Best Minnesota season in 23 years

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It was a great game. Started slow, the Hollins duo took care of the ball and hit their shots. So great to see Mo and Elliot come up big in the first half and joe have some success late. Confidence should and needs to be high for gopher gator battle.
 

Well, you guys can argue semantics *&^!#*&^!#*&^!#*&^!# all ya want, but we are still playing when Georgetown (a 2), K-State, Wisky, and some other better seeds aren't. So Go Gophers!!!
 

Studwell55 said:
Best team in 15 years finishes 9th.

Ecstatic with the win, still wanting Tubby bon voyage.
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Can you show me a screen cap that shows us finishing 9th? It's O.K. I'll wait, I understand it could take a long time.
 

Someone lock this thread it's going back to the 7th vs 9th thing again.
 



Winasota Gopher said:
Are you all drunk?
no one is making any sense...
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Well we finished in a tie for 7th. Some people posting here equate a 9th seed in the B10 tourney as achieving a 9th place finish, we did not finish in 9th place. I'm not proud of a 7th place tie, but it is factually correct.

Oh, and I might be a little drunk, if that makes you feel better.
 

Monty519 said:
I tell you what though, if they compete Sunday and just lose a tough battle to Florida, I would HATE to be in Teague's shoes, cause that's one of those "no man's land" type situations there. Whatever happens from here, I just hope it's definitive, and there's a plan in place.
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Could that lead to a repeat of the most awkward vote of confidence announcement in the history of men's college basketball (Maturi to Monson being the precedent)?
 

cncmin said:
No, sadly there are a lot of posters here who like to act like all of our memories are vacant from ca. 1991 to 1999, as the NCAA dictated to be so.
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To be fair there wasn't much to remember in seven of those eight years (91-99).
 

Especially since we're supposedly a basketball school...
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WTF????


Since when have we EVER been a bb school?

Seriously, since when have we been a basketball school?

That's a joke, right?!



Seriously, tell that joke to some fans of all the other teams in the NCAA tourney and they'll laugh, too.
 



We won a tournament game for the 6th time in 30 years and the first time in 16 years. There is that better? There were 5 teams in the B1G ranked higher than us at the beginning of the year and we finished 7th. That's pretty close to where we were expected to finish in a year that the B1G is as good as it's ever been. One of the main reasons why expectations were high this year was because we made a nice run in the NIT last year. Had we not made that run, most every one of you would have been expecting a middle of the pack finish in the B1G. If someone would have told people last year before the NIT started that this year the Gophers would make the NCAA and win their first round game against arguably the biggest traditional basketball power by 20 points, there would not have been one person who didn't think that this year was a success. Am I disappointed how the B1G season turned out? Yeah...I'm disappointed, but one of the big goals for the season is to make the tournament and advance. If I had the choice of finishing in a tie for 4th and losing in the first round or finishing in a tie for 7th and advancing, I take the tie for 7th and advancing everyday of the week. Especially in a year when the B1G had 4 preseason top 10-15 teams and another who hasn't finished outside the top 4 in the conference and was around a preseason top 20 team. This program is in much better shape than it was 6 seasons ago. The last 3 seasons we have beaten North Carolina, Louisville and a number 1 ranked Indiana. We still don't have a plan for a practice facility, only a promise that one will be built. Tubby Smith has been a first class guy who has been pretty successful in his coaching career. I wonder if the people who are calling for Tubby's head the loudest have ever been half as successful at anything in their lives as Tubby has been at coaching basketball. I'm pretty certain we all know the answer to the question of whether they have handled themselves with his same class and grace.
 


ethomasp31 said:
We won a tournament game for the 6th time in 30 years and the first time in 16 years. There is that better? There were 5 teams in the B1G ranked higher than us at the beginning of the year and we finished 7th. That's pretty close to where we were expected to finish in a year that the B1G is as good as it's ever been. One of the main reasons why expectations were high this year was because we made a nice run in the NIT last year. Had we not made that run, most every one of you would have been expecting a middle of the pack finish in the B1G. If someone would have told people last year before the NIT started that this year the Gophers would make the NCAA and win their first round game against arguably the biggest traditional basketball power by 20 points, there would not have been one person who didn't think that this year was a success. Am I disappointed how the B1G season turned out? Yeah...I'm disappointed, but one of the big goals for the season is to make the tournament and advance. If I had the choice of finishing in a tie for 4th and losing in the first round or finishing in a tie for 7th and advancing, I take the tie for 7th and advancing everyday of the week. Especially in a year when the B1G had 4 preseason top 10-15 teams and another who hasn't finished outside the top 4 in the conference and was around a preseason top 20 team. This program is in much better shape than it was 6 seasons ago. The last 3 seasons we have beaten North Carolina, Louisville and a number 1 ranked Indiana. We still don't have a plan for a practice facility, only a promise that one will be built. Tubby Smith has been a first class guy who has been pretty successful in his coaching career. I wonder if the people who are calling for Tubby's head the loudest have ever been half as successful at anything in their lives as Tubby has been at coaching basketball. I'm pretty certain we all know the answer to the question of whether they have handled themselves with his same class and grace.
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The "at the beginning of the season" excuses is weaker than the 9th place finish gripe..... to completely ignore the collapse of a team that showed it belonged in the discussion of being a top 15 team in the nation is pathetic.

And I remember predctions from Gopherholers and national sports talkers that had us in the conversation for top 3 big ten and a sweet 16 run.

Am I happy we won, not happy, ecstatic.

Am I satisfied with the quality of basketball this teamhas consistently played in the big 10, and how we've consistently crumbled in the big 10 despite evidence that we have a quality team every year? Hell no.

I'm OK with whatever move the U takes, wouldn't be upset either way. However, I lean towards a change, Tubby cannot coach in the Big 10.
 

dpodoll68 said:
Let that sink in for a moment. And nearly all of you want to reward the coach who led this effort with a pink slip.
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Overexcited much? This post is a good example of the low expectations we have for Gopher basketball. The get one win in the tourney, and you want to spin it into a dream season.
 



#1nHkyCfbBsbDncSolarDebat said:
WTF????
Since when have we EVER been a bb school?
Seriously, since when have we been a basketball school?
That's a joke, right?!
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Gopher basketball is, and always will be the most popular college team in the state. But is the U considered to be a "basketball school" on a national level? I don't think so.
 

Monty519 said:
What metric would place the recently completed Gopher season ahead of even half of them from the last decade? He went 6-6 and lost a bowl game. We've had about 5 of those in the last 10 years. I don't see how winning a tourney game for the first time in 15 years equates to that.

But anywho, there is something to be said about the situation this program is in. By the simplest of metrics, this team has now advanced further than they have in 15 years. Logic would tell you that should not lead to a firing. But yet, most fans would approve of the move. I tell you what though, if they compete Sunday and just lose a tough battle to Florida, I would HATE to be in Teague's shoes, cause that's one of those "no man's land" type situations there. Whatever happens from here, I just hope it's definitive, and there's a plan in place.
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Well obviously we know that firing Tubby and bringing in anyone new is no sure thing. The likelyhood we hire a coach that can flip the big 3 recruits all to MN is very low as well. I'm never a big fan of firing to fire. And if the team somehow beats Florida the point will be moot. Heck if you can beat Florida, you'd probably be favored in the next game to get to the elite 8. Since I have no say, I don't much care what Teague does. History tells us Tubby isn't going to bring in the "one and done" players, so this is about as good as we're going to get.
 

The Tubby thing is pretty simple for me. If NT has a slam dunk hire ready to go then go ahead and make the move now but if firing Tubby is going to lead to a National search and uncertainty as to who will take the job then let him come back again next year and see what happens.

If NT has a hire in his back pocket that might shock the big 3 in state and get them to sign here great, otherwise our best shot of getting any of them is to stick with the guy that has established a relationship with them. We are a long shot right now, if we bring in some unknown coach we will go from long shot to no shot in a hurry with the big 3.

This team has been really frustrating to watch this year because clearly the potential for so much more is there but there is no consistency. Much of that has to fall on coaching but you still don't fire him just to fire him and hope you find someone better.
 

the big 3

MNVCGUY said:
If NT has a hire in his back pocket that might shock the big 3 in state and get them to sign here great, otherwise our best shot of getting any of them is to stick with the guy that has established a relationship with them. We are a long shot right now, if we bring in some unknown coach we will go from long shot to no shot in a hurry with the big 3.
QUOTE]

If a slam dunk is a Shaka Smart type hire, I doubt he has that in his back pocket. Also take a look at this years top 35 players on where they played in high school and which college they sing with? Then tell me how many of the 3 will sign with the instate school? A scorer like Vaughn is one and done. Tyus will probably play 2 years. I would be happy getting Reid and Macura, and hopefully Illikanen the following year.
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My whole perspective changed watching the Gophers totally destroy - mentally - a decent team. I think they will be tough for Florida. I can't wait to watch that game. I'll be cheering for them the rest of the way. I now see the team climbing up the rung of Gopher great teams, one game at a time.
 

But remember, according to dpedoll he know basketball better than most on this site. We're pawns on the chessboard of basketball as per dpedoll.
 

Dean S said:
My whole perspective changed watching the Gophers totally destroy - mentally - a decent team. I think they will be tough for Florida. I can't wait to watch that game. I'll be cheering for them the rest of the way. I now see the team climbing up the rung of Gopher great teams, one game at a time.
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Decent team? That was a poor example of a ucla team. They were defeated from the beginning.
 

In the words of Mike Tice,"enjoy the season". At least for one more day. I thought UCLA sucked. Beat Florida and I will start to believe.
 




If they win against Florida (and that's a big if). No one will ever remember anything else about this team besides that they made the sweet 16
 

I will repeat what I have typed on this board many times before...only because it seems that so many rubes forget time and again that MN is not a good school to coach at...we have the worst facilities in the big ten and I would argue our facilities are not in the top 50 of all programs (top 100 if we didn't have the Barn and its history).

No up and coming coach would follow Tubby in MN...Tubby was promised a practice facility and support by the Admin...he has gotten neither...so any promises made to a less known non-Championship winning young coach would be even more hollow. Yes we have a new AD & President...but what exactly have they done so far except for talk?

Until we have a plan, funds and a shovel in the ground on upgrading the BB facilities, I believe the job at MN is not a good one and unless Flip is willing to play the role of savior in our rendition of Goldy Gopher Superstar, firing Tubby would be the silliest thing in the history of MN coaching firings...and thats saying something considering our history of silly coaching firings!
 

Winasota Gopher said:
The "at the beginning of the season" excuses is weaker than the 9th place finish gripe..... to completely ignore the collapse of a team that showed it belonged in the discussion of being a top 15 team in the nation is pathetic.

And I remember predctions from Gopherholers and national sports talkers that had us in the conversation for top 3 big ten and a sweet 16 run.

Am I happy we won, not happy, ecstatic.

Am I satisfied with the quality of basketball this teamhas consistently played in the big 10, and how we've consistently crumbled in the big 10 despite evidence that we have a quality team every year? Hell no.

I'm OK with whatever move the U takes, wouldn't be upset either way. However, I lean towards a change, Tubby cannot coach in the Big 10.
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Top 3 in the Big Ten before the season? No one who knows anything about college basketball had us ranked in the top 3 in the Big Ten before the season. Indiana was the number 1 team in the country this preseason with Michigan and tOSU also in the top 5 teams. MSU was in the 12-15 range and even Wisconsin was right around number 20 before the season started. No one had us in the top 25 except some Gopher Holers who were living in a fantasy world and don't follow college basketball outside a 20 mile radius of DinkyTown. It took us 4 weeks to crack the top 25 and in those weeks Indiana, tOSU and Michigan never left the top 5 teams in the country. We have three top 100 high school players on our team, and of those three only one was a to 50 player. Of those three only one can shoot. For that I find fault in Tubby. But we don't have that super talented team that some on here think we do. With our talent, we finished right about where we should have finished in an INCREDIBLY STRONG BIG TEN!!!! The talent on the Gopher team compared to Indiana, Michigan, tOSU or MSU isn't even close, and if you think it is, you've been drinking too much maroon and gold kool-aid. Even Wisconsin....that Dekker kid was a higher rated recruit than the Gophers have had in years and years and years...maybe since Darryl Mitchell.

Am I disappointed in how the Big Ten season went? Yes very. I was hoping that we could have won 10 or 11 games in the Big Ten this year. But even if we had won the last two games against Nebraska and Purdue, 3 out of 4 people in this fan base would have been still saying Tubby should be fired, which is total BS. Do you know how many time we have won more than 10 games in the Big Ten the last 30 years? Twice...and one of those doesn't even count!!! Now would you have been more happy if we had won those two games and lost in the first round? How about if we had won those two and the NW game and lost in the first round....we would have finished 11-7 in the Big Ten for a 6th place finish. That would have been awesome huh? HARDLY!!!
 

GopherinPhilly said:
I will repeat what I have typed on this board many times before...only because it seems that so many rubes forget time and again that MN is not a good school to coach at...we have the worst facilities in the big ten and I would argue our facilities are not in the top 50 of all programs (top 100 if we didn't have the Barn and its history).

No up and coming coach would follow Tubby in MN...Tubby was promised a practice facility and support by the Admin...he has gotten neither...so any promises made to a less known non-Championship winning young coach would be even more hollow. Yes we have a new AD & President...but what exactly have they done so far except for talk?

Until we have a plan, funds and a shovel in the ground on upgrading the BB facilities, I believe the job at MN is not a good one and unless Flip is willing to play the role of savior in our rendition of Goldy Gopher Superstar, firing Tubby would be the silliest thing in the history of MN coaching firings...and thats saying something considering our history of silly coaching firings!
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I think Tubby just earned himself another season, if we weren't going to fire him last year after coming off of his worst and second worst seasons at the U, it seems silly to fire him after his best one the next year. However I would disagree that we have a history of silly coaching firings. I don't know who you don't think deserved to be canned, I am pretty comfortable with the firings of Mason, Monson, and Brewster. It is our history of silly coaching extensions and (in the case of Brewster) a silly coach hiring.
 

bleedsmaroonandgold said:
I think Tubby just earned himself another season, if we weren't going to fire him last year after coming off of his worst and second worst seasons at the U, it seems silly to fire him after his best one the next year. However I would disagree that we have a history of silly coaching firings. I don't know who you don't think deserved to be canned, I am pretty comfortable with the firings of Mason, Monson, and Brewster. It is our history of silly coaching extensions and (in the case of Brewster) a silly coach hiring.
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Silly was not in the firing but when and how the firing took place...ie one year after an extension and upping the buy out and then firing during or after the next season. So Monson, Mason & Brewster come to mind. It is silly to extend a coach and then fire him and we are still paying off these fiascos...no since in adding another to the mix.
 

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