***OFFICIAL FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON AT MINNESOTA IN-GAME THREAD!!!***

[60's Guy]

Ben has never lost to an HBCU school. Total domination

He struggles with the MIAC but I believe he is unblemished there as well.
Scheduling either conference should be cause enough to say goodbye.

 

[drewhaus7]

While we schedule and have troubles against Fairleigh, OSU picks up another win vs Kentucky.

 

[jovs]

That's what irritated me the most too. I was saying to myself "For God sakes, stop dribbling so much and either shoot or pass!"

I didn't see the game but the few times I've seen Patterson play he reminded me of Cooper, by nature of the way he played the offense always grinded to a halt.

 

[Married@SiebertField]

They are selling cheap tickets to people who DO NOT buy season tickets and doing nothing for the remaining season ticket holders that continue to soldier on. I am all for letting everyone in cheap at this point. Season ticket holders should be getting a partial refund. I no longer am one so I have no axe to grind there.

I have no issue with discounted tickets or admitting people for free for that matter. I was pleasantly surprised to see the number of folks sitting in the student section today. Buying season tickets is my investment in the program. A better atmosphere with more fans strengthens the investment. My hunch is most season tickets holders wouid agree.

 

[howeda7]

I didn't see the game but the few times I've seen Patterson play he reminded me of Cooper, by nature of the way he played the offense always grinded to a halt.

I'd rather have Cooper back.

 

[BarnBurner]

I have no inside information - just a wild hunch - but

I predict that Coyle will give Ben the dreaded "vote of confidence" at some point in January.

Coyle will add that "he will evaluate Johnson's performance after the season is complete."

which, in Coyle-speak, means he's already trying to back-channel with potential candidates or their agents.

then, 3 or 4 days after the season ends, Coyle will announce that Johnson will not return. Coyle will stress that this was "a mutual decision." this will be a lie.

You haven't figured out Coyle is nowhere to be seen? And he's going to give a vote of confidence?

 

[USAF]

If he just didn't turn the ball over as much as he does he'd be a valuable utility player on more than a few teams.

LOL.

And if my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle.

 

[Bayfield Gopher]

Why BJ plays Patterson over Asuma is beyond comprehension. Maybe Ben guaranteed him PT to get him to come to MN.

Clearly his best 3 are Garcia, Mike, Asuma and a combo of Femi, Fox/Edmunds. Yet Ben keeps on marching out Patterson. We will likely see very little of Betts which is warranted. And #24 minutes will be fewer and fewer. Once again Ben will go with a 7 man rotation including Patterson.

Brutal.

 

[bga1]

Edmunds was not much of a factor today. He never sealed his defender and demanded a post entrance. He (and the whole team) refused to fight for rebounds. Instead, they just watch the ball and turn every rebound into a 50-50 ball. Edmunds as our big shows just how far the Gophers have fallen in recruiting bigs.

Well he did have 8 boards in 16 minutes. But, let's face it, the entry pass to the post is not a feature of this offense. If you are not a perimeter dribbler- you ain't getting the ball most likely.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

Well he did have 8 boards in 16 minutes. But, let's face it, the entry pass to the post is not a feature of this offense. If you are not a perimeter dribbler- you ain't getting the ball most likely.

You squint and see a capable Big Ten player with Edmunds.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

Why BJ plays Patterson over Asuma is beyond comprehension. Maybe Ben guaranteed him PT to get him to come to MN.

Clearly his best 3 are Garcia, Mike, Asuma and a combo of Femi, Fox/Edmunds. Yet Ben keeps on marching out Patterson. We will likely see very little of Betts which is warranted. And #24 minutes will be fewer and fewer. Once again Ben will go with a 7 man rotation including Patterson.

Brutal.

I think we need Patterson in the rotation out of absolute desperation. However, he should be getting backup minutes.

Asuma - Mitchell - Odukale - Garcia - Edmunds

Bench: Fox, Rigsby, F. Mitchell, Patterson

if Caleb Williams can play (I have no idea), let him take minutes from Rigsby and Patterson when he has a hot hand.

 

[Married@SiebertField]

I am old and Gopher Basketball was what kept me sane through the winter months. This is awful.

And for the record, there is no way AD M. Coyle decided poor Ben Johnson was his prime candidate.. As much as I find Coyle annoying, he had a list and he was ordered to hire Ben from above. Thank your Whatthefuckwashernamepresident

While we were struggling to break 20 yesterday in the first half, President Gabel’s Panthers scored 110 against Sam Houston—so much for basketbsll karma on 12/21.

 

[Married@SiebertField]

Was Mark Coyle there? Does he care?

He was at the game—looked like he was sitting alone.

 

[jblass]

I think we need Patterson in the rotation out of absolute desperation. However, he should be getting backup minutes.

Asuma - Mitchell - Odukale - Garcia - Edmunds

Bench: Fox, Rigsby, F. Mitchell, Patterson

if Caleb Williams can play (I have no idea), let him take minutes from Rigsby and Patterson when he has a hot hand.

I for one would like to see Williams on the floor just to see what he can do. Why not give him a shot. I know he was recovering from mono earlier and that kept him out. Anybody else feel the same way?

 

[formerlybis]

Why BJ plays Patterson over Asuma is beyond comprehension. Maybe Ben guaranteed him PT to get him to come to MN.

Clearly his best 3 are Garcia, Mike, Asuma and a combo of Femi, Fox/Edmunds. Yet Ben keeps on marching out Patterson. We will likely see very little of Betts which is warranted. And #24 minutes will be fewer and fewer. Once again Ben will go with a 7 man rotation including Patterson.

Brutal.

I wonder how people would view Asuma if he wasn't "one of us" because his metrics are garbage.

And although Patterson is technically "one of us", he still is viewed as more of an import. He's the third most productive player behind Garcia and Mitchell. His main problem is that he's a terrible shooter and he shoots too much (especially from midrange). He actually has an above average assist rate and does not turn it over.

ETA: I wonder who Cochran will take minutes from.

Here's the data to back it up:

 

[bga1]

I wonder how people would view Asuma if he wasn't "one of us" because his metrics are garbage.

And although Patterson is technically "one of us", he still is viewed as more of an import. He's the third most productive player behind Garcia and Mitchell. His main problem is that he's a terrible shooter and he shoots too much (especially from midrange). He actually has an above average assist rate and does not turn it over.

ETA: I wonder who Cochran will take minutes from.

Here's the data to back it up:

View attachment 35128

Watching the game tells me how valuable Asuma is to picking the tempo of this team up. He is a guard who doesn't dribble around. He needs to drive more, but I think that is a caution issue- not wanting to take chances. He is the best point guard they have-easily.

 

[bga1]

I for one would like to see Williams on the floor just to see what he can do. Why not give him a shot. I know he was recovering from mono earlier and that kept him out. Anybody else feel the same way?

I would like to see a team out there that has more guys that can make shots. Williams is a guy that can. Rigsby and Patterson could stand to get less minutes.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

I for one would like to see Williams on the floor just to see what he can do. Why not give him a shot. I know he was recovering from mono earlier and that kept him out. Anybody else feel the same way?

Yep, let’s see what we got and at maybe it could be some fun

 

[FinnGopher]

I would like to see a team out there that has more guys that can make shots. Williams is a guy that can. Rigsby and Patterson could stand to get less minutes.

Yep, let’s see what we got and at maybe it could be some fun

Williams received some playing time yesterday (#6). He didn't do anything on either end of the floor. I was hoping he'd hoist a couple, but he didn't look to shoot. Ben took him out after about 5 minutes of play and he never saw the court again.

 

[bga1]

Williams received some playing time yesterday (#6). He didn't do anything on either end of the floor. I was hoping he'd hoist a couple, but he didn't look to shoot. Ben took him out after about 5 minutes of play and he never saw the court again.

If he had his hands on the ball more than twice during his time I'd be surprised.

 

[FinnGopher]

If he had his hands on the ball more than twice during his time I'd be surprised.

He touched a handful of times, but it was always 22 feet or farther from the rim as we ran a wheel around the perimeter. He never had a clear look, or maybe once he could have launched from NBA range, but that's Ben's offense for you.

 

[Zeppelin Gopher]

Watching the game tells me how valuable Asuma is to picking the tempo of this team up. He is a guard who doesn't dribble around. He needs to drive more, but I think that is a caution issue- not wanting to take chances. He is the best point guard they have-easily.

Mitchell is a much better passer, steadier with the ball, and best option at PG right now.

But we need Mike at the 2 bombing away at every opportunity. Only chance this team has to be competitive is if he is a quality 2nd option and puts up 16+ PPG on good efficiency.

 

[Chico Gopher]

Just asking the question, since I can't possibly know because I don't get to watch practice. But, is it possible that the reason Asuma doesn't start is because he isn't particularly aggressive with his offense in practice and if he isn't aggressive and confident offensively in practice, chances are he won't be in the game either? It's not unusual for young players. Maybe it's a matter of when he shows aggressive, confidence in looking for his shot, and executing in practice ( like I'm assuming Patterson does) he'll get the start. Honestly, most coaches I know have the same attitude; "if you don't do it in practice, I can't trust you to start doing it in a game". Most coaches I know are pretty uncomfortable in just throwing mud against the wall to see what sticks. Although it seems that things are desperate enough that maybe that philosophy should change, it's not something coaches do easily.

Regarding Williams, is it possible that he has trouble getting and making his shots in practice, therefore the reluctance to put him in a game? Again, I don't know because I don't see practices, but another thing coaches in general are reluctant to do it put players into situations that there's not much chance for success. I know Williams lit up the Gophers early last season, but I remember more than a few posters noting that he wasn't that great overall at the D-3 level. Again, the throwing mud against the wall to see what sticks philosophy.

I have to admit I'm not a fan of that philosophy in my real life either, because 95% of the time, you find out that, in addition to showing your complete desperation, you just made things worse by doing that.

Admittedly, we're desperate, but if it were any of us, would we be so ready to admit it?

 

[bga1]

Just asking the question, since I can't possibly know because I don't get to watch practice. But, is it possible that the reason Asuma doesn't start is because he isn't particularly aggressive with his offense in practice and if he isn't aggressive and confident offensively in practice, chances are he won't be in the game either? It's not unusual for young players. Maybe it's a matter of when he shows aggressive, confidence in looking for his shot, and executing in practice ( like I'm assuming Patterson does) he'll get the start. Honestly, most coaches I know have the same attitude; "if you don't do it in practice, I can't trust you to start doing it in a game". Most coaches I know are pretty uncomfortable in just throwing mud against the wall to see what sticks. Although it seems that things are desperate enough that maybe that philosophy should change, it's not something coaches do easily.

Regarding Williams, is it possible that he has trouble getting and making his shots in practice, therefore the reluctance to put him in a game? Again, I don't know because I don't see practices, but another thing coaches in general are reluctant to do it put players into situations that there's not much chance for success. I know Williams lit up the Gophers early last season, but I remember more than a few posters noting that he wasn't that great overall at the D-3 level. Again, the throwing mud against the wall to see what sticks philosophy.

I have to admit I'm not a fan of that philosophy in my real life either, because 95% of the time, you find out that, in addition to showing your complete desperation, you just made things worse by doing that.

Admittedly, we're desperate, but if it were any of us, would we be so ready to admit it?

All of that is possible. However, when the game is being played, Asuma has been their best option to start the offense.

 

[howeda7]

He touched a handful of times, but it was always 22 feet or farther from the rim as we ran a wheel around the perimeter. He never had a clear look, or maybe once he could have launched from NBA range, but that's Ben's offense for you.

What do you want him to do, like run a play or something?

 

[FinnGopher]

Just asking the question, since I can't possibly know because I don't get to watch practice. But, is it possible that the reason Asuma doesn't start is because he isn't particularly aggressive with his offense in practice and if he isn't aggressive and confident offensively in practice, chances are he won't be in the game either? It's not unusual for young players. Maybe it's a matter of when he shows aggressive, confidence in looking for his shot, and executing in practice ( like I'm assuming Patterson does) he'll get the start. Honestly, most coaches I know have the same attitude; "if you don't do it in practice, I can't trust you to start doing it in a game". Most coaches I know are pretty uncomfortable in just throwing mud against the wall to see what sticks. Although it seems that things are desperate enough that maybe that philosophy should change, it's not something coaches do easily.

Regarding Williams, is it possible that he has trouble getting and making his shots in practice, therefore the reluctance to put him in a game? Again, I don't know because I don't see practices, but another thing coaches in general are reluctant to do it put players into situations that there's not much chance for success. I know Williams lit up the Gophers early last season, but I remember more than a few posters noting that he wasn't that great overall at the D-3 level. Again, the throwing mud against the wall to see what sticks philosophy.

I have to admit I'm not a fan of that philosophy in my real life either, because 95% of the time, you find out that, in addition to showing your complete desperation, you just made things worse by doing that.

Admittedly, we're desperate, but if it were any of us, would we be so ready to admit it?

Asuma is a freshman among 10 seniors. An 18 year old among men who can freely drink alcohol. He's not going to readily stomp on others who are in their last year. I don't blame him.

 

[RockChalk]

I think we need Patterson in the rotation out of absolute desperation. However, he should be getting backup minutes.

Asuma - Mitchell - Odukale - Garcia - Edmunds

Bench: Fox, Rigsby, F. Mitchell, Patterson

if Caleb Williams can play (I have no idea), let him take minutes from Rigsby and Patterson when he has a hot hand.

I like this but he still has to spread out the minutes in a better manner. 7 guys with what was supposed to be by far his deepest team speaks volumes to that nothing has changed.

To touch a bit on Johnson's recruiting prowess, give this some thought. Betts still isn't playing and Groves, 1 of 2 for this years class, is red shirted.

 

[TwistingMyMelon]

To touch a bit on Johnson's recruiting prowess, give this some thought. Betts still isn't playing and Groves, 1 of 2 for this years class, is red shirted.

The only thing that continues to rankle me about Betts' recruitment is that his matriculation was accelerated by a year instead of recruiting another transfer portal player who would have been able to play at the time. Some people actually defended that decision then under the illusion that he would have "blown up" in his senior year and had a good chance of decommitting in favor of a higher-level program. That idea seemed ridiculous at the time but has grown to be even more preposterous with age.

 

[Strongazzoffer]

Coyle will praise Ben’s efforts and blame the landscape change. 1 yr from now the strib will run the Ben article on how everything and everyone was against him…. This is it.

That's fine, as long as we Get Will Wade ade or better. No one will care about how salty Ben is or the people who forced the hire on Coyle are if we are winning a year from now. In today's landscape you don't need to embrace the suck

 

[Strongazzoffer]

The only thing that continues to rankle me about Betts' recruitment is that his matriculation was accelerated by a year instead of recruiting another transfer portal player who would have been able to play at the time. Some people actually defended that decision then under the illusion that he would have "blown up" in his senior year and had a good chance of decommitting in favor of a higher-level program. That idea seemed ridiculous at the time but has grown to be even more preposterous with age.

I'm pretty sure Betts early enrollment happened after we struck out on transfer targets and still had an extra scholly for the year. As far as how his career has gone, it's unfortunate I really liked him as a prospect and I know some programs like Virginia were starting to sniff around when he committed. Unfortunately Betts doesn't have the foot speed to guard on the perimeter of the strength to guard guys in the front post. Seems to be the type of tweener that is okay at a lot but a master of none. It'll be interesting if he's still here next year, he's from Colorado but his mom's side of the family owns a bunch Zorbas' up north.