Gophers BB Mount Rushmore (post '82)

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coolhandgopher

coolhandgopher

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I'm going a little crazy with this topic over on the off-topic board, so I thought I'd bring it to my favorite team, since I became a fan. If someone wants to tackle the entire Gopher history, have at it. Here are my four:

Trent Tucker
Willie Burton
Bobby Jackson
Quincy Lewis

Other contenders: Randy Breuer, Melvin Newburn, Sam Jacobson, Dusty Rychart, Rodney Williams, Trevor Mbakwe, Tommy Davis (sure I'm overlooking others)
 

For whatever reason, Breuer is the most under-appreciated Gopher in the modern era. He was the best player on the 1982 team and absolutely should be hanging from the Rafters.

Others to be on the "other contender" list that should be on the list: Vincent Grier (his junior year alone should have him on the list), John Thomas, Rick Rickert (his two years could end up being better than Trevor's two years here), John Shasky, Ariel McDonald

Go Gophers!!
 

Good call on Grier, Bleed, don't know how I overlooked him. I agree with the underappreciation of Breuer-I think it has a great deal to do with his appearance-no doubt he was/is a goofy looking dude, but he was a hell of a presence during his years on campus.

If we put Ariel McDonald on the list, we also need to include Voshon Lenard, although I have my issues with his attitude during his senior year, when he reluctantly returned to college ball.
 

I've heard Breu is pi**ed off at the U that he's not in the rafters, and I think he has a right to be. He absolutely should be up there. Certainly I would have put him up there ahead of Trent (no offense to TT). Breu's Gopher career was more distinguished, but I think TT was put up there because he had a better pro career.

The only thing I can think of is maybe Breu didn't graduate (don't know if that's the case). A few years ago didn't the U add something saying you had to have your agree in order to have your jersey retired?
 



coolhandgopher said:
I'm going a little crazy with this topic over on the off-topic board, so I thought I'd bring it to my favorite team, since I became a fan. If someone wants to tackle the entire Gopher history, have at it. Here are my four:

Trent Tucker
Willie Burton
Bobby Jackson
Quincy Lewis

Other contenders: Randy Breuer, Melvin Newburn, Sam Jacobson, Dusty Rychart, Rodney Williams, Trevor Mbakwe, Tommy Davis (sure I'm overlooking others)
Click to expand...

Guys that have played in my lifetime:

Bobby Jackson
Quincy Lewis
Rodney Williams (mostly for his nasty dunks)
Miles Tarver (Just Kidding)
Blake Hoffarber (For the game winners)
 

Since '82 my favorites would be Jackson, Burton, Rychart, and Richard Coffey. Going back to my entire time as a Gopher fan, Lou Hudson would replace any of them.
 

So far in this thread there is one name correct, Bobby Jackson, the rest don't belong.

Edit: I 'had at it' and skipped the 82 part.
 

BleedGopher said:
For whatever reason, Breuer is the most under-appreciated Gopher in the modern era. He was the best player on the 1982 team and absolutely should be hanging from the Rafters.

Others to be on the "other contender" list that should be on the list: Vincent Grier (his junior year alone should have him on the list), John Thomas, Rick Rickert (his two years could end up being better than Trevor's two years here), John Shasky, Ariel McDonald

Go Gophers!!
Click to expand...

McHale used to abuse Breuer on a daily basis...often questioning his manhood! Of course he's under-appreciated...he had a 1" vertical leap and footwork that made Horton the Elephant look like a ballerina.

The sad thing about this thread is just how few players one can actually put on this list.
 



Where is Mr. Kardashian? One year, lots of points, lots of rebounds, zero passes.
 

tinyarch said:
Of course he's under-appreciated...he had a 1" vertical leap and footwork that made Horton the Elephant look like a ballerina.
Click to expand...

What's more important, his footwork and vertical leap, or the numbers he put up while he was a Gopher?

3rd in career points.
10th in career rebounds.
2nd in career blocked shots.
 

Mulligan said:
Since '82 my favorites would be Jackson, Burton, Rychart, and Richard Coffey. Going back to my entire time as a Gopher fan, Lou Hudson would replace any of them.
Click to expand...

I'm going to use your list Mulligan, except I'm replacing Rychart with Rodney Williams. I'm liking Rodney more and more.
 

SelectionSunday said:
What's more important, his footwork and vertical leap, or the numbers he put up while he was a Gopher?

3rd in career points.
10th in career rebounds.
2nd in career blocked shots.
Click to expand...

Product of an era without the 3 point shot.
 



Without question the big three that belong are Lou Hudson, Mychal Thompson, and Kevin McHale. However, if it's only since 1982, then

Bobby Jackson
Trent Tucker
Quincy Lewis
Randy Breuer
 

Regarding Breuer.

Choose from any of his last three seasons. Even his 3rd-best season makes him, I'm pretty sure, the best true center since his time.

1979-80: 7.7ppg
1980-81: 15.2ppg
1981-82: 16.6ppg
1982-83: 20.4ppg

Also a career 73% free-throw shooter (415 of his 1,777 points are from the stripe).

But, he's the product of the pre-3point era, so screw him.
 

Mine:

- Breuer
- Newbern
- Jackson
- Lenard

Note: If this list is post-'82, then Tucker cannot be on it.

I think a lot of people forget that Newbern only played 3 seasons due to having to sit out his freshman year. Despite that, he's 19th in scoring.
 

Willie Burton-automatic
Bobby Jackson-automatic
Randy Breuer-Think about it a bit and it should be automatic. A dominant B10 player for 3 years.
Voshon Lenard-Charisma? Not exactly. Cold blooded scorer...you bet.

Just missed...Dusty and Sam. Dusty had a wild ride in his four years, who saw it coming? Sam is another guy that seems to be under appreciated. Never a charmer but one of my faves.
 

station19 said:
So far in this thread there is one name correct, Bobby Jackson, the rest don't belong.

Edit: I 'had at it' and skipped the 82 part.
Click to expand...

Spoken like someone who isn't old enough to have watched Randy Breuer, Trent Tucker or Willie Burton.
 

sal said:
Willie Burton-automatic
Bobby Jackson-automatic
Randy Breuer-Think about it a bit and it should be automatic. A dominant B10 player for 3 years.
Voshon Lenard-Charisma? Not exactly. Cold blooded scorer...you bet.
Click to expand...

This is pretty solid. Mine...

Burton-Automatic
Jackson-Automatic
Breuer-Automatic
Tucker-Just a hair behind those three. Imagine if he played while the 3 point line existed?
Lenard-I thought about adding Lenard, but he was Tucker w/ the advantage of the 3 pointer & never won anything except an NIT.
 

Costa Rican Gopher said:
Spoken like someone who isn't old enough to have watched Randy Breuer, Trent Tucker or Willie Burton.
Click to expand...

...but is old enough to have watched M Thompson, McHale, Hudson, Clark, Yates, Northway, Kunze, Brewer, Kondla and many others.
 

I'll go with:
Trent Tucker
Darryl Mitchell
Randy Brewer
Willie Burton
honorable mention (this is tougher than the twins mt rushmore): Melvin Newbern, Voshon Lenard, Tommy Davis, Jim Peterson :)
 

Agreed, POST-1982 eliminates Tucker and Mitchell. 1st my all-star team.

C- Randy Breuer easily eclipses Shikanjanski, Coffey, John Thomas, Hagen, Tollackson et al. Say what you want, the guy once scored 40 points in an NBA game. Vastly under-appreciated. I also have heard that he is pi**ed off at the U but you gotta have a degree to get up in the rafters.

PF- Richard Coffey for now over Courtney James but eventually I expect Trevor Mbakwe to take over this spot.

SF- Willie Burton over Sam Jacobson, Dusty Rychart, Vince Grier. Burton once scored 50 points in the NBA.

PG- Melvin Newbern over Ariel McDonald, Lawrence McKenzie, Al Nolen. Someday a Hollins might go here.

SG- Bobby Jackson is an easy choice even over Voshon Leonard, not to mention Lynch and Hoffarber. Deep position.

So that is the all-star team. For Mt. Rushmore:

1. Randy Breuer
2. Richard Coffey
3. Willie Burton
4. Voshon Leonard--Jackson was better but, seriously, you want the U to be represented by his mugg for all eternity? Might as well put Clem up there, too.

Hard to leave off--Minnesotans Lynch, Jacobson, Hoffarber.
 

My first thought when I read this was that Darryl Mitchell, Cookie Holmes, Mark Hall, Trent Tucker, and Leo Rautins all came in 1977 so they were 1981 graduates, but for some reason I was off by a year. If I had to list the four post 1982...I would have to have Bobby Jackson on the list. My favorite Gopher of all time to watch and the best college player I have seen in a Gopher uniform. Willie Burton would also be on the list. I guess Tucker would also be on the list....and then I think maybe Randy Brewer just edging out Voshon Lenard.

If I go to the mid 70's and the players I saw play...Michael Thompson, Kevin McHale would replace Tucker and Brewer... I can remember watching McHale play in high school and lose in the state championship against Jefferson in 1976. I also remember watching Michael Thompson wearing bells on his shoes and the Gophers playing the 1976 Hoosiers close at home before falling a little short in the 2nd half.

All time...Lou Hudson, Thompson, McHale and Jackson.
 

1981-82 was Tucker's last season and also the classic win over Iowa where Daryl Mitchell shot the winning free throws after the buzzer sounded to seal the Big Ten championship. Guess I should have went with post '81.

Trent Tucker was my first favorite Gopher-the alliteration, the silky smooth jumper, I even vaguely recall a half-time segment that double T ran on how to shoot a jumper. However, all those championing Randy Breuer bring up very valid points and there is really no way he should be left off the post '81 Gophers Mount Rushmore. He'd never win any style points, which seems more important to some, but his production and the fact he was the centerpiece on some very good Gopher teams makes this a no-brainer, as I consider it in retrospect.

So, for the fourth slot, I guess I bump Tucker off the list-I just can't overlook how good Quincy Lewis was and what an outstanding representative he was for the program during those post-Final Four, pre-Gangelgate years which have gotten lost in the haze it seems.
 


I dont remember Tucker, I started really watching the Gophers in 1983 or so...but I do know he was a really good player.
Mine would be:
Jackson
Burton
Lenard
Lewis
 

Surprised it too so long for Lenard's name to come up as he's got to be in everyone's top 10 if not top four. Here's mine:

Bobby Jackson
Willie Burton
Trent Tucker
Sam Jacobson- 4th spot was tough, but I've got to have a 2nd guy from the only National Championship contender I've seen

Others considered: Melvin Newbern, Rick Rickert (him committing to Monson was HUGE at the time and should have kept us out of the dark years), Quincy Lewis, Rodney Williams (for the highlights alone)

Just for fun (or to cause myself unnecessary pain) how about the Mount Rushmore of "What if" Gophers

Courtney James- He doesn't get in trouble and that '98 team contends for a Big Ten title and is in the sweet 16 at worst
Royce White- Everyone knows the story
Joel Przybilla- Think his NBA career is much better if he stays another year and a half to work on his offensive game, not sure Monson would have won anything with him.
Russ Archambault- Cost us more than Khalid

Honorable mention: Mike Bauer (never the same after his injury, probably happy he doesn't have to share a rock with the above 4 guys)
 

Leonard
Tucker
Jackson
Bruer
Burton
 


coolhandgopher said:
XMan, you have seen pictures of Mount Rushmore, right? ;)
Click to expand...

Hah, yes....4 Presidents. My bad. Funny I jumped in to the second half of the thread and was thinking top five since 1982. Just caught title of thread after you pointed out my error.:)
 

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