Holmgren has not been contacted yet...







Barnyard - did you see the part of the story where Holmgren said Johnson has been in touch with Holmgren when Johnson was still an assistant at Xavier?

Granted, Holmgren has been contacted by lots of coaches - but the point is, Holmgren knows who Ben Johnson is, and he is certainly aware that Johnson is the new HC at MN. It's not like they need to be introduced by a mutual friend.

Whether you meant to or not, your initial post seemed to imply that Johnson either was not interested in Holmgren, or was making some grave mistake by not immediately reaching out to him.

Look, I think the chance of Holmgren going to MN is about .5%. But the situation is clearly different than the picture you presented. Sounds like you or one of your sources has an ax to grind?
 

Whether you meant to or not, your initial post seemed to imply that Johnson either was not interested in Holmgren, or was making some grave mistake by not immediately reaching out to him.
While I tend to agree with your assessment here ............. what would possibly be the reasonable justification, in your opinion, for the delay?
 

This thread was started much earlier in the week. I would hope by now they have connected. Our dads haven’t talked since then...unfortunately, so I can’t confirm.
Has been confirmed by multiple other sources that they have connected so probably don't need the dad line anymore on this one :)
 

While I tend to agree with your assessment here ............. what would possibly be the reasonable justification, in your opinion, for the delay?

I don't know that there was a "delay." and neither do you. you are taking the word of an post on a message board that is based on a second-hand or third-hand comment.

But, since you asked - let's try this:

Johnson is a brand new HC at a D1 program. He has to prioritize. He has at least some type of prior relationship with Holmgren, having contacted Holmgren when Johnson was at Xavier. He has a lot of work to do and a lot of players to contact, so he is prioritizing players that he has not had prior contact with, and (key thought) that he might have a better chance of landing.

Like it or not, the odds of Holmgren going to MN at this point in the process are very low. The odds were probably 0% with Pitino. With Johnson, they might be 1%. Holmgren is the #1 recruit in the state, so Johnson has to - at the very least - reach out to him. But Johnson is also being realistic in targeting players who are more likely to consider MN for next year.

Unfortunately with Holmgren, I think that ship has already sailed. I don't blame Johnson for that. I blame the coach who was at MN the last 8 years.
 






I don't know that there was a "delay." and neither do you. you are taking the word of an post on a message board that is based on a second-hand or third-hand comment.

But, since you asked - let's try this:

Johnson is a brand new HC at a D1 program. He has to prioritize. He has at least some type of prior relationship with Holmgren, having contacted Holmgren when Johnson was at Xavier. He has a lot of work to do and a lot of players to contact, so he is prioritizing players that he has not had prior contact with, and (key thought) that he might have a better chance of landing.

Like it or not, the odds of Holmgren going to MN at this point in the process are very low. The odds were probably 0% with Pitino. With Johnson, they might be 1%. Holmgren is the #1 recruit in the state, so Johnson has to - at the very least - reach out to him. But Johnson is also being realistic in targeting players who are more likely to consider MN for next year.

Unfortunately with Holmgren, I think that ship has already sailed. I don't blame Johnson for that. I blame the coach who was at MN the last 8 years.
Certainly not a new concept on message boards but has been really interesting to see the leaps some people are making based on a tiny sliver of possible information.

It honestly feels like there are some fans that think he should have been on the phone to Chet the moment he was hired for the Minnesota job. And that not doing that is going to have some major impact on the decision Chet makes.

Don't get me wrong, I would love to see the kid come here. Would be a heck of an introduction to Minnesota Basketball if Johnson was somehow able to make that happen. But in the big picture, Chet is at most a 1 year guy in all likelihood so for Johnson he probably isn't the same massive priority he is for some members of our fanbase.

If winning in 21-22 was the priority then getting a guy like Chet would be key but the reality is that Johnson isn't going to be judged by the on the court results next season while he works to rebuild the roster.
 




To those of you who have seen CH play, is he seriously a one and done guy? I understand he has the handles, shooting ability, and obviously size, but have no idea on guickness and strength. Is he that close (1 year of college) to the NBA?
 

Certainly not a new concept on message boards but has been really interesting to see the leaps some people are making based on a tiny sliver of possible information.

It honestly feels like there are some fans that think he should have been on the phone to Chet the moment he was hired for the Minnesota job. And that not doing that is going to have some major impact on the decision Chet makes.

Don't get me wrong, I would love to see the kid come here. Would be a heck of an introduction to Minnesota Basketball if Johnson was somehow able to make that happen. But in the big picture, Chet is at most a 1 year guy in all likelihood so for Johnson he probably isn't the same massive priority he is for some members of our fanbase.

If winning in 21-22 was the priority then getting a guy like Chet would be key but the reality is that Johnson isn't going to be judged by the on the court results next season while he works to rebuild the roster.
I'll go contrarian, sort of, here. Chet becoming a Gopher next year could potentially set the program back if it becomes all about him. And even if he doesn't want it to be all about him, it could be that way as the number one recruit in the country. Unless Chet is an "all in" Ben system and culture guy, having him here could prevent the rebuild from starting next year. Getting his guys, and functionally not needing to worry about wins and losses, gives Ben a chance to implement something. The presence of the best freshman in the country raises win and loss expectations on everyone.
 

To those of you who have seen CH play, is he seriously a one and done guy? I understand he has the handles, shooting ability, and obviously size, but have no idea on guickness and strength. Is he that close (1 year of college) to the NBA?
Is there a single NBA player who is either a starter or significant contributor, who is as much of a literal stick, as he is?

I feel like he might break both legs in half, if he goes against the wrong guy.
 

I'll go contrarian, sort of, here. Chet becoming a Gopher next year could potentially set the program back if it becomes all about him. And even if he doesn't want it to be all about him, it could be that way as the number one recruit in the country. Unless Chet is an "all in" Ben system and culture guy, having him here could prevent the rebuild from starting next year. Getting his guys, and functionally not needing to worry about wins and losses, gives Ben a chance to implement something. The presence of the best freshman in the country raises win and loss expectations on everyone.
Kris Humphries
 

To those of you who have seen CH play, is he seriously a one and done guy? I understand he has the handles, shooting ability, and obviously size, but have no idea on guickness and strength. Is he that close (1 year of college) to the NBA?
I'm not sure the NBA cares about physical readiness to play if they believe there is potential. They can beef him up on their dime.
 

Barnyard - did you see the part of the story where Holmgren said Johnson has been in touch with Holmgren when Johnson was still an assistant at Xavier?

Granted, Holmgren has been contacted by lots of coaches - but the point is, Holmgren knows who Ben Johnson is, and he is certainly aware that Johnson is the new HC at MN. It's not like they need to be introduced by a mutual friend.

Whether you meant to or not, your initial post seemed to imply that Johnson either was not interested in Holmgren, or was making some grave mistake by not immediately reaching out to him.

Look, I think the chance of Holmgren going to MN is about .5%. But the situation is clearly different than the picture you presented. Sounds like you or one of your sources has an ax to grind?

Or maybe he was just passing along something he heard.
 

No it’s going up! .5 before and now it’s all the way to 1. We’ve doubled our chances!
What - you actually expect me to remember something I said an hour ago?

Hate to disappoint you, but I don't spend hours crafting these posts. It's off-the-top-of-my-head based on whatever I'm thinking at that point. Consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds.
 


I'll go contrarian, sort of, here. Chet becoming a Gopher next year could potentially set the program back if it becomes all about him. And even if he doesn't want it to be all about him, it could be that way as the number one recruit in the country. Unless Chet is an "all in" Ben system and culture guy, having him here could prevent the rebuild from starting next year. Getting his guys, and functionally not needing to worry about wins and losses, gives Ben a chance to implement something. The presence of the best freshman in the country raises win and loss expectations on everyone.
A lot harder for a center to be a ball hog than it was for Humphries.
 

Is there a single NBA player who is either a starter or significant contributor, who is as much of a literal stick, as he is?

I feel like he might break both legs in half, if he goes against the wrong guy.
Bol Bol? Chet has held his own against every level of competition he has gone up against, he’ll be fine.
 

A lot harder for a center to be a ball hog than it was for Humphries.
As has been pointed out, Holmgren won't be a center in college (at least not initially). He would get snapped in half if he had to go up against most of the centers in the Big Ten right now.
 

Is there a single NBA player who is either a starter or significant contributor, who is as much of a literal stick, as he is?

I feel like he might break both legs in half, if he goes against the wrong guy.
Kevin Garnett was pretty close to the same.
 

Bol Bol? Chet has held his own against every level of competition he has gone up against, he’ll be fine.

People make way too big of a deal about weight in basketball. This isn't football.

Chet will fill out some as he gets older, but he'll never put on a ton of weight. He'll be just fine as he moves up from college into the NBA.
 







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