Kai Shinholster back

[bga1]

I'm not ruling it out. But, to accomplish it will take another amazing coaching accomplishment by Niko. Remember, we were 15 and 18. To get there was a mighty struggle. There are 12 teams in the Big Ten clearly better on paper. If things go well, I'd agree we can get to 9th, 10th and in the dance...and if we did it'd be so fun...because it will be such a struggle once again. Another amazing accomplishment. But, it is also the route Niko is choosing by the players on the roster.
Nobody would be happier if we finish top 10 of the Big Ten.

For most of the past 15-20 years I would say, based on talent, Wisconsin has had amazing accomplishments. Each year you look at their roster and think, well maybe this year they finally will start to slide because the talent just doesn't appear to be enough. But they have had good coaches and a system and they have matched the system to the players for the most part.

I think that is what Niko is going to do.

 

[60's Guy]

For most of the past 15-20 years I would say, based on talent, Wisconsin has had amazing accomplishments. Each year you look at their roster and think, well maybe this year they finally will start to slide because the talent just doesn't appear to be enough. But they have had good coaches and a system and they have matched the system to the players for the most part.

I think that is what Niko is going to do.

I do envy what Wisconsin has accomplished the last 25 years. I agree it is definitely system based.
I like your analogy and I can see Niko establishing something similar at Minnesota. And Wisconsin develops players each year where you go..."Aw come on, how can they be this good?" (or this effective?) Where did he come from? And too often it was Lakeville
So, ya, thanks! I feel better now! I think you articulated Niko's plan for me. Here we go!

 

[gopherbadgerman]

For most of the past 15-20 years I would say, based on talent, Wisconsin has had amazing accomplishments. Each year you look at their roster and think, well maybe this year they finally will start to slide because the talent just doesn't appear to be enough. But they have had good coaches and a system and they have matched the system to the players for the most part.

I think that is what Niko is going to do.

I’d agree. Wisconsin does do a very good job taking top 35 talent and turning into top 20 teams.

 

[MNVCGUY]

I'm not ruling it out. But, to accomplish it will take another amazing coaching accomplishment by Niko. Remember, we were 15 and 18. To get there was a mighty struggle. There are 12 teams in the Big Ten clearly better on paper. If things go well, I'd agree we can get to 9th, 10th and in the dance...and if we did it'd be so fun...because it will be such a struggle once again. Another amazing accomplishment. But, it is also the route Niko is choosing by the players on the roster.
Nobody would be happier if we finish top 10 of the Big Ten.

Just my opinion but I feel like you need to shift your perspective on last year some. Yes we finished 15-18 overall and 8-12 in the conference but we did so with an absolutely decimated roster that had no business being able to compete in the Big Ten yet somehow did night in and night out. On paper we should have gotten blown out most nights.

Asuma, JCJ, Durkin and Grove have all shown they can compete at this level. Shinholster got a lot of valuable experience and should take another step. Evans was successful under Niko and will be motivated to resurrect his career. Add to that 3 guys with big potential upside in Grady, Kordel and Groves and it isn't hard to see the makings of a really solid team. Most likely not a championship level team but one that can be upper middle in the conference and in the dance.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Agree with all you have said except for the last two words..."no reason". On paper, Big Ten Standings Outlook thread on Gopherhole....the Gophers at best slot in at #13 for the coming season.

We are totally counting on Niko to be a miracle worker. We have a roster of guys who have to get better. Cade Tyson averaged 19.6 ppg ... he was very consistent! We need to replace him. His poor games were scoring 12. He scored more than 20 points about half the games...when he didn't get 20 he was close. That's a lot to replace. We argue Niko will "develop" somebody into that production...Niko has to because we have recruited nobody on our roster who has done it before in college. Just one facet.

Meanwhile, the rosters of our opponents are stuffed with guys who have already averaged double figures in points per game scoring...as just one experience metric. We do not have this. We have 3 ... and if there isn't a Tyson and a Reynolds to occupy the other teams two best defenders we need somebody to step up or our returning three will have to improve a lot to just maintain 10 ppg versus better defenders.

I'm happy for Kai. Objectively, I just feel we need better players on our roster to maintain our 11th place finish. AND, I'd like us to do better than that.

I posted in another thread the results of the top portal transfer teams and players from last year. A good amount did not make it to the tourney. Getting a bunch of guys that previously scored a lot the year before isn't always the best way to build a roster.

 

[Scottsdale Gopher]

Agree with all you have said except for the last two words..."no reason".

I'm glad we agree you were being shitty to a player on the team. The prosecution rests.

 

[Holy Man]

You can always tell when the news cycle has slowed down for Gopher sports… the Holers get anxious to display their genius!

There’s plenty to display! Type on.

 

[gopherbadgerman]

Just my opinion but I feel like you need to shift your perspective on last year some. Yes we finished 15-18 overall and 8-12 in the conference but we did so with an absolutely decimated roster that had no business being able to compete in the Big Ten yet somehow did night in and night out. On paper we should have gotten blown out most nights.

Asuma, JCJ, Durkin and Grove have all shown they can compete at this level. Shinholster got a lot of valuable experience and should take another step. Evans was successful under Niko and will be motivated to resurrect his career. Add to that 3 guys with big potential upside in Grady, Kordel and Groves and it isn't hard to see the makings of a really solid team. Most likely not a championship level team but one that can be upper middle in the conference and in the dance.

So you thinking like 7th-9th in b10 this year? Maybe 11-12 wins?

 

[JZABR]

So you thinking like 7th-9th in b10 this year? Maybe 11-12 wins?

I think 12 wins is definitely attainable. Look at how many close game we had last year. USC, Wisky x2, USC, tOSU, we were right there for all of them. But we ran out of gas. I like our odds in those types of games this year. More experience, more shooting, more size and most importantly, more depth. I just hope we schedule more good teams in the nonconference.

 

[Off-GridTNgopher]

I think 12 wins is definitely attainable. Look at how many close game we had last year. USC, Wisky x2, USC, tOSU, we were right there for all of them. But we ran out of gas. I like our odds in those types of games this year. More experience, more shooting, more size and most importantly, more depth. I just hope we schedule more good teams in the nonconference.

We lost more in game experience to the portal than we gained

The rest I agree with

 

[MNVCGUY]

So you thinking like 7th-9th in b10 this year? Maybe 11-12 wins?

Impossible to really know until we see teams in action but those are reasonable goals considering where we finished with our depleted roster last year.

 

[JZABR]

We lost more in game experience to the portal than we gained

The rest I agree with

Agree with you. The part that I was getting at is that we get 60% of our starters back this year, which is more than a lot of teams have. Not to mention, Grove (if he comes off the bench). Getting a returning point guard is huge.

 

[Costa Rican Gopher]

We are totally counting on Niko to be a miracle worker. We have a roster of guys who have to get better. Cade Tyson averaged 19.6 ppg ... he was very consistent! We need to replace him. His poor games were scoring 12. He scored more than 20 points about half the games...when he didn't get 20 he was close. That's a lot to replace. We argue Niko will "develop" somebody into that production...Niko has to because we have recruited nobody on our roster who has done it before in college. Just one facet.

Meanwhile, the rosters of our opponents are stuffed with guys who have already averaged double figures in points per game scoring...as just one experience metric. We do not have this. We have 3 ... and if there isn't a Tyson and a Reynolds to occupy the other teams two best defenders we need somebody to step up or our returning three will have to improve a lot to just maintain 10 ppg versus better defenders.

Tyson averaged 2pts/1reb per game before coming here. Niko developed him.

Reynolds came from a low major & we had no idea if he could play at this level. Niko developed him too.

Evans is a transfer who has proven he can play & score at a high level.

The other new guys are all terrific young athletes coming from elite programs looking for an opportunity to play.

Niko clearly has more talent to work with/develop this season.

 

[Ski-U-Ham]

Tyson averaged 2pts/1reb per game before coming here. Niko developed him.

In Tyson's defense, he was pretty good at Belmont. I would say he regressed under Hubert Davis and came back to life after leaving that wasteland. He probably improved under Niko, but saying Niko developed him is a stretch IMO.

 

[60's Guy]

Replying to Costa Rican Gopher:
Sure, I can agree with that. But, last year we accomplished more with that limited talent than anyone could expect. We finished 11th, totally amazing with our talent and injuries. Is that team performance duplicatable? We do have better talent this year, I agree. But, 12 teams in the Big Ten unquestionably have more proven talent than the Gophers to begin the season. And much of our talent is potential.

Evan Miyakawa is respected enough in basketball analytics to have a lengthy list of big time college NBA clients. He was on a podcast with Woj : Podcast His research shows "80% of a teams success is decided before the season starts". (I have not paid for the service to see where we rank). But, I'm quite sure our starting line would be behind the majority of Big Ten teams.

Maybe Niko has had a renaissance and he can take less and do more in the Big Ten every year but on paper...it shouldn't work. Our strategy was a choice...we have a plan. It's just not how other teams are doing it. 11 of the 18 teams in the Big Ten are in somebody's Top 25 in the country. Maryland and Buzz on paper certainly could be. Purdue is there on reputation it seems but historically like Wisconsin they find a way to get to the top of the standings. My point is...it is a big uphill climb...our starting line is well behind 12 Big Ten teams.

And here is another truth I learned coaching underdogs...the hardest teams to beat are teams who are below you in the standings...we lost to Penn St, Washington, Maryland and Rutgers. You convince your team how good they are...they knock off some teams better than you and they believe you are really good...so you play a "bad team" and get beat with your players going into the game thinking...pfff these guys are no good. It's hard...there is no margin for error. You gotta play better than you are to win. Wrong guys with fouls, refs allowing physical play your athletes can't compete with, bad shooting nights, wrong mental approach that night...so many things that make winning with less talent over 20 games very difficult to sustain even if you are a really good coach. And Niko is but we are in the Big Ten...there a lot of good coaches on the opponents bench too.