Shooter: Don’t be surprised if former Orono star Nolan Groves ends up with the Gophers for his sophomore season.

Donate To GopherHole
BleedGopher

BleedGopher

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 11, 2008
Messages
64,144
Reaction score
23,075
Points
113
Per Shooter:

—Texas Tech is ranked No. 16, and guard Nolan Groves is averaging 0.9 points and 6.4 minutes a game on a $125,000 per year NIL deal. Don’t be surprised if the former Orono star ends up with the Gophers for his sophomore season.

www.twincities.com

Walters: We’ll learn soon how comfortable the Vikings are with J.J. McCarthy

The Vikings will add a veteran QB in March. That QB’s track record will be the true indication of how they feel about McCarthy.
www.twincities.com www.twincities.com

Go Gophers!!
 




This obsession with the ones-of-us is never-ending. Maybe go after players with demonstrated actual production? Spending NIL on projects/flyers seems… unwise. Maybe you get the hometown discount, but I’d still rather spend on proven production.
 


formerlybis said:
This obsession with the ones-of-us is never-ending. Maybe go after players with demonstrated actual production? Spending NIL on projects/flyers seems… unwise. Maybe you get the hometown discount, but I’d still rather spend on proven production.
Click to expand...
Correct. Niko can't afford to have a team of projects that may or may not be ready in 2 years. Nolan Groves would be better served getting minutes in a lower/mid major where he develops his game to then come back to Minnesota.
 

howeda7 said:
Groves and Evans would be good additions.
Click to expand...
Niko is going to go out and get good guards who can defend shoot and run. Groves? I don't know much about him. Evans is a good shooter who succeeded in Niko's system next to Nicque Clifford.
He is a defensive liability against big guards. I'd take him, but I am not sure a duo of Evans and Asuma are what is needed to be an upper division Big Ten team next year. That is going to be what Niko is going for and I think Tomes is probably similar to Evans at this point as a shooter. Niko is going to be looking for a better shooting version of Reynolds- a lockdown defender who can score.
 

bga1 said:
Niko is going to go out and get good guards who can defend shoot and run. Groves? I don't know much about him. Evans is a good shooter who succeeded in Niko's system next to Nicque Clifford.
He is a defensive liability against big guards. I'd take him, but I am not sure a duo of Evans and Asuma are what is needed to be an upper division Big Ten team next year. That is going to be what Niko is going for and I think Tomes is probably similar to Evans at this point as a shooter. Niko is going to be looking for a better shooting version of Reynolds- a lockdown defender who can score.
Click to expand...
While we're at it...

I know he's a one-of-us, but Asuma is not performing at anything but a lower end B10 PG, and that's being kind (the Torvik site has a ranking function by role, and he's the 15th best "scoring PG" in the B10). An upgrade would not only be welcome, it'd be advised.
 

Asuma, Durkins, Crocker-Johnson and Groves would seem to be players the coach would want to retain. Add Willis and Vaihola if they appear to fully recover from injuries. Add the three freshmen. I have no idea if Omot or Stephens will be able to play again. I suspect the coach might think he can upgrade from Turner and Shinholster. Evans pops to mind. Groves ?? I suspect not. It might be a good idea to use all available scholarships next season.
 



Emil said:
Asuma, Durkins, Crocker-Johnson and Groves would seem to be players the coach would want to retain. Add Willis and Vaihola if they appear to fully recover from injuries. Add the three freshmen. I have no idea if Omot or Stephens will be able to play again. I suspect the coach might think he can upgrade from Turner and Shinholster. Evans pops to mind. Groves ?? I suspect not. It might be a good idea to use all available scholarships next season.
Click to expand...
Everyone is subject to being upgraded. JCJ and Durkin are at least average B10-quality players, but they need more Tyson/Garcia-level guys to really compete. If said players happen to play either of those guys' roles. well, too bad.
 

formerlybis said:
While we're at it...

I know he's a one-of-us, but Asuma is not performing at anything but a lower end B10 PG, and that's being kind (the Torvik site has a ranking function by role, and he's the 15th best "scoring PG" in the B10). An upgrade would not only be welcome, it'd be advised.
Click to expand...
He’s definitely had an up and down season but I see significant improvement from last year. Part of the issue I believe is that because of Willis injury Asuma is forced to be the main ball handler and playing 40 minutes a night. I still think he will be a really solid all around player the next two seasons.
 

bmb5270 said:
He’s definitely had an up and down season but I see significant improvement from last year. Part of the issue I believe is that because of Willis injury Asuma is forced to be the main ball handler and playing 40 minutes a night. I still think he will be a really solid all around player the next two seasons.
Click to expand...
I’d argue he needs to be the main ball handler. He is not a SG. He’s had the opportunity to shoot much higher volume this year, and they need a pure shooter in the off guard role.

Asuma is struggling because he has to do way too much ATM with the injuries. With more talent around him, I think he will be a capable big ten PG and a shooter that can keep the defense honest (won’t be getting the Reynolds treatment).
 




formerlybis said:
While we're at it...

I know he's a one-of-us, but Asuma is not performing at anything but a lower end B10 PG, and that's being kind (the Torvik site has a ranking function by role, and he's the 15th best "scoring PG" in the B10). An upgrade would not only be welcome, it'd be advised.
Click to expand...
He has been much better than last year but pretty inconsistent on offense. Defensively he has upped his game nicely. We need a guy with Reynold type athleticism, but a better shooter next to Asuma. Even with all the great movement in this offense, you still need a guy or two who can go to the rim in order to help shooters like Durkin and Anderson effective.

If I am Niko, I am out there after an athletic 2 guard, a veteran wing that can shoot it and a 5 that can stretch the defense. I just have a feeling that Mpoyi will be ready to supply 20-25 minutes of post play. Gophers are still working a top 100 6-7 wing as well.
 


LesBolstad said:
Are you kidding me? We're down to essentially 6 players, two of which are marginal B10 level- Grove and Shinholster. We had to play a NAIA level player last night
Click to expand...
It depends on who else is in the portal and gettable. If a guy couldn’t see the floor in the B12, he’s unlikely to be above marginal B10 level. There should be better options.

But he’s one of us….
 


LesBolstad said:
Are you kidding me? We're down to essentially 6 players, two of which are marginal B10 level- Grove and Shinholster. We had to play a NAIA level player last night
Click to expand...

That's not relevant to next season. The question is whether Nolan Groves is better than what we could pick up in the transfer portal. If we want to go after a former Minnesota high school player that could make a real impact, go after Daniel Freitag if he hits the portal. He's averaging 20 points per game with Buffalo this season.
 
Last edited:

Emil said:
Asuma, Durkins, Crocker-Johnson and Groves would seem to be players the coach would want to retain. Add Willis and Vaihola if they appear to fully recover from injuries. Add the three freshmen. I have no idea if Omot or Stephens will be able to play again. I suspect the coach might think he can upgrade from Turner and Shinholster. Evans pops to mind. Groves ?? I suspect not. It might be a good idea to use all available scholarships next season.
Click to expand...
I agree for the most part. Asuma, Durkin, Crocker-Johnson, and Grove are the base. Willis would have added a lot to the team this year and could be a big part next year. Add the three freshman and we're up to 8. The last four spots will be interesting. We definitely need size so I suspect Vaihola (if healthy) would be welcomed back. Probably need another 4 or 5. Need a contributing shooting guard so Asuma doesn't have to shoot much, a la Reynolds this year. When Asuma shoots a lot bad things happen. That would make 11. Is Shinholster worth the 12th spot? Is Nolan Groves worth the 12th spot? Will the 12th spot go to another freshman? It will be interesting to see what Niko does to surround the base.
 

formerlybis said:
It depends on who else is in the portal and gettable. If a guy couldn’t see the floor in the B12, he’s unlikely to be above marginal B10 level. There should be better options.

But he’s one of us….
Click to expand...
Fully agree people over play the one of us angle when it comes to players, especially in basketball.

That said, I wouldn't write him off for not being able to see the floor on a good team in a good conference (Big 12 basketball is not the same as Big 12 football when comparing it to the Big 10).

Cade Tyson wasn't able to do much for North Carolina but they clearly saw something in him and he has been great for us. So I am willing to give Niko the benefit of the doubt in that if they do go after this kid it isn't just because he played his high school ball in Minnesota.
 

Indiana Gopher said:
I agree for the most part. Asuma, Durkin, Crocker-Johnson, and Grove are the base. Willis would have added a lot to the team this year and could be a big part next year. Add the three freshman and we're up to 8. The last four spots will be interesting. We definitely need size so I suspect Vaihola (if healthy) would be welcomed back. Probably need another 4 or 5. Need a contributing shooting guard so Asuma doesn't have to shoot much, a la Reynolds this year. When Asuma shoots a lot bad things happen. That would make 11. Is Shinholster worth the 12th spot? Is Nolan Groves worth the 12th spot? Will the 12th spot go to another freshman? It will be interesting to see what Niko does to surround the base.
Click to expand...
Isn't
Indiana Gopher said:
I agree for the most part. Asuma, Durkin, Crocker-Johnson, and Grove are the base. Willis would have added a lot to the team this year and could be a big part next year. Add the three freshman and we're up to 8. The last four spots will be interesting. We definitely need size so I suspect Vaihola (if healthy) would be welcomed back. Probably need another 4 or 5. Need a contributing shooting guard so Asuma doesn't have to shoot much, a la Reynolds this year. When Asuma shoots a lot bad things happen. That would make 11. Is Shinholster worth the 12th spot? Is Nolan Groves worth the 12th spot? Will the 12th spot go to another freshman? It will be interesting to see what Niko does to surround the base.
Click to expand...
Isn't there a 13th scholarship spot available?
 

10 of the 12 current scholarship players have eligibility to return and we have two freshman. So technically we're full. I don't expect Turner or Stephens back, and probably not Shinholster either. And statistically at least one more probably won't return (Omot/Viohola/Willis). So we probably have 4 portal spots to fill. You can add Groves and Evans and still have two more spots to upgrade with.
 


MNVCGUY said:
Fully agree people over play the one of us angle when it comes to players, especially in basketball.

That said, I wouldn't write him off for not being able to see the floor on a good team in a good conference (Big 12 basketball is not the same as Big 12 football when comparing it to the Big 10).

Cade Tyson wasn't able to do much for North Carolina but they clearly saw something in him and he has been great for us. So I am willing to give Niko the benefit of the doubt in that if they do go after this kid it isn't just because he played his high school ball in Minnesota.
Click to expand...
Let him prove himself at a lower level. Tyson at least showed something at Belmont. I was skeptical of his lack of floor time at UNC, but it worked out.
 



LesBolstad said:
Are you kidding me? We're down to essentially 6 players, two of which are marginal B10 level- Grove and Shinholster. We had to play a NAIA level player last night
Click to expand...

As long as they don’t give him any NIL… he got NIL this year and has done nothing.. make him prove himself… he is a mid major player but if a solid mid major is our 7th-8th man let’s go… like Heise at Iowa St
 


Well we get fifteen spots and I would rather have Nolan Groves than RJ Spencer and Max Gizzi, Niko wanted him in the spring, probably won't play much next year but if Niko thinks he can develop him let's see what he's got.i am sure we will add older guys too
 

MNVCGUY said:
Cade Tyson wasn't able to do much for North Carolina but they clearly saw something in him and he has been great for us.
Click to expand...

But Cade Tyson established himself as a scorer at Belmont so he had that history. Nolan Groves has no history at the collegiate level. He's a bit like Freitag after his freshman year at Wisconsin but Freitag has established himself as an impact player (20 points per game) at Buffalo this season. Once you do that the likelihood that you can do that again improves.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom