The thing about "we can't afford it" arguments is that it won't be any cheaper a year from now and you'll have lost millions on lost ticket sales in the meantime.
Next Gopher Head Coach
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Exactly. If Smith is deemed the guy, $775k won't scare off the Gophers.
That's what I'm saying.
In fact, you could make the argument (not even related to ticket sales), that firing Pitino and hiring Smith or Niko would save the Gophers money.
Pitino has 3 years left on his current deal after this year at $2.5million/year. There's no way they can send a guy who is on the hot seat out recruiting with only three years left on his current deal. So, if they choose to keep Pitino, not only would you be keeping him, you'd likely be extending him by two years. Maybe its a window dressing extension, but an extension none the less.
You can likely hire Smith or Niko cheaper for the next five years than what you'd be committed to paying Pitino over the next five years with an extension (i.e. less than $2.5m/year).
So, cutting Pitino loose at $1.75million at the end of this season might be the better financial play anyway.
Whoever is saying "we can't afford" a change hasn't thought much in depth about it.
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You are the first person I've seen bring up Joerger besides myself. He's only 46 and has been a legitmately good head coach in the NBA and is currently an assistant for Doc in Philly. Not sure he's interested and Philly could make the Finals this year which may make it tougher for him to leave mid season. He had battles with the front office in Sacramento about personnel (including them taking Bagley when he wanted Doncic) but he'd have control over that in the college game. I am not ready to advocate for any one guy right now, but I would be pumped if Joerger was our coach.
The Mountain West trio is so hard to separate for me.
WindyCityGopher
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I live in the same Chicago suburb Moser does. My son plays (or did play before the pandemic) travel hoops with his son Max so I've had some brief interactions with him (not in any way saying I know him well, because I don't), but Moser feels like one of those coaches who is happy where he is at a smaller, basketball-only Jesuit school, like Few. He's an Illinois guy who recruits the area well and is a lifetime legend at Loyola because of their Final Four run. He had his chance to make a break for big dollars and big pressure at a P5 school after the Final Four, but didn't. I don't think he's going anywhere, but if he does it's for far greener pastures than Minnesota.
my list seems to change daily......
1. Musselman. Make the phone call at least.
2. Nate Oats. Make the phone call. Maybe his heart is still in the Midwest. It aint. He isnt coming here. But much like Musselman. Make contact. and then sink into the chair knowing we missed on both of these guys.
3. Craig Smith/Medved.
5. Joerger
6. Dutcher
Smith, Medved, Dutcher. All three of them i think take the job on the spot if offered.
And once the head coach is hired.....
you contact Tim Miles and if he doesnt find a head coaching spot of his liking you see if he wants to hop on.
Then you check in on Thorson. And if you hire Medved you get Thorson as the cherry on top.
Then you call Dame Johnson. Connected and well liked within the high school circle in MN
1. Musselman. Make the phone call at least.
2. Nate Oats. Make the phone call. Maybe his heart is still in the Midwest. It aint. He isnt coming here. But much like Musselman. Make contact. and then sink into the chair knowing we missed on both of these guys.
3. Craig Smith/Medved.
5. Joerger
6. Dutcher
Smith, Medved, Dutcher. All three of them i think take the job on the spot if offered.
And once the head coach is hired.....
you contact Tim Miles and if he doesnt find a head coaching spot of his liking you see if he wants to hop on.
Then you check in on Thorson. And if you hire Medved you get Thorson as the cherry on top.
Then you call Dame Johnson. Connected and well liked within the high school circle in MN
MplsGopher
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Never heard of him, so looking at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Joerger
His college ties are to the Moorhead colleges, and his entire coaching experience is with professional teams.
Biggest thing: he's never had to recruit. That is a whole thing that you need to build up experience doing.
But also importantly: he's never had to deal with players who aren't professionals. Guys who you can just cut, if they don't do what you want. And so on.
Not trying to crap on your idea. Moreso saying, would he have any interest at all?
MplsGopher
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Boise St is tough this year. Pulled away late from Utah St last night, in Boise (they did have a smattering of fans there). But the MW is doing double-headers for conf matchups, so they'll get a rematch tomorrow night.
Will definitely tune in to catch the end of that, after watching our top 5 lady Gopher volleyball team beat the cornholes in Lincoln.
Will definitely tune in to catch the end of that, after watching our top 5 lady Gopher volleyball team beat the cornholes in Lincoln.
tmvander
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Tim Miles is interesting. Really great guy and ties to the midwest (especially MN), however do you want to take a flier on a guy who already failed in the Big Ten?
MplsGopher
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Last year, I was all in on Craig Smith. Seemed like a done deal, then covid.
This year ... the more I look at it, the more I think I'm liking Niko Medved better.
Grew up in Roseville. Went to the U. Was an assistant for Monson's last year, then was an assistant for Tim Miles at CO State for several years (along with Smith).
Minnesota would be his dream job. I'm certain he would (try to) bring Thorson with him. Not sure how people feel about that, but obviously he had great success at DLS for many years, for whatever that is worth.
Guessing that Roddy would come up with him.
They've split with their three toughest conf matchups this year (@San Diego St, @Utah St, vs Boise St), and just have the upcoming series @Nevada as a tough matchup left before the tourny. Won the rest of their conf games, sitting tied for 2nd with Utah St at 11-3.
This year ... the more I look at it, the more I think I'm liking Niko Medved better.
Grew up in Roseville. Went to the U. Was an assistant for Monson's last year, then was an assistant for Tim Miles at CO State for several years (along with Smith).
Minnesota would be his dream job. I'm certain he would (try to) bring Thorson with him. Not sure how people feel about that, but obviously he had great success at DLS for many years, for whatever that is worth.
Guessing that Roddy would come up with him.
They've split with their three toughest conf matchups this year (@San Diego St, @Utah St, vs Boise St), and just have the upcoming series @Nevada as a tough matchup left before the tourny. Won the rest of their conf games, sitting tied for 2nd with Utah St at 11-3.
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MplsGopher
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As an assistant, I don't see why not. Medved and Smith were both assistants under him at Colo State.
NO. Tim Miles is not interesting.
Bad Gopher
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Medved seems like an A1, top-flight good guy as well. If we ended up with him, I'd be very happy with the hire.
Bad Gopher
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I'm with you: shoot for the moon first. I trust builtbadgers that Musselman isn't going to say yes, but as long as he has a phone, give him a call.
Same with Oats. This is more realistic than Musselman but an uphill battle. He's already got it cooking down there, and why would he drop that to come here unless he's always wanted to relocate back. On the other hand, ask what it would take to get him up here. He'd have us in the top 4 of the conference within 2-3 years.
Besides these two, I'm still a Dutcher guy regardless of his age. Anyone who had San Diego State on the verge of a #1 seed can coach a team.
MplsGopher
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It seems like a "Fleck type" of hire.
No offense to howeda, in the slightest, but hiring a former P5 head coach feel like a "Tubby type" of hire.
MplsGopher
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Fair enough. Hey, they're the only MW team ranked right now. Maybe they end up winning the MW tourney as well. We'll see. Nothing is guaranteed to Utah St, Colo St, or Boise St, right now. Nevada could be in there as well.
Just that Dutcher is 61, while Smith and Medved are in their 40s.
i mean im sure he would have no interest....but im talking as an assistant coach.
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Good points. You never know. But neither did Juwann Howard. I'm willing to roll with it.
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What is everyone's infatuation with Craig Smith?? I don't get it.
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Or Medvedev for that matter.
and Medved has a SG committed that seems to me know as a shooter and defense kind of guy....Which after watching this MN team shoot im all for bringing in more shooters!
fun to speculate.
and another reason to move on now.....get a head start for the next coaching staff to build relationships with a loaded 2022 local/midwest recruiting class
tmvander
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Got you maybe I didn't read the initial one right putting him as an assistant. I was thinking him as a head coach to which I would think he'd have interest for sure but I don't think we should.
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I'm 72 & started watching Gopher basketball in the John Kundla/Lou Hudson/Archie Clark era. Here's the list of Gopher coaches & their number of WINNING BIG-10 seasons (.500 ball doesn't cut it).
John Kundla 5 winning seasons in 9 years (NBA HOF coach)
Bill Fitch 0 for 2 (NBA HOF coach)
George Hanson 0 for 1
Bill Musselman 3 for 4
Jim Dutcher 4 for 11
Clem Haskins 5 for 13
Dan Monson 2 for 8
Tubby Smith 0 for 6
Richard Pitino 1 for 8 (includes this year)
Of Note: Monson, Smith or Pitino have NEVER finished with a better Big-10 record than Wisconsin!
Let's hire someone who can compete.
John Kundla 5 winning seasons in 9 years (NBA HOF coach)
Bill Fitch 0 for 2 (NBA HOF coach)
George Hanson 0 for 1
Bill Musselman 3 for 4
Jim Dutcher 4 for 11
Clem Haskins 5 for 13
Dan Monson 2 for 8
Tubby Smith 0 for 6
Richard Pitino 1 for 8 (includes this year)
Of Note: Monson, Smith or Pitino have NEVER finished with a better Big-10 record than Wisconsin!
Let's hire someone who can compete.
who is on your shortlist of realistic hires?
Well, I can't speak for others, but that Medvedev semifinal in the Australian open against Tsitsipas is bound to be a humdinger. I don't know if I'll stay up until 2:30 am to watch it, but I'll catch the highlights.
tmvander
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I'd be surprised if Coyle isn't already talking...can't remember how it works in basketball but if you hire a coach can they continue coaching where they currently are? If they can't I'd assume we'll be without a new hire until after the season as other coaches mentioned are fighting to win conferences and make a post season.
Bad Gopher
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This goes to show that finishing with a winning record even about 40 percent of the time translates to conference title contention and occasional deep tournament runs with the typical ups, downs, and standard deviation. I'd take that. Now look at what Ryan did in Madison, which was a winning record every year. Yes it takes a HOF coach to accomplish that, but when you make a hire you should be looking for hall-of-fame potential. Those guys come from somewhere and are out there for the finding.
Breakin' The Plane
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It's the Minnesota angle. People get wrapped up in the notion that if someone who has some sort of emotional tie to the state or university, they will be more willing to stick around if they have great success. There's something to be said for knowing the area, the high schools and all that, but it's not the be-all, end-all.
Also, guys like that seem more "gettable" in the eyes of most.
Gopher_In_NYC
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I'm guessing he had a short list before the season started, I think he said a good AD always has short lists for all sports, at all times.
Also I guess the back channel stuff is done via the agent who has an idea if their client's seat is hot and/or they'd be open for greener pastures.
forever a gopher
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There is literally zero chance of that happening. If Miles wanted to coach, he'd have a HC job at a lesser school in a heartbeat. Assuming he likes the low pressure of being a talking head and maybe waiting for a "good" job to come calling.