Nadine Babu STrib blog: The Gophers’ NIT bubble burst – now what?

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I hesitate to react too strongly to this collapse of a season. People are ripping about everything about the program right now, and justifiably so right now, that was a bad stretch of basketball, no doubt. But it's not like they were gettin rolled here. They basically blew a bunch of games in a row that were right there for the taking. This is not about a complete lack of roster talent. This is about a lack of GUARD talent and experience. Big men can't get their touches and get comfortable without proper guard play, and ours lacked, big time, once Nolen went out. That's not to say we shouldn't have gotten more out of those fellas, I'm just saying, guards make teams go, and losing three of them in the last two years killed us.

That's why I'm hopeful of our future with Hollins and Coleman, I think they're our two best guards/wings Tubby has brought in, including Devoe. Add in the JUCO kid Welch to just offer up some experience, and hopefully that will solidify that backcourt and allow us to actually finish many of those blown games this past season and get us back in the tourney so we can start looking forward to the top 4 in the BT days we were hoping for when Tubby first got here.
 

Sounds like Nadine is saying Tubby can't coach and is too lazy to recruit.Fine ,but why sugar coat it?If you believe that's the case.Just say it in plain englishThen he should be fired.This isn't football,I know of very little talk at big time programs of hiring new assistant coaches in Basketball.Only in Minnesota LOL It's about getting players.I find it amusing you have reverted to Joe Pa. type logic regarding Tubby.One bad year and we better bring an assistant to help him.Fire Saul it's the number four guys fault.Where do you and Doggie get this stuff?I still have faith in Tubby but next year is a huge one for him.Man I hope some of the new guys have talent cause if they don't all the super assistants in the world won't matter.
 

Nice job Nadine (as usual)

I think your points about the need to shake up the assistant coaching staff and the lack of development of our big men are related. Initially, Tubby had a plan for an assistant who specialized in the development of the bigs - Jimmie Williams. After a long, drawn out, expensive, legal battle, we not only didn't have our man but we also lost a huge chunk of money (instead of flushing those bucks down the toilet, wouldn't it have been nice to apply them to a new practice facility?). Joel's obsession with political correctness cost us dearly.
 

Southpaw said:
Nice job Nadine (as usual)

I think your points about the need to shake up the assistant coaching staff and the lack of development of our big men are related. Initially, Tubby had a plan for an assistant who specialized in the development of the bigs - Jimmie Williams. After a long, drawn out, expensive, legal battle, we not only didn't have our man but we also lost a huge chunk of money (instead of flushing those bucks down the toilet, wouldn't it have been nice to apply them to a new practice facility?). Joel's obsession with political correctness cost us dearly.
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Sounds like higher ups pushed Joel's buttons on this one. I have trouble believing Maturi did not know Tubby was negotiating with Williams. I think someone higher up who was more familiar with the past scandals got wind of it and blew his horn behind closed doors and Maturi had no choice but to acquiesce to the demands.
 


My understanding is Austin Hollins could make it rain in HS and shoots much better in gophers practice. I hope it's freshman nerves and he can step up next season. He has the size, quickness and defensive mindset to play major minutes, when he bumps up that 3pt shooting % he will be a real asset.

Adding athletic shooters such as Oto, Andre and Julian is really going to change the versatility of this team.
 

98VQueens said:
My understanding is Austin Hollins could make it rain in HS and shoots much better in gophers practice. I hope it's freshman nerves and he can step up next season. He has the size, quickness and defensive mindset to play major minutes, when he bumps up that 3pt shooting % he will be a real asset.

Adding athletic shooters such as Oto, Andre and Julian is really going to change the versatility of this team.
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His shooting woes are confusing. He has a picture perfect jumper. Yet all his shots are going long. I think he is getting tha ball up a little to high.
 

Austin just needs to get his enthusiasm in check and play calmer and his shots will drop.

Adding shooters is great, but are any of them aggressive rebounders, shot blockers? Looks like weill shift emphasis, maybe more balance, more scoring and less ball control.
 

Nadine, Is firing Tubby really a popular sentiment among fans? Even though this season was disappointing it doesn't seem like a lot of people are wanting him gone, at least based on the opinions on this board.
 



Sleeping With the enemy

BleedGopher said:
http://www.startribune.com/yourvoic...yqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUKcOy9cP3DieyckcUsI

Go Gophers!!
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Is Nadine sleeping with the enemy?

The first of her listed solution options regarding solving the Gopher Basketball situation is "Fire Tubby Smith – this seems to be quite a popular solution".

Not that this is her choice but anyone saying "this seems to be quite a popular solution" is living in some kind of netherworld. Popular with who, Reusse, Souhan, and any other media circus performers we have writing in this town?

(Doogie, this is where you jump in with your subservient, sycophantic defense of your cronies).

Nadine, save yourself and run full speed away from the den of opium smokers you have fallen in with.

:)
 

figi said:
His shooting woes are confusing. He has a picture perfect jumper. Yet all his shots are going long. I think he is getting tha ball up a little to high.
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Agree, his highlight tapes from AAU and HS he definately had a good stroke, granted those are highlights but at least it wasnt all layups and dunks. However it looks as though sometimes he has a bit of a hitch in his shot and is almost trying to aim to much and will the ball into the hoop, instead of just shooting it confidently in stride. Hopefully he can regain his confidence going into next year.
 

Section201 said:
Is Nadine sleeping with the enemy?

The first of her listed solution options regarding solving the Gopher Basketball situation is "Fire Tubby Smith – this seems to be quite a popular solution".

Not that this is her choice but anyone saying "this seems to be quite a popular solution" is living in some kind of netherworld. Popular with who, Reusse, Souhan, and any other media circus performers we have writing in this town?

(Doogie, this is where you jump in with your subservient, sycophantic defense of your cronies).

Nadine, save yourself and run full speed away from the den of opium smokers you have fallen in with.

:)
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"Popular" was the wrong word here. That makes it seem like a majority of fans want him fired, and I'm pretty sure that isn't the case.
 




GophersInIowa said:
"Popular" was the wrong word here. That makes it seem like a majority of fans want him fired, and I'm pretty sure that isn't the case.
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There are people who like anchovy pizza. But it has to be one of the least popular pizza toppings. Who would call anchovies a "popular" pizza topping? But anchovy pizza is a lot more popular than is the idea of firing Tubby, there just aren't many people calling for him to be fired. Calling this popular is ridiculous.
 

rodent

RodentRampage said:
There are people who like anchovy pizza. But it has to be one of the least popular pizza toppings. Who would call anchovies a "popular" pizza topping? But anchovy pizza is a lot more popular than is the idea of firing Tubby, there just aren't many people calling for him to be fired. Calling this popular is ridiculous.
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Excellent analogy and it gave me some chuckles.

:)
 

Nadine, I'd much rather have an assistant coach that complements our head guy, and not one that compliments him.

Can't think of much to compliment anyone about this year. ;)
 





MotherNight said:
I can't wait for Hollins to setup Hollins.
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I've said it before, but here goes again: Radio announcer... "Hollins on the defensive rebound, outlet to Hollins, back to Hollins, lead pass to Hollins for the lay-up and ONE! Man-oh-man that Hollins is all over the floor!!!!!!!!"
 

Section201 said:
I was wondering if they would have their first names on their unis.

Obviously A. Hollins will not help.
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I think most do the "as many letters as needed" philosophy: An. Hollins and Au. Hollins, but yeah, the whole name is an option I guess.

They should just put their first names on the back.
 

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