So, I'm trying to wrap my mind around this. . .when Ben Johnson was hired back in March, a great number of Gopher fans, I'd guess a strong majority, questioned the hire (myself included). The reasons for criticism were well documented and continue to be expounded upon, as evidence by the recent cbs sportsline article. Then there was an exodus from the previous roster and the new players for this season were roundly questioned as being Big Ten worthy. Most fans have conceded this season is going to be rough on the court.
After Johnson's hiring, the commitments of Owen King, Cam Heide, Demarion Watson, and Tre Holloman were met with a flurry of criticism-perhaps some of it was fair, but honestly, I have a hard time seeing much of it as valid-between Johnson's time on the job and the relationships established already with those coaches of the other programs, I have a tough time finding much to fault with the Gophers efforts on the recruiting trail thus far.
Now we have three prep commits, two (Payne and Joseph) who emerged over the summer circuit as serious prospects, and Carrington who held an offer when Pitino was coach, and Johnson wrapped them all up within a few days of their official visit to the "U". All three had offers from major conference programs (Clemson and Colorado made the tournament last season) and their time at the "U" compelled them to shut down their recruiting and commit to a coach who has yet to have a game under his belt as the head guy. From all indications of those who have watched or followed the summer circuit, these guys are maturing and emerging at the right time, while others (such as Lee and Aligbe) seem to either have plateaued or diminished in competition against their peers.
And. . .we're being told to temper our enthusiasm? To not take the first seeds of a hopeful rebirth of the program, from three kids who are placing their faith in a vision and a promise and little else at this point, and being told that it's inadequate because they aren't Holloman or Heide? I'm dumbfounded at some of the expectations placed on Johnson's shoulders--I have no idea if this grand and bold chance taken by Coyle is going to pan out and I've been looking for something to be optimistic about, but from all indications, these are not warm bodies that will be overmatched from the moment they step on the court. If we can't be optimistic and hopeful now, tell me when?
If it's the approach you want to take, so be it. It seems like a miserable way to approach the Johnson era and it almost seems like there's a part of the fanbase that would rather be proven correct that his hiring was a mistake than actually enjoy the victories, in whatever form they take.
