Fire Ben Johnson

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FWIW, the Facebook page titled Minnesota Men's Basketball, is now a sewer of negativity about Ben, too.
 

Ewert86PC said:
Things can change in a week. Look at this team.
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See, that's the thing. Nothing has changed. Nothing.
Not in a week.
Not in a month.
Not this season.
Not in Johnson's tenure.

A poorly coached team short on talent, with zero possibility of any real success. And zero possibility it'll change in any foreseeable future.
 


USAF said:
See, that's the thing. Nothing has changed. Nothing.
Not in a week.
Not in a month.
Not this season.
Not in Johnson's tenure.

A poorly coached team short on talent, with zero possibility of any real success. And zero possibility it'll change in any foreseeable future.
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But that week allowed the believers to really see behind the curtain and change some of their minds.
 

USAF said:
See, that's the thing. Nothing has changed. Nothing.
Not in a week.
Not in a month.
Not this season.
Not in Johnson's tenure.

A poorly coached team short on talent, with zero possibility of any real success. And zero possibility it'll change in any foreseeable future.
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From two years ago: February 24, 2023. So many wasted days.

howeda7 said:
He will be fired by April 1, 2025. Every day that passes between the end of this season and that day with him as the coach is a wasted day.
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FinnGopher said:
Utah has shown Coyle what he needs to do. I expect a news conference tomorrow telling the media that the U has parted ways with Ben Johnson. There is no reason to prolong the obvious.
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Been in the camp that it wouldn't happen until after the season but after these last two it really doesn't seem like there is any reason to wait anymore because there is no chance he isn't getting fired.
 




With the Gophers still not consistent winners, Johnson is arguably at a point in his tenure when he might also need for people to be patient with him, especially after Tuesday’s 75-63 loss against Northwestern at Williams Arena. F you Marcus, he doesn’t know how to coach. And the U made him a rich man, now shut up, and sit down!
 

Outsider said:
With the Gophers still not consistent winners, Johnson is arguably at a point in his tenure when he might also need for people to be patient with him, especially after Tuesday’s 75-63 loss against Northwestern at Williams Arena. F you Marcus, he doesn’t know how to coach. And the U made him a rich man, now shut up, and sit down!
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Did Marcus really say that?
 

With the Gophers still not consistent winners, Johnson is arguably at a point in his tenure when he might also need for people to be patient with him, especially after Tuesday’s 75-63 loss against Northwestern at Williams Arena. F you Marcus, he doesn’t know how to coach. And the U made him a rich man, now shut up, and sit down!
SelectionSunday said:
Did Marcus really say that?
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the first part of it until my Fu is copied right from the article.
 




Preaching to the choir here, but I am not sure anyone outside of the diehards know what an absolute disaster this has become.

This is one of the oldest teams in all of Division1 basketball and it's incredibly lucky to be 6-12 in conference play. The Northwestern team they lost to at home tonight was missing two starters who combined for over 30 points (and they weren't very good with them). There's an argument to be made that this is the worst team in the conference considering how healthy we've been all conference season.

The guys that could possibly come back: Asuma, Mitchell, Rigsby (if the JUCO ruling sticks), Betts, and Grove. The recruiting class has one (at most) offer COMBINED from other high major programs. Our average recruit rank is LAST in the conference.

This is a dumpster fire. It was never "close" if Ben Johnson should be retained or not, he's leaving an unprecedented mess for the next coach. I would much rather be Dan Monson and deal with some sanctions than be left with the current state of this program.

Trying to fix this with someone who brings zero initial excitement will be a massive mistake. Maybe someone like McCollum has done enough to get people excited by his resume. Whoever the hire is, there needs to be a dynamic presentation that outlines a vision for Minnesota to be successful quickly and what they need from us to do that. The University has to be the ones to take the first step though. They can't hire another cheap coach and then ask fans to fit the bill for NIL when they aren't showing us they are investing in the program.
 

EG#9 said:
Preaching to the choir here, but I am not sure anyone outside of the diehards know what an absolute disaster this has become.

This is one of the oldest teams in all of Division1 basketball and it's incredibly lucky to be 6-12 in conference play. The Northwestern team they lost to at home tonight was missing two starters who combined for over 30 points (and they weren't very good with them). There's an argument to be made that this is the worst team in the conference considering how healthy we've been all conference season.

The guys that could possibly come back: Asuma, Mitchell, Rigsby (if the JUCO ruling sticks), Betts, and Grove. The recruiting class has one (at most) offer COMBINED from other high major programs. Our average recruit rank is LAST in the conference.

This is a dumpster fire. It was never "close" if Ben Johnson should be retained or not, he's leaving an unprecedented mess for the next coach. I would much rather be Dan Monson and deal with some sanctions than be left with the current state of this program.

Trying to fix this with someone who brings zero initial excitement will be a massive mistake. Maybe someone like McCollum has done enough to get people excited by his resume. Whoever the hire is, there needs to be a dynamic presentation that outlines a vision for Minnesota to be successful quickly and what they need from us to do that. The University has to be the ones to take the first step though. They can't hire another cheap coach and then ask fans to fit the bill for NIL when they aren't showing us they are investing in the program.
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Well put...so well put that it brings up a sobering and disturbing issue. One reason for NOT moving on from Johnson would be not being able to find someone able enough or outline a vision sound enough to revive the program. We agree that it would take the right person, but is the right person find-able? Is the athletic department capable of meeting the moment?
 

Bad Gopher said:
Well put...so well put that it brings up a sobering and disturbing issue. One reason for NOT moving on from Johnson would be not being able to find someone able enough or outline a vision sound enough to revive the program. We agree that it would take the right person, but is the right person find-able? Is the athletic department capable of meeting the moment?
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Dutcher was coming last time. Hoiberg and Musselman have sent out feelers for this job in the past. This was a self-inflicted wound hiring Johnson (and before that Pitino). Is Dutcher too old now? Is the buyout too much? Are you willing to do something Minnesota has never done and bring in someone like Chris Jans and take the heat for something that he did 3 jobs ago?

There will be guys out there who Minnesota *could* get, but it will be on the AD or the Regents or whoever is actually making the decision to be willing to just hire the best coach. That will require 1. Paying more money or 2. Hiring someone with some off the court warts. The decision has to be purely about basketball about this time.
 

Bad Gopher said:
Well put...so well put that it brings up a sobering and disturbing issue. One reason for NOT moving on from Johnson would be not being able to find someone able enough or outline a vision sound enough to revive the program. We agree that it would take the right person, but is the right person find-able? Is the athletic department capable of meeting the moment?
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Even a mediocre hire will do better than this...short of a Tubby hire the fans will take time to win back no matter what.
 

Bad Gopher said:
Well put...so well put that it brings up a sobering and disturbing issue. One reason for NOT moving on from Johnson would be not being able to find someone able enough or outline a vision sound enough to revive the program. We agree that it would take the right person, but is the right person find-able? Is the athletic department capable of meeting the moment?
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This is incredibly stupid.
Don't fire the failure because the next guy might fail?
Thereby ensuring continued failure?
 

USAF said:
This is incredibly stupid.
Don't fire the failure because the next guy might fail?
Thereby ensuring continued failure?
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Haha, it felt kinda stupid as I was writing it...but as I rethink it, it's an important point for the people making the hire. Pouring coffee over a corpse won't revive the patient. That would be a waste of coffee. The solution here needs to be a big-thinking solution.
 

And even through all this, Ben Johnson has a better overall record in the B10 than Fred Hoiberg.

Of course he has got to go, I just find this curious.
 


Bad Gopher said:
Haha, it felt kinda stupid as I was writing it...but as I rethink it, it's an important point for the people making the hire. Pouring coffee over a corpse won't revive the patient. The solution here needs to be a big-thinking solution.
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Agreed, but the corpse ain't reviving itself if ignored, either.

Step one is firing Johnson, no matter if they hit on his replacement or not.
 

USAF said:
Agreed, but the corpse ain't reviving itself if ignored, either.

Step one is firing Johnson, no matter if they hit on his replacement or not.
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The fact BJ is still employed tells you everything you need to know about the U Admin's commitment to basketball and sports in general
 

Bad Gopher said:
Haha, it felt kinda stupid as I was writing it...but as I rethink it, it's an important point for the people making the hire. Pouring coffee over a corpse won't revive the patient. That would be a waste of coffee. The solution here needs to be a big-thinking solution.
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No big thinking required. Hire an actual coach. Pitino was a reach but at least a coach. Ben was an under qualified assistant coach who had NEVER been a Winner. No P2/3/4/5 team should ever hire a Ben like coach. Ben at best should be a D2 HC. The new hire doesn’t have to be a home run. Just a qualified experienced D1 HC with a track record of running a winning program.
 

LesBolstad said:
The fact BJ is still employed tells you everything you need to know about the U Admin's commitment to basketball and sports in general
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If they bring him back for year 5 I will agree with you about commitment to basketball. The commitment on the football side seems pretty solid.
 

USAF said:
This is incredibly stupid.
Don't fire the failure because the next guy might fail?
Thereby ensuring continued failure?
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I believe they were speaking hypothetically, in that some decision makers could think that way. They are in no way advocating that is the route we should take. BG has been quite consistent on ending this trainwreck.
 

In the end the proof is in the pudding.

Conference wins by an average of 5 points per game
Conference losses by an average of 11.6 points per game

3 non-conference wins by less than 5 points and 3 losses in Non Conference by an average 3.6 points per game.

Currently 6-11 in conference and that's best case based on possible flipping any of the scores of games.

The Los Angeles wins were gifts. Leading for about 3 seconds total.

That's the W/L story. Then you get to Ben after the last two games. "Immaturity", "Change the locker room." "Have to get them unstuck." There are 10 Seniors on the team. Those can't be the phrases you use with a veteran team.
 

MaxyJR1 said:
In the end the proof is in the pudding.

Conference wins by an average of 5 points per game
Conference losses by an average of 11.6 points per game

3 non-conference wins by less than 5 points and 3 losses in Non Conference by an average 3.6 points per game.

Currently 6-11 in conference and that's best case based on possible flipping any of the scores of games.

The Los Angeles wins were gifts. Leading for about 3 seconds total.

That's the W/L story. Then you get to Ben after the last two games. "Immaturity", "Change the locker room." "Have to get them unstuck." There are 10 Seniors on the team. Those can't be the phrases you use with a veteran team.
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This. It would have been better to just say "we came out flat and played like sh*t again" instead of this word salad nonsense.
 


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