…)
By Adam Zagoria on March 26, 2011, 9:30AM
In response to multiple reports that Georgia Tech has offered Dayton’s Brian Gregory the head coaching job, the school has issued a statement.
Georgia Tech associate AD Wayne Hogan said:
The search for the next men’s basketball coach at Georgia Tech has not concluded and is still ongoing, contrary to a number of published internet reports on Friday. As is our policy, we do not comment on ongoing searches. However, due to these erroneous reports we felt compelled to clarify the status of the search process. (more…)
By Adam Zagoria on March 25, 2011, 10:21PM
NEWARK -- It’s never a good idea to ask a coach after an NCAA Tournament loss if he plans on leaving for another job.
It’s certainly never a good idea to ask him publicly. You know, in a room full of reporters. When he’s in front of a microphone.
At least not if you want a shred of truth in the answer.
Why, just last week an intrepid reporter ask then-Missouri coach Mike Anderson after his team lost to Cincinnati in the first round if he wanted to address rumors linking him to the Arkansas job. (more…)
By Adam Zagoria on March 25, 2011, 12:10PM
In this interview with ZAGSBLOG and SNY.tv, Marquette assistant Aki Collins previews tonight’s Sweet 16 matchup in Newark between the Golden Eagles and 2009 NCAA Champ North Carolina.
A hot name in the Coaching Carousel, Collins also addresses his desire to one day become a Division 1 head coach.
“It’s definitely my goal to become a head coach,” he said. “The chips will fall where they may. If it’s this year that I get a job, great. If not, we’ll be back here next year and we’ll have a really good team next year at Marquette. And at some point in time, I believe I’ll be a head coach.”
For more on Marquette, read Mike Vorkunov’s piece today about how the Golden Eagles are a reflection of head coach Buzz Williams.
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By Adam Zagoria on March 11, 2011, 3:39PM
One day after being offered by West Virginia, Notre Dame Prep guard Todd Mayo has chosen another Big East school.
“I’m committing to Marquette,” he said by text.
The 6-foot-4 Mayo also considered Central Florida, Memphis, Baylor and Oklahoma State.
“I’ve had a long year here at Notre Dame Prep, and while some schools are picking up interest now, Marquette has also been loyal to me the whole way,” he said. “I also like the fact that their whole staff has seen me play and they all feel like I’m a great fit for the Marquette family. I’ve grown to trust Aki Collins and Buzz Williams and feel certain that they can help take my game to the highest level possible.” (more…)
