My Ben Johnson appreciation thread

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it's refreshing to see a game plan, make offensive and defensive adjustments. I'm sure others can speak better to strategy, X's and O's, etc. how Ben is doing from this perspective but there are a few other areas that are a breath of fresh air.

Demeanor. I think it was the Thompson loose ball foul he was PISSED about the call. He remained under control but you could tell he upset. He got his point across without making a show of it. Pitino would have thrown his jacket and been in full temper tantrum mode.

Tradition. Not sure if people caught it but after he celebrated with the players he made sure they acknowledged the students for the Rouser.

Pride. During the Rouser they panned to him. Tell me this look doesn't show pride to represent the U.
 

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This is like one of those teams you see in the first weekend of the tournament: one of those 13 seeds that knocks off a 4, and you're thinking, how do they remain so poised and composed and continue to run their stuff and make tough shots, even in the face of a big moment and a superior opponent. You always remark, what a well-coached team!.

Time will tell how this staff's early success as the little engine that could translates to when they have a more highly regarded roster with multiple 4-star recruits (we hope and expect). Will they be able to meet expectations or overachieve and contend for conference championships? Honestly, I don't see why not. This staff has the goods.
 

U of MN obviously needs to make more diversity hires. This one seems to be working out. (sarcasm)

Johnson may not schmooze with certain local talk-show hosts or tell cute stories about his kids, but the dude can flat-out coach.

I submit that - if any other team in the B1G had to play without 3 starters - they would not win. Johnson and the Gophers played without 3 starters and found a way to win.

When Ben Johnson is named B1G coach of the year, this is one of the games they will point to.
 


In regards to Ben's demeanor on the calls, he's smart enough to know he has done nothing yet to get leeway from Big Ten officials. He knows not to put his players or team in a position to have a negative outcome by having a Frantrum like reaction. Maturity beyond his years that I think can rub off onto other players.
 


short ornery norwegian said:
U of MN obviously needs to make more diversity hires. This one seems to be working out. (sarcasm)

Johnson may not schmooze with certain local talk-show hosts or tell cute stories about his kids, but the dude can flat-out coach.

I submit that - if any other team in the B1G had to play without 3 starters - they would not win. Johnson and the Gophers played without 3 starters and found a way to win.

When Ben Johnson is named B1G coach of the year, this is one of the games they will point to.
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I've said three things from the start, since before the season:

Any conference finish better than 14th is overachieving.

Ben's job this year is to get local coaches and parents to believe what they never came to believe about the previous staff: that Minnesota is a place where their players and sons can thrive and receive good coaching and development. It starts with the first point above and extends to the eye test. It's an audition.

If this team so much as makes the NIT field, Johnson should be the conference coach of the year.
 





Play defense, do not turn the ball over and make every possesion count, all of that sounds like Bo Ryan basketball that was so often on this site accused of being soooo boring.
 

The total is greater than the sum of its parts.

So refreshing, and the opposite of the previous coach.
 




Plato said:
Play defense, do not turn the ball over and make every possesion count, all of that sounds like Bo Ryan basketball that was so often on this site accused of being soooo boring.
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One thing that always struck me about Bo's teams was their players' ability to make big, clutch plays at the end of games. It practically became the expected norm. I came to conclude that it was the function of the players knowing they had the confidence and faith of the coaches. When I hear Ben and these Gopher players talk, it's clear that it's an overt emphasis of how he and his staff coach this team: to give them confidence in their abilities and the faith in them to make plays.
 

Plato said:
Play defense, do not turn the ball over and make every possesion count, all of that sounds like Bo Ryan basketball that was so often on this site accused of being soooo boring.
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Strange take for a Gopher fan today.

But you're right back in the day we used to love watching turnovers and crappy defense. It was fun and exciting.
 

short ornery norwegian said:
U of MN obviously needs to make more diversity hires. This one seems to be working out. (sarcasm)

Johnson may not schmooze with certain local talk-show hosts or tell cute stories about his kids, but the dude can flat-out coach.

I submit that - if any other team in the B1G had to play without 3 starters - they would not win. Johnson and the Gophers played without 3 starters and found a way to win.

When Ben Johnson is named B1G coach of the year, this is one of the games they will point to.
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You have to think we are playing without 4 starters as Fox and Ihnen would have likely been starters too...probably only Willis would have started if all of our 12 scholarship players were able to play.
 



Developing a bench even if it was out of necessity.
 


LakevilleBro said:
I know it is early, but Ben is a great example why schools should not keep mediocre coaches (Pitino) employed, when they are not getting the job done.
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Yep, there are tons of great coaches out there. When you have mediocrity (and that's being polite), there is almost no risk to seeing what's behind door #2.
 




Mulligan said:
Ya but the optics of the hire are looking great and I'm ready to proclaim Joan Gabel a great basketball mind for hiring Ben just because he's black. But you keep being you.
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Why would you want to do that in this thread? This conversation has been hashed out constantly. You keep being you and I'm sure you'll pretend to be annoyed if this thread devolves into a discussion about affirmative action.

I can't say I'm shocked you are using the Ben Johnson appreciation thread as your perfect timing for a misplaced victory lap.
 

Plato said:
Play defense, do not turn the ball over and make every possesion count, all of that sounds like Bo Ryan basketball that was so often on this site accused of being soooo boring.
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That's really not even a slight if you're gonna compare him to a HOF level coach. I think it's a fairly good comparison because most of Bo's teams didn't have the athletes or pure talent to do anything outside of playing smart and within a system. Ben would be very smart to emulate that and then build off of it as he gets those better athletes and talent. Sort of luck Wisconsin did when they lucked into Kaminsky and Dekker.
 

short ornery norwegian said:
U of MN obviously needs to make more diversity hires. This one seems to be working out. (sarcasm)

Johnson may not schmooze with certain local talk-show hosts or tell cute stories about his kids, but the dude can flat-out coach.

I submit that - if any other team in the B1G had to play without 3 starters - they would not win. Johnson and the Gophers played without 3 starters and found a way to win.

When Ben Johnson is named B1G coach of the year, this is one of the games they will point to.
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I submit a different reality -- if most other coaches in the BIG had to play with the three starters we were missing today they could not win. Our guys are great because of the intangibles of culture -- team, sharing, ethic, and desire, all imparted by Ben and staff.
 

Bob_Loblaw said:
Why would you want to do that in this thread? This conversation has been hashed out constantly. You keep being you and I'm sure you'll pretend to be annoyed if this thread devolves into a discussion about affirmative action.

I can't say I'm shocked you are using the Ben Johnson appreciation thread as your perfect timing for a misplaced victory lap.
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Well, you continue your role as morale compass ... or ... who the hell put you in charge? If I want to remind some people of how they jumped all over this hire without giving Ben a chance I'm fairly sure it's allowed. But thank you for being you, also.
 

I'm A Maroon 2! said:
That's really not even a slight if you're gonna compare him to a HOF level coach. I think it's a fairly good comparison because most of Bo's teams didn't have the athletes or pure talent to do anything outside of playing smart and within a system. Ben would be very smart to emulate that and then build off of it as he gets those better athletes and talent. Sort of luck Wisconsin did when they lucked into Kaminsky and Dekker.
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I much as I despise Wisconsin I don’t believe Bo lucked into Decker or Kaminsky Decker was a five star instate guy they recruited hard. Kaminisky was an under the radar guy that might better fit your analogy . Bo did have the Devin Harris , Alando Tuckers types to supplement his role players.
 

I'm A Maroon 2! said:
In regards to Ben's demeanor on the calls, he's smart enough to know he has done nothing yet to get leeway from Big Ten officials. He knows not to put his players or team in a position to have a negative outcome by having a Frantrum like reaction. Maturity beyond his years that I think can rub off onto other players.
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Remember, Johnson did coach under Pitino so he likely knows how not to act and how not to coach.
 

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