Gopher Volleyball 2022 Season

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ALSO -- if Wucherer was basically ready and able to play most of the whole match -- then why didn't she start???

Losing aggravates and amplifies everything you don't like about a head coach. Winning cures and pacifies everything.


I have a feeling that after next weekend, and whenever the Gophers get knocked out of the NCAA tournament, I'm going to be very ready to move on from the McCutcheon era.


All the pin "talent" in the world can't win when everything else isn't up to par.
 

Gophers_4life said:
ALSO -- if Wucherer was basically ready and able to play most of the whole match -- then why didn't she start???

Losing aggravates and amplifies everything you don't like about a head coach. Winning cures and pacifies everything.


I have a feeling that after next weekend, and whenever the Gophers get knocked out of the NCAA tournament, I'm going to be very ready to move on from the McCutcheon era.


All the pin "talent" in the world can't win when everything else isn't up to par.
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I'll check back with you in a few years to see where the Gophers are. The chances are far more likely that the Gophers will become a middling B1G team under a new coach than a national championship contender.

They are clearly considered a top ten program now. I see many more paths that lead them down the food chain than up. They will be losing a recognized international coach. You don't know what you've got til its gone. It is likely that we won't be attracting top ten recruits under a new coach is unless the players are Minnesotans.

I will be happy to be proven wrong but I don't see Coyle and the U pulling out the huge $$ necessary to attract an existing elite coach. They will most likely roll the dice on some less proven coach. I have seen far more failures than successes under that tactic.

I am crossing my fingers that the Gophers can use these months to pull another rabbit out of the hat like McCutcheon and Hebert. I just hope that they don't fly anyone in to the Twin Cities today! Go Gophers!
 

Gophers_4life said:
So, I know that bad plays always stick in my mind much more than routine good plays. Thus what I'm about to say is likely not fully fair. The best way to look at it in vball is always to look at the stats, and hence why coaches always have live stats constantly being updated, to help them make decisions.


But G-D .... Landfair and CC really had some awful plays last night.

The whole team was asleep at the wheel the first two sets. Really disappointing.


Love to see the fight and coming to life the 3rd and 4th sets.

There was no touch on the match winner, terrible call. But of course Hugh absolutely biffs it on the challenge, as Weatherington's foot was nowhere near the line! Awful waste of a challenege.


And hat's off to Weatherington. I have never seen, in vball, someone as "large" as her (not trying to be a dick, is what it is) move around as athletically as she does! Incredible athlete
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Gophers_4life said:
So, I know that bad plays always stick in my mind much more than routine good plays. Thus what I'm about to say is likely not fully fair. The best way to look at it in vball is always to look at the stats, and hence why coaches always have live stats constantly being updated, to help them make decisions.


But G-D .... Landfair and CC really had some awful plays last night.

The whole team was asleep at the wheel the first two sets. Really disappointing.


Love to see the fight and coming to life the 3rd and 4th sets.

There was no touch on the match winner, terrible call. But of course Hugh absolutely biffs it on the challenge, as Weatherington's foot was nowhere near the line! Awful waste of a challenege.


And hat's off to Weatherington. I have never seen, in vball, someone as "large" as her (not trying to be a dick, is what it is) move around as athletically as she does! Incredible athlete!
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I agree that they were asleep the first two sets. Up 15-12 and then disappeared for a set and a half. Very disappointing! Accentuates a slide downward in the BIG for the program since 2020.
 

Well, my bottom line feeling is that it all came down to "COACHING". Every decision Hugh made in that entire match, ended up in Penn State's favor.

After Penn State had a 4-5 point run they took the lead (remember we were up by two), Hugh then calls time out and instead of settling down the team he proceeded to add MORE CONFUSION/FRUSTRATION by pulling players and switching players in that first set. Not a surprise Penn State then ran away with that set.

Hugh decides to go back to his game starters for the second set. WHY? After another poor set by the Gophers, he then made another switch in players to start the third set. This decision made perhaps, because we were down two sets to zero.

We all know about the foot fault challenge by Hugh in the fourth set This was an example of a coach so wrapped up in the moment and trying to do too much and having it all backfire on him and the team.

Better decision in the first set not to replace/switch players and let the starters play it out would have been better. Switching his starters to start the second set instead of the third would also have been a better decision.

Actually, I felt this was a very UNHUGH LIKE COACHED MATCH.
 


Gophers_4life said:
ALSO -- if Wucherer was basically ready and able to play most of the whole match -- then why didn't she start???

Losing aggravates and amplifies everything you don't like about a head coach. Winning cures and pacifies everything.


I have a feeling that after next weekend, and whenever the Gophers get knocked out of the NCAA tournament, I'm going to be very ready to move on from the McCutcheon era.


All the pin "talent" in the world can't win when everything else isn't up to par.
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The Gophers teams from 2020 to 2022 show, to me, little resemblance to the squads from 2014 to and 2019. The intensity, focus, and drive often seem lacking. Hard as those qualities are to pinpoint, they're conspicuous when absent. Is the relative letdown due to team attitude, recruiting mistakes, or coaching problems? Lots of teams seem stronger in serving, power, and quickness to a degree the Gophers struggle to match. Disappointing to see.
 

ecoperson said:
The chances are far more likely that the Gophers will become a middling B1G team under a new coach than a national championship contender.
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Just absurd.

Hebert to McCutcheon.

ecoperson said:
They will be losing a recognized international coach. You don't know what you've got til its gone. It is likely that we won't be attracting top ten recruits under a new coach is unless the players are Minnesotans.
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Hebert

ecoperson said:
I don't see Coyle and the U pulling out the huge $$ necessary to attract an existing elite coach.
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No coaches outside a couple -- that wouldn't leave their current posts anyway -- deserve a single dollar more than what we were already paying McCutcheon.

We will get a great HC from a great program outside the Big Ten, and that person will be paid commiserate with what their high-level head coaching experience is.

As is correct
 

Booth is a great middle already and will only get better. She has a great connection to Schaffmaster, who despite everything I've said, I really feel like she has come on. I feel good about continuing to roll with her.

We have some of the best pin talent in the country.

We need another solid middle that Schaff can connect with ... and we badly, desperately need a solid backrow.
 

Yes, they are not playing as one unit. I feel it is almost like watching players being forced to play positions they shouldn't be playing. I say this about the one we all know for sure isn't the right fit and that is Wenaas to Opp. However, I could name a few others.. The games just do not flow.

It is very disappointing and frustrating to watch as a fan and I truly believe the players are feeling it too. That is perhaps why we see this up and down play from this team this season. IMO there has been too much lack of focus and discipline.
 



That third set is why so many fans are upset with the team. Also what was the point of putting Hanson in so late, if you wanted playing time for her then you should've started a few weeks ago when Mckenna was out. Kinda feels like might be looking into the portal after the season, she's not gonna challenge Mckenna and with the incoming class pushing for their own playing time. That's not even counting who we might pull in from the portal.
 

Gophers_4life said:
Absurd thing to say. I stopped reading here.

Hebert to McCutcheon.

So just stop
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People are ragging on McCutcheon like he's the problem. Fact of the matter is that he an asset that will be hard to replace. Coaches don't want to lead programs where the fan base is delusional. Football fans are trying to run off Fleck!

Hebert had international coaching experience as well. There is a strong chance that a new coach will not.

These debates have raged far and wide on basketball but, again, the chance of getting success with a new coach is far less than that of mediocrity.

I will gladly eat crow should Coyle do the unexpected and hire a big name coach. Coyle seems happy to reward existing coaches but recent hires since the athletic department contraction have been bargain bin types of coaches. Maybe enough time has passed for the public to accept a top contract for an outsider?
 

I used to think that the glass is half-full with this team. But after reading the volleyball threads, I realize that the glass is not even half-empty. It is completely empty. Coyle is going to ignore Hugh's advice and contacts on coaching candidates and he is going to save as much money as possible and hire a coach from Lake Wobegon University, probably for the price of a bus ticket. Hugh probably does not have any good contacts left because of his abrasive personality. There is going to be a mass exodus of players like the basketball teams because the team chemistry is poor, the players aren't enjoying volleyball, and they don't like each other. I predict the following transfers:
Landfair to Ohio State
Shaffmaster to Purdue
Wenaas to Texas
Wucherer to Wisconsin
Davis to Florida or Kentucky
Booth to Nebraska or Stanford
 

ecoperson said:
People are ragging on McCutcheon like he's the problem. Fact of the matter is that he an asset that will be hard to replace. Coaches don't want to lead programs where the fan base is delusional. Football fans are trying to run off Fleck!

Hebert had international coaching experience as well. There is a strong chance that a new coach will not.

These debates have raged far and wide on basketball but, again, the chance of getting success with a new coach is far less than that of mediocrity.

I will gladly eat crow should Coyle do the unexpected and hire a big name coach. Coyle seems happy to reward existing coaches but recent hires since the athletic department contraction have been bargain bin types of coaches. Maybe enough time has passed for the public to accept a top contract for an outsider?
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Why in god's name are you trying to pretend like international experience means literally anything to coaching college volleyball in Minnesota??

Coyle will do his best to hire a coach that is similar in the sense of hiring McCutcheon to replace Hebert.


Women's volleyball is top 5-10 level, nationally competitive program.

You don't go the route like a Fleck (from the MAC) or Ben Johnson (zero prior HC experience) when it's like that. The football and men's bball programs are not anywhere near nationally competitive, so taking a "risk" (in some sense) on a new coach makes some sense.
 



It will be much more like how Coyle hired Bob Motzko from St Cloud State to be the Gopher head hockey coach.

That's the comparison you should look at.
 

walleye said:
I used to think that the glass is half-full with this team. But after reading the volleyball threads, I realize that the glass is not even half-empty. It is completely empty. Coyle is going to ignore Hugh's advice and contacts on coaching candidates and he is going to save as much money as possible and hire a coach from Lake Wobegon University, probably for the price of a bus ticket. Hugh probably does not have any good contacts left because of his abrasive personality. There is going to be a mass exodus of players like the basketball teams because the team chemistry is poor, the players aren't enjoying volleyball, and they don't like each other. I predict the following transfers:
Landfair to Ohio State
Shaffmaster to Purdue
Wenaas to Texas
Wucherer to Wisconsin
Davis to Florida or Kentucky
Booth to Nebraska or Stanford
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Abrasive personality? Where did that come from?
 

Gophers_4life said:
Why in god's name are you trying to pretend like international experience means literally anything to coaching college volleyball in Minnesota??

Coyle will do his best to hire a coach that is similar in the sense of hiring McCutcheon to replace Hebert.


Women's volleyball is top 5-10 level, nationally competitive program.

You don't go the route like a Fleck (from the MAC) or Ben Johnson (zero prior HC experience) when it's like that. The football and men's bball programs are not anywhere near nationally competitive, so taking a "risk" (in some sense) on a new coach makes some sense.
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Wow, we know you are a genius because you basically live in a Holiday Inn Express, but this comment has to be your best!

His international experience is part of his coaching with implementing the quick sets (especially successful with SSS and normally one of the faster pace systems in NCAA) and an attraction to recruits who want to play for a coach with international success (Olympics), experience, and connections for their post-college volleyball aspirations (look at the amount of Gophers playing internationally).

It is bad enough you are the most despised Gopher fan troll on Volleytalk, do you have to continue that on Gopherhole???
 

PTSD@Dome’03MI said:
His international experience is part of his coaching with implementing the quick sets (especially successful with SSS and normally one of the faster pace systems in NCAA) and an attraction to recruits who want to play for a coach with international success (Olympics), experience, and connections for their post-college volleyball aspirations (look at the amount of Gophers playing internationally).
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It has payed off with NCAA titles!

Too bad those other loser programs like Nebraska, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Penn St don't have head coaches who can get their players professional opportunities after graduating, or run a fast tempo.

Those things can only be done by coaches with "international experience".


Thank you for your two posts of contribution to GH.
 

Gophers_4life said:
It has payed off with NCAA titles!

Too bad those other loser programs like Nebraska, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Penn St don't have head coaches who can get their players professional opportunities after graduating, or run a fast tempo.

Those things can only be done by coaches with "international experience".


Thank you for your two posts of contribution to GH.
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There we go with the “national titles” thing again … as if that is a measure of a well-run Gopher volleyball program. Yeesh!
 

Gophers_4life said:
Why in god's name are you trying to pretend like international experience means literally anything to coaching college volleyball in Minnesota??

Coyle will do his best to hire a coach that is similar in the sense of hiring McCutcheon to replace Hebert.


Women's volleyball is top 5-10 level, nationally competitive program.

You don't go the route like a Fleck (from the MAC) or Ben Johnson (zero prior HC experience) when it's like that. The football and men's bball programs are not anywhere near nationally competitive, so taking a "risk" (in some sense) on a new coach makes some sense.
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International experience and success is crucial to top notch recruiting. That international cache helps get you in the door. Talent usually trumps coaching. There are a wealth of great coaches out there that can do great things when they have the talent. If they aren't able to recruit that talent, they are not going to be as successful.

McCutcheon and Hebert both were successful because they had the coaching chops AND the ability to recruit nationally. Coyle will do his best to hire a coach that is similar but there are no guarantees that the coaches that fit the bill will be interested this time. Let's be honest... McCutcheon wouldn't have touched this program if Wiz Bachman was from Idaho.

It will be very interesting to see what shakes out over the next few months. I am guessing that we hire an up and coming coaching talent that wants to a chance to prove themselves on the big stage but maybe there is some unique situation out there where we attract another major coach who has connections to the area.
 

So if you're John Cook or Kelly Sheffield, then international experience doesn't matter. You can win a natty. Players will come there and not care.

But if you're the head coach at Minnesota, it's absolutely crucial and fundamental to have international experience. Players will only come here if that's true.


Is this some weird inside joke??? This makes, literally, zero sense.


Yes, recruit nationally. Of course. What does international have to do with that?


I call BS.
 


ecoperson said:
... McCutcheon wouldn't have touched this program if Wiz Bachman was from Idaho.
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This is so completely true. I don’t understand why more Gopher volleyball fans don’t grasp this reality. A Gopher volleyball fan has better perspective of what is realistic and possible if they accept that history of why McCutchen is here and how lucky we are for that.

That being said, I hope we are able to convince get a good, experienced coach to come to Minnesota and I hope most of our players stay with their university and try to win on the volleyball court with that new coach.
 

We are so lucky to have McCutcheon ... because he took the best setter in Minnesota history (SSS) and had us lose to Oregon in the Sweet Sixteen, at home, when the Final Four was in Minneapolis?

So lucky ....

All those natty's he's delivered.
 

2019 - pure luck that Louisville spent all their energy to beat Texas for us.

2015 - Hebert would've won the natty with that team.
 


Proof - McCutcheon is just not that amazing of a coach.

He's a great coach. Fine. So are all the other great coaches.

He recruits highly rated pins. Great. That doesn't win nattys.
 

Gophers_4life said:
So if you're John Cook or Kelly Sheffield, then international experience doesn't matter. You can win a natty. Players will come there and not care.

But if you're the head coach at Minnesota, it's absolutely crucial and fundamental to have international experience. Players will only come here if that's true.


Is this some weird inside joke??? This makes, literally, zero sense.


Yes, recruit nationally. Of course. What does international have to do with that?


I call BS.
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You seem knowledgeable in the sport so I am struggling to understand why you are having such a difficult time with this. I never said international experience was an absolute prerequisite to recruiting success but it is another valuable key to getting a recruit to pay attention.

International experience means that the coaches have coached U.S. National Teams against international competition. Coaches with international experience are valuable in finding the right fit for the player and making recommendations to teams about players. Because there are no major pro volleyball leagues in the U.S., players must go overseas to play competitively after college. These international connections are certainly important to many recruits who dream of representing their country and getting paid in the pro leagues.

Cook has led NE to 4 national championships in his 20+ years there. He has been coach of the year at least twice if I recall. He is in the Hall of Fame. He is a legend and recruits with a Nebraska are understandably attracted to NE for that reason. AND he's coached both men and women nationally so he has another feather in his cap.

Sheffield, however, is exactly what the Gophers will hope to achieve in a new hire. He had great success at mid major Dayton before coming to WI about a decade ago. He's done a great job with the WI program during that time. Their national championship was won largely on the backs of some very good 5th year players. Sheffield gets all of the credit for recruiting them initially.

Sheffield does not have international experience to my knowledge so it not the ONLY thing that determines recruiting success and championships. But it is another tool that can help a recruit choose to follow you.

The next MN coach is likely NOT going to be a big name from another Power 5 conference. I am sure Coyle and company will be looking at a number of things in this next hire. International experience will be ONE of them.
 

NCAA RPI Through Sunday's games: 11-20-22

1 Texas
2 Louisville
3 Stanford
4 Pitt
5 Wisconsin
6 Ohio State
7 Nebraska
8 Kentucky
9 San Diego
10 Oregon
11 Florida
12 Marquette
13 Minnesota
14 Rice
15 Baylor
16 Creighton

19 Penn State
25 Purdue
50 Michigan
64 Northwestern
66 Illinois
 

ecoperson said:
International experience means that the coaches have coached U.S. National Teams against international competition. Coaches with international experience are valuable in finding the right fit for the player and making recommendations to teams about players. Because there are no major pro volleyball leagues in the U.S., players must go overseas to play competitively after college. These international connections are certainly important to many recruits who dream of representing their country and getting paid in the pro leagues.
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This is entirely irrelevant for USA college volleyball.

Hugh probably scouted/gave opinions on/helped put together national (training) teams for the USAV regardless if it was for his own players (here at Minnesota) or not.

No Minnesota player has gotten a spot on an international pro team roster over a player from any other major program simply because Hugh was the coach.

I don't know why it's so hard for you to understand and accept this.

ecoperson said:
Cook has led NE to 4 national championships in his 20+ years there. He has been coach of the year at least twice if I recall. He is in the Hall of Fame. He is a legend and recruits with a Nebraska are understandably attracted to NE for that reason. AND he's coached both men and women nationally so he has another feather in his cap.

Sheffield, however, is exactly what the Gophers will hope to achieve in a new hire. He had great success at mid major Dayton before coming to WI about a decade ago. He's done a great job with the WI program during that time. Their national championship was won largely on the backs of some very good 5th year players. Sheffield gets all of the credit for recruiting them initially.

Sheffield does not have international experience to my knowledge so it not the ONLY thing that determines recruiting success and championships. But it is another tool that can help a recruit choose to follow you.

The next MN coach is likely NOT going to be a big name from another Power 5 conference. I am sure Coyle and company will be looking at a number of things in this next hire. International experience will be ONE of them.
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Tamas is an example of a P5 HC who would come here, has coached with Hugh, and I assume would get his stamp of approval.

Not sure if he qualifies under your "big name" label. I wouldn't think so.

Any reasonable "big name" already at a major PAC or Big Ten program is not going to leave, save for a very few programs in the nation like Nebraska. But winning ACC, SEC, Big 12, they definitely would leave for Minnesota save for the obvious outliers like Texas, Florida.

Not sure if Pitt coach is on radar or would leave. No idea. Or GT coach. Just throwing against the wall.


Doubt any of these have any kind of serious, magical "international experience", nor does it matter in the slightest. That's wild guessing with zero research though. My specialty :cool:
 

Ignatius L Hoops said:
NCAA RPI Through Sunday's games: 11-20-22

1 Texas
2 Louisville
3 Stanford
4 Pitt
5 Wisconsin
6 Ohio State
7 Nebraska
8 Kentucky
9 San Diego
10 Oregon
11 Florida
12 Marquette
13 Minnesota
14 Rice
15 Baylor
16 Creighton

19 Penn State
25 Purdue
50 Michigan
64 Northwestern
66 Illinois
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A few observations about B1G teams:

Ohio State's losses to Maryland and Indiana opens up an opportunity for Wisconsin to move into the top four, depending on upcoming matches against Nebraska and Ohio State.

Minnesota drops four spots after losing at Penn State and winning at Rutgers. Some have speculated it might be easier to reach the Final Four from a 12- or 13-seed than from an 8- or 9-seed.

Penn State beats Minnesota and loses in five at Wisconsin, but moves up only one spot. With Northwestern and Purdue as its last two games, might Penn State not host the first two rounds? (The coaches poll still has them at #11, though.)

Michigan loses at Purdue and wins at Maryland, but its RPI drops from #39 to #50.

Northwestern loses to Indiana and Michigan State (for the second time), and sees its RPI go from #46 to #64. Can either Michigan or Northwestern still make the tournament?
 
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