***OFFICIAL GARDNER WEBB AT MINNESOTA - THE OFFICIAL START OF THE NIKO MEDVED ERA IN-GAME THREAD!!!***

One of the things Wisconsin has done is keep most of their core guys around for four years. Some of that is changing with the advent of NIL but they built and maintained their system with consistency and commitment to a style of play. Medved doesn't have the luxury of a team that has played together for an extended period of time so I'm giving him a total pass this year (and probably next year as well). As long as the guys stay within his system and play to their ability, it should be a fun season to watch.
He has however, been able to recruit older guys who he thought could play and fit in this system. For the past couple of years, Ben has had to cobble together a roster from nearly scratch. Niko is a much better coach with a better system and I think that the talent has is at least comparable if not better than what Ben had this past year. You always need a few breaks, such as good health and to win a few close ones early. If he gets that I think we do pretty well this year- at least better than expected.
 


He has however, been able to recruit older guys who he thought could play and fit in this system. For the past couple of years, Ben has had to cobble together a roster from nearly scratch. Niko is a much better coach with a better system and I think that the talent has is at least comparable if not better than what Ben had this past year. You always need a few breaks, such as good health and to win a few close ones early. If he gets that I think we do pretty well this year- at least better than expected.
Can't prove the negative, but Johnson may have had a tournament team if Christie, Payne, and Hawkins had stuck around.

To your other point, Medved has a much stronger track record than Johnson did and also has a more firm idea of the system he wants to run. My point about Wisconsin is that them being able to establish the system, bring people up through that system, and keep them around for three or four years has been a real plus for them and mitigates (but doesn't eliminate) any raw physical talent differential.
 

Johnson didn’t have a track record unless you count his days as an assistant at colleges with losing records.
 




Took my Dad to the game. Very fun team to watch. I commented that, in that first game, we saw as many slick passes for easy buckets as we saw all of last season.
 




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