Buzz rewarded for being one of only 13 coaches to keep team in Top 35 three years running

News that Buzz Williams is likely to stay at Marquette rather than be part of the coaching auction elsewhere was met by happiness among almost all Marquette faithful, though some skeptics might argue Buzz has fallen short of expectations.

However, one interesting post noted fairly that if MU is paying a Top 20 salary that we should hope for Top 20 results, and that MU was almost there based on Sagarin and Pomeroy ratings. However, when comparing MU's three year performance under Buzz to all other schools based on that criteria, MU's consistency over Buzz's tenure is one of the best 20 in college basketball. Actually, only 13 programs have managed to finish as one of the top 35 teams in the country, and even if you soften the requirement to finishing in the Top 45 three years in a row, Buzz's performance is clearly one of the top 20 in the country:

Here are the final ratings according to Pomeroy of those 21 schools:

Rank	Team	2009	2010	2011	Average
1	Kansas	10	2	2	5
2	Duke	11	1	3	5
3	Syracuse	15	4	10	10
4	West Virginia	9	8	21	13
5	Pittsburgh	5	31	5	14
6	Ohio St.	37	5	1	14
7	Purdue	18	16	9	14
8	Brigham Young	21	10	13	15
9	Texas	23	18	4	15
10	Wisconsin	29	9	7	15
11	Washington	17	30	16	21
12	Clemson	22	20	23	22
13	Villanova	14	21	32	22
14	Michigan St.	8	23	40	24
15	San Diego St.	33	41	8	27
16	Marquette	19	33	31	28
17	Georgetown	27	13	45	28
18	Florida St.	36	24	30	30
19	Notre Dame	38	38	15	30
20	Butler	45	12	37	31
21	Florida	42	45	17	35

Remember, being a Top 20 program does not mean you are in the Top 20 every year, any more than being the top program means you win the National Championship every year. I don't believe anyone would have predicted three years ago that MU would make this list three years or the tournament three years running.

For those few who believe that if we are just critical enough of the time it will make them better because they will be scared of a critical post if they don't win the national title, I really don't believe it works that way. Buzz has this program on the right track.

Congrats Buzz, you deserve it!