Neal: Moving forward with Ben Johnson is the only option for Gophers men’s basketball

[BleedGopher]

Per Neal:

Even before the Gophers' come-from-behind victory at UCLA on Tuesday, it was clear that the men’s basketball program did not need a regime change.

Head coach Ben Johnson has guided a team that was picked to finish last in the Big Ten preseason poll to within range of a .500 finish in the Big Ten, if they can get a couple of breaks.

The way the last month has gone, they are capable of making their own breaks.

It’s enough to wonder what Johnson can do if his roster can stay relatively stable. More resources, which requires name, image and likeness (NIL) support, would increase Johnson’s chances to prove he’s the right person to make Gophers basketball relevant.

Neal: Moving forward with Ben Johnson is the only option for Gophers men’s basketball

Head coach Ben Johnson has guided a team that was picked to finish last in the Big Ten preseason poll to within range of a .500 finish in the Big Ten.

www.startribune.com

Go Gophers!!

 

[GophersWin!]

dont be fooled again and repeat the same little dick pitino extensions. johnson is a disaster.

 

[Ski-U-Ham]

dont be fooled again and repeat the same little dick pitino extensions. johnson is a disaster.

Maybe someone should start a thread arguing that claim? (Or arguing the opposite)

 

[GopherBlood777]

Wowwww, just wow. Ben starts a guy who plays 8 minutes a game and cant manage a rotation bigger than 7 players. Won't support until those shenanigans are over. The locals love this guy and are petrified a new coach might not be minnesota nice.

 

[GopherPoke]

Let’s be real. When was the last time La Velle watched a Gophers basketball game?

 

[FinnGopher]

Let’s be real. When was the last time La Velle watched a Gophers basketball game?

If he did, it was while sitting on a bar stool.

 

[MNVCGUY]

Wowwww, just wow. Ben starts a guy who plays 8 minutes a game and cant manage a rotation bigger than 7 players. Won't support until those shenanigans are over. The locals love this guy and are petrified a new coach might not be minnesota nice.

There might be some love from local media types but I don't think the local fanbase has any massive attachment to Johnson. Yes he is from here and played here but he wasn't a local legend or anything in the way someone like Whalen was.

 

[MNVCGUY]

Let’s be real. When was the last time La Velle watched a Gophers basketball game?

Yeah, he is decent with his baseball coverage but his basketball stuff is a complete joke.

 

[upnorthkid]

The argument that the team was picked last means nothing. He assembled the talent that was picked to finish last

 

[mngg11]

I'm a very, very casual basketball follower. I know Johnson isn't popular on this board but from a casual's pov the guy is exceeding expectations. You're the only people who see the in game management issues, most people look at the win/loss column and read about how the roster was decimated in the offseason and how they were predicted to be dead last. It's fair to be upset or disappointed but don't be surprised if he's back next year, I'd bet most non-diehards who don't live and breathe Gopher bball would say he's earned it.

 

[Holy Man]

The argument that the team was picked last means nothing. He assembled the talent that was picked to finish last

So the key to longevity is getting picked last and “over performing.” Not a great standard.

 

[mngg11]

The argument that the team was picked last means nothing. He assembled the talent that was picked to finish last

Counterpoint - He arguably had enough talent to be a top half of the conference team before NIL, which he has no control over, raped and pillaged our roster this offseason. We can go back and forth all day, he's getting table scraps to play hrd and play good team ball in a major conference. He deserves a little credit.

 

[FinnGopher]

Counterpoint - He arguably had enough talent to be a top half of the conference team before NIL, which he has no control over, raped and pillaged our roster this offseason. We can go back and forth all day, he's getting table scraps to play hrd and play good team ball in a major conference. He deserves a little credit.

"Raped and pillaged..."
Others with less NIL got better "table scraps." How did they do it?

 

[Mulligan]

We're getting close to "Get the popcorn ready time" with the agonizing and arguing that's going to take place if the Gophers win the next two games. Will Ben escape the "Dead Man Walking Noose.?" He's starting to wiggle out of it.

 

[FinnGopher]

I'm a very, very casual basketball follower. I know Johnson isn't popular on this board but from a casual's pov the guy is exceeding expectations. You're the only people who see the in game management issues, most people look at the win/loss column and read about how the roster was decimated in the offseason and how they were predicted to be dead last. It's fair to be upset or disappointed but don't be surprised if he's back next year, I'd bet most non-diehards who don't live and breathe Gopher bball would say he's earned it.

Most non-diehard don't know the Coaches name, let alone say he's earned something. On the scale of most popular entertainment, Dudly Riggs gets more street cred.

 

[mngg11]

"Raped and pillaged..."
Others with less NIL got better "table scraps." How did they do it?

I don't know, how did they? You seem to know, explain it to a layman

 

[mngg11]

Most non-diehard don't know the Coaches name, let alone say he's earned something. On the scale of most popular entertainment, Dudly Riggs gets more street cred.

I'd classify a non-diehard as anyone who doesn't regularly peruse or post on this board. There are a lot of people who know that Ben Johnson is the Gophers head coach, Gopherhole isn't the sole location of the entirety of MN cbb fans. We're definitely the lunatic fringe of the Gopher fb/bb fanbase.

 

[FinnGopher]

I don't know, how did they? You seem to know, explain it to a layman

The simple thing is that they actually had a track record of winning. Ben seems like a kind and likable person, but his entire track record is one of coaching under .500 basketball teams. Any person doing their research will see that and pass when given another option.

 

[FinnGopher]

I'd classify a non-diehard as anyone who doesn't regularly peruse or post on this board. There are a lot of people who know that Ben Johnson is the Gophers head coach, Gopherhole isn't the sole location of the entirety of MN cbb fans. We're definitely the lunatic fringe of the Gopher fb/bb fanbase.

Have you seen the number of people at Williams Arena on game day? Those non-diehards are also not watching and not caring. Most won't even know when and if Ben Johnson gets fired and moreso, they won't care.

 

[USAF]

I don't know, how did they? You seem to know, explain it to a layman

You don't follow basketball, but you know it's just NIL. Heh.

Johnson is a fucking disaster and keeping him just means another disastrous year.

Even if it IS just NIL--and it isnt--don't we need someone able to overcome that? Or do we just bend over and permanently suck?

 

[mngg11]

The simple thing is that they actually had a track record of winning. Ben seems like a kind and likable person, but his entire track record is one of coaching under .500 basketball teams. Any person doing their research will see that and pass when given another option.

Why do you follow Gopher basketball at all, then? By your logic this team is doomed to be garbage forever

 

[mngg11]

You don't follow basketball, but you know it's just NIL. Heh.

Johnson is a fucking disaster and keeping him just means another disastrous year.

Even if it IS just NIL--and it isnt--don't we need someone able to overcome that? Or do we just bend over and permanently suck?

So what do you guys complain about when the new guy comes in and sucks? Same old song and dance?

 

[howeda7]

Let’s be real. When was the last time La Velle watched a Gophers basketball game?

When they played his beloved Illinois. That game really impressed him.

 

[walrus]

So what do you guys complain about when the new guy comes in and sucks? Same old song and dance?

The truth.

 

[USAF]

Why do you follow Gopher basketball at all, then? By your logic this team is doomed to be garbage forever

So what do you guys complain about when the new guy comes in and sucks? Same old song and dance?

LOL.
Back to back posts, no less.

 

[FinnGopher]

Why do you follow Gopher basketball at all, then? By your logic this team is doomed to be garbage forever

Re-read what I have told you. We currently have a coach with no track record of success. Logic would conclude that continuing to do the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the essence of foolishness.

So, how do the Gophers become consistent NCAA tournament participants? The answer is in making a change. That change is in hiring a coach that has shown themselves to win basketball games and make the NCAA tournament.

We are only doomed forever if we continue to do what has been done for the past four years. Even a casual fan should be able to grasp this, so what are you struggling with?

 

[howeda7]

I'm a very, very casual basketball follower. I know Johnson isn't popular on this board but from a casual's pov the guy is exceeding expectations. You're the only people who see the in game management issues, most people look at the win/loss column and read about how the roster was decimated in the offseason and how they were predicted to be dead last. It's fair to be upset or disappointed but don't be surprised if he's back next year, I'd bet most non-diehards who don't live and breathe Gopher bball would say he's earned it.

The non-diehards don't give a $%% about Gopher basketball or Ben Johnson. They certainly don't think "wow he's exceeded expectations."

 

[howeda7]

Counterpoint - He arguably had enough talent to be a top half of the conference team before NIL, which he has no control over, raped and pillaged our roster this offseason. We can go back and forth all day, he's getting table scraps to play hrd and play good team ball in a major conference. He deserves a little credit.

Top half of the conference? With the same talent that went 9-11 and finished 10th out of 14 while losing 5 of their last 6 games?

Ben has no control over NIL? Actually he has more control over NIL than anyone. PJ gets NIL because he wins and because he's good public speaker who pounds booster groups like the Golden Dunkers for $$. Ben doesn't get much NIL because he loses at historic rates, has little charisma and as far as I can tell makes little attempt to raise $$ on his own. Sure Coyle and others can take some blame on this too, but there's a reason there's a disparity even between sports at the U.

He's 21-53 in the B1G in year 4. He deserves credit for that. If you think that's great, by all means buy some tickets and donate some NIL.

 

[scools12]

If Ben Johnson is truly the only option to lead the basketball program than the Administration should give him a contract extension.

It will signal the U has raised the white flag on the men’s basketball program and have decided that an half empty arena along with being on the bubble to make the B1G Conference Tourney is good enough.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

If Ben Johnson is truly the only option to lead the basketball program than the Administration should give him a contract extension.

It will signal the U has raised the white flag on the men’s basketball program and have decided that an half empty arena along with being on the bubble to make the B1G Conference Tourney is good enough.

Season isn’t over yet, Lace ‘Em Up