***OFFICIAL PURDUE AT MINNESOTA AFTERNOON IN-GAME THREAD!!!***

[golf]

I cannot watch these games live anymore, so I do not comment much as the games play out, but I agree with this.

For my own sanity I need to be able to delay the viewing at least by an hour so I can fast forward past the official reviews, commercials, studio shows, free throws and any trend that starts to annoy me like the whole Maryland game.

Johnson is a very interesting player. He was sort hyped up coming in then looked like a dud. He then went crazy and hit all the threes to beat Iowa. Now he pretty much battles bigger players inside all game and suddenly explodes with a dunk like no one else on the team.

The more I look at him, he cannot weigh more than 220 or so even if he is 6-8, but he sure plays a lot tougher than his weight. I hope he comes back next year. Jordan Murphy sort spoiled us with undersized power forward performance, but I do like this guy.

Yes. We need more tjan two players. Gabe and Johnson are starting to step up and that is huge.

Not surprised to see the gophers figure things out. We have through pitino's tenure seen the strength of his coaching is that he is able to figure out how to get the team to play their best. By the end of the season his teams' abilities are maximized. Nice win tonight engineered by an excellent coach and will hopefully provide the team with good confidence moving foward.

Also am still really annoyed by Painter's whining about the refs and moaning about carr's shot. I dont think he would be apologizing if purdue had won the game in similar fashion.

 

[BarnBurner]

Oh, the irony of your grammar. Thanks for the cherry on top of a great day with the Gophers win!

Intentional, just for your Senior Superiority. You dont disappoint.

 

[golf]

PS. I am very concerned that we are likely going to have Dakich on the call today.

although, last game of ours he called (Michigan at the Barn, I believe) was our best performance of the year

Have now dicided i love the dakich! He needs to do allour games.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

You are correct again, but....in my view not just because of doubts the AD may have about Pitino and his overall results, but also due to the general dynamic between ADs and the incumbent coaches they inherit.

The same thing played out with Claeys and Coyle, even though the there were other twists to that story. Regardless Coyle has a strong desire to do it his way, as wit all incoming ADs. Unless Pitino gets to the the round of 16, I think he is cooked, but will diverge with G NYC demand / expectation for one more win to save him.

The bar Coyle is errecting is high, so I agree Pitino is finished, and I am sure not how I feel about that.

They better hit a home run with the next hire. I still like the John Belien idea, old as hell or not. He does not come off as a fossil on TV.

That Maryland game really annoyed me, and was pretty standard for the Pitino era, but a win like today is always rousing.

Oaf good to see you made it out of your bunker!

What's so crazy about the tourney is unless you are an elite team, matchups are a huge deal of course and you're only a lucky bank 3 away from advancing, per yesterday's game.

Pitino had no business in being hired in the firs place and I was hoping he would grow into the job, unfortunately it appears he still doesn't make good in game adjustments, allows way to many 3s to be jacked and doesn't consistently have a good game plan. I like him personally and feel he reps the U well and isn't like several of his B10 colleagues - ick. If Fran was our coach, I might have to start cheering for UVA.

I do trust Coyle and agree with you that he is setting the bar high and probably doesn't care if he upsets a few fans along the way - I seem to remember some called him a snake for firing Clayes.

I also think it matters who he might have on his short list and who is truly interested and how much money he has to accomplish all of this. It's nutty, but apropos for Covid era.

 

[Outsider]

Your kids are not an excuse for the absurdity of opining on an event you did not watch.

You think my opinion is based on one game?? Read the post, I’ve been watching him for the 8 years he’s been here. We agree to disagree I guess, he needs to go and I’m not the only one who thinks so.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

There's zero chance he gets fired after making the Sweet 16. Zero.

The odds of him getting fired if we make the tournament at all are way less than 50/50 IMO. While I don't agree with Doogie that he comes back no matter what just because of his buyout, it would be beyond terrible optics to fire a coach who just won a tournament game (or more than 1) and pay him a buyout to go away given all else that is going on.

This is 2019 all over again. We should probably move on from him. But if they win the games they need to down the stretch he will survive. He has 9 lives here apparently.

I think based on his B10 record you can make the case through the press that it was justified AND you'd want to have, IMO, a big time coach coming in as well - can be an established one or a legit up and comer.

My Italian is rusty, does Pitino mean cat in Italian?

 

[Some guy]

There's zero chance he gets fired after making the Sweet 16. Zero.

The odds of him getting fired if we make the tournament at all are way less than 50/50 IMO. While I don't agree with Doogie that he comes back no matter what just because of his buyout, it would be beyond terrible optics to fire a coach who just won a tournament game (or more than 1) and pay him a buyout to go away given all else that is going on.

This is 2019 all over again. We should probably move on from him. But if they win the games they need to down the stretch he will survive. He has 9 lives here apparently.

I think if Coyle is going to fire him though, Coyle probably already knows. I don’t think anything that occurs the rest of the year really impacts it.

 

[golf]

Live with the Hero Ball, die with the Hero Ball.

Today, the Gophers lived.

The question is, do you want to base your team's success on a strategy that amounts to a flip of the coin?

I would rather see a team that can set up and execute a well-designed play, rather than relying on an individual effort.

Flattening out and letting your guard go one on one is a very common ploy by all coaches. Painter did exactly the same thing to beat ohio state as ivey hit a step back 3 at the buzzer for the win.

 

[forever a gopher]

I think if Coyle is going to fire him though, Coyle probably already knows. I don’t think anything that occurs the rest of the year really impacts it.

I sure hope so. You need to look at his body of work and trajectory. His body of work is consistent in that it is wildly inconsistent. Also, 8 years in, and his main struggle continues to be roster management. This year's team is cobbled together, and next years team will likely be worse than this years team (assuming Carr leaves). If Johnson stays, and Mash/Liam develop, they could be OK. But they will likely be not as good. They would also be dependent on a PG transfer, as he continues to paint himself into a corner.

I've never been big on the "if coach X has this record this year, then they're safe" logic. Maybe if it's year 3 or 4, maybe. But in year 8, you know what you have, and the likelihood of a cat changing their stripes at that point are very small. Possible? Yes. Likely? No. I want to see them go the tourney and win, but honestly, that has no bearing on whether I think Pitino should be back or not, no matter how far he goes. One year doesn't negate 7 others.

 

[Some guy]

I sure hope so. You need to look at his body of work and trajectory. His body of work is consistent in that it is wildly inconsistent. Also, 8 years in, and his main struggle continues to be roster management. This year's team is cobbled together, and next years team will likely be worse than this years team (assuming Carr leaves). If Johnson stays, and Mash/Liam develop, they could be OK. But they will likely be not as good. They would also be dependent on a PG transfer, as he continues to paint himself into a corner.

I've never been big on the "if coach X has this record this year, then they're safe" logic. Maybe if it's year 3 or 4, maybe. But in year 8, you know what you have, and the likelihood of a cat changing their stripes at that point are very small. Possible? Yes. Likely? No. I want to see them go the tourney and win, but honestly, that has no bearing on whether I think Pitino should be back or not, no matter how far he goes. One year doesn't negate 7 others.

Agree 100%

If you think he shoukd be gone, 2-3 wins shouldn’t change it

if you think he deserves another year, 2-3 bad weeks shouldn’t change that

 

[CPTMidnight]

A win is a win. If we were watching Michigan State yesterday everyone would be saying "See... Izzo coaches players to never give up and find a way to win in the end - why can't we ever have a good coach?" but when they find out it was Pitino the win was another reason to fire him. Classic Minnesota fandom. The same will be complaining mid-season about the next coach.

FWIW - I was ready for a change at the end of last season and am for taking a look this year - but only after we are done with the season. Alot can still happen.

Go Gophers!

 

[tmvander]

A lot of coach talk on here.

If a coach draws up fantastic plays and schemes and gameplans the hell out of things it is still up to the players to execute. You could lose by 20 because PLAYERS suck and you can win by 20 despite coaching sucking.

In this game down the stretch the players won the game for us. Nothing wrong with that. WE WON.

 

[Unregistered User]

Intentional, just for your Senior Superiority. You dont disappoint.

Jesus, dude. You made a typo...just own it. We've all done it.

Didn't I read that you've been a fan of this team for 40 years or something like that? You're a grown ass man, act like it.

Snowflake.

 

[jamiche]

First of all, am I missing something on Johnson? He was recruited as a grad transfer and his profile says he's a "redshirt senior." However, posters keep raising the possibility of him returning next year. It would be great, but how would that happen?

Secondly, the gophers and wolves have very similar offensive systems. Ball dominant lead guard, tons of iso, very little ball movement and very little off ball player movement. It's tedious as hell to watch. Yesterday, Purdue was constant motion and we were constant stand around.

Finally, Pitino has to go. He's a great communicator with the public and appears to run a clean program. He's just never been able to put a roster together and he's not exactly a master strategist. I had high hopes for him and, as someone else said, I thought he would grow into the job. Too bad it didn't happen.

 

[Some guy]

First of all, am I missing something on Johnson? He was recruited as a grad transfer and his profile says he's a "redshirt senior." However, posters keep raising the possibility of him returning next year. It would be great, but how would that happen?

Secondly, the gophers and wolves have very similar offensive systems. Ball dominant lead guard, tons of iso, very little ball movement and very little off ball player movement. It's tedious as hell to watch. Yesterday, Purdue was constant motion and we were constant stand around.

Finally, Pitino has to go. He's a great communicator with the public and appears to run a clean program. He's just never been able to put a roster together and he's not exactly a master strategist. I had high hopes for him and, as someone else said, I thought he would grow into the job. Too bad it didn't happen.

1) I don’t think anybody loses any elligibility in any sports in 20-21
So if you’re a RS soph, you’re still a RS soph next year

2) when the gophers are shooting well the gophers offense is great. The problem is the gophers are like 300th in the country in shooting

3) I thought he should be gone in 2019 but I trust Coyle to make a choice. If he keeps him around it means Coyle has confidence he will keep getting better And doesn’t think that the replacement would be a significant upgrade

 

[bga1]

I think if Coyle is going to fire him though, Coyle probably already knows. I don’t think anything that occurs the rest of the year really impacts it.

I would agree with that. The only thing that could change it is a big run in the NCAAs that finds them in the elite 8. Other than that it boils down to two things: 1. Does Coyle have the financial support to pay off Pitino and pay big for a new coach. 2. Is his target coach available?
I have backed Pitino through his tenure. At this point, he really has little to no chance to succeed and win big here at this point as there is very little backing left and the local recruiting pipeline is locked up tighter than the Keystone at this point. He has an okay roster this year and will likely make the tournament but there is no sense that we are building something now. We are surviving. Purdue simply had better players on the floor yesterday and we eked one out. Their guys are mostly frosh, ours are juniors.....
I think the bigger issue than coaching for Pitino is the ability to build and keep a roster.

 

[Some guy]

I would agree with that. The only thing that could change it is a big run in the NCAAs that finds them in the elite 8. Other than that it boils down to two things: 1. Does Coyle have the financial support to pay off Pitino and pay big for a new coach. 2. Is his target coach available?
I have backed Pitino through his tenure. At this point, he really has little to no chance to succeed and win big here at this point as there is very little backing left and the local recruiting pipeline is locked up tighter than the Keystone at this point. He has an okay roster this year and will likely make the tournament but there is no sense that we are building something now. We are surviving. Purdue simply had better players on the floor yesterday and we eked one out. Their guys are mostly frosh, ours are juniors.....
I think the bigger issue than coaching for Pitino is the ability to build and keep a roster.

I agree: the roster turnover and makeup makes success difficult to look at as more than just a one off

 

[GoodasGold]

Um didn’t you watch Tubby’s team try and inbound the ball? He had worse plays.

Worked well enough when Blake was on the team.

 

[Bad Gopher]

That WAS a travel, by the way. At least that's what I saw.

 

[Holy Man]

As a coach he is pretty lousy. Solid enough recruiter. Really seems to care. Good guy. I think his players like him and play hard. There is so little direction for the team/program. Hard to watch sometimes.

I’ll celebrate wins. I’ll be disappointed when they lose. I don’t believe he should be the head coach next year but I wish him well.

Friendly amendment.

I think I am in the minority, but I see your take exactly the opposite. I think his recruiting has been pretty poor, but I think strategically and in game adjustments are actually pretty good (not withstanding allowing his two best players to get four fouls before the first timeout in the second half).

As I looked back on Tubby's time, he always had solid role players, but lacked the star. In general, Pitino has been good at landing a go to guy (Coffey, Oturu, Carr, maybe even Murphy and Mason) but hasn't been able to fill in the roster with capable complimentary guys. I think it's the stars that help you win games in crunch time, but it's the role players who keep a team consistent. Our mercurial seasons reflect horrible inconsistency over the years, but an ability to knock off better teams once in a while. It makes us hopeful and frustrated at the same time.

 

[Holy Man]

That WAS a travel, by the way. At least that's what I saw.

Everyone but Wally Sczerbiak knows it was travelling.

 

[UpAndUnder43]

Worked well enough when Blake was on the team.

It worked great once in 7 years. Quite the %

 

[howeda7]

I think if Coyle is going to fire him though, Coyle probably already knows. I don’t think anything that occurs the rest of the year really impacts it.

It doesn't happen in a vacuum though. How many coaches get fired the same year they make the NCAA tournament? Yes, I know we did it with Tubby and UCLA did it the same year with Howland. I'm not sure it's happened since. Not counting off court issues of course.

 

[UpAndUnder43]

I would agree with that. The only thing that could change it is a big run in the NCAAs that finds them in the elite 8. Other than that it boils down to two things: 1. Does Coyle have the financial support to pay off Pitino and pay big for a new coach. 2. Is his target coach available?
I have backed Pitino through his tenure. At this point, he really has little to no chance to succeed and win big here at this point as there is very little backing left and the local recruiting pipeline is locked up tighter than the Keystone at this point. He has an okay roster this year and will likely make the tournament but there is no sense that we are building something now. We are surviving. Purdue simply had better players on the floor yesterday and we eked one out. Their guys are mostly frosh, ours are juniors.....
I think the bigger issue than coaching for Pitino is the ability to build and keep a roster.

To be fair the guy that did the majority of their damage is a junior. And with how college athletics are now rosters can changevery quickly (better or worse). Not defending Pitino, just making an observation.

 

[Holy Man]

Flattening out and letting your guard go one on one is a very common ploy by all coaches. Painter did exactly the same thing to beat ohio state as ivey hit a step back 3 at the buzzer for the win.

Getting the ball to your most versatile and capable scorer is not hero ball. It's what is done at every level of basketball. Some may have an image of a perfect set play scoring a winning basket, but even the set plays are intended to get the ball to player most likely to score. A team's best players should have the ball in crunch time. Sometimes it won't work, but you give your team the best chance.

If there is something that drives me crazy in these scenarios is that too often they wait too long to make the move, preventing a chance at a put back.

 

[howeda7]

I think based on his B10 record you can make the case through the press that it was justified AND you'd want to have, IMO, a big time coach coming in as well - can be an established one or a legit up and comer.

My Italian is rusty, does Pitino mean cat in Italian?

If he's got Beilein lined up, he can probably get away with it no matter what. If it's Medved or Smith, it's pretty tough if we just made the round of 32, or better.

 

[golf]

First of all, am I missing something on Johnson? He was recruited as a grad transfer and his profile says he's a "redshirt senior." However, posters keep raising the possibility of him returning next year. It would be great, but how would that happen?

Secondly, the gophers and wolves have very similar offensive systems. Ball dominant lead guard, tons of iso, very little ball movement and very little off ball player movement. It's tedious as hell to watch. Yesterday, Purdue was constant motion and we were constant stand around.

Finally, Pitino has to go. He's a great communicator with the public and appears to run a clean program. He's just never been able to put a roster together and he's not exactly a master strategist. I had high hopes for him and, as someone else said, I thought he would grow into the job. Too bad it didn't happen.

Disagree with this whole post, especially the criticism of our offense. 2016-17, 18-19, and our wins over top teams this season would not have happened with a stinky offense. Gophers get good shots out of their offense. They do get stagnant at times, but that is true of every team.

Also annoys me that with 7 seconds left purdue throws the ball full length and is very lucky the ball goes off robbins. The commentators talked about how bizarre that was. If gophers do that pitino gets blitzed.

Will also mention that i really enjoyed the work of hummel and the playbyplay guy.

 

[golf]

Getting the ball to your most versatile and capable scorer is not hero ball. It's what is done at every level of basketball. Some may have an image of a perfect set play scoring a winning basket, but even the set plays are intended to get the ball to player most likely to score. A team's best players should have the ball in crunch time. Sometimes it won't work, but you give your team the best chance.

If there is something that drives me crazy in these scenarios is that too often they wait too long to make the move, preventing a chance at a put back.

100% true.

 

[MennoSota]

Phantom travel? Even Hummel didn't mind the call. The Gophers made a good defensive play that forced a travel. No need to thank the refs

There was no shuffle of the feet. The pivot foot was always established. However, the shot was cleanly blocked as well so there should have been a continuation of play from there.

 

[Otis]

Traveling? Looked like a pretty clean move to get to his shot to me. I’ve definitely seen worse.

Gotta love Pitino saying he heard him say “bank” in the post game. Freaking lucky chuck it up there shot! At least he has the Sam Cassel nads to try it!