It's Not Just the Gophers

Donate To GopherHole
MisterGopher

MisterGopher

Active member
Joined
Nov 12, 2008
Messages
382
Reaction score
210
Points
43
I've been seeing many comments about the sad state of being a Gopher fan. How can his same thing happen, year after year, regardless of the roster or the coaching staff? But, it's not just the Gophers.

There have been the unexpected losses in the non-conference from many very good teams. The Gophers made it through that unscathed, but now look what's happened. As someone else said, it's not just a lack of talent. Plenty of outsiders have been gushing about this year's team and expecting them to make some noise. And we've seen what this team is capable of, but for some reason they underperform for long stretches. And lately it's been just a little too much, for just a little too long.

Why are they playing so much below their ability? It's not just the Gophers. Duke just lost two in a row, which they haven't done in 6 years, the last one on their home court where they had won 41 straight.

It seems like something has changed in college basketball and at least some coaches seem to be at a loss. It's not just our Pitino. Here's what Krzyzewski had to say after Duke's latest loss:

"I just have felt since Christmas that there's something missing with our group, and I've said it," Krzyzewski said. "I've said it to the press, I've said it to my team. And when you're still winning, you don't necessarily believe it completely. But I've felt it since Christmas, and I haven't been able to figure that out, figure out how to change it."

Not much different than what Pitino has been saying. I've heard similar comments from Billy Donovan and several other coaches. The same kinds of problems seem to be pretty wide spread. Here's a telling comment from Billy Donovan that points to a problem with the perspective of today's players:

"If you asked our team what's the goal today, it's, `I hope I play well and I hope we win," Florida coach Billy Donovan said. "That's about as shallow as it comes. There's no substance behind that. We've got to become and we've got to develop more competitive substance inside of it. We've got to try to get that."


It's very frustrating for us fans, but there seems to be similar frustration for the coaches, too. Is this the new reality?
 

The frustration of our fan base isn't just this year. It's 10+ years of not finishing with a better than .500 conference record. Since the last time we had a better than .500 record (2005), Duke has 112-36 conference record, won a national title, went to the Tournament every year, etc.

Lots of teams have lots of issues every year. Very few have continued below .500 conference records like we do. And we do an amazing job of finding new and creative ways to lose.

That being said, I'm excited for the Rutgers game.

Go Gophers!!
 

"I don't care how the team does as long as I get lots of minutes."

The cart is pushing the horse.
 

I think it's broader than college basketball. Look at the Wild, who are underperforming considering their talent. I point to the curious cases of Matt Kalil and Cordarrelle Patterson, who were good as rookies but don't look like they care now.
 

Bleed, you're right about the records and accomplishments, but not necessarily the frustration level. Different programs have different expectations. My wife went to UNC and she's complaining that the Tarheels aren't ranked in the top 5 (and especially that Duke is above them, lol). And you should hear the Gator fans talking about the current state of their basketball and football teams.

I think Krzyzewski said it right - as long as winning continues the problems get less focus. But the problems are there, just the same. And I agree with Bad Gopher that it's broader than college basketball. I think people get used to things coming very easily and once they don't some don't know what to do.
 



I'd swap our problem's for Duke's in a heartbeat. Maybe there are problems that are going on throughout college basketball, but someone is winning. There are teams every year who finish with a winning conference record in the B1G, so its not impossible.
 

MisterGopher said:
Bleed, you're right about the records and accomplishments, but not necessarily the frustration level. Different programs have different expectations. My wife went to UNC and she's complaining that the Tarheels aren't ranked in the top 5 (and especially that Duke is above them, lol). And you should hear the Gator fans talking about the current state of their basketball and football teams.

I think Krzyzewski said it right - as long as winning continues the problems get less focus. But the problems are there, just the same. And I agree with Bad Gopher that it's broader than college basketball. I think people get used to things coming very easily and once they don't some don't know what to do.
Click to expand...

When I read your feedback about different programs having different expectations, I think people generally get that. I don't think that people will dispute that our expectations are the same as Duke's for hoops.

But what I think people get frustrated about is MN's inability to get back to the level that they once were, if even just once, which I agree is a difficult task. But when you compare MN's college basketball team and football team even to our next door neighbor, Wisconsin, you can see where frustration lies. Both football programs were Rose Bowl competitors in the late 50's/ early 60's. Since then, MN hasn't returned to that level once, not in over 50 years. But the Badgers came out of the basement cellar in the 90's and have returned to being a consistent Top 25 team. For basketball, Wisconsin has sucked since the 40's, but in the 90's turned the corner and have made the NCAA's 17 out of the last 18 years. MN, who had inconsistent success during the 70's, 80's and 90's (to be argued) has only been in the tourney 6 times in the past 18 years and lost in the 1st round 4 of those tournaments.

Please don't take this as a MN vs. UW argument, but rather a point of frustration from a fan. WI seems to have climbed out of a endless hole to respectability in the past 20 years while MN continues to struggle. You'd think by now MN would have found a way, if by nothing else than sheer luck, to have some high level of success in one of our 2 main sports. Yes, I won't take anything away from our Final Four bball team in the 90's...but that was over 25 years ago. Can I hear a sweet 16 please? Or a win on New Years Day once in 50 years?

Every program has its ups and downs, but MN's downs seem to last an awful long time....hence the frustrations.
 

Dr.Don said:
"I don't care how the team does as long as I get lots of minutes."

The cart is pushing the horse.
Click to expand...

Who is saying this on our team? Anyone? I am pretty sure I heard Big Mo say the exact opposite a week ago.
 



Our senior guards are combined shooting 30.8% with 30 turnovers in 5 conference games. If they were playing even average we would be 2-3 and the majority of the fan base would take a step back from the edge of the cliff.
 

Bad Gopher said:
I think it's broader than college basketball. Look at the Wild, who are underperforming considering their talent. I point to the curious cases of Matt Kalil and Cordarrelle Patterson, who were good as rookies but don't look like they care now.
Click to expand...

I think it is medicinal MaryJane
 

Anyone actually know what our culture is? 1. Corrosive 2. Country Club 3. Congenial 4. Comfortable 5. Competitive 6. Cut-Throat 7. Constructive or 8. Championship? Our Gophers are obviously not a overly talented team. It doesn't seem to me we are a well connected team right now either, our record of 0-5 I believe, shows that. Therefore, we are a very marginal team at this stage of whatever our culture is. Is Pitino fighting to develop a culture to put our players in the best position to win? Will Pitino be able to develop a Championship Culture? I certainly hope so!
 

They'll have the aggressive guards and small forwards to do it next year (with the weight of inexperience) but Richard needs to get some better bigs in here!!
 



Seems to me we're doing a good job providing structured competition at such young ages that a lot of players lose their competitive fire before their time. By the time a college athlete is done, he or she has likely been gearing up for the "big game" for about a dozen years. And at some point nearly all these young people see the end in sight and turn to other interests. But I do think the highly structured, demanding youth programs can have an impact as players mature. Every gas tank can be emptied and I've never yet run out of fuel at a good time.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom