***OFFICIAL GOPHERS VS PURDUE IN-GAME THREAD!!!***

[GoodasGold]

Guys, why are we worried about us making the NCAA? We should be worried about Pitino getting hired by Florida and Louisville. These are the things that should keep us up at night.

Something had me tossin' n' turnin' last night. I think this was it!

 

[gopherlaney]

Did anyone criticizing Pitino watch the game? The play calls down the stretch were excellent and we got good looks.

Give him time to get athletes and we will be OK. Mo, EE, Dre are decent players but not the right style to play the way we want to.


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[jamalo]

Such an epic meltdown for a conference road loss. Imagine what this board would look like if we lost at home to NJIT...or Texas Southern...or Incarnate Word.

Agreed, they'll learn from this and move on. Question is whether they have the depth to do it; I would play Eliason more than Walker against teams that are strong in the front court.

 

[mcal24]

I just do not get the blind faith in the man. I really do not see much reason for optimism. Not saying that you have to be negative but I just do not get the blind faith and I would like to think that it is ok to question the direction of the program.

I thought being a fan of a school is enough reason to have optimism for a new coach. I'll cheer for them to win and enjoy the ride, you go ahead and doubt a coach and be pessimistic. If I can't have "blind faith" for a coach, you can't have blind negativity for the same guy. Okay?

 

[rivergopher]

Tell me someone that we could get better? Sure we could take a coach that's been coaching at a mid-major for awhile, but is the name going to stand out to a recruit? I would rather take a chance on a young pitino because his name will attract more recruits. Bottom line you need talent to win games

He has not proven to me that he can get the bigs neccessary to play in the big ten. We will see on Nwanko(sp) marginal recruit in my opinion you have to have bigs in the big ten he has shown zero evidence of landing a big ten big. Hope Nwanko is does not appear that the 2 that came in this year are even close right now.

 

[rivergopher]

I thought being a fan of a school is enough reason to have optimism for a new coach. I'll cheer for them to win and enjoy the ride, you go ahead and doubt a coach and be pessimistic. If I can't have "blind faith" for a coach, you can't have blind negativity for the same guy. Okay?

Not blind negativity I have every right to question his ability I pay for season tickets and donate money. I hope 100% I am wrong but I do not see it. His style is not going to work in the big ten in MY Opinion this a message board just don't get all the positivity for the guy. He has to prove something first. Not going to drink maroon and gold kool aid because his last name is Pitino.

 

[Winasota Gopher]

Did anyone criticizing Pitino watch the game? The play calls down the stretch were excellent and we got good looks.

Give him time to get athletes and we will be OK. Mo, EE, Dre are decent players but not the right style to play the way we want to.


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This. Anyone doubting Pitino's credentials isn't watching the coaching nuances he makes in some games.

I will say. He does miss some things as well, and I think he did today with the weak side rotations on the zone that painter exploited all game. But I attribute some, not all of his coaching issues on roster handcuffs

 

[Plainviewgopher]

The talent is going to be there in the back court in upcoming years; the question is the front court which is why I hope they sign a JUCO big. I don't get the love for Walker as he misses too many bunnies and can't rebound. Would honestly prefer Eliason to get a majority of minutes against the stronger competition

Totally agree with this post. Just from watching one you tube video of knawnko, In my opinion he is going to be a beast underneath compared to "softy McGee" and "trip over my shoe laces Stanley". Sorry I'm kind of drunk and pissed off at the moment. They are not entirely to blame for the loss but their play against BIG foe seems to be the one thing that always sticks in my mind

 

[WanderingGopher]

Such an epic meltdown for a conference road loss. Imagine what this board would look like if we lost at home to NJIT...or Texas Southern...or Incarnate Word.

Oh yeah... Sure Gardner Webb beat this horsesh&t Purdue team at home, but we shouldn't expect to do as well as mighty Gardner Webb, right? And the other conf road games will be way easier than Purdue, right?

Duh. People are pissed because we just blew the second-easiest opportunity for a road win on our entire conference schedule.

 

[rivergopher]

This. Anyone doubting Pitino's credentials isn't watching the coaching nuances he makes in some games.

I will say. He does miss some things as well, and I think he did today with the weak side rotations on the zone that painter exploited all game. But I attribute some, not all of his coaching issues on roster handcuffs

Like the post and agree with you on the zone criticism. My question is if we were going to come out in zone should we not have practiced it. I also question his loyalty to his older players, anyone watching this game could see that deandre was out played by Mason. I wonder if he is afraid that he is going to lose his team by making a decision like that. I put that on inexperience and youth.

 

[EG#9]

Don't agree with anyone arguing about Pitino. No he wasn't the reason we lost today, no he didn't "win" (using that term loosely since they were 8-10 in the B1G and missed the NCAA's) with another coaches players as Mathieu was huge for this team last year and Mo Walker wasn't a usable piece until he Pitino's crew got him in shape. No, the University of Minnesota doesn't have to take risks from a hiring standpoint, the job has always attracted quality coaches (the last hire was Tubby Smith, the hire before that was Dan Monson who was the mid major darling and "hot" name). Yes, Pitino's seat will be hot if (IF) he's going in to year four without having made a trip to the NCAA tournament.

Give the guy a break. He did a very nice job coaching this team last year and has one bad loss on his resume this year. IF he manages to beat Maryland, things will look a lot different and the road trip will be a net positive. This team was 9 minutes away from a very convincing road win to open the season and pissed it away. Going further, Pitino drew up a nice play that got his senior guard, Andre Hollins, a wide open look for a 3 to tie the game...and it went in and out. It wasn't too long ago that the Gophers were lucky to get ANY shot up in that scenario.

 

[rivergopher]

This. Anyone doubting Pitino's credentials isn't watching the coaching nuances he makes in some games.

I will say. He does miss some things as well, and I think he did today with the weak side rotations on the zone that painter exploited all game. But I attribute some, not all of his coaching issues on roster handcuffs

My other point would be he has created some of his own roster handcuffs also by recrutiing questionable players. His owning doing on Mcneil and Marting

 

[GophersInIowa]

I thought the program was stagnat under Tubby but me personally I wanted an established coach not a kid with a last name. 1 year as a head coach and he gets a big ten job? Come on Bo Ryan works his ass off and moves up the ladder. Many more examples out there. He can change my mind I fully admit I was wrong with Kill not saying I am an expert just a season ticket holder with an opinion.

So essentially you just hated the hire, not necessarily where we are as a program right now. That appears to be the case based on your responses. It also appears that you would be okay if we were in the exact same spot as a program if we hired a more established coach. So in the end you've already made up your mind where the program will be in a few years and that is why you are mad. You've just waited for a good time to blow up and let everyone know how much you hated the hire.

It's also obvious you are going to look at the negative side of everything. You've pointed out the question marks in the post in the future, yet refuse to comment about the guards and wings he has brought in (Mathieu, Mason and Morris, along with the good guard recruits coming in next year).

I imagine you're not the only one that is skeptical. A lot of people are. I'm cautiously optimistic. He could be great, and he could fail miserably. The difference is most people aren't dead set on their opinion of him. You've already claimed you know what the next few years will be like. It must suck to be that kind of a fan.

 

[GophersInIowa]

My other point would be he has created some of his own roster handcuffs also by recrutiing questionable players. His owning doing on Mcneil and Marting

What was questionable about those two out of high school? How does a coach predict what a player will do two years down the road?

 

[GophersInIowa]

I thought being a fan of a school is enough reason to have optimism for a new coach. I'll cheer for them to win and enjoy the ride, you go ahead and doubt a coach and be pessimistic. If I can't have "blind faith" for a coach, you can't have blind negativity for the same guy. Okay?

You said it perfectly. It goes both ways.

 

[mcal24]

Not blind negativity I have every right to question his ability I pay for season tickets and donate money. I hope 100% I am wrong but I do not see it. His style is not going to work in the big ten in MY Opinion this a message board just don't get all the positivity for the guy. He has to prove something first. Not going to drink maroon and gold kool aid because his last name is Pitino.

So he has to prove himself a winner before I can have faith without calling it blind, but he doesn't have to prove himself a loser before you can doubt him. Right.

 

[mplarson7]

My other point would be he has created some of his own roster handcuffs also by recrutiing questionable players. His owning doing on Mcneil and Marting

Both of those came completely out of left field. If you were to suggest that you could have predicted those situations happening, I'm afraid I'd have to call you a liar.

 

[jamalo]

If you followed the program or went to games it is Espisoto. Not that hard, program stanganted under Tubby, sorry I wanted a more experienced coach and when is it ok to start questioning this guy?

when he has exclusively his own guys on the roster

 

[Gopherfan12]

Not blind negativity I have every right to question his ability I pay for season tickets and donate money. I hope 100% I am wrong but I do not see it. His style is not going to work in the big ten in MY Opinion this a message board just don't get all the positivity for the guy. He has to prove something first. Not going to drink maroon and gold kool aid because his last name is Pitino.

Well don't buy season tickets and donate money then

 

[rivergopher]

So essentially you just hated the hire, not necessarily where we are as a program right now. That appears to be the case based on your responses. It also appears that you would be okay if we were in the exact same spot as a program if we hired a more established coach. So in the end you've already made up your mind where the program will be in a few years and that is why you are mad. You've just waited for a good time to blow up and let everyone know how much you hated the hire.

It's also obvious you are going to look at the negative side of everything. You've pointed out the question marks in the post in the future, yet refuse to comment about the guards and wings he has brought in (Mathieu, Mason and Morris, along with the good guard recruits coming in next year).

I imagine you're not the only one that is skeptical. A lot of people are. I'm cautiously optimistic. He could be great, and he could fail miserably. The difference is most people aren't dead set on their opinion of him. You've already claimed you know what the next few years will be like. It must suck to be that kind of a fan.

I will say Mason is going to be a special player, but Mathieu? Really what is he? He is a mid tier-to maybe top 4 pg (see 1 assist and 4 turnovers today big numbers in the non-conference) big ten pg, Al Nolen was that. I am not going to fall over backwards that he brought in average to above average pg. Lets wait and see how the rest of the season plays out with Morris first. No I do not think the programs future is where I would like it to be. He has brought in questionable characters (see Mcneil, and Lofton) and questionalbe talent (see Maritin). If his track record persists one of the 4 guys coming in will be booted by him or the school and one simply won't be good enough. I hope Nwanko is the real deal not so sure but he has not proven to me whatsoever that he can get the neccessary big men to win in the big ten.

 

[rivergopher]

when he has exclusively his own guys on the roster

So like I have been saying year 4 then right? Ok when I look at the rest of this year and next there is nothing to prove that this is an NCAA tournament team and if in year 4 he does not make it, then it is time to move on. Did not like the hire at the time and do not see a real big ten big on the roster next year. Nwanko maybe but we were told that the current ones we have could be as well.

 

[jamalo]

Mathieu in most games is going to dictate the flow of the game. Gophs haven't had someone like that (dish or go to the hole if the dish isn't there) since possibly Melvin Newbern

 

[rivergopher]

Well don't buy season tickets and donate money then

Never have understood this, I have every right to be a fan and I love going to games it something I did with my father since I was able to and will with mine someday as well. I do not have to accept mediocrity my point is my expectations are that this progam should be able to go to the NCAA every three years. I do not see that happening, again my opinion but if it doesn't in year 4 then that should be it. He has not proven he can recruit a real big ten big yet!

 

[jamalo]

So like I have been saying year 4 then right? Ok when I look at the rest of this year and next there is nothing to prove that this is an NCAA tournament team and if in year 4 he does not make it, then it is time to move on. Did not like the hire at the time and do not see a real big ten big on the roster next year. Nwanko maybe but we were told that the current ones we have could be as well.

ok; fair enough. My only question is about the front court, especially if he gets Walton and Ellison

 

[Gopherfan12]

So like I have been saying year 4 then right? Ok when I look at the rest of this year and next there is nothing to prove that this is an NCAA tournament team and if in year 4 he does not make it, then it is time to move on. Did not like the hire at the time and do not see a real big ten big on the roster next year. Nwanko maybe but we were told that the current ones we have could be as well.

I agree with year 4 is going to be a big year on whether or not we are going anywhere, but unless you are a top school in the nation big man recruits are hard to find that can really help out right away. It seriously might take konate or someone 3 years to really start making a big difference.

 

[rivergopher]

Mathieu in most games is going to dictate the flow of the game. Gophs haven't had someone like that (dish or go to the hole if the dish isn't there) since possibly Melvin Newbern

Really I think that there was a guy named Bobby Jackson? I know he was not a traditional pg but come on, Mathieu is not even close to the same player as bobby jackson hell he is not even a top 5 guard in the big ten this year

 

[rivergopher]

I agree with year 4 is going to be a big year on whether or not we are going anywhere, but unless you are a top school in the nation big man recruits are hard to find that can really help out right away. It seriously might take konate or someone 3 years to really start making a big difference.

It is hard I agree with that but the previous coach did it. I am not a tubby defender at all but the man could recruit bigs better than Pitino has proven.

 

[Gopherfan12]

It is hard I agree with that but the previous coach did it. I am not a tubby defender at all but the man could recruit bigs better than Pitino has proven.

Tubby's centers were slow and unathletic (Ex. Eliason and Walker). The only decent one Iverson left. Sampson was pretty bad, and Pitino has been here 1 year so lets no say he can or can't yet

 

[Holf]

I just hope Pitino has the balls to bench Dre for Mason. Nothing personal, seems like a nice enough kid, but he has become absolutely painful to watch against elite athletes. And I hope if/when that happens, Hollins has the maturity and leadership to accept his role off the bench and not become the Sr pariah. This team needs to move on, and it will cost them wins if Pitino can't pull the trigger

Also, did anyone see that double screen play Purdue ran at the end which resulted in EASY lay up (screen at top, then another screen at elbow)? Don't think I've ever seen that before, seems too obvious to work kind of thing- we need to insert that!

 

[jamalo]

Really I think that was a guy named Bobby Jackson? I know he was not a traditional pg but come on, Mathieu is not even close to the same player as bobby jackson hell he is not even a top 5 guard in the big ten this year

talking about strictly point guard. Obviously in terms of play makers, Jackson, Grier, Jacobson and Quincy Lewis would have been far superior