This dp guy is an idiot. Plain and simple. His way of determining future expectations are ridiculous. And the little things he says just expose his serious lack of knowledge, at least when it comes to Minnesota basketball.
According to him, this program has never done anything, ever. "near-complete lack of success" as he states it.
He claims that Mbakwe and Coleman are two of the best players ever in the history of Minnesota bb??
This guy seriously must be like 16 years old, with no ability or desire to read anything about the Gopher's bb history.
We aren't one of the Top ranked teams in the # of Consensus All-Americans we've had, and we aren't one of the Top ranked teams in the # of players we've put into the NBA, and we aren't one of the few schools who have 5 former players with over 10,000 pts in the NBA because of a "near-complete lack of success".
Minnesota has EORS rankings of #6, #7, #10, #11 and #13 in the country where we didn't get an invite to the Big Dance because we weren't the best team in the Big Ten. We also have 4 times that we did make it to the Sweet 16. We had one of our best seasons ever totally voided out because of, what I've heard, was nothing more than a player selling a couple of his complimentary tickets. Seems like a ridiculous punishment for the crime, but thats not my point, my point is we had a great season, and no one really knows about it. 1997 happened, despite people telling me it didn't. I understand why those years were voided, but its not altogether accurate either to act like they didn't happen, like great players didn't come here to play, and the perform well.
We also have 3 Natl Titles and several Big Ten Titles from back before the NCAA tournament. That is part of our history, too.
But injuries and other circumstances have seemed to plague Minnesota for decades now.
And the Gophers the last few years have suffered alot of misfortunes.
Buy, we are finally healthy, and experienced, and absolutely expectations should be adjusted and NOT dependent upon the past. Thats RIDICULOUS!!!!
I watched the 87 and 88 teams struggle, and saw them blossom right before my eyes in 89, and I knew they'd do better, ALOT better than the year before, and they did. Same with the 1997 team. I saw that coming from a mile away. I knew we'd have an incredible year as far back as early in 1996. And I saw this season coming, too. At the end of last season, I was telling everyone that if we got Mbakwe back, we'd be a Big Ten title contending team. I didn't see the Big Ten having so many good teams, which quelled my expectations, at least within the Big Ten, until I saw how we were playing.
Now as for history, sure, Tyus and Rashad and Reid look at that, and UK and Duke have that over us. But we have something they don't. Being near home. Academics wise, we are far superior to UK, and almost as good as Duke, if not better in many ways. But there is also the concept of CREATING HISTORY!!! Those homies may spurn programs with established histories, to build upon and create a new history here at UMn. Tubby has history, and now under favorable circumstances, he's got a real good team brewing here.
Well, I'm getting tired, not of talking about the Gophers, but because I feel like I'm talking to the wall. I'm guessing that you won't take anything that I've written under consideration?
