***OFFICIAL OREGON AT MINNESOTA IN-GAME THREAD!!!***

[Gophers7633]

This. You give yourself know chance with the pathetic scheduling. And they've done it back to back years. It's gutless and pointless.

Yep, pretty much. There's a reason a team like OSU is right on the cut line for the tournament at 12-8 overall, and had we beaten Wichita we'd also be 12-8 and nowhere close. And we actually have the same amount of Q1 wins.

 

[stocker08]

Yeah, no shit. But we only know that after the fact. You don't go into the year projecting to lose those types of games (although North Texas has been a pretty good mid major).

Again if you're a team with tournament aspirations, you have to schedule better.

I agree. But the Gophers are not in a position to make the NCAAs right now....so your whining makes no sense.

 

[Gophers7633]

I agree. But the Gophers are not in a position to make the NCAAs right now....so your whining makes no sense.

Well yeah because 7 of our wins are against Q4 competition so we might as well be 4-9 right now. I'm not saying we'd have made the tournament had we scheduled tougher, but there's a reason 8 loss teams like OSU, ASU, Xavier and UNC are on the tournament cut line right now. We beat Wichita State, we are a similar 8 loss team with no chance. And again, we won't make it anyway because we simply aren't good enough, but if you have tournament aspirations, schedule better period.

 

[stocker08]

Well yeah because 7 of our wins are against Q4 competition so we might as well be 4-9 right now. I'm not saying we'd have made the tournament had we scheduled tougher, but there's a reason 8 loss teams like OSU, ASU, Xavier and UNC are on the tournament cut line right now. We beat Wichita State, we are a similar 8 loss team with no chance. And again, we won't make it anyway because we simply aren't good enough, but if you have tournament aspirations, schedule better period.

The Gophers couldn't manage to beat ANY of the noncon opponents with a pulse. So scheduling was not a problem this year. In other words.....you are just looking for something to complain about.

 

[Gophers7633]

The Gophers couldn't manage to beat ANY of the noncon opponents with a pulse. So scheduling was not a problem this year. In other words.....you are just looking for something to complain about.

Yeah, and we lost basically 3 coin flip games. One of them bc of a terrible coaching decision. Who's to say if we play two more similar opponents we lose? I'm not asking to play Auburn, Bama and Duke, but what's so bad about playing a team like UC-Irvine and Drake instead of Morgan State and Bethune Cookman. This particular team has shown the potential to beat top 25 teams.

And no I'm not really looking for anything to complain about. I've enjoyed the last 10 days (prior to tonight). I just don't buy the bs that just because we lost 3 coin flip games to our best OOC opponents that it means the overall concept of the schedule was correct.

 

[USAF]

The Gophers couldn't manage to beat ANY of the noncon opponents with a pulse. So scheduling was not a problem this year. In other words.....you are just looking for something to complain about.

So your point is that Johnson KNEW his team would suck so bad that he didn't bother to schedule a nonconference that could get the Goohers into the dance?

That's the only possible explanation.

 

[stocker08]

Yeah, and we lost basically 3 coin flip games. One of them bc of a terrible coaching decision. Who's to say if we play two more similar opponents we lose? I'm not asking to play Auburn, Bama and Duke, but what's so bad about playing a team like UC-Irvine and Drake instead of Morgan State and Bethune Cookman. This particular team has shown the potential to beat top 25 teams.

And no I'm not really looking for anything to complain about. I've enjoyed the last 10 days (prior to tonight). I just don't buy the bs that just because we lost 3 coin flip games to our best OOC opponents that it means the overall concept of the schedule was correct.

I never said that the overall concept of the non-con schedule was correct this year. I'm pointing out that the team isn't even close to sniffing a tournament bid.....and scheduling a tougher non-conference schedule this year would not have changed that fact. In other words.....the complaining about the non-conference schedule is nothing more than the need to complain about something.

But seeing as how our three game win streak has been broken....people can get back to their regularly scheduled bitching about Ben Johnson.....rather than the inane complaints about the non-conference schedule keeping us from our destiny of making the tournament.

 

[Gophers7633]

I never said that the overall concept of the non-con schedule was correct this year. I'm pointing out that the team isn't even close to sniffing a tournament bid.....and scheduling a tougher non-conference schedule this year would not have changed that fact. In other words.....the complaining about the non-conference schedule is nothing more than the need to complain about something.

But seeing as how our three game win streak has been broken....people can get back to their regularly scheduled bitching about Ben Johnson.....rather than the inane complaints about the non-conference schedule keeping us from our destiny of making the tournament.

And the shitty OOC, and the loss to Wichita, because of coach malpractice, is certainly a reason why. As I pointed out, there are a bunch of teams with 8 losses coming into tonight who are right there on the cutline. Believe it or not, we've actually played like a fringe tournament team in the month of January(despite being 3-5).

 

[Outsider]

I never said that the overall concept of the non-con schedule was correct this year. I'm pointing out that the team isn't even close to sniffing a tournament bid.....and scheduling a tougher non-conference schedule this year would not have changed that fact. In other words.....the complaining about the non-conference schedule is nothing more than the need to complain about something.

But seeing as how our three game win streak has been broken....people can get back to their regularly scheduled bitching about Ben Johnson.....rather than the inane complaints about the non-conference schedule keeping us from our destiny of making the tournament.

FFS, he has scheduled shit OOC pretty much every year he’s been here. It’s crap, schedule better, win games, get to the dance. It’s not that difficult. He sucks, his scheduling sucks, he needs to go!

 

[stocker08]

And the shitty OOC, and the loss to Wichita, because of coach malpractice, is certainly a reason why. As I pointed out, there are a bunch of teams with 8 losses coming into tonight who are right there on the cutline. Believe it or not, we've actually played like a fringe tournament team in the month of January(despite being 3-5).

3-7 in conference. Nonconference schedule has nothing to do with it as well lost to every decent team we played. Don't magically start winning those games because they're on the schedule. That makes no sense.

 

[stocker08]

FFS, he has scheduled shit OOC pretty much every year he’s been here. It’s crap, schedule better, win games, get to the dance. It’s not that difficult. He sucks, his scheduling sucks, he needs to go!

I don't disagree. All I'm saying is that the OOC schedule isn't what has kept his teams out of the dance....no matter how much the rubes claim.

 

[Gophers7633]

3-7 in conference. Nonconference schedule has nothing to do with it as well lost to every decent team we played. Don't magically start winning those games because they're on the schedule. That makes no sense.

As I said earlier, we are playing like a fringe tournament team in January. The OOC and OOC schedule are a big reason why we basically have no chance, even if we got to like 9-11 again. I'm not saying we will get to that, but we got there last year and didn't sniff the tournament because of our OOC.

 

[MNVCGUY]

As I said earlier, we are playing like a fringe tournament team in January. The OOC and OOC schedule are a big reason why we basically have no chance, even if we got to like 9-11 again. I'm not saying we will get to that, but we got there last year and didn't sniff the tournament because of our OOC.

At this point the OOC schedule is just another in the long line of gripes about the state of the program and the current head coach.

We are playing better overall but are still a long way from the point where the OOC schedule may or may not have any impact on our tournament prospects.

Lack of quality Big Ten wins last season had as much to do with us not getting a sniff at the NCAA tournament as much as a soft non-conf schedule did.

 

[GopherBlood777]

At this point the OOC schedule is just another in the long line of gripes about the state of the program and the current head coach.

We are playing better overall but are still a long way from the point where the OOC schedule may or may not have any impact on our tournament prospects.

Lack of quality Big Ten wins last season had as much to do with us not getting a sniff at the NCAA tournament as much as a soft non-conf schedule did.

If we are in year 4 and still a "long way from the point where the OOC schedule may or may not have any impact on our tournament prospects." then we should have moved on after year 2. I just find it funny that the same people saying this about our OOC schedule are also the one's who gripe about people complaining about the state of the program. Weird.

 

[USAF]

If we are in year 4 and still a "long way from the point where the OOC schedule may or may not have any impact on our tournament prospects." then we should have moved on after year 2. I just find it funny that the same people saying this about our OOC schedule are also the one's who gripe about people complaining about the state of the program. Weird.

Boom.

 

[stocker08]

As I said earlier, we are playing like a fringe tournament team in January. The OOC and OOC schedule are a big reason why we basically have no chance, even if we got to like 9-11 again. I'm not saying we will get to that, but we got there last year and didn't sniff the tournament because of our OOC.

It won't though. Because the team was playing really poorly the first couple of months. Noncon strength wouldn't have mattered. We had no chance regardless.....which is why the whining makes no sense.

 

[stocker08]

If we are in year 4 and still a "long way from the point where the OOC schedule may or may not have any impact on our tournament prospects." then we should have moved on after year 2. I just find it funny that the same people saying this about our OOC schedule are also the one's who gripe about people complaining about the state of the program. Weird.

I find it funny that the same people who've been whining about Ben Johnson and how terrible the program is......are also the one's trying to spin that this team may have been good enough to make the NCAA tournament if only our OOC schedule were more difficult. Weird indeed.

 

[howeda7]

I find it funny that the same people who've been whining about Ben Johnson and how terrible the program is......are also the one's trying to spin that this team may have been good enough to make the NCAA tournament if only our OOC schedule were more difficult. Weird indeed.

Is anyone saying that? Ben and Mark Coyle did and then took actions that said the opposite. Outside of MAYBE being excusable in year 1, no coach should schedule a non-conference schedule the way Ben has in year 3 and year 4. It's not just a slap in the face to people who buy tickets, it's foolish for any coach who claims he has post-season aspirations.

 

[stocker08]

Is anyone saying that? Ben and Mark Coyle did and then took actions that said the opposite. Outside of MAYBE being excusable in year 1, no coach should schedule a non-conference schedule the way Ben has in year 3 and year 4. It's not just a slap in the face to people who buy tickets, it's foolish for any coach who claims he has post-season aspirations.

Try reading some of the other comments.

 

[Gophers7633]

It won't though. Because the team was playing really poorly the first couple of months. Noncon strength wouldn't have mattered. We had no chance regardless.....which is why the whining makes no sense.

We lost basically 3 coin flip games. Like I said who's to say if we play another couple teams of similar competition we automatically lose? Heck we beat Yale, who's significantly better than Wichita, which was 3 days after losing to North Texas. I get there's this whole bs narrative about needing time to gel, but it's just that bs.

 

[Gophers7633]

I find it funny that the same people who've been whining about Ben Johnson and how terrible the program is......are also the one's trying to spin that this team may have been good enough to make the NCAA tournament if only our OOC schedule were more difficult. Weird indeed.

1. The program is, and has been terrible during his tenure.

2. We've played like a fringe tournament team in January. I know, I'm just as surprised as anyone, but those are the facts.

3. Our OOC schedule gives us no shot to make the tournament (again, not saying we will), but if we have another month in February like we did in January, we'd have been in the mix if not for OOC schedule. Do you really think this team would have had no shot to be someone like George Mason, Colorado State, San Francisco, Bradley etc ..

 

[stocker08]

We lost basically 3 coin flip games. Like I said who's to say if we play another couple teams of similar competition we automatically lose? Heck we beat Yale, who's significantly better than Wichita, which was 3 days after losing to North Texas. I get there's this whole bs narrative about needing time to gel, but it's just that bs.

And yet.....loss, loss, loss. But magically we win a bunch of other resume wins if we have them on the schedule? That's what we call conjecture.....and it flies in the face of real world results.

1. The program is, and has been terrible during his tenure.

2. We've played like a fringe tournament team in January. I know, I'm just as surprised as anyone, but those are the facts.

3. Our OOC schedule gives us no shot to make the tournament (again, not saying we will), but if we have another month in February like we did in January, we'd have been in the mix if not for OOC schedule. Do you really think this team would have had no shot to be someone like George Mason, Colorado State, San Francisco, Bradley etc ..

Great. So your contention is that Ben Johnson's team this year is fringe tournament quality (which is another improvement) and that scheduling in the noncon is the only thing that will possibly keep us out of the tournament? Sounds like you think the program is in better shape than most.

 

[MNVCGUY]

If we are in year 4 and still a "long way from the point where the OOC schedule may or may not have any impact on our tournament prospects." then we should have moved on after year 2. I just find it funny that the same people saying this about our OOC schedule are also the one's who gripe about people complaining about the state of the program. Weird.

I wrote a few different versions of a reply to this but in the end I just scraped them because it was pointless. The winning streak was fun because it provided a little mini break from the usual tone on this board but the basketball forum is pretty much a waste of time until the end of the season when Johnson gets fired and we see what happens next.

Just a shame football season is still so far off and there isn't much activity on the Gopherhole forum that is actually fun to be on most of the time.

 

[Strongazzoffer]

I think if our non con looked something like this there wouldn't be much for complaining.
Home games
St. Thomas/ one of the Dakota schools
Omaha/ Oral Roberts/Denver/UMKC
Yale/Harvard/Penn etc
Cleveland State/Bryant/McNeece State/Moorhead State
North Texas/Richmond/Nevada/UNI/Loyola type
@Mizzou/ @Cal, @ Seton Hall etc
Neutral site game. Play a team like Colorado in Kansas City or Sioux Falls or a team like West Virginia in Cleveland or Pittsburgh something fun. Wouldn't mind another game at Target Center, the X or the Taj de zigi again
Two of Florida Wake Forest and Wichita State in Orlando.
Can really control who you get for your two exempt opponents at home, they're usually dog shit teams like Bethune Cookman, Chicago State Bama A&m types, but I think if your 11 game schedule like this it'll give you plenty of wins, opportunities to play on the road and in different environments to prep for conference play.

 

[GopherBlood777]

I wrote a few different versions of a reply to this but in the end I just scraped them because it was pointless. The winning streak was fun because it provided a little mini break from the usual tone on this board but the basketball forum is pretty much a waste of time until the end of the season when Johnson gets fired and we see what happens next.

Just a shame football season is still so far off and there isn't much activity on the Gopherhole forum that is actually fun to be on most of the time.

Well it went briefly went from complaining about the abysmal overall state of the program to complaining about how our weak non con schedule could keep us out of the tourney if we keep playing well despite the hole we dug ourselves. I'd say that's a step in the right direction. It is unreasonable to expect everyone to be elated about a 3 game win streak when it is mired by 3+ seasons of garbage. You sure post in this forum a lot considering "the basketball forum is pretty much a waste of time until the end of the season when Johnson gets fired and we see what happens next." If there was a quality product to discuss, the tone would obviously be different. Some people don't seem to realize that the tone of discussion is directly related to the quality of what is being discussed, and then complain because they just can't understand the negativity. Very few people watch each game in a vacuum without considering what's come before, or may come after.

 

[MNVCGUY]

Well it went briefly went from complaining about the abysmal overall state of the program to complaining about how our weak non con schedule could keep us out of the tourney if we keep playing well despite the hole we dug ourselves. I'd say that's a step in the right direction. It is unreasonable to expect everyone to be elated about a 3 game win streak when it is mired by 3+ seasons of garbage. You sure post in this forum a lot considering "the basketball forum is pretty much a waste of time until the end of the season when Johnson gets fired and we see what happens next." If there was a quality product to discuss, the tone would obviously be different. Some people don't seem to realize that the tone of discussion is directly related to the quality of what is being discussed, and then complain because they just can't understand the negativity. Very few people watch each game in a vacuum without considering what's come before, or may come after.

In spite of it's flaws this is still one of the few free places to talk gopher sports. And I fully get all the frustrations and negativity about the current state of the basketball program. But the "fire Ben now" crowd gets tiresome because no matter how many times they post it, it seems pretty clear that nothing is going to happen on that front until after the season. Just have to do a better job tuning those people out in favor of the ones who are actually capable of having rational discussions because there are plenty of those posters out there.

 

[Strongazzoffer]

In spite of it's flaws this is still one of the few free places to talk gopher sports. And I fully get all the frustrations and negativity about the current state of the basketball program. But the "fire Ben now" crowd gets tiresome because no matter how many times they post it, it seems pretty clear that nothing is going to happen on that front until after the season. Just have to do a better job tuning those people out in favor of the ones who are actually capable of having rational discussions because there are plenty of those posters out there.

Agreed enjoy the wins when they come, what will happen after the season will happen.

 

[Gophers7633]

And yet.....loss, loss, loss. But magically we win a bunch of other resume wins if we have them on the schedule? That's what we call conjecture.....and it flies in the face of real world results.



Great. So your contention is that Ben Johnson's team this year is fringe tournament quality (which is another improvement) and that scheduling in the noncon is the only thing that will possibly keep us out of the tournament? Sounds like you think the program is in better shape than most.

Shame you and our coaching staff have the same frame of mind and scare away from competition. Also, we did beat Yale. Fyi.

I said we're playing like a fringe tournament team in January. If we play like that again in February, we could have been right there in the mix. But the OOC schedule would diminish any realistic chance of that happening. Will we play like that next month? Idk. We'll find out. We could lose all our games for all I know.

 

[GopherBlood777]

In spite of it's flaws this is still one of the few free places to talk gopher sports. And I fully get all the frustrations and negativity about the current state of the basketball program. But the "fire Ben now" crowd gets tiresome because no matter how many times they post it, it seems pretty clear that nothing is going to happen on that front until after the season. Just have to do a better job tuning those people out in favor of the ones who are actually capable of having rational discussions because there are plenty of those posters out there.

The ignore button works great

 

[stocker08]

Shame you and our coaching staff have the same frame of mind and scare away from competition. Also, we did beat Yale. Fyi.

I said we're playing like a fringe tournament team in January. If we play like that again in February, we could have been right there in the mix. But the OOC schedule would diminish any realistic chance of that happening. Will we play like that next month? Idk. We'll find out. We could lose all our games for all I know.

Again.....I'm all for scheduling a tougher non conference schedule. My point has been entirely about the uber-negative posters who desperately needed something to whine about during the three game winning streak. Either Ben Johnson is a historically bad coach....which I commonly see....or this team isn't that bad and we actually would have had a shot to make the tournament if we played a tougher non-con schedule (which I disagree with considering the way this team looked in November & December). Pick a lane......because you're swerving all over the place to find something to complain about.