One commit and i think we get on a roll!

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dpodoll68 said:
I'm not trying to remove anyone's excitement or optimism. I'm trying to get people to place news in the proper context. Also, while we're at it, can we be excited and optimistic without needlessly bashing the former coach?
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FACT - Pitino and his staff have offered many more high level recruits who are actually considering us than Tubby and his staff did.
 


GopherDude said:
FACT - Pitino and his staff have offered many more high level recruits who are actually considering us than Tubby and his staff did.
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Not a FACT. You have no idea whether any of these recruits are giving us any "actual" consideration whatsoever. Let's see some unofficial (or better yet, official) visits from any of these guys before we start declaring this supposed "actual consideration" as FACT.

And, again - offers are meaningless.
 


GopherDude said:
It would be great if Rashad Vaughn would just commit early... That way Perkins, Travis & an East Coast guy (Whitehead, Larrier, Francis, Newton, Joseph, etc...) would all be much more inclined to commit! And if we did get that recruiting class, we'd probably be somewhere in the 6-11 range unless the EC recruit was Goodluck Okonoboh (never going to happen) b/c then we'd have a top 10 recruit at each position (PG, SG, PF, C) and surely be top 5... Even if we didn't get any of the big 3 from Minn. and got some combination of those others guys we'd still have a stellar class coming in! The amount of top tier guys that Rich has already offered is incredible to me... Even in the class of 2015 he's offered like 10 studs already. I'm very optimistic that Pitino, Young, McHale & Johnson can land some great players in 2014 & 2015, Go Gophers!
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You know what would make me elated? If we nab 1, maybe 2 of those guys! I mean, we'd happily take your scenario should something crazy play out like that, but you really are living in a dream world right now. 1-2 guys is a realistic goal, and would be the building block towards a solid program going into the future.
 


dpodoll68 said:
Not a FACT. You have no idea whether any of these recruits are giving us any "actual" consideration whatsoever. Let's see some unofficial (or better yet, official) visits from any of these guys before we start declaring this supposed "actual consideration" as FACT.

And, again - offers are meaningless.
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When someone says in an interview they are considering a school & plan to take a visit soon I'd say that means they are actually considering us... It is a fact that there is currently a much higher volume of top level recruits who are considering us than there ever were under Tubby. But, I guess I'm needlessly bashing the former coach? :confused:
 

GameDay said:
You know what would make me elated? If we nab 1, maybe 2 of those guys! I mean, we'd happily take your scenario should something crazy play out like that, but you really are living in a dream world right now. 1-2 guys is a realistic goal, and would be the building block towards a solid program going into the future.
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Read the last line of the post... "I'm very optimistic that Pitino, Young, McHale & Johnson can land some great players in 2014 & 2015, Go Gophers!" I never claimed to guarantee we'd get any of them. I simply said that if we got xyz, we'd be in a certain range. Trust me, I understand how hard it is to land even top 100 guys, let alone top 60 guys! I would be just as elated to get 1 or 2 of those guys too!
 

I think what many people are getting at is that it is nice to have a coach who truly believes our University should be at the top of these players' lists. As soon as Pitino came aboard he stressed how the U had one of the best campuses, basketball programs, and overall college atmospheres. Not trying to bash Tubby, as I was a huge fan of his, but it just seems like since Pitino has been here, there is far more excitement and definitely more mentioning of the U from big time talent. Yes, it will only matter when we can sign one or two, but having us mentioned and talked about by multiple players in the top 50 is a refreshing change of pace.
 

GoldyForLife said:
I think what many people are getting at is that it is nice to have a coach who truly believes our University should be at the top of these players' lists. As soon as Pitino came aboard he stressed how the U had one of the best campuses, basketball programs, and overall college atmospheres. Not trying to bash Tubby, as I was a huge fan of his, but it just seems like since Pitino has been here, there is far more excitement and definitely more mentioning of the U from big time talent. Yes, it will only matter when we can sign one or two, but having us mentioned and talked about by multiple players in the top 50 is a refreshing change of pace.
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+1
 



GopherDude said:
It is a fact that there is currently a much higher volume of top level recruits who are considering us than there ever were under Tubby.
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Once again, for the 2nd time now, this is not a "fact" and is mere speculation. Money talks and BS walks. Visits would be indicative of some level of consideration. Anyone can say anything. People don't take visits (especially unofficials) for funsies. Again, do you think Harrison Barnes was considering the Gophers?

GopherDude said:
But, I guess I'm needlessly bashing the former coach?
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Indeed. You've just done it again. Contrary to popular belief, we can all praise Pitino and be excited about the future without bashing Tubby. It can be done.
 

Non-Speculation: 10 players in the ESPN 100 are considering us. That includes the #1,6,10,13 PG. The #1,10,11 SG. The #14,26 SF. The #8 PF. The #4 C. Regardless of speculating as to what our previous coach did, that is a pretty exciting fact. (All according to ESPN)
 

GoldyForLife said:
Non-Speculation: 10 players in the ESPN 100 are considering us. That includes the #1,6,10,13 PG. The #1,10,11 SG. The #14,26 SF. The #8 PF. The #4 C. Regardless of speculating as to what our previous coach did, that is a pretty exciting fact. (All according to ESPN)
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Apparently they're not considering us until they take a visit... But I couldn't agree more with the excitement part! So many high level guys that espn claims are considering us is awesome! Btw, I liked Tubby a lot, just to clarify.
 

GopherDude said:
Apparently they're not considering us until they take a visit... But I couldn't agree more with the excitement part! So many high level guys that espn claims are considering us is awesome! Btw, I liked Tubby a lot, just to clarify.
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Well then we will have to wait and see who comes to see the campus I suppose... I think if we can get them on campus, Pitino will be as good a salesman as any. Hearing him talk about the University since he got here has made me that much more proud to be a current student. And believe me, when Tubby came on I was jumping out of my chair in excitement. Met him once in the airport and we exchanged talk about recruits (he was going to visit Cory Joseph at the time). Loved Tubby and wish him the best! But Go Pitino!
 



GoldyForLife said:
Well then we will have to wait and see who comes to see the campus I suppose... I think if we can get them on campus, Pitino will be as good a salesman as any. Hearing him talk about the University since he got here has made me that much more proud to be a current student. And believe me, when Tubby came on I was jumping out of my chair in excitement. Met him once in the airport and we exchanged talk about recruits (he was going to visit Cory Joseph at the time). Loved Tubby and wish him the best! But Go Pitino!
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Like the original post states, if we can get one it'll help to get a few more! Hopefully a lot of guys love how young & energetic the entire staff is & want to build something special! We really need Coach Johnson to work the DeLaSalle angle with Travis & Jarvis!
 

dpodoll68 said:
Once again, for the 2nd time now, this is not a "fact" and is mere speculation. Money talks and BS walks. Visits would be indicative of some level of consideration. Anyone can say anything. People don't take visits (especially unofficials) for funsies. Again, do you think Harrison Barnes was considering the Gophers?



Indeed. You've just done it again. Contrary to popular belief, we can all praise Pitino and be excited about the future without bashing Tubby. It can be done.
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You must really love talking down to people. People on here have acknowledged your point and attempted to change their verbiage for your acceptance and it hasn't stopped you from talking down to everyone else. I put Harrison Barnes and Cory Joseph in the same boat as Tyus Jones- 5-star recruits who list the Gophers but never speak to visiting the U or as if they are seriously considering the U.

As noted by previous non-speculative posts, and according to ESPN and numerous articles posted on Gopherhole, there are a lot Top 100 players who are considering the U of M in the 2014 and 2015 classes. I'm with you that it doesn't mean sh*t until they show up on campus (e.g. I stated last week that I'm not getting all excited about Isiah Whitehead until he is actually here on a visit). I think I'm with the majority on this board that is excited to be mentioned as a likely visit destination of Top 100 players, even if they haven't officially happened yet. When they start lining up visits to the U, I'll be excited. And if they don't come in for visits, I'll admit my initial excitement was premature.
 

Golden13 said:
You must really love talking down to people. People on here have acknowledged your point and attempted to change their verbiage for your acceptance and it hasn't stopped you from talking down to everyone else. I put Harrison Barnes and Cory Joseph in the same boat as Tyus Jones- 5-star recruits who list the Gophers but never speak to visiting the U or as if they are seriously considering the U.

As noted by previous non-speculative posts, and according to ESPN and numerous articles posted on Gopherhole, there are a lot Top 100 players who are considering the U of M in the 2014 and 2015 classes. I'm with you that it doesn't mean sh*t until they show up on campus (e.g. I stated last week that I'm not getting all excited about Isiah Whitehead until he is actually here on a visit). I think I'm with the majority on this board that is excited to be mentioned as a likely visit destination of Top 100 players, even if they haven't officially happened yet. When they start lining up visits to the U, I'll be excited. And if they don't come in for visits, I'll admit my initial excitement was premature.
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Exactly right. I've changed how I posted things like 3 times and each time I've been accused of bashing Tubby (Who I liked a lot) or claiming people are considering Minnesota (because ESPN, Rivals & 24/7 all say they are) when they aren't... You can't win with the guy! And Isiah Whitehead, while a major hot head, is an absolute stud of a basketball player!
 

dpodoll68 said:
Once again, for the 2nd time now, this is not a "fact" and is mere speculation. Money talks and BS walks. Visits would be indicative of some level of consideration. Anyone can say anything. People don't take visits (especially unofficials) for funsies. Again, do you think Harrison Barnes was considering the Gophers?



Indeed. You've just done it again. Contrary to popular belief, we can all praise Pitino and be excited about the future without bashing Tubby. It can be done.
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+1
 

GopherDude said:
Like the original post states, if we can get one it'll help to get a few more! Hopefully a lot of guys love how young & energetic the entire staff is & want to build something special! We really need Coach Johnson to work the DeLaSalle angle with Travis & Jarvis!
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+1
 

Found a pic of Tubby recruiting for Texas Tech!

<img src="http://theblacksheeponline.com/uploaded/images/851365624758tubbysmith.jpg" />
 

I thought Pitino was the coach and Tubby got fired or am I wrong?
 



dpodoll68 said:
Offering players is meaningless. The head coach from UNC Asheville could offer every top 100 recruit in the country, and it would mean nothing, just as it does here. Let's wait and see Pitino actually get one of these players to sign on the dotted line before we all start s'ing each others d's.
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Dumb post (shocking!) How many visits is UNC Asheville going to get under your scenario?
 



Tubby put together a couple of very nice classes to start his tenure and Minnesota was more "off the map" at that point than it is right now. In the last 2-3 years, I did not hear one positive thing about Tubby's recruiting aside from the good relationship Vince Taylor had with Vaughn. It's extremely early in Coach Pitino's tenure, but I have heard nothing but positive things about his recruiting of the 2014 (and 2015) classes. Obviously, results matter which means commitments>>>>>visits>>interest, but I think fans should be excited at this point. We've already had a couple of nice out of state prospects on campus for unofficials and seem to be making more progress on landing Rashad and/or Reid than many thought was possible when Coach Pitino got the job.
 


jamalo said:
Dumb post (shocking!) How many visits is UNC Asheville going to get under your scenario?
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I don't think the premise that DPO is arguing is without merit. He/she is saying that offering a multitude of players doesn't necessarily translate to a big recruiting class. I think that is a completely reasonable and defensible position.

I also think that it is a completely reasonable and defensible position to be encouraged by the new voice of the program and how he doesn't appear to be selling the program short. I've definitely noticed more positive press from potential recruits than I remember in the past. Big name recruits....

The question will be whether or not Pitino can close the deal on these players when the same hurdles that dog this program in the past come up (i.e facilities, lack of tradition, tough competition from programs with more recent success, weather, whatever.....) We frankly just don't know at this point.
 


The key word in all of this is "considering." I'm a skeptic when it comes to all these reports about how some top recruit is "considering" the Gophers. These top recruits know how to work the system. If a reporter or web site from MN contacts them, they're not going to bad-mouth the Gophers - they'll say something positive about the new coaching staff. It may or may not mean anything - like a politician or a rock star who says every crowd is "the best one yet." And the "official visits" have to be taken with a grain of salt. We've all seen players make a verbal commitment, and continue to go on "official" visits because they like the attention, and like getting wined and dined on someone else's dime.

Want to impress me - show me a signature on a letter of intent. That's not rumor or speculation - that's not some AAU coach or recruit trying to game the system.
 

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