Andy Katz: I still think Flip Saunders would be the perfect fit for Minnesota

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MadtownGopher said:
I think he's probably interested just because Andy Katz, someone he knows pretty well from his time at ESPN, has touted him for the job twice already this week. If he wasn't interested in the job he'd probably know and not waste his time making statements like he has.
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Katz was a Tubby buddy. He's taken the angle of attacking the Administration here, which will help get people to read his articles. And just because Flip also has done some work for ESPN doesn't mean he and Katzy are buddies. The Flip angle is another way to get people to read his stuff. There is no risk in Katzy stating his opinion that Flip would be a good selection. Most people agree with that, not out on a limb there.
 

That being said Flip had to coach some very young players in the NBA from KG, Ebi, Marbury, and Wall.
 



From the Barn wrote: An offensive system built around two point jump shots can not succeed in college. Carry on...
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THE SCOUT! said:
how about 2 point set shots
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The one thing you both prove is your ignorance of basketball when you make these comments. ...but...perhaps you were still talking about Tubby...
 


Juicer said:
Katz was a Tubby buddy. He's taken the angle of attacking the Administration here, which will help get people to read his articles. and just because Flip also has done some work for ESPN doesn't mean he and Katzy are buddies. The Flip angle is another way to get people to read his stuff. There is no risk in Katzy stating his opinion that Flip would be a good selection. Most people agree with that, not out on a limb there.
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I didn't just assume he knew him, Andy tweeted just that. He knows if he is actually interested...

Andy Katz ‏@ESPNAndyKatz 25 Mar
Saunders has a passion for the college game. I've spent time with him in our green room watching games. He is dialed in.
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Andy Katz ‏@ESPNAndyKatz 25 Mar
If I'm Minnesota I don't hesitate to hire our ESPN NBA analyst and former Gopher Flip Saunders. Had the pleasure of getting to know him.
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Iceland12 said:
Now THERE is a true Minnesotan! "I hope my team SUCKs just so I can say 'see, I told you so!' " :drink:
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Way to twist my words. Flip isn't going to just swoop in and sign all 3 of the big 2014 recruits. Too many people believe that. That was my point.
 

jaymil said:
Exactly. The age doesn't concern me because I think he'll drop dead in a few years. I question whether 17 year olds can relate to him, and will Flip like the recruiting part of the job? He isn't as well known nationally as people in Minnesota think. I do agree that the right staff can help a lot. I'd feel better if he added a great recruiter to his staff who could be a possible successor.
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I guarantee 17 yr olds can relate to flip! Some of u ppl on gopherhole are comparing flip to your grandparents. Flip has been dealing with nba players for yrs, nba players are basically 17 yr olds with millions of dollars. Flip can come to the U, get donors excited, get the facilities and the program to another level, and retire a legend while giving the reigns to the next guy. Flip is a great candidate to elevate the U
 




lakesgopher said:
I guarantee 17 yr olds can relate to flip! Some of u ppl on gopherhole are comparing flip to your grandparents. Flip has been dealing with nba players for yrs, nba players are basically 17 yr olds with millions of dollars. Flip can come to the U, get donors excited, get the facilities and the program to another level, and retire a legend while giving the reigns to the next guy. Flip is a great candidate to elevate the U
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...and finally, we agree...
 

MadtownGopher said:
Way to twist my words. Flip isn't going to just swoop in and sign all 3 of the big 2014 recruits. Too many people believe that. That was my point.
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That's how I took your point, and I agree. Although the Big 3 haven't publicly announced their school of choice, I'd be surprised if they hadn't already made up their mind. A new Gopher hire, whether it be Flip or someone else, is unlikely to change that.
 


Lets just say, if the primary candidates have turned the position down, Flip is the candidate that makes the most sense.

Either NT could get him hired ASAP, or it would be better to make a very thorough screening of potential candidates which should take some time, to find the long term coach. Simply put the resume will just not show a lot and they will need to get someone they are confident will develop into a good - great head coach
 



Southpaw said:
That's how I took your point, and I agree. Although the Big 3 haven't publicly announced their school of choice, I'd be surprised if they hadn't already made up their mind. A new Gopher hire, whether it be Flip or someone else, is unlikely to change that.
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I think the reality of the big 3 is that Flip gives the U the best chance to get them to stay home. That said, and this may seem off, I seriously doubt NT is considering them in getting the next coach. He has to get the right one regardless of what they will do or maybe already have decided.
 

Gopher07 said:
I would argue it's a somewhat legitimate concern when a huge portion of the position is kowtowing to 15 and 16 year olds. It's the one lingering question I have with Flip, how much would he want to play the recruiting game, how much energy would he have to really play it at a national level. Those concerns would be alleviated with a knockout staff, IMO.
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by your argument there should be no older coaches in existence in college basketball, since no 15 or 16 year old would want to play for them. Hmmmmm...seems to me upon review of the current coaching landscape there are plenty of 58 year old coaches who are quite successful and get recruits regardless of their age. Let's see...Tom Izzo is 58, Mike Krzyzewski is 66 (holy crap what kid would ever want to play for this old fart!), Bill Self is 50, Rick Patino is 60....

Come on folks! this concept of Flip being too old to succeed in college is a load of CRAP!
 

MDGopherFan said:
by your argument there should be no older coaches in existence in college basketball, since no 15 or 16 year old would want to play for them. Hmmmmm...seems to me upon review of the current coaching landscape there are plenty of 58 year old coaches who are quite successful and get recruits regardless of their age. Let's see...Tom Izzo is 58, Mike Krzyzewski is 66 (holy crap what kid would ever want to play for this old fart!), Bill Self is 50, Rick Patino is 60....

Come on folks! this concept of Flip being too old to succeed in college is a load of CRAP!
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Those coaches have also been in the college game for decades and crafted the recruiting landscape we have today, and have excellent staffs supporting them. They're used to the AAU pandering, the "game" (as I've called it), and have assistants that are at or near the top when it comes to recruiting. As I said, Flip with a great staff is great and my concerns are alleviated.
 

That is a fair point. But how many of these top high school recruits base their initial impressions of what schools they want to go to based on who the head coach is regardless of how well that coach's staff recruits?
 


Translating Katz...

"Minnesota is mediocre, loves mediocre, Flip is the perfect fit. He will continue to deliver that uniquely Minnesota flavor of mediocre the locals demand. Please sign him before all the good basketball programs go broke trying to defend their coaches from your pointless inquiries. Love Andy."
 

DLguy said:
Regarding Flip's recruiting. It seems like Flip is at more high school basketball games than Tubby ever was. So right there, improvement.
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Well Tubby had a full time gig.
 

WolfontheProwl said:
I think Flip would be a great coach for the Gophers. His system and style of coaching would be perfect for college aged kids an would be effective in college basketball. My concern is recruiting at a major college level at a place like Minnesota where getting kids into school and keeping them here can be issues with some. I thought Tubby would be great and he did a good job but over time his recruiting fell off and the team was forced to play players that were not on the level they needed to be to continue pushing the Gophers forward. Can Flip bring in the right kids year in and year out to build the program?

I think we all must remember its not where the program is now that is important its where the program will be 3 and 4 years from now and it was the reason why Tubby had to go.
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This is my biggest point of contention with Flip to be honest. He seems like a nice guy, everyone seems to think he'd be a good recruiter and I'll give them that, at least locally. He will probably be an adequate recruiter (minimum). He seems like a nice guy, he coached KG, etc. etc.


However, his system is not a system that yields itself to youth. He might change it, in fact, he'd have to change it, but the system he ran in the NBA was extremely complicated. He would admit to it, all of the teams he has ever coached were dominated by veterans. The Detroit team was a veteran team, his good TWolves teams were veterans, and he really struggled with youth.

He struggled because it's a complicated pick and pop system that is essentially based on getting a lot of midrange jump shots. His teams didn't make a lot of 3's and they didn't shoot a lot of free throws. Think of the Brandon's, Sam Cassell's, Wally's Rip Hamilton's of the world working off a downscreen and hitting a shot at the elbow. . .that's the crux of Flip's offense.

For the advanced stats people, Flip's offenses are infuriating. They are based off of the exact shots you want to avoid (long 2's). However, he's had some good offensive teams, statistically, so his offense has been sort of an anamoly.

That said, it's a system that's only been effective with veterans. He'd have to open it up and simplify it at the U. He'd know that, it's why he didn't like coaching youth in the NBA.
 

Why does everybody keep saying Gopher sports is mediocre?

If mediocre is "average" we are well below mediocre.

In terms basketball and football, we have been one of the single worst big conference athletlics programs over the past 20-30 years. Who is worse? Mississippi State, Washington State (two Rose Bowls), Oregon State?
 

Southpaw said:
That's how I took your point, and I agree. Although the Big 3 haven't publicly announced their school of choice, I'd be surprised if they hadn't already made up their mind. A new Gopher hire, whether it be Flip or someone else, is unlikely to change that.
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I wouldn't say they've all made up their minds. Tyus is probably down to Duke or Kentucky. Based off reports, Vaughn may be interested in UNC the most, but I doubt he's already made up his mind. He just visited Chapel Hill for their game against Duke AND Roy Williams just payed him an in-home visit. He would have committed there by now if he know he for sure wanted to be a tar heel.

Bob_Loblaw said:
Well Tubby had a full time gig.
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Correct. Also, I believe schools are only allowed to watch so many games of recruits (8 maybe?).
 

Southpaw said:
That's how I took your point, and I agree. Although the Big 3 haven't publicly announced their school of choice, I'd be surprised if they hadn't already made up their mind. A new Gopher hire, whether it be Flip or someone else, is unlikely to change that.
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I'd be very suprised if any of them were close to making up their mind. They all have a lot of great options and things to consider, Reid Travis hasn't even decided what sport he is looking to play in college and said he is not close to deciding on a school.
 

I would be fine with Flip. If Hoiberg can be successful at ISU, Flip can be successful at Minnesota. Flip has more coaching experience than Fred. Recruiting is key in college ball. I think Flip would be a good recruiter for Minnesota. Calipari, etc., would not be so successful if he did not have the top players. My impression is that the NBA is a tougher place to coach than college (e.g., Rick Pitino's experience).

We can not take a chance on an assistant after firing a national champion coach. Proven head coaches at top schools are not going to leave the security of a top winning school to come to Minnesota. It is not going to happen. Minnesota is a great school in the toughest conference. competing against schools with established recruiting advantages, facility advantages, etc. These guys are not stupid, why put yourself (and your family) in that position. Their careers are based on evaluating situations and exploiting advantages. They want advantages (recruiting, facilities, etc.).

Flip seems like a natural fit.
 

I'd love to see flip especially if he can find a great young assistant that is on the in on current recruiting practices.....
 


lugnard said:
Translating Katz...

"Minnesota is mediocre, loves mediocre, Flip is the perfect fit. He will continue to deliver that uniquely Minnesota flavor of mediocre the locals demand. Please sign him before all the good basketball programs go broke trying to defend their coaches from your pointless inquiries. Love Andy."
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At least he would put some effort into it, unlike his predecessor!!
 

Iceland12 said:
Age-wise Flip would be in good company.

Izzo - 58 years old
Krzyzewski - 66
Roy Williams - 62
Calipari - 54
Pittino - 60
Jim Boeheim - 68
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You are lying, there is no way those guys are that old, how are they not FIRED by now??? But we are daring to consider hiring a guy younger than all of those guys?! NO WAY, its a lie. OLD FRACKERS CAN NOT DO DIDDLY SQUAT!!! OLD mofos are OLD, they need to die and relieve us all of their presense. DIE old frackers DIE!!! just spare us your old frail crippled selves.


Do us all a favor and just retire to florida or DIE, DIE, DIE!!!!!
 

#1nHkyCfbBsbDncSolarDebat said:
You are lying, there is no way those guys are that old, how are they not FIRED by now??? But we are daring to consider hiring a guy younger than all of those guys?! NO WAY, its a lie. OLD FRACKERS CAN NOT DO DIDDLY SQUAT!!! OLD mofos are OLD, they need to die and relieve us all of their presense. DIE old frackers DIE!!! just spare us your old frail crippled selves.


Do us all a favor and just retire to florida or DIE, DIE, DIE!!!!!
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BTW, I am 45, and my father is EIGHTY!!!! And my father coached until his 70s, he still clears the snow off his own driveway and can shoot an 89 on 18 holes. He was buds with Lute Olson. I'm going to live to 110 myself and I'll kick any body's arse who is older than 35 and under 160 lbs in a Wrestling match. SO, I am obviously being sarcastic. Old folks rule you young punk b1tches! LOL
 

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