Amelia: Patience, U fans, as basketball coach search slogs on

[BleedGopher]

per Amelia:

Embrace the frustration, Gophers fans. We’ve entered the complicated stage of negotiating, with much up in the air.

In the days ahead, the Gophers likely will set their sights on Marquette’s Buzz Williams, whose team was eliminated from the NCAA tournament Saturday. He is Minnesota’s last remaining top target, after VCU’s Shaka Smart and Butler’s Brad Stevens made it clear they weren’t interested in leaving their schools.

Xavier’s Chris Mack could be a candidate, as could Florida Gulf Coast’s Andy Enfield, Alabama’s Anthony Grant, Virginia’s Tony Bennett or any number of other coaches. Admittedly, at this point, there is a lot of educated guesswork involved.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/200820131.html

Go Gophers!!

 

[pondgopher]

Well said, well written.

 

[vagopher]

It's a good article. People should read it.

 

[wdgold]

per Amelia:

Embrace the frustration, Gophers fans. We’ve entered the complicated stage of negotiating, with much up in the air.

In the days ahead, the Gophers likely will set their sights on Marquette’s Buzz Williams, whose team was eliminated from the NCAA tournament Saturday. He is Minnesota’s last remaining top target, after VCU’s Shaka Smart and Butler’s Brad Stevens made it clear they weren’t interested in leaving their schools.

Xavier’s Chris Mack could be a candidate, as could Florida Gulf Coast’s Andy Enfield, Alabama’s Anthony Grant, Virginia’s Tony Bennett or any number of other coaches. Admittedly, at this point, there is a lot of educated guesswork involved.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/200820131.html

Go Gophers!![/QUOTE

Amelia states Buzz is the last of the Top candidates that they are going after, if that is the case, will NT continue to look for a Head Coach or do you feel he may be considering going after a top assistant somewhere. I would prefer a current head coach over any assistant that would be available.

 

[alchemy2u]

It is a good article.

Amelia, please stop using Gopher Nation, Brewster has left the building...

 

[bga1]

It's a good article. The unique problem here is that they have bungled the Flip Saunders deal. If they didn't want him they should have dealt with it day 1 before it could build up steam. No one can blame them that the other home run hires aren't biting. I don't think there would be much of a public perception problem at all with this search were it not for the Saunders deal.

 

[Gopher Warrior]

This was written in the spirit of April Fool's Day, right?

 

[Governor Sibley]

Blanket of gasoline?

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

It's a good article. The unique problem here is that they have bungled the Flip Saunders deal. If they didn't want him they should have dealt with it day 1 before it could build up steam. No one can blame them that the other home run hires aren't biting. I don't think there would be much of a public perception problem at all with this search were it not for the Saunders deal.

I actually agree with you that the public perception that this has been bungled is due to the Flip Saunders thing, it's also due to impatient fans. In LA, the people started getting stir crazy as well at the end (not as much as here, IMO). I don't know if it's right or wrong to consider it bungled, it depends on where you stand on the whole "Ryan Saunders issue" (if that was the issue. . .ha, it's funny how little we all actually know).

I think part of the problem is that we have an aggressive AD and the media isn't used to it. You even see it with Amelia's column. She sort of puts a target on Buzz Williams, who is an absolute pipe dream. When we don't get Williams, it will appear as if it were a swing and a miss (just like Shaka and Stevens).

I think we've swung and missed on 1 legitimate candidate and that was Flip. Whether it was bungled or not, depends on the circumstances (for me, I realize that it's Flip no matter what for you).

 

[MDGopherFan]

It's a good article. The unique problem here is that they have bungled the Flip Saunders deal. If they didn't want him they should have dealt with it day 1 before it could build up steam. No one can blame them that the other home run hires aren't biting. I don't think there would be much of a public perception problem at all with this search were it not for the Saunders deal.

Agree. If the fact that the primary issue was that Norwood would not let Flip hire his own assistants, would this not be an issue with any hire? Who knows what the real reason for Flip declining the offer, but if the assistant issue was true, I think Norwood has a control issue that is hindering this process and will be an issue with any potential coach. I personally would have liked to see Norwood relinquish that position (again assuming it is true) and get Flip hired. The wheels will have officially fallen off the bus if things don't work with Buzz. Frustrated and would personally have really liked to see Flip hired.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

This was written in the spirit of April Fool's Day, right?

Yeah, Amelia has to quit pushing this Buzz Williams things. It sells papers (generates clicks) though. You pump up Buzz Williams through pure illogical guessing and then you get to write another piece about how the Gophers missed on another candidate.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

Agree. If the fact that the primary issue was that Norwood would not let Flip hire his own assistants, would this not be an issue with any hire? Who knows what the real reason for Flip declining the offer, but if the assistant issue was true, I think Norwood has a control issue that is hindering this process and will be an issue with any potential coach. I personally would have liked to see Norwood relinquish that position (again assuming it is true) and get Flip hired. The wheels will have officially fallen off the bus if things don't work with Buzz. Frustrated and would personally have really liked to see Flip hired.

So if we missed on Flip and a bunch of EXTREMELY unlikely candidates, the wheels have fallen off? This is precisely what is wrong with Amelia pushing the Buzz thing, it gives the impression it's a possibility. He isn't coming here.

As far as the Flip thing, I agree if Norwood wanted a say about Flip's staff, he is out of line. I think he is perfectly in-line if he said "all three assistant coaches need to have college basketball experience as assistant coaches", but if he wanted to actually name the guys himself, he is out of line. If it's the no to Ryan Saunders, he's in line. Every position where you have hiring authority there are some qualifications of the people you are hiring that are mandated from the top on down.

 

[MNVCGUY]

So if we missed on Flip and a bunch of EXTREMELY unlikely candidates, the wheels have fallen off? This is precisely what is wrong with Amelia pushing the Buzz thing, it gives the impression it's a possibility. He isn't coming here.

As far as the Flip thing, I agree if Norwood wanted a say about Flip's staff, he is out of line. I think he is perfectly in-line if he said "all three assistant coaches need to have college basketball experience as assistant coaches", but if he wanted to actually name the guys himself, he is out of line. If it's the no to Ryan Saunders, he's in line. Every position where you have hiring authority there are some qualifications of the people you are hiring that are mandated from the top on down.

Exactly. There is no way he is stupid enough to tell coaching candiates they can't pick their own staff. It would be career suicide and no one would take the job. He may have said no to hiring his son, a common policy in a lot of places, and he may have some requirements for any coach that is hired but in the end he is going to let his head coach hire his own guys to fill out his staff. Anyone that believes NT is going to hand pick the assistants if grasping at straws.

 

[Gopherbbdude]

Buzz will never happen. $4 mil buy out.....$2.8 mil a year now......this would not be a good idea for NT. And he will never leave Marq

 

[MadtownGopher]

Yeah I wish Amelia would back off the Buzz stuff too.

 

[bga1]

Yeah I wish Amelia would back off the Buzz stuff too.

Buzz off, Amelia.

 

[bga1]

I actually agree with you that the public perception that this has been bungled is due to the Flip Saunders thing, it's also due to impatient fans. In LA, the people started getting stir crazy as well at the end (not as much as here, IMO). I don't know if it's right or wrong to consider it bungled, it depends on where you stand on the whole "Ryan Saunders issue" (if that was the issue. . .ha, it's funny how little we all actually know).

I think part of the problem is that we have an aggressive AD and the media isn't used to it. You even see it with Amelia's column. She sort of puts a target on Buzz Williams, who is an absolute pipe dream. When we don't get Williams, it will appear as if it were a swing and a miss (just like Shaka and Stevens).

I think we've swung and missed on 1 legitimate candidate and that was Flip. Whether it was bungled or not, depends on the circumstances (for me, I realize that it's Flip no matter what for you).

No that's wrong. I'd be great with a homerun guy like Buzz or also fine with Marshall or perhaps another name of equal note. Below that- slip to Grant or Enfield or some assistant and it's a major reach (could be successful) that didn't have to happen if ego was set aside.

Meanwhile I get it fully that Flip is not acceptable to you.

 

[Dr.Don]

Buzz off, Amelia.

I see what you did there, Beej.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

No that's wrong. I'd be great with a homerun guy like Buzz or also fine with Marshall or perhaps another name of equal note. Below that- slip to Grant or Enfield or some assistant and it's a major reach (could be successful) that didn't have to happen if ego was set aside.

Meanwhile I get it fully that Flip is not acceptable to you.

Don't be so defensive, I didn't mean that as an insult. I'd be fine with Flip. If it happened the way it is rumored, I'm glad we didn't let him make his son an assistant coach. But even that, I would have lived with and supported the U. I would have just rolled my eyes and thought "here we go again" but I wouldn't have thought the sky-is-falling if we hired Flip. I don't think he's an atrocious candidate, I just have never seen so much hyperbole surrounding a coach. My issue wasn't so much with the idea that Flip was going to be our next coach, it was more the glowing terms in which some of his supporters talked about him. He's a candidate, he made sense for some reasons. He didn't make sense for other reasons (to me). All in all, I resigned myself to the fact that he was going to be our coach. If you look at my posts from Friday (when I thought he was going to be our coach), I never had a sky-is-falling moment.

You on the other hand, you've had a hard time getting over the Flip ordeal. It's ok, I'd feel the same way if we lost Shaka Smart at the last minute or if I thought Buzz was a sure thing. I thought Flip was a sure thing here.

 

[Tater]

The overall message of the article is great -- that is, people need to relax, quit assuming rumor for fact, and let the process play out. What would have been nice is some more concrete background about basketball coaching searches in general. For example, I've heard that Bo Ryan was something like the 7 choice for UW basketball when they hired him. It would have been nice for Amelia to add some historical perspective to the article such as "over the last x off seasons, teams have landed a new coach anywhere from Y to Z weeks after firing his predecessor" and "teams typically do not hire their first, second, third, etc., options for coach."

I know it is fun to read about all the rumors, but it drives me nuts when people take reports of this offer or that and assume such reports to be factual when in reality none of us have any idea about what has actually taken place during this relatively young coaching search. I'm enjoying the ride but will reserve judgment until after a coach is in place and the dust settles. Go gophers!

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

The overall message of the article is great -- that is, people need to relax, quit assuming rumor for fact, and let the process play out. What would have been nice is some more concrete background about basketball coaching searches in general. For example, I've heard that Bo Ryan was something like the 7 choice for UW basketball when they hired him. It would have been nice for Amelia to add some historical perspective to the article such as "over the last x off seasons, teams have landed a new coach anywhere from Y to Z weeks after firing his predecessor" and "teams typically do not hire their first, second, third, etc., options for coach."

I know it is fun to read about all the rumors, but it drives me nuts when people take reports of this offer or that and assume such reports to be factual when in reality none of us have any idea about what has actually taken place during this relatively young coaching search. I'm enjoying the ride but will reserve judgment until after a coach is in place and the dust settles. Go gophers!

I don't think she does a ton of research with her writing.

 

[THE SCOUT!]

She is blowing smoke on Buzz totally not happening...poor article

 

[supadupafly]

i get that her newsroom masters make her post/write something, anything. but obviously none of this is "news". that said, i applaud her for keeping it level head and without some of the baseless, unfounded, speculation via non-existent "sources close to the situation" that some of her peers in the media can not resist.

her main point is valid though......patience my children......patience.

 

[tinyarch]

I don't think she does a ton of research with her writing.

So you're saying she's being mentored by Sid...

 

[supadupafly]

So you're saying she's being mentored by Sid...

ha! +1. or reusse, or souhan, or sturdivant, or the editorial board.

 

[Mikie S]

Agree. If the fact that the primary issue was that Norwood would not let Flip hire his own assistants, would this not be an issue with any hire? Who knows what the real reason for Flip declining the offer, but if the assistant issue was true, I think Norwood has a control issue that is hindering this process and will be an issue with any potential coach. I personally would have liked to see Norwood relinquish that position (again assuming it is true) and get Flip hired. The wheels will have officially fallen off the bus if things don't work with Buzz. Frustrated and would personally have really liked to see Flip hired.

This seems to be an issue many Gopher fans have embraced. I'm not as sure. Currently Flip is rumored to be in line for Twolve GM if Kahn's contract isn't extended (comes up at the end of April). But even more important, there is a question how much longer Rick Addleman wants to coach. I think Flip's #1 preference is coaching the Wolves again.

 

[millions2spare]

Breaking news...Teague's Hire will be better than Tubby...Guaranteed!

Folks, take a deep breath. There is a lot of fear, uncertainty, and doubt as I read the comments on GH. Have confidence that no matter who
Ellis and Teague hire will be better than Tubby. He will work harder at recruiting, he will be a better " in game " coach by making necessary adjustments and possibly even setting the tempo and creating simple mis-matches for a change!. He may even have some standard and consistent subsitiution patterns! He may even play the type of offense that put his players in a position to be successful. He will effectively connect with players and he will also develop players to become the best they can be. I guarantee his record in February will be better than Tubby's. He will also make sense when he has an interview with the local and national media. Tubby's communications style was hard to follow sometimes. All of these I listed are the basic requirments for a D1 basketball coach. It is hard to argue that Tubby was no better than average at any of them.

 

[...]

Folks, take a deep breath. There is a lot of fear, uncertainty, and doubt as I read the comments on GH. Have confidence that no matter who
Ellis and Teague hire will be better than Tubby. He will work harder at recruiting, he will be a better " in game " coach by making necessary adjustments and possibly even setting the tempo and creating simple mis-matches for a change!. He may even have some standard and consistent subsitiution patterns! He may even play the type of offense that put his players in a position to be successful. He will effectively connect with players and he will also develop players to become the best they can be. I guarantee his record in February will be better than Tubby's. He will also make sense when he has an interview with the local and national media. Tubby's communications style was hard to follow sometimes. All of these I listed are the basic requirments for a D1 basketball coach. It is hard to argue that Tubby was no better than average at any of them.

Are you saying there's a chance we get a coach who's seen an inbounds play or knows what a 1-3-1 zone is?

 

[UofMdad]

Folks, take a deep breath. There is a lot of fear, uncertainty, and doubt as I read the comments on GH. Have confidence that no matter who
Ellis and Teague hire will be better than Tubby. He will work harder at recruiting, he will be a better " in game " coach by making necessary adjustments and possibly even setting the tempo and creating simple mis-matches for a change!. He may even have some standard and consistent subsitiution patterns! He may even play the type of offense that put his players in a position to be successful. He will effectively connect with players and he will also develop players to become the best they can be. I guarantee his record in February will be better than Tubby's. He will also make sense when he has an interview with the local and national media. Tubby's communications style was hard to follow sometimes. All of these I listed are the basic requirments for a D1 basketball coach. It is hard to argue that Tubby was no better than average at any of them.

I would argue that Tubby was below average at all of them

 

[Iceland12]

Folks, take a deep breath. There is a lot of fear, uncertainty, and doubt as I read the comments on GH. Have confidence that no matter who
Ellis and Teague hire will be better than Tubby. He will work harder at recruiting, he will be a better " in game " coach by making necessary adjustments and possibly even setting the tempo and creating simple mis-matches for a change!. He may even have some standard and consistent subsitiution patterns! He may even play the type of offense that put his players in a position to be successful. He will effectively connect with players and he will also develop players to become the best they can be. I guarantee his record in February will be better than Tubby's. He will also make sense when he has an interview with the local and national media. Tubby's communications style was hard to follow sometimes. All of these I listed are the basic requirments for a D1 basketball coach. It is hard to argue that Tubby was no better than average at any of them.

If it's guaranteed that the new coach like Tubby did, will win the Conference Title 7 times and finish 2nd twice we're in. If it's a certainty that he takes us to 5 Sweet Sixteens, 3 Elite Eights and even win it all at least once than you're right, we're ALL in!