Doogie: The job that could take Tubby is Maryland

[Section201]

scher

Agreed.

I do not think at this point it NEEDS to be replaced, currently Tubby Smith draws recruits without the flashy arena. I think he'd draw MORE recruits with this argument. "We play in an arena that has a great atmosphere and great tradition and is one of the most unique places in all of basketball, guys like Kevin McHale, Bobby Jackson, Voshon Leanord have all played in this arena. Also, we have a brand new state of the art practice facility for you to use 24 hours a day to get better, and one day you could be another historically great NBA player who has played here."

I do not think tradition / history plays a HUGE role for recruits who are 18, but I believe it does play some role when you can say this is where Kevin McHale, Trent Tucker, Bobby Jackson, Voshon Leanard, etc. played. Recruits do know who those guys are. Many recruits do care about money and flash and fast paced, etc. but there are still recruits who care about history and are students of the game, and often these are the types of players who can build programs.

I think the right thing for the U to do is keep the barn, build that practice facility, and be good to go until the majority of recruits start listing the barn as a top 5 reason they didn't come here.

As much as it pains many to give 18 year olds (and coaches for that matter) that power, they are the key to winning and they do own that power.

Obviously, I agree!

 

[Section201]

howe

Multi-billion dollar arena? Try again on that. Virginia will struggle to get out from under Duke and UNC and the difficulty getting kids into school doesn't help matters. But it's not the arena's fault.

Oregon will probably spend it's way into being one of the 4 best programs in the Pac 10 though and the arena is part of it. The floor is awful though.

Excuse the hyperbole.

Per the Wik John Paul Jones Arena, completed in 2006 only cost 131 million.

We can't even raise 20 or 30 mil for a practice facility.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Paul_Jones_Arena

http://www.johnpauljonesarena.com/about.asp

 

[Max Power]

Top 30 job nationally. Somewhere between 3-7 in the Big 10. Indiana is still #1 and MSU is clearly #2.

Purdue, Illinois, MN, Wisconsin and OSU are all on about the same level over the long-term. Capable of making a Final Four/winning the conference (all have done one/both in the last 15 years), but not able to do so often or consistently. OSU and Bucky are better in recent times, but are football schools at heart.

I love the U of M. I think it's a pretty good job. However, you have it rated way too high. There's probably 4 tiers of jobs in the Big 10.

1. Indiana
2. MSU
3. OSU

4. Illinois
5. Purdue
6. Michigan

7. Wisconsin
8. Minnesota
9. Iowa

10. PSU
11. Nebraska
12. NW

 

[MotherNight]

I love the U of M. I think it's a pretty good job. However, you have it rated way too high. There's probably 4 tiers of jobs in the Big 10.

1. Indiana
2. MSU
3. OSU

4. Illinois
5. Purdue
6. Michigan

7. Wisconsin
8. Minnesota
9. Iowa

10. PSU
11. Nebraska
12. NW

There is no way Illinois is the 4th best bball job in the Big Ten.

 

[howeda7]

I love the U of M. I think it's a pretty good job. However, you have it rated way too high. There's probably 4 tiers of jobs in the Big 10.

1. Indiana
2. MSU
3. OSU

4. Illinois
5. Purdue
6. Michigan

7. Wisconsin
8. Minnesota
9. Iowa

10. PSU
11. Nebraska
12. NW

I see zero reason why Michigan is a better job than Minnesota or Wisconsin. It's a football school, little brother program in its own state, and Crisler Arena is nothing special and usually doesn't sell out.

I'll buy OSU being better than the MN/Illinois/Purdue/Wisconsin group based on sheer $$$. But they are still a football school first, last and always which is not true at Purdue/Illinois or MN. Coaches and star players do have egos.

What is necessarily better about Illinois or Purdue than MN? When's the last time Purdue made a Final Four? Illinois has made one in the last 20 years, same as MN*. Certainly both are every bit as good, but I don't see why they are better.

Iowa has had its moments, but at the end of the day they are a football school too and seem to treat basketball as something that just passes the time until the next football season.

Iowa, MN and Michigan were all open in 2007. There's a reason Tubby is here and not there.

 

[Doogie]

Doogie is irrelevant, the guy needs to realize it.

Examples?

 

[Doogie]

Couldn't agree more. Regarding his comment about the Barn - that just shows his ignorance regarding the history of Gopher Basketball and college ball in general.

I love the Barn... have spewed my thoughts on it for 15+ years, calling it my favorite place in town to see a game... been going to games there since 1987... but it's an old building... heck, Lou Nanne recently said on-air that it might be time for a new arena... I didn't go that far, simply said it was old... is Nanne ignorant then?

 

[Doogie]

I love the U of M. I think it's a pretty good job. However, you have it rated way too high. There's probably 4 tiers of jobs in the Big 10.

1. Indiana
2. MSU
3. OSU

4. Illinois
5. Purdue
6. Michigan

7. Wisconsin
8. Minnesota
9. Iowa

10. PSU
11. Nebraska
12. NW

About right... although if you took a poll of many coaches, they would tell you that Illinois is an elite job, and belongs in your first tier.

 

[Section201]

You are correct

I love the Barn... have spewed my thoughts on it for 15+ years, calling it my favorite place in town to see a game... been going to games there since 1987... but it's an old building... heck, Lou Nanne recently said on-air that it might be time for a new arena... I didn't go that far, simply said it was old... is Nanne ignorant then?

Yes, I admit you got that right. Williams Arena is an old building.

Excellent bit of reporting.

 

[anonymous]

I love the U of M. I think it's a pretty good job. However, you have it rated way too high. There's probably 4 tiers of jobs in the Big 10.

1. Indiana
2. MSU
3. OSU

4. Illinois
5. Purdue
6. Michigan

7. Wisconsin
8. Minnesota
9. Iowa

10. PSU
11. Nebraska
12. NW

I, for the most part, agree with this.

I would go like this:
1. OSU
2. MSU
3. Indiana
4. Illinois
5. Michigan
6. Purdue
7. Wisconsin
8. Minnesota
9. Iowa
10. Nebraska
11. Penn State
12. Northwestern

Ohio State is the best job because of a combination of athletic department $$$, the number of players within a 3-4 hour drive and facilities.

At the end of the day, I think the number of elite prospects within a 3-4 hour drive of campus is what hurts the Gophers when compared with the schools above them in the Big Ten. Because while Minnesota produces more good players than ever, there isn't enough of them. No coach is going to get every top prospect in state for a variety of reasons (one of which is that some players want to leave the state).

I do think that Williams Arena hurts them when it comes to some kids. Kids are impressionable. And while I know Gophers fans love the character, not every kid gets it. A practice facility will help the Gophers because it would allow them to not practice at WA. An empty WA in the middle of the winter for practice is a dump. It is cold and drafty to the point where guys where long sleeve shirts under their practice jerseys. I've used this analogy in the past, but look at your house. Do you choose to live in a new, comfortable, modern house in the suburbs? Or do you live in a house with character that might have some flaws and a small lot and a small kitchen? Some people like character. Others like new and shiny.

I also think "tradition" is overrated by many on here. When it comes to high school players, most of them have very limited knowledge. There probably isn't a single kid being recruited by the Gophers who remembers the 1997 team. That was 14 years ago. In the world of a 17 or 18 year old, that is an eternity ago. They also don't know a whole lot about Tubby's national championship as it was 13 years ago.

 

[station19]

The following is a representation of my two competing reactions whenever I read something like this, horrified disbelief, and dismissive laughter:

And yes, I was just looking for an opportunity to post this gif.

Definitely etrade material.

 

[theTurning]

They can have him.

Go get Flip!!

 

[station19]

howeda7;384622]I see zero reason why Michigan is a better job than Minnesota or Wisconsin. It's a football school, little brother program in its own state, and Crisler Arena is nothing special and usually doesn't sell out. [/B]

I think Michigan is the sleeping giant of the BT. Rich basketball history, excellent school and lord knows they have the $$$$$$$$$$.

 

[Unregistered User]

I think Michigan is the sleeping giant of the BT. Rich basketball history, excellent school and lord knows they have the $$$$$$$$$$.

They also had a nice little commercial about the Fab Five on nationwide TV. They also appear to have a good bit of talent on the team. Beilein had them on a nice little run at the end of the season, but I think the jury is still out on whether or not he can take them to another level.

 

[howeda7]

howeda7;384622]I see zero reason why Michigan is a better job than Minnesota or Wisconsin. It's a football school, little brother program in its own state, and Crisler Arena is nothing special and usually doesn't sell out. [/B]

I think Michigan is the sleeping giant of the BT. Rich basketball history, excellent school and lord knows they have the $$$$$$$$$$.

Sleeping giant? Nah. There's nothing hidden about them. They awaken about once every 15 years, make noise, make a mess and go back to sleep. See 1976. 1989-1994. Since then? Nothing. Football schools can buy the way to success in basketball in the modern era. See Florida and OSU. Michigan has utterly failed to do so. But Florida and OSU don't have Michigan State staring at them from across the room either. Michigan is not currently a better job than MN. The only advantage they have is $$.

 

[lakesbison]

Tubby should go, lets get a freakin 40 year old coach that is a lifer for 20 years, please, someone who hasnt won a natl title with someone else kid's.

 

[gopherbadgerman]

Sleeping giant? Nah. There's nothing hidden about them. They awaken about once every 15 years, make noise, make a mess and go back to sleep. See 1976. 1989-1994. Since then? Nothing. Football schools can buy the way to success in basketball in the modern era. See Florida and OSU. Michigan has utterly failed to do so. But Florida and OSU don't have Michigan State staring at them from across the room either. Michigan is not currently a better job than MN. The only advantage they have is $$.

I would bet a Michigan fan would argue the some of the same points. In 1998 they finished the year ranked 12th, but then were not ranked for 7-8 years in a row. I think they both have points as well. Michigan had a great 5-6 year run, but that was 15-20 years ago. The Gophers had one great year 14 years ago that was erased, and a couple good years the same time Michigan was dominant. I do agree that their arena is nothing special. I do agree the Michigan is a FB school, and always will be, but I do think that overall their BB program is just as good as ours. MN has no NCAA wins since 1990, thats 20 years, and no B10 championships in about 30 years, although much of Michigan's success was also wiped out due to sanctions as well. 6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other.

 

[goldengophers]

I love the Barn... have spewed my thoughts on it for 15+ years, calling it my favorite place in town to see a game... been going to games there since 1987... but it's an old building... heck, Lou Nanne recently said on-air that it might be time for a new arena... I didn't go that far, simply said it was old... is Nanne ignorant then?

You have been attached to the notion that the Barn needs to be replaced ever since Tubby first mentioned it. Did you consider that he was coming from Kentucky a school that pretty much no one can compete with in terms of money and facilities? If we care so much what recruits think of our facility let's upgrade the locker room, add a practice facility and call it a day...if a coach can't sell the historical relevance and atmosphere of the building then maybe this is not the job for them. I personally believe Tubby's opinion on the matter has changed but apparently you are going to continue to roll with it. Also, Lou Nanne is a nice guy but I really don't think we can the majority opinion of fans and athletes can be gauged based upon a guy who spends his time in and around Interlachen CC.