So he gets less than 3 years to define his legacy here? And that legacy is totally dependent on his 2015 class? What if he were to sign nothing but 5-star recruits in 2016 and 2017? What if he signed only 3-star recruits from here on out but went to the elite 8 every year? Yes 2015 will be important since it is a big class, but it is far from a make/break situation.
What if you weren't such a know it all dip****? Nothing but 5-star recruits? Went to the Elite 8 each year? Ya, two very believable scenarios. You really got me, super fan. Nobody said it's a make/break situation. Look at the needs after Walker/Elliason and Mathieu/Hollins are gone. If you get three classes of recruits in a row without at least one or two of the type of recruit Michigan State, Michigan, and Ohio State get, it's going to be harder and harder to make that move to the top. Doesn't mean he can't be successful here, but odds are we'll be closer to the bubble every year rather than a high seed.
This bro is all sorts of angry
I think Mo will get even better this offseason. Last offseason was spent losing weight and trimming down, and this offseason should be about getting stronger, quicker, and more powerful. He also has to work on grabbing the ball and securing it, and not turning it over so much down low. To say Mo is "who he is" at this moment I have to disagree with. We haven't seen the best of Mo yet.
I thought he'd finally do it when Andre intentionally fouled at the end of last night's game. But nope.
That's what I thought, considering we needed a rebound and EE is our best rebounder...
King had a nice season, but did poorly on the boards. Mo improved tremendously over the course of the season; even with all that improvement, I don't trust him in the least to get a rebound or defend anyone. For a guy who has some pretty footwork on the offensive end, his defensive footwork and positioning are terrible. Then there's Elliott. If EE can develop inside moves on offense, he'd be the best center in the B1G. Not that that is easy to do, but Mo accomplished it, can't see why EE couldn't as well. On the other hand, can't see why Mo can't become a good defender and rebounder. Both have great opportunities to become elite B1G centers in their senior seasons, given development of these deficiencies.
I'd like to see them both on the floor in certain situations. Think about it, given next year's roster it would be nice to see these guys each get over 20 minutes a game. To accomplish that, both need to improve.
What if you weren't such a know it all dip****? Nothing but 5-star recruits? Went to the Elite 8 each year? Ya, two very believable scenarios. You really got me, super fan. Nobody said it's a make/break situation. Look at the needs after Walker/Elliason and Mathieu/Hollins are gone. If you get three classes of recruits in a row without at least one or two of the type of recruit Michigan State, Michigan, and Ohio State get, it's going to be harder and harder to make that move to the top. Doesn't mean he can't be successful here, but odds are we'll be closer to the bubble every year rather than a high seed.
IMO There is NO way that Joey King can play the 3! He is not quick enough, or athletic enough. He couldn't guard other players at the 3.
Not sure what your enormous beef is with Carlos Morris, but I do hope you realize that you're setting yourself up for GH ridicule every time he does anything positive next season. Just FYI.
I personally cannot wait for this.
From the worship the coach, but rip all the players except Mathieu crowd? Do you realize how remote this possibility is unless Pollyanna gets a job?
I don't know when it's going to happen, but I just have a feeling you're going to get banned at some point. Probably sometime before the end of next season.
You would be amazed at what a player can accomplish in 4 years. As a rule of thumb, I never give up on a player before he's played his first game.
With all of the Carlos Morris speculation, I was inspired to go back and read comments about Mathieu before he played his first game for us. Specifically I read the thread about him being MVP in a scrimmage. gopherhoopsguy was the first to predict he would be our best player. Quite the prediction, kudos to him. To no surprise The-Real-Truth was a hater from the start, claiming people were only optimistic because they hated Tubby and loved Richard.
I also found this gem from Howieanna while checking some preseason posts suggesting Buggs would never become a valuable player.
Pollyanna, comparing Buggs to Morris is like comparing apples to oranges. A JUCO needs to be able to play on the big stage right away. As I have stated, IMO Morris will not be a B1G average player when he walks on campus. I have never said he can't be a Malik Smith type role player. You have stated 3 or 4 times he is better than Austin.
Glad to hear you were inspired. If you find a job the board will be able to go back to normal.
I'm confused about where Piper is in his decision process.
I am gonna go out on a limb and say zero ****s are given on his end. however, I cannot wait for the squirrel to have a breakout game
Agreed. We're a pressing team and our offense depends on good ballhandlers. I think Pitino recruits guys like Morris and Piper to play SF in his system. Austin Hollins was a pretty ideal SF actually. In a perfect world, Joey King is a stretch 4 who plays 10-15 minutes off the bench, but if he starts at all it will be at PF.
I almost like the idea of starting Elliot and King at 4 and 5 that way you get the defense and rebounding Elliot brings with the main scoring threats at the guard positions. You bring in Walker and Martin off the bench and Martin is hopefully your defensive/rebounding target while Mo is the main scoring threat on the floor for the bigs.
Just my thought.
Mo is better, he'll start over EE. I also like Mo starting because he is a force on offense which means every game there is a chance the other team's starting big man could get into quick foul trouble. EE would be better suited as a energy and hustle guy off the bench.
My comment about "who he is" was poorly written. I did not mean he couldnt improve from where he is. I am willing to give him the chance to develop a post game this summer. I am just saying that if he isnt the biggest guy ouy there he is hampered by inferior athleticism. He has one move, a jump hook over his left shoulder. I hope he makes another big leap this year. He does do fairly well making free throws for a big guy.
That's what I thought, considering we needed a rebound and EE is our best rebounder...
King had a nice season, but did poorly on the boards. Mo improved tremendously over the course of the season; even with all that improvement, I don't trust him in the least to get a rebound or defend anyone. For a guy who has some pretty footwork on the offensive end, his defensive footwork and positioning are terrible. Then there's Elliott. If EE can develop inside moves on offense, he'd be the best center in the B1G. Not that that is easy to do, but Mo accomplished it, can't see why EE couldn't as well. On the other hand, can't see why Mo can't become a good defender and rebounder. Both have great opportunities to become elite B1G centers in their senior seasons, given development of these deficiencies.
I'd like to see them both on the floor in certain situations. Think about it, given next year's roster it would be nice to see these guys each get over 20 minutes a game. To accomplish that, both need to improve.
With all of the Carlos Morris speculation, I was inspired to go back and read comments about Mathieu before he played his first game for us. Specifically I read the thread about him being MVP in a scrimmage. gopherhoopsguy was the first to predict he would be our best player. Quite the prediction, kudos to him. To no surprise The-Real-Truth was a hater from the start, claiming people were only optimistic because they hated Tubby and loved Richard.
I also found this gem from Howieanna while checking some preseason posts suggesting Buggs would never become a valuable player.
Dude, you need to settle down. Who is to say (other than Howieanna) Mason, Martin, and Morris can't compete with MSU, Michigan, and Ohio State recruits? You seem to be too fixated on recruiting rankings. Our best player last year was hardly ranked at all. And just because Pitino doesn't get a 4 or 5 star player by 2015 (and I think he will!), doesn't mean he won't get one ever. Rome wasn't built in a day.
I am saying I don't think howie cares if he gets banned or notI'm from Bemidji so I have a predisposition to want to see your side on issues, but, for the life on me, I have no clue as to your meaning of this:
Um, first, not a dude. And I don't need to settle down either just because I'm tired of you chiming in incessantly on damn near every thread when you have no more clue than anyone else. You have no problem belittling guys working their butts off for the Gophers; yet, you pass yourself off as this devoted fan. You're one of the guys who made me decide to stop reading game threads when the game was still being played. Feel silly over-reacting to you when I should just ignore you but you're like some pesky fly just buzzing around annoying me.
Not sure if it's a reading problem, and you make a lot of assumptions, but I'll try. "Define a legacy" is like establishing a reputation since that is how Pitino will be remembered here. He's had a hell of a two good first years as a head coach, and has got me really excited about what he may do. However, he's got to keep the momentum going and that is tough in this league. Selection Sunday and others, who actually know what they're talking about, think next year's squad might not make the NCAA again. You look at who we lose next year and the gap between those players and who is left becomes pretty scary. If the Gophers aren't in next year, they're on the bubble again at best the following year. Then the buzz is starting to die off, the snipers start showing up, it's harder to recruit who you really want, the as*holes in the media start really making fun of Pitino, etc. Do I know this will happen? Unlike you, of course not. But I've been a Gopher fan since the early 60's (which is why I'm not a dude, dude) and I know how things work not only here, but in college sports in general.
There's a door the hot young coach has to step through to get to the top or else his career gets bogged down. That door is basically the 15-16 and the 16-17 seasons (even more so). That's why the next recruiting class is so critical. I'm hopeful, but anyone who thinks this years recruits with who's in the current freshman and sophomore classes are competing for a title in two years is a delusional idiot. Not hung up on ratings, but the plucky Gopher squad beating Izzo's boys and the like scenario doesn't do much for me. They may do it a couple times a year like this year, but it's not going to happen on a consistent basis.
So, first, nobody said Pitino has only 3 years. I'm looking down the road the next three years after that. Second, not hung up on ratings, but if you want the program to get to the top, better players are needed. Every year you don't get to or near the top makes it that much more probable you don't get there. You don't outcoach Izzo, Belein, Matta, Ryan, etc. game in and game out without players as good as theirs at playing your system. Just because you keep coming up with all sorts of improbable BS, doesn't mean anything. Anyone with any actual insight only has to look at Tubby's career here to see the pitfalls. That arc is repeated over and over everywhere: initial excitement, great optimism, bad luck, disappointing season or two, criticism, recruiting drops off, disillusionment, wish for a change. I really think Pitino can avoid that, but I have no assurances. Unlike someone who addresses people as "dude" and thinks he has all the answers, I know things ain't that easy.
Um, first, not a dude. And I don't need to settle down either just because I'm tired of you chiming in incessantly on damn near every thread when you have no more clue than anyone else. You have no problem belittling guys working their butts off for the Gophers; yet, you pass yourself off as this devoted fan. You're one of the guys who made me decide to stop reading game threads when the game was still being played. Feel silly over-reacting to you when I should just ignore you but you're like some pesky fly just buzzing around annoying me.
Not sure if it's a reading problem, and you make a lot of assumptions, but I'll try. "Define a legacy" is like establishing a reputation since that is how Pitino will be remembered here. He's had a hell of a two good first years as a head coach, and has got me really excited about what he may do. However, he's got to keep the momentum going and that is tough in this league. Selection Sunday and others, who actually know what they're talking about, think next year's squad might not make the NCAA again. You look at who we lose next year and the gap between those players and who is left becomes pretty scary. If the Gophers aren't in next year, they're on the bubble again at best the following year. Then the buzz is starting to die off, the snipers start showing up, it's harder to recruit who you really want, the as*holes in the media start really making fun of Pitino, etc. Do I know this will happen? Unlike you, of course not. But I've been a Gopher fan since the early 60's (which is why I'm not a dude, dude) and I know how things work not only here, but in college sports in general.
There's a door the hot young coach has to step through to get to the top or else his career gets bogged down. That door is basically the 15-16 and the 16-17 seasons (even more so). That's why the next recruiting class is so critical. I'm hopeful, but anyone who thinks this years recruits with who's in the current freshman and sophomore classes are competing for a title in two years is a delusional idiot. Not hung up on ratings, but the plucky Gopher squad beating Izzo's boys and the like scenario doesn't do much for me. They may do it a couple times a year like this year, but it's not going to happen on a consistent basis.
So, first, nobody said Pitino has only 3 years. I'm looking down the road the next three years after that. Second, not hung up on ratings, but if you want the program to get to the top, better players are needed. Every year you don't get to or near the top makes it that much more probable you don't get there. You don't outcoach Izzo, Belein, Matta, Ryan, etc. game in and game out without players as good as theirs at playing your system. Just because you keep coming up with all sorts of improbable BS, doesn't mean anything. Anyone with any actual insight only has to look at Tubby's career here to see the pitfalls. That arc is repeated over and over everywhere: initial excitement, great optimism, bad luck, disappointing season or two, criticism, recruiting drops off, disillusionment, wish for a change. I really think Pitino can avoid that, but I have no assurances. Unlike someone who addresses people as "dude" and thinks he has all the answers, I know things ain't that easy.