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Rivers Endorses Crean Assistant Williams as Marquette CoachMILWAUKEE (AP) -- Doc Rivers, one of Marquette basketball's most influential figures, says Buzz Williams would make a "terrific" replacement for Tom Crean -- but he doesn't necessarily think the school's search for a new coach is over. The Boston Celtics coach spoke highly of Williams, who led Marquette's recruiting efforts as an assistant to Crean last season. Williams has spoken to Marquette officials about the job and may be emerging as the leading candidate now that Washington State's Tony Bennett and Xavier's Sean Miller appear to be taking a pass. "Buzz wouldn't be a bad guy," said Rivers, a former Marquette player and current university trustee. "He'd be terrific. But they're going to interview a lot of guys, which they're already doing. We'll see. It's a tough loss. Tom was terrific. But we've got to keep going." Crean was introduced as the new head coach at Indiana on Wednesday, leaving the school to search for a replacement. Williams joined Crean's staff last July after one year as the head coach at the University of New Orleans. Before that, Williams was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for two seasons at Texas A&M under then-head coach Billy Gillispie. Williams is a respected recruiter and would give the Golden Eagles a sense of continuity in the wake of Crean's sudden exit -- key strengths that could calm some incoming recruits who are believed to be wavering on their commitment to Marquette. Rivers said he doesn't know Williams particularly well, but thinks he could do the job. "I knew him through Tom and going to practices," said Rivers, who was in Charlotte for the Celtics' game against the Bobcats on Saturday night. "It would be terrific if he got it. We'll see." Rivers said whomever ends up getting the job will have a chance to win right away. Guards Dominic James and Jerel McNeal are considering entering the NBA draft, but neither is considered a potential high first-round pick and might be persuaded to return next season. "Next year is going to have a hell of a basketball team," Rivers said. "That's the one thing that Tom did well: he left the cupboards pretty full, and that's unusual, so that's good." ------ AP Sports Writer Mike Cranston contributed to this report from Charlotte. (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) |
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