Devoe Joseph is suspended indefinitely – and I’m pissed off

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Perfectly reasonable for you to be pissed off when someone you care about lets you down.

Likely that is the correct response. Since I don't know what happened, I am more confused than anything. IMO, Devoe let himself down more than anyone else. He does not owe me anything. He is a young man under a microscope playing a big $$ game, high expectations, no privacy, no room for big mistakes. Hopefully, he gets back to playing the game he loves.
 

Like all of us, he made a mistake. Being frustrated as a fan is a natural reaction, but what kid in college hasn't made mistakes? Let it be. The Gophers are still a stellar team; if Devoe wants to play he'll play and make an impact. As per usual, the Gophs will be a little shorthanded again this year. Minnesota sports syndrome is a full-go.
 

You raise some good points, gentelman - but this goes back to the Tinsley stuff on the football board. When people defended him by saying - who doesn't drive drunk?, who doesn't get arrested?, who doesn't get charged with felonies? Ummm...I don't! And obviously, Devoe is not near that level, he's a really good kid that made a mistake...but I'm not giving him the free out on this one because he's not dumb (unlike a lot of athletes) and he does know better. When you are handed things - a scholarship, great class schedule, tutors, free room and board, girls that want you (and if you weren't an athlete they'd never even talk to you), you do assume a little responsibility with that. By getting suspended, junior year, when your college career is about to take off hurts the team, Tubby, yourself and fans.

I'm not saying I didn't make mistakes in college, and you know I have defended many for making mistakes - but I think at this point, when you make them you're doing stupid things. As far as the Gophers being stellar, I'd like to think that. I also know if anything happens to Nolen, we are screwed.
 


Thank you for articulating what a lot of us are feeling. I had my fill last year of players who couldn't or wouldn't follow team rules. This year I was looking forward to a normal season of college hoops. Well, here we go again.

I'm not quitting on the team or the program. I'll still be at the games cheering as loud as ever. But, like last year, I'll have one eye on the bench to see if anyone else is suspended, and that really takes some of the enjoyment out of the season. Let's hope Devoe and the rest of the team learn from this.
 

Devoe

Sure, Devoe hurt himself and evidently he is ok with that. What Nadine is attempting to make him realize is how deeply his actions hurt other people. I don't believe Devoe understands the gravity of his actions. He has really let his teammates down. He has an obligation that goes along with that scholarship. His mom is devastated. Gopher fans are frustrated. And as Nadine pointed out he is effecting the teams chances for an NCAA seed.

Tubby will compensate for a point guard. He will find a solution. But Tubby is not a magician.
He can't create another best scorer. Devoe fills that role and there is nobody else to score versus the other team's best defender. It's a domino thing. We are worse because of his absence and additionally handicapped because now the opponents best defender is shutting down our second best scorer who is going to disappear too many nights.

Total speculation: my thoughts are that this is all about selfish pouting. Devoe didn't feel Tubby was giving him enough love. Telling him how good he is, starting him, giving him a total green light from anywhere, whatever the perceived grievance. Devoe was pouting. I'll show you. Instead of punishing Tubby, he has hurt himself, his family, his teammates and the fans. Hopefully, somebody reaches him and he becomes accountable and grows into a man.

I know this. We are very, very lucky to have Tubby Smith as a basketball coach who thinks and cares about individual people on his team, believing they are more important than winning games by compromising rules and standards.

Hopefully Devoe transforms into an unstoppable team leader begging for forgiveness with his effort and play.

I feel Nadine's passion and pain....hopefully Devoe does too.
 

Without knowing the particulars, it's tough to determine how to feel, who to "blame", and how to react. For me, though, I just feel exhausted. Exhausted by the seemingly constant drama that this team has created. Last year was exhausting. Nolen, Royce, Mbakwe, recruiting... In spite of that, I was there with this team until the end. The very end. Sitting in the stands in Indianapolis all the way through the Big Ten Tournament, rooting hard until the end (and getting scoffed at by opposing fans as the tournament ended with a thrashing). I plan to do the same this year but...it is getting harder and harder to get off the mat as this program seemigly takes a kick in the gut over and over again. We finally get through the Nolen ineligibility, the Royce drama (good riddance), and Mbakwe's situation (glad to have you back, Trevor)...and now we lose Devoe indfinitely? Ouch! It's 6:13 a.m. and the season opener hasn't even been played yet and I'm feeling the exhaustion of last year return. Please, please, please don't make me go through another year like last year! Devoe--please do what you have to do to get back in your rightful spot as a leader for this team. I need you!
 

The show will go on and we will survive. I'm as frustrated as anyone. However being suspended indefinitely versus for the season is a big difference. To me, that means that Devoe controls when he comes back. I would caution anyone against making comparisons to what is going on with Devoe (which most of us don't know, so stop pretending) to what happened with other Gopher players. Obviously, he broke some type of team rule or moral standard, etc. That said, he has no pattern of horrible behavior (see Royce and others) and until the next story breaks (crossing fingers that it won't) about him being in trouble with the law I am confident this is any easy fix. Royce had too may screw ups to just say "coach, I'm ready to come back", Trevor had a looming court date, etc.

Yes, Devoe has let some folks down... but ultimately, he let himself and the team down and that's more important than letting "Gopher Nation" down. Lets not be disingenuous and start saying he let us down as we all know that the boards will roast his ass the minute he plays a bad game. Hes owes it to himself not us.
 



60's Guy said:
Sure, Devoe hurt himself and evidently he is ok with that. What Nadine is attempting to make him realize is how deeply his actions hurt other people. Gopher fans are frustrated. And as Nadine pointed out he is effecting the teams chances for an NCAA seed. I don't believe Devoe understands the gravity of his actions. He has really let his teammates down. He has an obligation that goes along with that scholarship. His mom is devastated. Tubby will compensate for a point guard. He will find a solution. But Tubby is not a magician.
He can't create another best scorer. Devoe fills that role and there is nobody else to score versus the other team's best defender. It's a domino thing. We are worse because of his absence and additionally handicapped because now the opponents best defender is shutting down our second best scorer who is going to disappear too many nights.

Total speculation: my thoughts are that this is all about selfish pouting. Devoe didn't feel Tubby was giving him enough love. Telling him how good he is, starting him, giving him a total green light from anywhere, whatever the perceived grievance. Devoe was pouting. I'll show you. Instead of punishing Tubby, he has hurt himself, his family, his teammates and the fans. Hopefully, somebody reaches him and he becomes accountable and grows into a man.

I know this. We are very, very lucky to have Tubby Smith as a basketball coach who thinks and cares about individual people on his team, believing they are more important than winning games by compromising rules and standards.

Hopefully Devoe transforms into an unstoppable team leader begging for forgiveness with his effort and play.

I feel Nadine's passion and pain....hopefully Devoe does too.
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After observing how others affected the team last season, what is there that is so difficult to understand??
 

KSBGopher said:
Let it be. The Gophers are still a stellar team; if Devoe wants to play he'll play and make an impact. .
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Wrong. No one is going to let this be-nor should they. The Gophers are not even close to a stellar team without Devoe. Devoe has no-say if he plays or not-that ship has sailed.
 

It will be interesting to see how Devoe reacts to Tubby's decision. Does he suck it up like Trevor did and continue to support his team until he is reinstated to the team or does he go the other direction like Royce did and blame everyone else but himself. I hope Devoe looks in the mirror, understands that he screwed up and commits himself to a return to the team.
 

CDH27 said:
It will be interesting to see how Devoe reacts to Tubby's decision. Does he suck it up like Trevor did and continue to support his team until he is reinstated to the team or does he go the other direction like Royce did and blame everyone else but himself. I hope Devoe looks in the mirror, understands that he screwed up and commits himself to a return to the team.
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I think him now being able to watch Trevor play after last year, Devoe will handle it correctly. He has always seemed like a smart person. I don't believe he has an ounce of "Royce White" in him.
 



We're battle-scarred

Another piece of bad news is just harder for us to stomach these days, and it tends to make us over-react, myself included. Upon further review, I've calmed down a bit, because we really don't know what Devoe's rules infraction might be, we don't know how long the suspension might be, and it is just the start of preseason. That doesn't justify things, but it does put them into perspective. However, Devoe is a major contributor to the team, and his absence is truly frustrating to us fans. Come on, Devoe, get back to the game you love, and don't jeopardize it any more than you have. We will welcome you back.
 

Everyone just calm down! No one needs to be pissed off! Devoe's absence will only make our team deeper. By the time he comes back other guys will gain more experience and this team will be as tough as nails to beat. Tubby will lead the team to a National Championship this year!
 

This is a pattern with Tubby. You can claim he's a "disciplinarian" and all that jazz but it's not the truth. Tubby does have the well being of the kids at heart but he often times sticks his head in the sand until the problem becomes too great (or too public) and thus he's forced to act as the "taskmaster".

Kids deserve second chances but when there is a distinct disconnect between authority and behavior you keep seeing the same problems pop up again and again. I know some will dismiss what I say but the pattern exists.
 

I'm wondering if the theory mentioned a few day ago (I can't remember who posted it) is true about Tubby not putting up with some of Devoe's antics now that his brother is no longer a coveted recruit.

Hmmm.......me thinks there could be a correlation here :cool02:
 

Given the way MN sports (both collegiate and pro) is going this year, it figures...
 

gold04 said:
Everyone just calm down! No one needs to be pissed off! Devoe's absence will only make our team deeper. By the time he comes back other guys will gain more experience and this team will be as tough as nails to beat. Tubby will lead the team to a National Championship this year!
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I echo gopher lady's thoughts on this one. I've said in ealier post, this team is weakest (mostly in depth, a great driving guard would be nice) in the guard position relative to the best teams. Without Devoe, this team has no chance competing for the Big10 title or winning more than 1 game in the dance, if they get there. He means as much to MN as Hummel did to Purdue last year, Purdue was top 10 all year and lost in the 2nd round.

I hope devoe gets his xhit together and realizes this is a defining moment in his life, there are two paths dependent on how he responds. I'm confident Tubby has laid it out for him, I hope he chooses wisely and is back in a couple of weeks. Dangnabit, I was really looking forward to this season and I think they could be a sweet 16 team but Devoe needs to be on the court.
 

Art Vandelay said:
I'm wondering if the theory mentioned a few day ago (I can't remember who posted it) is true about Tubby not putting up with some of Devoe's antics now that his brother is no longer a coveted recruit.

Hmmm.......me thinks there could be a correlation here :cool02:
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The only correlation here is your stupidity and your stupid posts. R-squared is 1.

Go Gophers
 

watertown 1987 guy n said:
I echo gopher lady's thoughts on this one. I've said in ealier post, this team is weakest (mostly in depth, a great driving guard would be nice) in the guard position relative to the best teams. Without Devoe, this team has no chance competing for the Big10 title or winning more than 1 game in the dance, if they get there. He means as much to MN as Hummel did to Purdue last year, Purdue was top 10 all year and lost in the 2nd round.
I hope devoe gets his xhit together and realizes this is a defining moment in his life, there are two paths dependent on how he responds. I'm confident Tubby has laid it out for him, I hope he chooses wisely and is back in a couple of weeks. Dangnabit, I was really looking forward to this season and I think they could be a sweet 16 team but Devoe needs to be on the court.
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Absurd.

Purdue didn't lose in the 2nd round - they were in the Sweet 16 and lost a tough one to the eventual Nat'l Champs despite being tied with about 10 minutes left.

I think Joseph is a decent player however.
 

:eek:Please don't try to compare Hummel to Joesph. Hummel has way more tools than Devoe and is a way bigger loss for Purdue.
 


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