Marcus: The Gophers had a tense postgame meeting after Monday’s loss at Indiana, and there are several factors that need to improve.

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BleedGopher

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Per Marcus:

Seniors Dawson Garcia and Mike Mitchell Jr. thought they let their Gophers men’s basketball team down Monday night, but they weren’t the only players embarrassed after the 82-67 loss at Indiana.

Gophers coach Ben Johnson challenged his team with a lengthy postgame locker room speech Monday. The seniors took it personally because they were expected to set the standard for how everyone competes.

“He spoke to that we don’t have a true leader on our team,” Garcia said. “That’s a shot at me. That’s a shot at Parker [Fox]. It’s a shot at Mike. It’s a shot at a lot of guys. He was calling people up and calling people out.”

www.startribune.com

Inside the Gophers men’s basketball team’s heated loss at Indiana

The Gophers had a tense postgame meeting after Monday’s loss at Indiana, and there are several factors that need to improve.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com

Go Gophers!!
 


gopherbadgerman said:
Coach is not a leader?
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Assume it was directed at on the court leadership and watching the team that is 100% true. Last year Hawkins was the leader, this year? Garcia is the best player but he doesn't really come across as a leader....Fox, Mitchell, Patterson.....nobody really seems to be taking charge on the court.

Last year's mix was solid, this group is a disjointed mess....meetings like these usually go one of three ways. The team steps up, the team packs it in, or nothing changes. Options 2 or 3 feel the most likely.

I still don't think Coyle makes the move until after the season but if he is going to do it in-season now would be the time to do it. With how the team has looked to start Big Ten play there really isn't anything to indicate things are going to improve enough between now and the end of the season to save Ben's job.
 

MNVCGUY said:
Assume it was directed at on the court leadership and watching the team that is 100% true. Last year Hawkins was the leader, this year? Garcia is the best player but he doesn't really come across as a leader....Fox, Mitchell, Patterson.....nobody really seems to be taking charge on the court.

Last year's mix was solid, this group is a disjointed mess....meetings like these usually go one of three ways. The team steps up, the team packs it in, or nothing changes. Options 2 or 3 feel the most likely.

I still don't think Coyle makes the move until after the season but if he is going to do it in-season now would be the time to do it. With how the team has looked to start Big Ten play there really isn't anything to indicate things are going to improve enough between now and the end of the season to save Ben's job.
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I think the move will be made at seasons end. I can't see them turning the team over to Thorson for the rest of the season.
 



MNVCGUY said:
Assume it was directed at on the court leadership and watching the team that is 100% true. Last year Hawkins was the leader, this year? Garcia is the best player but he doesn't really come across as a leader....Fox, Mitchell, Patterson.....nobody really seems to be taking charge on the court.

Last year's mix was solid, this group is a disjointed mess....meetings like these usually go one of three ways. The team steps up, the team packs it in, or nothing changes. Options 2 or 3 feel the most likely.

I still don't think Coyle makes the move until after the season but if he is going to do it in-season now would be the time to do it. With how the team has looked to start Big Ten play there really isn't anything to indicate things are going to improve enough between now and the end of the season to save Ben's job.
Click to expand...
If a coach is very lucky a leader may just emerge but that's a big part of coaching is helping the person you select as the leader to do the job. That's a lot of 1 on 1 sit-downs with your selected leader on what the job entails, how he needs to lead, how he needs to echo the coaches. His body language, his example, his attitude, his calmness, his words....team is responding to the leader. How do you not have one?

Just expecting to have 15 guys compete to be the leader in December especially with as many seniors as we have is dumb. These guys started in July. By the start of fall 1000% you have to have relayed to the team who the leader or leaders are. Every one of them thinks they are the leader on this team and in fact nobody is.

That's coaching. Calling guys up to the front of room and shaming them because you haven't done your job. Brutal.
 

MNVCGUY said:
I still don't think Coyle makes the move until after the season but if he is going to do it in-season now would be the time to do it. With how the team has looked to start Big Ten play there really isn't anything to indicate things are going to improve enough between now and the end of the season to save Ben's job.
Click to expand...

If we as fans have to suffer through this, so should the coach. It would take a minor miracle for him to save his job anyway. That doesn't mean the team shouldn't strive to do better. This is the last shot at college ball for all but a few of them.

You may remember Coyle's machinations to spend as little as humanely possible when he let Pitino go. If he can save $500 grand by firing Johnson at the end of the year, I suspect that is what he will do.
 

I agree the collective body language suggests a leadership background. Also important to remember that a lot of real leadership happens behind the scenes and through setting an example on the court. I think a lot of stars think that being the best player and talking first in the huddle or locker room is what makes them a leader. But there are plenty of great leaders who don't talk much. The description of Tim Duncan in the book The Captain Class is fantastic.
 

Leadership is only one of this team's issues. Garcia has never really seemed like a vocal leader type. Think a lot of teams look to their point guard as they run the offense. Game flows through them. Maybe Mitchell will embrace that kind of role.....maybe not. He's just coming off an injury, so maybe we'll see more of it going forward.

Way bigger issue than leadership is talent....though. Leadership just seems like a bail out excuse. Numerous guys on this team who are playing significant roles aren't even filling the narrow roles that they were brought in for (Frank being an imposing guy in the lane and effective rebounder, Rigsby being a shooter) and then guys like Patterson and Odukale are simply being pressed into roles asking them to do more than they are really capable of. At least in their defense....Odukale is a plus defender and Patterson isn't afraid to put up shots. I'm so sick of seeing guys pass up shots to take shot clock violations that I don't give an eff who shoots.
 




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