Look at the massive roster overhaul and the recruiting that is out of balance. It is entirely unrealistic to think there should be "lots of wins" in year 2 (2022-23 season). At best we make top 6 by 2023-24.
What's a lot wins? Ben could just fill it with cupcakes and get a lot wins. I agree with being competitive in two years. I think they should play competitive this year, but I believe coaching has more value than many others in college basketball. My high end probably unrealistic goals for gopher basketball this year would be in the top 10 this year in the conference, top 8 in year two, and top 6 in year three. Lets see what Ben and co can do. I'm excited to see something different and see if it works.
I want wins and I want them NOW!
Couldn’t agree more here, we can easily finish top ten especially if we play great Dave Thorsen defense. I mean Colorado state mad a good run last year with a lot less talent than our current roster (and I stand firm on that). Offense will come but if we play with GRIT and high energy defense that easily puts us over the bottom of the big ten and Could help us sneak by a couple mid tier big ten teams. The big ten will take a huge step down next year in the mid to bottom tiers.
Well...NOW-ish then
But with all the support promised by the club basketball circuit, it seems nearly impossible to poorly evaluate a recruit locally.
There is a put up or shut up pressure on the local basketball community. No more excuses about the coach or how much the community feels neglected or overlooked, etc…. The U took a gamble on a young coach that they said they wanted, now is the time for those local coaches and players to take the same gamble to bring this program to national prominence. I am sick and tired of hearing kids say they represent Minnesota and go to another school! When players make it to the NBA they always are noted as being from the college that they played at not the high school or AAU program. The college follows them through out their career. So to represent Minnesota you have to play for the U!But with all the support promised by the club basketball circuit, it seems nearly impossible to poorly evaluate a recruit locally.
Um yeah this is just not true. Take Tyus for example, you can talk to anyone in the MN basketball community and they will say he is a wonderful representative of Minnesota. He spends significant time and money sponsoring youth teams through his AAU program, and financially supports the Twin Cities Pro-Am league in the summer where our best HS players get to go up against professionals. And these are just the things he does that are public.
2022 might be the deepest MN has ever had. The next couple are awful am I’m kind of glad so I can quit reading everyone whine about in state guys who leave and we just hopefully look at if the guy is a fit.It is deeper than AAU coaches and directors. More importantly it’s the parents and players they thought Pitino was a buffoon. D-1 MN kids recently recruited by Pitino used the word odd or laughied when asked about Pitino. A certain Pulley player could see Izzo was out working Pitino was surprised Pitino was not in the gym moore.
No doubt the coaches and directors have some influence but the local kids and parents are well educated in the process and didn’t need help or and influence to see Pitino was a buffoon. I hope Ben Johnson can turn it around 2022 is a solid class not great like the last few it has some depth need to land 3-4 guys. The classes after that are so so thus Johnson needs to land some out state kids.
So only one 1 player on last year’s squad is a fit for the new staff? One?
We shall see. Ben is polar opposite to rp according to you and others here.It is deeper than AAU coaches and directors. More importantly it’s the parents and players they thought Pitino was a buffoon. D-1 MN kids recently recruited by Pitino used the word odd or laughied when asked about Pitino. A certain Pulley player could see Izzo was out working Pitino was surprised Pitino was not in the gym moore.
No doubt the coaches and directors have some influence but the local kids and parents are well educated in the process and didn’t need help or and influence to see Pitino was a buffoon. I hope Ben Johnson can turn it around 2022 is a solid class not great like the last few it has some depth need to land 3-4 guys. The classes after that are so so thus Johnson needs to land some out state kids.
Whether it is a whole new roster or everyone had stayed, Ben is the coach and it is his responsibility. He gets that responsibility and no one else. That's what he interviewed for.
So, one player.
So what. Ben is a grown man. He will fail or succeed and I will cheer for the Gophers either way.
Sad existence? You’re joking right? Cheering/supporting a team in good situations and also through rough times is just being a fan. You either get it or you don’t.
So true.It is deeper than AAU coaches and directors. More importantly it’s the parents and players they thought Pitino was a buffoon. D-1 MN kids recently recruited by Pitino used the word odd or laughied when asked about Pitino. A certain Pulley player could see Izzo was out working Pitino was surprised Pitino was not in the gym moore.
No doubt the coaches and directors have some influence but the local kids and parents are well educated in the process and didn’t need help or and influence to see Pitino was a buffoon. I hope Ben Johnson can turn it around 2022 is a solid class not great like the last few it has some depth need to land 3-4 guys. The classes after that are so so thus Johnson needs to land some out state kids.
As you said, in very few cases do the AAU folks have any influence. Most kids are smart. They have so much information and exposure to coaches, programs and facilities. They are far less provincial and look for fit, look for opportunity, the cool factor and on and on. Our own kids, grandkids and their friends are fans of programs every where, especially if well traveled or grandpa or Dad went to a different school. It does not prevent the program from being successful. Ben has a plan. Follow the coaches and programs that he admires and you will hear him lay out his plan. Finding the right people is the place to start and never cutting corners on character.
Name the coaches and programs he admires.
But he will need to have local support in order to succeed in changing the face of Minnesota basketball.
So you haven't listened to any of the interviews. Do your own homework instead of expecting others to do it for you. That way you can hear it from Ben and judge the honesty for yourself.