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BUZZ WILLIAMS’ FRIEND/COACHING SCUTTLEBUTT/COREY EDWARDS UPDATE

by RAY MERNAGH

Marquette’s Biggest Fan

Last night after Marquette blasted Louisville, I noticed some of the players pointing out a man to Buzz Williams.

Williams and the players made a dramatic left turn towards the scorers table and greeted the man, who was even more excited than they were (and if you saw them last night that’s pretty damn excited). I had to get the story and asked Williams about it this morning when we were texting back and forth.

I figured he might have been the father of a player or a long-lost buddy. Turns out it was a man that Williams has had an ongoing friendship/dialogue with for some time. The man pops up all the time to visit Williams and the two talk about every day stuff while at the same time building some trust with each other. “It’s the craziest deal,” wrote Williams, “he knows when we play out of town and he’s waiting when our bus gets back to the office so he can say hello to me. He was so fired up last night, I wasn’t even sure he would show up because I knew he would be nervous in public. Our kids are the ones that saw him come out of the stands to see me.”

Williams said that Jimmy Butler was especially surprised. “Coach,” said Butler, “look, he came!” And if you saw the joy on the faces of the players at the moment they saw the man, it tells you a lot about Marquette, their kids, the program they’re building, and Williams. The players know the man’s homeless. They also know that he, like them, has built up some trust by following through on certain “suggestions” Williams makes to help himself and his situation. The education they’re getting at Marquette, even while immersed in basketball and away from the traditional “classroom” is truly in the Jesuit tradition. Williams and his players are definitely helping each other grow in mind, heart and spirit.

In the world of big-time college basketball that’s unbelievably huge…and so, so rare.

Coaching Scuttlebutt

While there are reports saying interim coach Jared Grasso thinks he’ll be back next season in a full time role at Fordham, and it could happen, it’s not what Fordham wants to happen…

To see the latest on the Fordham job search, including their #1 target, as well as some other major college assistant coaches that could be getting looks, you can sign up for NBE Premium access and SUBSCRIBE (HERE) to read on below…which also includes a Corey Edwards recruiting update as the Christ the King 2011 point guard is up to three Big East offers…

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