Grading college basketball hires for 2025-26 (Minnesota, Niko Medved: B+)

[BleedGopher]

Per Sporting News:

Minnesota​

Hired: Niko Medved

Record: 222-172

Overview: Medved has been so good for so long Minnesota ought to send a card to every major school that’s had an opening in the past three years. “Dear AD: Thanks for leaving Niko to us.” The Rams have made three NCAA Tournament appearances in the past four seasons – this from a team that had only four trips since 1990 and 10 in their history when he arrived.

Some coaches, the dexterity just leaps through a TV screen when you watch. Medved makes his guys better.

Now, Ben Johnson did that frequently and was fired, anyway. Medved will need to do it constantly, and with better players, to succeed in the Big Ten.

Grade: B+

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Go Gophers!!

 

[Spottedmuskie]

Do we remember what the last coach's grading was?

 

[Eastside Forever]

I for incomplete. Several assignments still outstanding.

 

[SomeGopherFan]

Do we remember what the last coach's grading was?

(different journalist)

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[WindyCityGopher]

Medved makes his guys better.

Now, Ben Johnson did that frequently and was fired, anyway.

I’m without words. These national guys are absolutely without any sort of clue. A coach who frequently makes his guys better just does not end up with a 56-71 record. Period.

 

[Gophers7NatTitlesBadgers0]

B+?

Dink!

 

[golfing18now]

(different journalist)

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Interesting write-up on the Johnson hire....

Would Johnson have been hired at Minnesota if he wasn't a Minneapolis native who played for the Gophers from 2002 to 2004? The bet here is no. While there is nothing wrong with hiring a coach who has ties to the program -- see favorable grades given out for Woodson and Davis above -- this one feels like a stretch. The last NCAA Tournament victory Johnson was part of came in 2010 when he was on staff at Northern Iowa. Since then, he was part of unremarkable staffs at Nebraska, Minnesota and Xavier, and it's unclear how any of those stints equipped him to thrive as a first-time head coach in what is widely regarded as the nation's toughest conference.

 

[howeda7]

Do we remember what the last coach's grading was?

WTF

 

[Rocksoldier]

Do we remember what the last coach's grading was?

They gave him an incomplete

 

[BleedGopher]

I’m without words. These national guys are absolutely without any sort of clue. A coach who frequently makes his guys better just does not end up with a 56-71 record. Period.

I know not your intention but it makes it look like I wrote about about Johnson and I want it known I did not!!

Go Niko!!

 

[tjgopher]

Interesting write-up on the Johnson hire....

Would Johnson have been hired at Minnesota if he wasn't a Minneapolis native who played for the Gophers from 2002 to 2004? The bet here is no. While there is nothing wrong with hiring a coach who has ties to the program -- see favorable grades given out for Woodson and Davis above -- this one feels like a stretch. The last NCAA Tournament victory Johnson was part of came in 2010 when he was on staff at Northern Iowa. Since then, he was part of unremarkable staffs at Nebraska, Minnesota and Xavier, and it's unclear how any of those stints equipped him to thrive as a first-time head coach in what is widely regarded as the nation's toughest conference.

It was pretty much spot on. The "C" grade a little high, though.

 

[WindyCityGopher]

I know not your intention but it makes it look like I wrote about about Johnson and I want it known I did not!!

Go Niko!!

Absolutely, Bleed! It was a comment on Decourcy and the absolutely perplexing takes from him in particular in this story and the national media in general on Johnson. All of them should know better.