Devoe Joseph Sucks!

[Seany]

USAChef is so negative on nearly all topics Gopher-related that I honestly have to wonder whether he's even a Gopher fan, or if he IS a fan, then why even bother if being a fan makes him feel so sour and negative as that.

And the reason I say that is because he's extremely negative on Coach Kill and Gophers football as well, and it seems he really has nothing positive to say at all.

 

[USAFChief]

Can you answer the following question just one time please? I've asked it so many times and you never want to answer it.

If Tubby supposedly chose Nolen over Joseph as you say, why did they play almost identical minutes in the 3 games they played together this year?

I have answered it. Perhaps you just don't want to hear the answer.


The 'equal minutes thing' is only close to true if you include the SDSU game, Nolen's first game back, where Joseph got more minutes than Nolen.

Come the next game--conference opener at Wisconsin--Nolen gets the start, plays more, and is one of the primary reasons the Gophers lost. Nolen was 0 for 6, with 2 assists and a turnover. Taylor was blowing by him at will. Joseph, meanwhile, went 6 for 13 with 7 assists, and the same one turnover. Fewer fouls.

Yet later that week, there's Nolen getting the start, and the playing time with the starters, and nine more minutes than Joseph, in yet another putrid performance, and another loss.

Tubby chose Nolen, just as he did last year, and the situation wasn't going to change unless the team lost Nolen again. You have to be intentionally ignoring the truth to think otherwise. Maybe you agree with that choice, and that's fine, but to pretend that choice wasn't made is another thing.

 

[kindofgreen]

Agreed

I remember all too well playing for coaches who didn't optimize my talents and then as an adult coaching kids who couldn't fit my system. But I didn't, nor did I fanthom any one else would ever quit in the middle of a season. There are just too many better alternatives.

The Gophers needed desparately for Devoe to fill a role and offer them a rare chance to do well in the tournament. Unless Tubby convinced him to leave (which I haven't heard and if true offer my heartfelt apologies for getting this wrong) Devoe's own selfish agenda was apparently more important than honoring his team. That's really cold. Hopefully, some day he will learn what character and integrity is all about. Until, then, which I fear will be a long process, it is sad that his personal journey had to be so hurtful to others.

 

[tikited]

how do you know devoe didnt work hard up until he quit the team?

and devoe could do more than shoot a basketball! he could create his own shot, he could dribble w/o looking like he was 9 yrs old, and he plays better perimeter defense than blake. if devoe is still here we dont play nearly as much 2-3 zone to protect blakes weak athletic ability. blake is a great shooter but thats all he is.

who said it had anything to do about starting? im saying devoe was pushed to play the point when he really isnt a point guard. he was put behind blake who isnt as good all around as devoe.

overall you are a dumbass for trying to bash a kid for being in an unhappy situation because of your own selfish needs.

in summary: you dont know sh*t

We would be better with Joseph on the team (that is a no-brainer), but everything else you have written is idiotic. I have no problem bashing a kid who quit on his team and the University.

 

[minngg]

Wow...Mrs. Joseph, I didn't say anything personal about your son...other than he sucks for quiting on his team and us fans. He did quit...middle of the season...left the people he said he cared about hanging...that is true. Nobody said there weren't circumstances...just like the TWO times he was suspended from the team for breaking team rules...I am sure there were circumstances...and we accepted him back with open arms and cheered and supported him...then he QUIT! Just like I am sure he will do many times in his life going forward.

This is the kind of crap I hate on here. Unless you think like some on here you get the name calling. Mrs. Joseph, Nate Wolters mom, iti s endless and it is dribble. By the way, most of the ones complaining about Devoe leaving now are the same ones that said we were a better team without him. They like it both ways.

 

[minngg]

Lakes, despite all evidence to the contrary, you seem to be under the same delusion(s) that Devoe is:

1) I don't know how hard worked before he quit, but I do know he did a number of things to seriously affect his ability to play here. Whether it was drugs, grades, insubordination; who knows? And frankly, who cares? He was already a major distraction for this team (6 game suspension, and likely another multiple game suspension before he left). No team needs that. Nolen started over him because Joseph was suspended to start the season. Hoffarber started over him because is our best shooter (one of the best in the country), leading returning scorer, and obviously improved his overall game over the summer.

2) Devoe's defense was atrocious; he was easily one of the worst couple of defenders on our team (hence the reason Tubby often sat him in his first couple of years). His on-ball defense was consistently putrid, his help-side defense was never there, and his defensive positioning was never correct.

3) Regarding their all-around game; there is no question Hoffarber is a better all-around player. Look at his passing, shooting, understanding of the game (positioning), fundamentals (cross court passes, entry to the post, etc.), it's really not close. Devoe never hit an open player on time (if he even passed it to him), was rarely in the correct position defensively, and perhaps worst of all, probably had the worst understanding of what is a good/bad shot of any player to play for the Gophers in the last 15-20 years. He appeared to be incredibly selfish on the court, and based on his actions in the past 12 months or so, appears to be selfish off the court as well. Devoe only seems interested in what's best for Devoe. Doesn't matter if we were winning or losing, he appeared to rub some of the team, and apparently Tubby the wrong way with his attitude.

You act like he's a mix of Bruce Bowen and Kobe Bryant.

Devoe will never have a sniff at the NBA, and will struggle to even play overseas. He's an undersized and unathletic (in comparison to professionals) shooting guard that lacks the body and basic fundamentals necessary to seriously compete for any spot on a professional roster.

It's just too bad Devoe and the people whispering sweet nothings in his ear don't understand this simple fact.

A) Devoe's defense was not atrocious. It was average.
B) Nobody knows why Devoe got suspended.
C) Nolen let the team down more last year by flunking out of school.
D) Anyone that says Devoe didn't care about wins and losses is just making things up.
E) Nobody knows what happened between Tubby and Devoe. I do know that Tubby's comments about Devoe not showing "gratitutde" were very strange to me.
F) If Devoe was such a bad player, why do we miss him so much?

 

[station19]

A) Devoe's defense was not atrocious. It was average.
B) Nobody knows why Devoe got suspended.
C) Nolen let the team down more last year by flunking out of school.
D) Anyone that says Devoe didn't care about wins and losses is just making things up.
E) Nobody knows what happened between Tubby and Devoe. I do know that Tubby's comments about Devoe not showing "gratitutde" were very strange to me.F) If Devoe was such a bad player, why do we miss him so much?

I must have missed that one. Please fill me in.

 

[lakesgopher]

Lakes, despite all evidence to the contrary, you seem to be under the same delusion(s) that Devoe is:

1) I don't know how hard worked before he quit, but I do know he did a number of things to seriously affect his ability to play here. Whether it was drugs, grades, insubordination; who knows? And frankly, who cares? He was already a major distraction for this team (6 game suspension, and likely another multiple game suspension before he left). No team needs that. Nolen started over him because Joseph was suspended to start the season. Hoffarber started over him because is our best shooter (one of the best in the country), leading returning scorer, and obviously improved his overall game over the summer.

2) Devoe's defense was atrocious; he was easily one of the worst couple of defenders on our team (hence the reason Tubby often sat him in his first couple of years). His on-ball defense was consistently putrid, his help-side defense was never there, and his defensive positioning was never correct
I just don't understand how a group of people can talk so badly about a young man when they nearly nothing about his situation. I guess I'm an adult, I'm not going to bash a kid for leaving our school because he is unhappy. I'm done with the pissing match about talent between devoe and blake. blake had minnesota for an option-thats it! devoe had several options, just saying. I'm sorry but you don't know what your talking about when it comes to basketball! you need to actually try to break down the film...if you know how and then the answers will be in your face. I'm done-leave the kid alone!

 

[ShowinGoldyLove]

blake had minnesota for an option-thats it! devoe had several options, just saying.

You obviously haven't been on here much in the past 6-7 years...

Hoffarber had offers from Notre Dame, Louisville, Vanderbilt, Cincinnati, etc. MN wasn't close to his "only option?" In fact, if I remember correctly, most on here thought he was a done deal to Notre Dame, not MN?

 

[dpodoll68]

I just don't understand how a group of people can talk so badly about a young man when they nearly nothing about his situation.

I don't know as much about his situation as I would like to, but I know plenty. He is a quitter. He quit on his teammates, he quit on his school, and he quit on himself. I have zero patience for quitters.

I guess I'm an adult, I'm not going to bash a kid for leaving our school because he is unhappy.

Devoe is not a kid. He is an adult, just like you or me. He makes his own decisions and has to live with the repercussions and consequences of said choices. There are plenty of young men and women, many younger than Cory Joseph's Pot-Smoking Older Brother, who die in wars, raise children, pay taxes, pay mortgages, go to work for 40+ hours a week, etc. Stop infantilizing an adult just because he goes to school. By that logic, the 45-year-old going back to get his MBA is a "kid".

blake had minnesota for an option-thats it! devoe had several options, just saying.

I guess Notre Dame and Vanderbilt (both teams that are quite frequently in the Top 25) were "just playin'" and weren't serious when they offered Blake scholarships and hosted him on their campuses for official visits. Just because you clearly have a bias toward Blake does not mean that you get to make up sh*t that is quite easily refutable.

I'm sorry but you don't know what your talking about when it comes to basketball! you need to actually try to break down the film...if you know how and then the answers will be in your face.

If you think that Devoe should have been starting over Blake this year (or that it was even close, for that matter), your opinions on basketball mean absolutely nothing. Sorry I had to be the one to break this news to you.

I'm done-leave the kid alone!

Again, he is not a kid. And I (along with many others on this board) will not abide a player quitting on his team, especially when said team is a part of our beloved university.

 

[minngg]

I must have missed that one. Please fill me in.

Tubby on Devoe leaving..."He wanted more shots,'' Smith said. "Hard to understand. … The gratitude isn't there. He thought he deserved more. He wanted more shots."

Not sure what Tubby meant by gratitude. Does Tubby expect players to be grateful that they are playing for him? Grateful for what minutes he gives them? I thought it was an odd word to use for a player leaving. It almost sounded like Devoe should just thank him for allowing him to play as much as he did.

 

[station19]

Tubby on Devoe leaving..."He wanted more shots,'' Smith said. "Hard to understand. … The gratitude isn't there. He thought he deserved more. He wanted more shots."

Not sure what Tubby meant by gratitude. Does Tubby expect players to be grateful that they are playing for him? Grateful for what minutes he gives them? I thought it was an odd word to use for a player leaving. It almost sounded like Devoe should just thank him for allowing him to play as much as he did.

Thanks, I hadn't seen/heard that one.

 

[tikited]

Tubby on Devoe leaving..."He wanted more shots,'' Smith said. "Hard to understand. … The gratitude isn't there. He thought he deserved more. He wanted more shots."

Not sure what Tubby meant by gratitude. Does Tubby expect players to be grateful that they are playing for him? Grateful for what minutes he gives them? I thought it was an odd word to use for a player leaving. It almost sounded like Devoe should just thank him for allowing him to play as much as he did.

Sounds odd from both Devoe and Tubby. "He" is code for "me, me, me" in this case. Devoe seemed pretty worried about himself and not the team imo. Any player complaining about shots is most likely in it for himself.

 

[jmag21]

I'm sorry. Anybody currently sticking up for Devoe right now is not a Minnesota Gopher fan. It's a simple as that. He quit on the team. He quit on the fans. He's a selfish person based on his own comments. The only people who could POSSIBLY think otherwise are either people who don't truly like the Gophers and are trolling, or people who have an unaccountable grudge against Tubby Smith personally. Seriously. I can't see any possible reasonable argument in defense of Devoe quitting on his team and his teammates. Any poster who does so instantly loses all credibility with me.

 

[GophersInIowa]

I have answered it. Perhaps you just don't want to hear the answer.


The 'equal minutes thing' is only close to true if you include the SDSU game, Nolen's first game back, where Joseph got more minutes than Nolen.

Come the next game--conference opener at Wisconsin--Nolen gets the start, plays more, and is one of the primary reasons the Gophers lost. Nolen was 0 for 6, with 2 assists and a turnover. Taylor was blowing by him at will. Joseph, meanwhile, went 6 for 13 with 7 assists, and the same one turnover. Fewer fouls.

Yet later that week, there's Nolen getting the start, and the playing time with the starters, and nine more minutes than Joseph, in yet another putrid performance, and another loss.

Tubby chose Nolen, just as he did last year, and the situation wasn't going to change unless the team lost Nolen again. You have to be intentionally ignoring the truth to think otherwise. Maybe you agree with that choice, and that's fine, but to pretend that choice wasn't made is another thing.

My apologies if you did answer it before. Don't remember seeing it.

First of all, why wouldn't you include the SDSU game? Secondly, in the Wisconsin game Nolen played one minute more than Joseph. So if you break it down in the three games, Joseph played more in one game, Nolen in another, and they were seconds of playing time away from being equal in the third. And what you're saying is that the Michigan St. game proved that Tubby "picked" Nolen over Joseph?

Maybe Tubby did prefer Nolen at the point over Joseph but those three games don't prove anything in my opinion.

 

[scher215]

Tubby on Devoe leaving..."He wanted more shots,'' Smith said. "Hard to understand. … The gratitude isn't there. He thought he deserved more. He wanted more shots."

Not sure what Tubby meant by gratitude. Does Tubby expect players to be grateful that they are playing for him? Grateful for what minutes he gives them? I thought it was an odd word to use for a player leaving. It almost sounded like Devoe should just thank him for allowing him to play as much as he did.

Listen to a couple Coach K comments, do you think he expects grattitude from his players for being allowed the chance to play at Duke University? If anyone with the "I want more shots" attitude was on Duke, he'd be gone pretty quickly.

I am not saying the Minnesota program is on par with Duke, but to have the opportunity to play college basketball for the U is something that I hope every one of the players is very grateful for. And if they aren't? Next man up.

 

[scher215]

My apologies if you did answer it before. Don't remember seeing it.

First of all, why wouldn't you include the SDSU game? Secondly, in the Wisconsin game Nolen played one minute more than Joseph. So if you break it down in the three games, Joseph played more in one game, Nolen in another, and they were seconds of playing time away from being equal in the third. And what you're saying is that the Michigan St. game proved that Tubby "picked" Nolen over Joseph?

Maybe Tubby did prefer Nolen at the point over Joseph but those three games don't prove anything in my opinion.

I will give Devoe a LOT of credit in the Wisconsin game, he was playing with the flu. His shot was horribly off, and he still managed to be the spark on offense. His passing and driving that game were unreal. I thought Devoe made great progress on his passing game and driving game.

 

[USAFChief]

I'm sorry. Anybody currently sticking up for Devoe right now is not a Minnesota Gopher fan. It's a simple as that. He quit on the team. He quit on the fans. He's a selfish person based on his own comments. The only people who could POSSIBLY think otherwise are either people who don't truly like the Gophers and are trolling, or people who have an unaccountable grudge against Tubby Smith personally. Seriously. I can't see any possible reasonable argument in defense of Devoe quitting on his team and his teammates. Any poster who does so instantly loses all credibility with me.

I'm sorry, who appointed you as the arbiter of who is, and who isn't, a Gopher fan?

 

[USAFChief]

I don't know as much about his situation as I would like to, but I know plenty. He is a quitter. He quit on his teammates, he quit on his school, and he quit on himself. I have zero patience for quitters.



Devoe is not a kid. He is an adult, just like you or me. He makes his own decisions and has to live with the repercussions and consequences of said choices. There are plenty of young men and women, many younger than Cory Joseph's Pot-Smoking Older Brother, who die in wars, raise children, pay taxes, pay mortgages, go to work for 40+ hours a week, etc. Stop infantilizing an adult just because he goes to school. By that logic, the 45-year-old going back to get his MBA is a "kid".



I guess Notre Dame and Vanderbilt (both teams that are quite frequently in the Top 25) were "just playin'" and weren't serious when they offered Blake scholarships and hosted him on their campuses for official visits. Just because you clearly have a bias toward Blake does not mean that you get to make up sh*t that is quite easily refutable.



If you think that Devoe should have been starting over Blake this year (or that it was even close, for that matter), your opinions on basketball mean absolutely nothing. Sorry I had to be the one to break this news to you.



Again, he is not a kid. And I (along with many others on this board) will not abide a player quitting on his team, especially when said team is a part of our beloved university.

Lots of words about adulthood from a guy who resorts to name calling.

 

[scher215]

I was a huge Devoe backer coming into the season, besides Blake, he was my favorite player.

I wanted Al, Devoe, and Blake to start with Ralph and Trevor down low. I was disapointed and upset Devoe got suspended no matter the reason.

I think him and Al are completely different players and tough to compare as far as who is better. Tubby has shown, however, his desire to play the oldest players he can, and Al was a senior whom he expected to be a huge leader on the court.

That said, I can not understand nor applaud nor condone Devoe quitting middle of the season. He hurt himself sitting out a season and a half of basketball now more than anything (only reason I can think of is if he felt he'd be suspended for the rest of the season anyways for whatever reason) he is missing out on a lot of playing time right now too.

The smart thing to do would have been to suck it up for the rest of the year. Be positive and ignore how he felt about his role. Be there for your teammates and be there for the fans who have loved you much of your career here. Leave gracefully at the end of the season after hopefully a successfull season.

Since I brought up Coack K quotes earlier, I point to these two specifically

“During critical periods, a leader is not allowed to feel sorry for himself, to be down, to be angry, or to be weak. Leaders must beat back these emotions.”

“During the season, your team should be led with exuberance and excitement. You should live the journey. You should live it right. You should live it together. You should live it shared. You should try to make one another better. You should get on one another if somebody’s not doing their part. You should hug one another when they are. You should be disappointed in a loss and exhilarated in a win. It’s all about the journey.”

Those are two things that Devoe Joseph ignored by quitting midseason. I don't think Devoe is a bad person, or that he needs to be attacked personally, or that he won't be successful at whatever he does or anything, but he absolutley quit on this team. Put himself first and let everyone, including himself, down. That is what is most troubling for me. Had he trasnfered at the end of the year, the reaction to it would have been completely different.

And lastly, Devoe is not being treated any differently by posters here for any reason. Larry Drew II and the K-State guy have gotten the same comments from Gopherhole as they have quit midseason on their teams.

 

[USAFChief]

I was a huge Devoe backer coming into the season, besides Blake, he was my favorite player.

I wanted Al, Devoe, and Blake to start with Ralph and Trevor down low. I was disapointed and upset Devoe got suspended no matter the reason.

I think him and Al are completely different players and tough to compare as far as who is better. Tubby has shown, however, his desire to play the oldest players he can, and Al was a senior whom he expected to be a huge leader on the court.

That said, I can not understand nor applaud nor condone Devoe quitting middle of the season. He hurt himself sitting out a season and a half of basketball now more than anything (only reason I can think of is if he felt he'd be suspended for the rest of the season anyways for whatever reason) he is missing out on a lot of playing time right now too.

The smart thing to do would have been to suck it up for the rest of the year. Be positive and ignore how he felt about his role. Be there for your teammates and be there for the fans who have loved you much of your career here. Leave gracefully at the end of the season after hopefully a successfull season.

Since I brought up Coack K quotes earlier, I point to these two specifically





Those are two things that Devoe Joseph ignored by quitting midseason. I don't think Devoe is a bad person, or that he needs to be attacked personally, or that he won't be successful at whatever he does or anything, but he absolutley quit on this team. Put himself first and let everyone, including himself, down. That is what is most troubling for me. Had he trasnfered at the end of the year, the reaction to it would have been completely different.

And lastly, Devoe is not being treated any differently by posters here for any reason. Larry Drew II and the K-State guy have gotten the same comments from Gopherhole as they have quit midseason on their teams.

That's a very fair and reasonable take. Obviously I disagree somewhat, but you make excellent points.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Devoe wanted to slack in class, smoke weed, start and take a bunch of shots.

Tubby wanted him to take care of his grades, not smoke weed, come off the bench and play within the system.

There was a clash and Devoe decided to quit instead of stick it out.

That's it. Move on.

 

[jmag21]

I'm sorry, who appointed you as the arbiter of who is, and who isn't, a Gopher fan?

The Pope. It was a huge ceremony on campus, I'm surprised you didn't hear about it. Got front-page coverage in the local papers as well. I get a mitre, a scepter, and some nice robes into the bargain.

 

[USAFChief]

Devoe wanted to slack in class, smoke weed, start and take a bunch of shots.


That's it. Move on.

One of those four accusations is factual. Can you find it?

 

[dpodoll68]

Lots of words about adulthood from a guy who resorts to name calling.

I only resort to name-calling for worthless peons who don't deserve to be called by their desired name. Present company is most definitely included.

 

[GopherinPhilly]

This is the kind of crap I hate on here. Unless you think like some on here you get the name calling. Mrs. Joseph, Nate Wolters mom, iti s endless and it is dribble. By the way, most of the ones complaining about Devoe leaving now are the same ones that said we were a better team without him. They like it both ways.

Name calling is the poster I was responding too who called me a "giand dbag"...sarcasm in my response is my calling the poster Mrs. Joseph. You....well you fail to read before responding...so that is what it is...

 

[minngg]

Amazing to me how people that know nothing about Devoe know so much about Devoe.

 

[ShowinGoldyLove]

Amazing to me how people that know nothing about Devoe know so much about Devoe.

Yourself included?

 

[GoldenHerbs]

Apparently Mbakwe isn't mad a Judas, tells him how much he misses him on Twitter and recently stated he wished he played in the pac-10 due to the big tens crappy weather. If he was my teammate and abandoned the team I'd be like *&^!#*&^!#*&^!#*&^!# him!

 

[sec105]

Apparently Mbakwe isn't mad a Judas, tells him how much he misses him on Twitter...

Is he still twittering or tweeting or whatever it's called?