If Mabakwe, Joseph and Royce were here none of you people would be complaining about Tubby because we would be winning. Yet let's blame Tubby for those situations and call for his head. We HAD the recruits to win.
My thoughts exactly. People give him a lot of crap, but plenty has happened that was out of his control, and if it hadn't happened, people probably wouldn't be calling for his head. We were a lock for the tournament last season, probably would have been a 5 seed mininum, until Nolen went down, which also occurred shortly after Devoe's midseason transfer.
But he doesn't have the players anymore and like it or not that falls on him. Would of, could of, it doesn't work that way. The buck stops at the head coach and it is his job to recruit talent and depth so that a transfer or injury doesn't cripple the whole program.
Key word here is the word "a." If it were only one, we'd be in great shape.
2009-10 season
Royce White suspended due to criminal charges, later transfers without ever playing a game in maroon and gold.
Trevor Mbakwe suspended due to criminal charges
Al Nolen becomes academically ineligible for second semester (I recall he had family troubles that could have caused a drop in his grades and Tubby tried to get him a waiver so he could still play)
2010 offseason
Justin Cobbs transfers to be closer to home
Paul Carter transfers to be closer to his sister with cancer
Both are replaced by spring recruits
2010-11 season
Oto Osieniks doesn't get past NCAA clearinghouse, allowed to practice with team but not play
Devoe Joseph begins the season on suspension
Mo Walker goes down with a knee injury. Had the injury occurred a mere two games earlier, he would have been eligible for a hardship waiver
Devoe Joseph transfers to Oregon midseason after being suspended on two occasions earlier in the season
Al Nolen suffers season ending foot injury in January, only a week or two after Joseph's transfer
Maverick Ahanmisi is the only point guard or combo guard left on the team, Hoff becomes the primary point guard, Rodney moves to the two, $hitstorm brews
2011 offseason
Colton Iverson transfers
Replaced by spring recruit
Julian Welch joins Gophers
2011-12 season
Mo Walker still not playing halfway through season, a year and a month or two after the injury
Trevor Mbakwe injured in the 6th game
Over the last three seasons, this one included, we have had no less than:
5 transfers
3 season ending injuries
3 players unexpectedly sit on the bench for a season
1 player who was academically ineligible for second semester and thus, most of the conference schedule
1 player who was suspended for most of the first half of the season, before transferring in January
Transfers have become a yearly occurrence, and we've had 3 season ending injuries in the last two years. Last season we had a midseason transfer and a season ending injury at the same position, and not just any position, but at PG, perhaps the most vital position on the team.
I have to defend Cayman just a bit here. He is trying to instill some perspective. Iowa took that game from the Gophers last night because they zoned us, we slouched, they took the momentum, they had some talent too and hung on. The injury/transfer/young hampered Gophers aren't a great club right now. Losing those two close games on the road hurt their confidence, thus a let down at home against a non top 25 opponent was foreseeable. That's why I had said before the game IOWA was a must win. Those suffering from severe disappointment syndrome (SDS is a medically diagnosable condition found collectably among Gopher fans, myself included, contagious, and can be spread by the spoken and written word alone) have to admit that Iowa really isn't that bad, could even win 8 to 10 games with 2 road wins in the bank. The B1G is competitive this year. NW made IL sweat last night too. But fact is the Gophers have lost 3 games now which could be classified as less than 2 point losses (categorizing the IL 2OT game as such). They are close, but psychologically damaged and desperately in need of WIN vs. PURDUE.
Thank you, your post is very rational and reasonable.
