How would you rate the Gopher's season?

How would you rate this season?

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MNSnowman

MNSnowman

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Here's your chance to evaluate this team's season.

Did the team as a whole exceed, meet or fall below your expectations? (There's a chance to evaluate Tubby as Head Coach in a separate poll.)

Poll will be open for one week.

edit: added boldfaced text to distinguish this query from the one regarding Tubby's performance as head coach
 


MNSnowman said:
Here's your chance to evaluate this team's season.

Did the team exceed, meet or fall below your expectations?

Poll will be open for one week.
Click to expand...

Snowman - I voted for "met expectations", but I'd disagree that that is deserving of a C grade. I don't think you accurately accounted for grade inflation in your poll ;)
 

Tough Question, I went with met expectations, but I almost had to hold my nose to do it. The first 17 games of the season certainly exceeded my expectations, but February and March were absolutely brutal. I feel like the poor play at the end of the season should count more than the good play early. That said, making the tournament was an important step to take this year.
 

I voted met too, but I expected Tubby to do well with the group. So tubby probably did B work, if the guard play had been solved I'd give him an A. But I'm a little disappointed there is still a ? at that spot.
 


I say met, I expected a borderline NCAA team, and thats what we got. As of today, next year I am expecting a top 4 finish in the B10 and a 5 or 6 seed in the NCAA's. Something could change to raise or lower those expectations, but that is where I am at right now.
 

I'd say met expectations. A top half conference finish would have put the season into the above expectations category.
 

He met my expectations. Although I do find the opposing big ten coaches half time adjustments to be better than his right now.
 

Snowman - i was expecting more

I expected that Nolen and Hoffarber would improve. Nolen started well, but declined in the second half. Hoffarber improved his quickness and defense, but offensively went badly cold and lost his shot confidence.

I expected that Sampson and Iverson would be an improvement over Tollackson and Coleman, and I think it was a wash. I do believe both of these two showed tremendous signs and will be significant contributors over the next few years. The gophers are lucky to have them.

I expected that Bostick as a Juco all-american would contribute more, maybe its a tough transition and he will show his stuff in his senior year.

I expected that Devoe Joseph was a better offensive weapon. He did well at the point, but his shot is odd for a guy who seems better suited for an off-guard.

Damien Johnson exceeded my expectations - he is a fantastic defensive player - if he improves his shot he could be first team all-big ten his senior year.

Carter met my expectations - he was solid defensively and rebounded well - just needs to hit the 8 foot shot next year, but I do not believe we were expecting him to light the lamp much.

Westbrook met my expectations - he is a great scorer, but defense and passing are not strengths - this is not a new observation

Travis Busch exceeded my expectations. I did not see him play in highschool, but wish I saw more of him this season. I liked his aggressive attitude, quickness and basketball smarts.

Jamal met my expectations.
Williams met my expectations.

Bottom line I was expecting more from Nolen, Hoffarber, Devoe, Bostick, and therefore more from the gophers than a 9-9 big ten season.

No offense intended - no personal shots intended - just my opinion
 



I voted B. Basically I expected around a .500 Big Ten record and marginal NCAA team, but for me the win over Louisville pushed it up a notch.
 


Somewhere between a B+ and A-.

For losing over half of their scoring from last year, to having teams key on Hoffarber, two freshman all year in the post, erractic play from Nolen, Westbrook and even Johnson, finishing up where the Gophers did, and not to mention the vastly improved rebounding this year, they did pretty well.
 

C- because I felt there could have been more improvement throughout the year and this is what I expected out of last year's team, I do give them credit for hanging tough in some games and their hustle, but I it hurts so bad when they fall apart, which is often
 



I'm with figi. C+ is a fair grade. This was a very average season, and minus the fluff on our nonconf schedule, our record would show it. This isn't meant to disparage either the players or the coaching. I think Tubby did the best he could given the roster we have in place. Having no players among the Big Ten's top 15 should signal us that we still have a long way to go in this rebuilding process.
 

I vote for an A, and I'm directing my grade mostly towards Tubby. What he did with last years team was unbelievable and he did a very good job with this years team. Most of the team problems appeared to be related to talent or poor individual performance. Nolen finished the most below his capability and talent level. Hoffarber had a period, mostly in January, when he wasn't making open looks. But he was getting better and without more assistance from teammates getting him better looks, he can't do that much more. He's not going to be a first team All Big 10 player that can score at will, however he can be a great role player and have a very good and long playing career.
 

At time of this writing ...

the average score is 2.6. Bear in mind that a 2.0 is a solid "met expectations."

We didn't ask this question last year ... the intent was to get an evaluation of the team's performance versus Tubby's performance. Based on the comments, I'm not sure I achieved the intent as it seems some are evaluating Tubby and not the team. Ah, it's hardly scientific and more of a 'finger in the wind' kind of gauge anyway. :)
 

Snowman,

>>I'm not sure I achieved the intent as it seems some are evaluating Tubby and not the team.<<

Some have reading problems. Likely damn liberals also. ;)

Just my two cents worth: I think making the dance and winning 20 games should be our new definition of an average season. The program really bogs down when players, coach, and fans satisfy themselves with any less.
 

Gopher4Life said:
Just my two cents worth: I think making the dance and winning 20 games should be our new definition of an average season. The program really bogs down when players, coach, and fans satisfy themselves with any less.
Click to expand...
Assuming we continue to make the same investment in successor head coaches and allow for a season of adjustment when we eventually replace Tubby, I'd generally agree. I'm expecting that the Gophers should have:

  • place between 1st and 5th in conference;
  • top-25 presence in the USAToday & AP polls from January through March;
  • 21-23 wins and pretty consistent presence in the NCAAs;
  • rarely -- if ever -- lose in the first round and generally reach at least the Sweet 16
 

I agree that we should expect top half of the Big Ten and Top 25 nearly every year, but our goal should be even higher. I was roundly booed around here when I asserted a few years ago that our goal should be Big Ten championships and a perennial Top 10 presence. The only way to improve results is to aim higher, commit to excellence, and refuse to accept anything less.
 

G4L -- I think you are right on. Doesn't that probably describe MSU's expectations? If Izzo can achieve that at MSU, Smith can do that here.
 

With 110 votes ...

the average has gone up slightly to 2.7.
 

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