All Things Gophers Coaching Search Thread (rumors, tweets, tid-bits and more)

[FritoPendejo]

I might be off track here, but I thought Thorson was considered a good coach, especially with the younger players.

Well, for 4 years our offensive “scheme” and rotation management were incoherent. Maybe Ben operated as an army of one and didn’t utilize or listen to Thorson. But if Ben did listen to him, Thorson contributed to the yuck and he wasn’t effective at this level. Anecdotally, my neighbor is a retired college coach, and he visited a pre-season practice before the wreck of Ben’s year 2, and was shocked by the poor quality of the primary ballhandlers. Evidently, Thorson did not seem worried, and given how it turned out, doesn’t paint a great picture.

 

[Tucker32]

Well, for 4 years our offensive “scheme” and rotation management were incoherent. Maybe Ben operated as an army of one and didn’t utilize or listen to Thorson. But if Ben did listen to him, Thorson contributed to the yuck and he wasn’t effective at this level. Anecdotally, my neighbor is a retired college coach, and he visited a pre-season practice before the wreck of Ben’s year 2, and was shocked by the poor quality of the primary ballhandlers. Evidently, Thorson did not seem worried, and given how it turned out, doesn’t paint a great picture.

He didn’t listen to Dave.

 

[FritoPendejo]

So we are all Memphis fans so we can get this ball rolling ASAP?

In my opinion yes. A run puts more eyeballs on him, and if a really tasty job (Self retires?Cronin institutionalized?) opens up, it could trigger a domino effect where he becomes a primary target for someone higher on the food chain than us.

 

[Swaggerson]

Well, for 4 years our offensive “scheme” and rotation management were incoherent. Maybe Ben operated as an army of one and didn’t utilize or listen to Thorson. But if Ben did listen to him, Thorson contributed to the yuck and he wasn’t effective at this level. Anecdotally, my neighbor is a retired college coach, and he visited a pre-season practice before the wreck of Ben’s year 2, and was shocked by the poor quality of the primary ballhandlers. Evidently, Thorson did not seem worried, and given how it turned out, doesn’t paint a great picture.

Thorson needs to go as well. Similar to Sherels when Claeys left.

 

[Bad Gopher]

.

Might help recruiting if he makes a little run.

My thoughts exactly!

 

[TwistingMyMelon]

The simple geek move is google "Colorado State Basketball Roster". The same thing I've done with UCSD, Yale, and about 10 others. I do it in part as I'm always curious where players are from, how far & wide coaches cast their net, transfers versus prep, etc.

Yes, I do the exact same thing!

 

[bga1]

Thorson needs to go as well. Similar to Sherels when Claeys left.

I am good either way but this will be kind of a special situation in view of Medved's previous association with Thorson.

 

[Tucker32]

Thorson needs to go as well. Similar to Sherels when Claeys left.

Dumb. PJ had no connection to Sherels. Niko and Thorsen have a great relationship. I don’t get why it’s such a big deal to any of you who his assistant coach is. Thorsen highly respected in MN hoops community, and is simply a good coach. And, it’s not like Niko is a brand new coach - he has years of experiences d knows who he wants with him.

 

[Spaulding!No!]

Medved can hire Ben Johnson for all I care but now, fire em all and let the new staff figure it out.

 

[kix4kix]

Dumb. PJ had no connection to Sherels. Niko and Thorsen have a great relationship. I don’t get why it’s such a big deal to any of you who his assistant coach is. Thorsen highly respected in MN hoops community, and is simply a good coach. And, it’s not like Niko is a brand new coach - he has years of experiences d knows who he wants with him.

It's a big deal when the lead assistant who is "highly respected in the hoops community" gets to be off the hook for this tragedy they called a roster

 

[Roland Brooks]

Dumb. PJ had no connection to Sherels. Niko and Thorsen have a great relationship. I don’t get why it’s such a big deal to any of you who his assistant coach is. Thorsen highly respected in MN hoops community, and is simply a good coach. And, it’s not like Niko is a brand new coach - he has years of experiences d knows who he wants with him.

Well said

 

[Ski-U-Ham]

Medved can hire Ben Johnson for all I care but now, fire em all and let the new staff figure it out.

Obviously the new coach will select his own staff, but going through the next week or so with no one in the basketball department might be a bit detrimental

 

[BleedGopher]

He hates everyone and everything.

View attachment 36111

Mikey!!

Go Gophers!!

 

[bga1]

He has had sources and presumably still does. He broke the Brewster firing.

But did he have scoop on the Lindberg baby?

 

[die hard gopher]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Keeler: CSU Rams AD says Minnesota Gophers haven’t called him yet about Niko Medved, but they will. Which is why it’s time to give Medved lifetime deal in FoCo <a href="https://t.co/Gh7YpJoc9Z">https://t.co/Gh7YpJoc9Z</a></p>&mdash; College Sports in Colorado (@DPCollegeSports) <a href="">March 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Big Dawg]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Keeler: CSU Rams AD says Minnesota Gophers haven’t called him yet about Niko Medved, but they will. Which is why it’s time to give Medved lifetime deal in FoCo <a href="https://t.co/Gh7YpJoc9Z">https://t.co/Gh7YpJoc9Z</a></p>&mdash; College Sports in Colorado (@DPCollegeSports) <a href="">March 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Why would Niko sign a lifetime deal with CSU knowing he’s a target of P4 schools? CSU would have to offer a minimum of 3.5 to 5 million per I would think.

 

[MNVCGUY]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Keeler: CSU Rams AD says Minnesota Gophers haven’t called him yet about Niko Medved, but they will. Which is why it’s time to give Medved lifetime deal in FoCo <a href="https://t.co/Gh7YpJoc9Z">https://t.co/Gh7YpJoc9Z</a></p>&mdash; College Sports in Colorado (@DPCollegeSports) <a href="">March 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

May not have called their AD yet but would bet Medved's agent has gotten a call

 

[Gopherbbdude]

May not have called their AD yet but would bet Medved's agent has gotten a call

100%

 

[cheeseheadgophfan]

We desperately wanted to believe it was wrong.

I remember the steam around hiring CBJ and dismissing it as an idea for whoever was being hired could be bringing him in as an assistant. LOL

 

[60's Guy]

The other factor not being discussed here is the buyouts for the guys currently coaching someplace. We also have to continue to pay Ben.
In the case of Niko he just signed a new contract and the buyout is 33% of the value of the contract. So, over $3 million dollars to get out of his current deal.
McCollum made $275,000 per year at NW Missouri State. Can't find any Drake details.
But I'm guessing who we hire, the buyout will be a pretty big factor in whether to offer.
Devries has a buyout approaching $5 million...to which Iowa is balking at.
Being Ben really did get fired do we have the Dunkers funding this hire?

 

[Some guy]

With the way things are with transfers, NIL and revenue sharing, why don't you think he could win next year? By "win" I mean 4-5 more than this year...

I don’t think he is a big enough name for approaching the bubble to sell the place out consistently

I do think he will stop the bleeding. Meaning it won’t get worse

 

[TNGophfan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Keeler: CSU Rams AD says Minnesota Gophers haven’t called him yet about Niko Medved, but they will. Which is why it’s time to give Medved lifetime deal in FoCo <a href="https://t.co/Gh7YpJoc9Z">https://t.co/Gh7YpJoc9Z</a></p>&mdash; College Sports in Colorado (@DPCollegeSports) <a href="">March 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

There's not enough money anywhere to keep Medved in Fort Collins IF he wants to come home. Family, etc.
Like losing McAllister to Stanford in softball.

 

[MilosRevenge]

Like losing McAllister to Stanford in softball.

 

[Bad Gopher]

There's not enough money anywhere to keep Medved in Fort Collins IF he wants to come home. Family, etc.
Like losing McAllister to Stanford in softball.

It's sort of sad, because CSU has done way more in its power to support its coach and basketball program than the U has. I've read multiple articles from the local area. They've been serious about this, just like Gonzaga got serious about things in the early 2000s, with obvious results. If Minnesota does hire Niko, they need to prove to him that we're worthy of him.

 

[DarthGopher]

May not have called their AD yet but would bet Medved's agent has gotten a call

He is looking for the right time to call considering how upset some got at the 1:19 am press release on CBJ's firing.

I expect he will call between 9-noon, or 1-4, Mountain Daylight Time, to avoid appearances of being unprofessional and low class.

 

[ShushPush]

The other factor not being discussed here is the buyouts for the guys currently coaching someplace. We also have to continue to pay Ben.
In the case of Niko he just signed a new contract and the buyout is 33% of the value of the contract. So, over $3 million dollars to get out of his current deal.
McCollum made $275,000 per year at NW Missouri State. Can't find any Drake details.
But I'm guessing who we hire, the buyout will be a pretty big factor in whether to offer.
Devries has a buyout approaching $5 million...to which Iowa is balking at.
Being Ben really did get fired do we have the Dunkers funding this hire?

In other words, we need a cloak and dagger play to get our candidate of choice to be terminated "unfairly" so that we can get him off contract. Who are our black bag boys?

 

[MaxyJR1]

There's not enough money anywhere to keep Medved in Fort Collins IF he wants to come home. Family, etc.
Like losing McAllister to Stanford in softball.

They can try. He likely tells them to wait until after the final game to discuss at which time MN will call to say they are going to interview him for MN opening. Coyle isn't going to call until his season is done. In the meantime, Medved's agent knows and Coyle is likely vetting other options through agents.

 

[PMWinSTP]

It's sort of sad, because CSU has done way more in its power to support its coach and basketball program than the U has. I've read multiple articles from the local area. They've been serious about this, just like Gonzaga got serious about things in the early 2000s, with obvious results. If Minnesota does hire Niko, they need to prove to him that we're worthy of him.

The high end basketball facilities at the Athletes Village doesn't count as support for the program?

 

[Bad Gopher]

The high end basketball facilities at the Athletes Village doesn't count as support for the program?

Of course they do, and you know that, but there's much more to it than this.

 

[Dave H]

It's sort of sad, because CSU has done way more in its power to support its coach and basketball program than the U has. I've read multiple articles from the local area. They've been serious about this, just like Gonzaga got serious about things in the early 2000s, with obvious results. If Minnesota does hire Niko, they need to prove to him that we're worthy of him.

I dont think we will have to prove anything. I think if they make a serious offer he will take it unless he is waiting for another job. In a just world you would be right, but the fact is very few coaches will stay at Mid-Majors when offered the chance at a major conference, even an awful school.