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Thompson's shooting has been poor this year, absolutely. To blame Johnson for that is really quite something. Having coached for many years, players go through streaks of poor and hot shooting. There are confidence issues at times Making technical changes on a shooting stroke is very difficult...

Well, we've turned this into a "There's no way Evans and Payne could play together" theme now. I had suggested before that if Payne (or Evans) could develop the ability to score from the elbow area that there may be situations in which they could play together. It was not suggested that this...

Those are decent points, I didn't suggest they would be playing together a great deal, only that there may be times against certain lineups where it would be possible. There would have to be some development from Payne for that to happen at all, and while it would cause one of them to guard a 4...

Well, I wouldn't want to give you specific stats, but the most glaring areas where he will improve are his ability to score and taking care of the ball. He can certainly rebound better than he has so far and defend, and these will improve with time. But I watched him play in high school and in...

That's certainly possible. There may be some times in which they could play together, but Payne would have to show he can shoot it a little. And with injuries and foul trouble, I don't mind having two capable centers on the squad.

He's a late starter and hasn't even come close yet to being the player he's going to be.

I agree with all of these except for Henley, who I believe was pretty awful in December but has reduced his turnovers, boarded better, passed much better ( the floor was low), everything except his shooting.

If you can't see Payne as an unbelievable athlete who's going to get a whole lot better, you'd be in a distinct minority among people around here who have been around basketball for a long time and who know the game. I'm not talking about this year, he has a lot of development ahead of him, and...

I will say Thompson does a few things better this year than last year, although his shooting so far this year has been dismal. He's being more physical and rebounding a bit better, he's turned it over fewer times per min than last year, and he made a jump hook this year, the only "big man" move...

I It may be helpful that this kid has strong family ties with 50-some relatives in the stands for his HS games. That may help him to stay close to home. Has anyone seen him play live? I heard someone say he was more of a "2" which wouldn't help quite as much, but if he can handle it and give us...

I agree that there are a lot of takes here that are very shaky. You might be able to say the talent is better at many of the positions (except clearly at point guard) if/when you assume some of the freshmen will keep improving, but the talent level right now is only better at the 4. And you...

Thanks, to be honest, I'm not sure I appreciate your constant sarcasm and negative energy. Would you be willing to put something substantive in once in a while?

I don't think too many of us here believe that Johnson should stay on for multiple years if he's not showing progress. But as previously noted this is really his first HS class on the court this year. And some of you have already determined that he can't coach. Like any other coach who's been...

Some of us don't mind I think a lot of people on this board don't mind a mature exchange of opinions. It would be nice if everyone could follow through with that thinking.

Just a couple things about this. When you have so few competent players and can't afford foul trouble, man to man defense isn't a great option, especially when you don't defend particularly well and the other team is far quicker than you are. Had the Gophers played a man defense, the results...

Certainly the jury is still out on the freshmen. JOJ is showing he can contribute, Payne clearly is talented enough to contribute but has been disappointing with his reluctance to shoot or drive to the hoop when he has opportunities. Henley shows promise athletically, but needs to learn play...

I hear what you're saying, and I'm way outnumbered here by people who don't think Johnson can coach worth a damn. I've played and coached for many years, which doesn't make me an expert, but my experience is that better players make coaches a hell of a lot better. Coaching acumen is incredibly...

Well, it's certainly reasonable to suggest people weren't calling for his head. But after two 3-15 seasons in the Big Ten, nobody was calling for his head? I don't know if you were at Rutgers during those years and were aware of that, but if you were, you know more than I about it. And "once or...

I'm not aware I said anything about "RU's fanbase attitude", and I'm not sure that has to do with anything I said. Also, was Minnesota's success level going to the tournament "once or twice every few years?" I don't think it was quite that successful. Perhaps your memory is different than mine.

I think having hope and confidence in a coach because he's had a track record is great, but I think having a good product on the floor will determine in the end whether this will work with Johnson. It certainly hasn't happened yet, but shouldn't that determine it?