Auto Industry/Rust Belt to Blame for Last 20 Years Gopher Hoops

[akgopher]

Even with the trip to the Final Four in 1997, I'd take the 70's and 80's over the past 20 years. This was a top 20 job during that era and the crazy thing is we have exponentially better high school basketball in the state today than we did in that era.

The difference in my theory is that there were enough kids in Detroit and Flint to feed Michigan and Michigan State and then others that needed to look elsewhere, same for Toledo/Cleveland to allow Ohio State to let some leave. We had the ability to get a Willie Burton from Detroit, a Melvin Newburn from Toledo, and Flip Saunders from Cleveland when we needed them.

Those economies have struggled since globalization and free trade became a reality. Now there aren't enough 4 and 5 star players to feed the entire Big Ten. Now Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, New Mexico have all the little kids and it's tougher to talk one of them to come here.

 

[fan of Ray Williams]

I don't know about your theory ak. I think the best players from the era you mentioned were Brewer-Chicago, Thompson-Bahamas, McHale-Hibbing, Williams-New York (JC of course) and Tucker-Flint (which you referred to).

 

[NateDawgUM]

Minneapolis has boomed. Shouldn't have to go elsewhere as much.

New Mexico? The Twin Cities metro has a million more people than the state of New Mexico.

 

[Dr.Don]

Let us not forget, lest you never knew before, but Norman County West High School at Halstad MN has a 5'3" 7th grader with a 7'4" wing span. He is an artist, and loves painting nudies of the Sports Illustrated Swim Suit Ladies. They pose beside the frozen tundra of the Red River of the North. His dad is a guide on the Red for catfishing. I am his agent.

 

[Roy Christensen]

His dad is a guide on the Red for catfishing.

Great gig

 

[akgopher]

Minneapolis has boomed. Shouldn't have to go elsewhere as much.

New Mexico? The Twin Cities metro has a million more people than the state of New Mexico.

I put New Mexico in there because it's a part of the Sun Belt that is growing. Wait until electoral votes are allocated after the census- New Mexico and Texas will be gaining, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio will be losing.

 

[howeda7]

I put New Mexico in there because it's a part of the Sun Belt that is growing. Wait until electoral votes are allocated after the census- New Mexico and Texas will be gaining, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio will be losing.

Your point is relevant, but not really to Minnesota. We are not part of the rust/auto belt and are not losing population like Ohio and Michigan are. The biggest priority will always be to lock down in-state talent. While currently in a down cycle, the state is still producing top talent at a decent clip. If we had Cole Aldrich right now, this season would be a whole lot different. Occasionally we will need to get players from outside the state. Is it easier to get players from Michigan or Ohio then other areas? Maybe, due to weather, etc. But this is not a huge factor. Ralph Sampson was a pretty significant get out of GA. Tubby clearly has the ability to recruit nationally. Even Monson could do it, though it was more diamond hunting, getting players who turned out pretty good like Westbrook out of AZ and Johnson out of LA.

 

[akgopher]

We need to get a foot in the door in Chicago. During the 70's and 80's it got us Brewer and Bond, and little since. Marquette's revitalization has put some more pressure on that area though.

 

[ShowinGoldyLove]

We need to get a foot in the door in Chicago. During the 70's and 80's it got us Brewer and Bond, and little since. Marquette's revitalization has put some more pressure on that area though.

Competing in Chicago will always be difficult for the U. Too many big name programs and big regional programs that have a stranglehold on it.

 

[akgopher]

Competing in Chicago will always be difficult for the U. Too many big name programs and big regional programs that have a stranglehold on it.

3rd largest metro area, almost 10 million people. Marquette got Harvey this year, but were in on quite a few targets, Purdue gets some, Weber gets who he wants, Crean is going to be tough there too.

 

[Swede]

Those economies have struggled since globalization and free trade became a reality. Now there aren't enough 4 and 5 star players to feed the entire Big Ten. Now Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, New Mexico have all the little kids and it's tougher to talk one of them to come here.

Or one could say that the rust belt economies have suffered under the unreasonable demands of organized labor, but I digress.

The real unfortunate reality is that even amongst those of us who are hearty norsemen, living in an air conditioned world seems much more tolerable than living in a forced air heat world.