PiPress: Flip Saunders' Gophers basketball tweets: 'I'm sick!'

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BleedGopher said:
per the article:

During the Gophers' 51-49 loss to Illinois in the Big Ten tournament opener Thursday, March 14, he took to Twitter to share his emotions and insights. Here, in order, are the tweets from @Flip_Saunders -- some unsolicited, some in response to questions on Twitter:

"Gophers if were going to put ball in post, feeders have to get below free throw line extended to lead post into shot."

"We need penetration and to play below free throw line too much passing and no penetrating cuts or dribbles."

"Gophers have to grind cuz illini can implode. We need to make easy plays and be aggressive on offensive cuts were walking."

"I've seen more between these teams than there are at lunds bakery."

"I believe were listening so much that were in NCAA that there is not a sense of urgency. Gophs" Lets take of business."

"@atrupar I ment I've seen more turnovers from these teams than are at lunds bakery."

"My tweets might be little erratic but like most Goph fans a little frustrated and venting. But better 2nd half for us."

"@AlexanderMcD10 said all season Turnovers lead to bad defense and opponents easy scores and destroys confidence. That's where we are."

"15 Turnovers!
Nothing more to be said."

"Splash Splash were back in it!"

"@JCalverley yep looking good playing with confidence."

"Just got to airport heading to ESPN and saw last 10 seconds. I'm sick! Guess fitting TO is key down stretch."

"@JCalverley as a Coach I hate Turnovers as much as anything. It is beating urself. My Piston team set NBA record for fewest to"s."

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci...rce=rss&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Go Gophers!!
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These comments are a breath of fresh air:

"Gophers if were going to put ball in post, feeders have to get below free throw line extended to lead post into shot."

"We need penetration and to play below free throw line too much passing and no penetrating cuts or dribbles."

"Gophers have to grind cuz illini can implode. We need to make easy plays and be aggressive on offensive cuts were walking."

These are things that are wrong with our offense. All good teams penetrate. Recalling Knight's Indy squads, every player that got the ball would threaten to shoot or drive. Almost always a few quick probing dribbles to move the defense. We play on our heels at all times. It's not the players. It's the Tubby offense for 6 years. His best years are when the team buys in on defense and are solid there.

Flip would be a fine option to replace Tubby. Passionate, knows that game (obviously), has the relationships with the local kids and would fire up the fan base. I'd be ecstatic with Shaka or Stevens but those are probably pipe dreams.
 

Honestly, he sounds like a guy who knows the game and CARES. Not so sure Tubby fits that mold anymore.
 



JimmyJamesMD said:
I'll take Flip over Tubby. He obviously cares.

I think a young up and comer (like Shaka) would be great so we could have them for a long time. However if we can't get one of those young options, Flip would be a good choice.
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So the tune changes after witnessing 6 years, eh james?
 


howeda7 said:
Flip is tempting because we don't have to give him 6 years, IMO. We'll know in 2-3 if it's working or not. You have to take Shaka or Stevens if they'd come, but the Greg Marshall's and Chris Mack's of the world will still be there in 3 years.
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If Chris Mack ever ended up on campus, it would be fun to watch Souhan's head explode. Other than that, Flip has an obvious intrigue about him because he's an alum and has a proven NBA pedigree. Still might be a bit risky however due to his lack of collegiate coaching experience.
 

Our top priority is to get the big three. We can assume they won't come and play for Tubby. We need a coach that is known in their eyes and will give them the confidence to play together and turn down the marquee offers. Flip fits that need. They all know of him, his links to the NBA and will feel his passion about the program. I think he can seal the deal on the big three. Do you really think that they will pass on offers to the marquee schools to play for some "up and coming" coach from a smaller program that "could" build the program? I doubt it, they would want what looks like a sure winner and Flip would give that.
 

alchemy2u said:
Our top priority is to get the big three. We can assume they won't come and play for Tubby. We need a coach that is known in their eyes and will give them the confidence to play together and turn down the marquee offers. Flip fits that need. They all know of him, his links to the NBA and will feel his passion about the program. I think he can seal the deal on the big three. Do you really think that they will pass on offers to the marquee schools to play for some "up and coming" coach from a smaller program that "could" build the program? I doubt it, they would want what looks like a sure winner and Flip would give that.
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One more positive about Flip. There would be zero concern that, after a good season, his name is being bandied about as drawing interest from XYZ school, like we heard about Tubby every year and like we would likely hear about other outsiders we bring in. Flip would be all in if he took the job. That means something.
 

Did I miss something? I thought Flip was leading a group that is making an offer for the Timberwolves. He can't possibly do both things. I have been out of town (at the airport now to come back), but that was all over the news before I left.
 



station19 said:
I can't see Shaka or Stevens(or any other name coach) coming here, especially with no immediate plans for practice facility.

Flip would probably take the job for less money than those two and would garner more donor support than anyone else.
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This! Flip cares, which is certainly more than the current coaching staff. He would bring in the right assistant coaches, be able to recruit much better, be able to generate revenue to build the team a practice facility, and you know that the team would always be prepared to play. Somehow, I think that he would have a couple of in-bounds plays so that we wouldn't turn the ball over repeatedly.
 

As Station 19 said no way Shaka or Stevens come to U of M without two signed contracts (1) lots of dough for new 5 year deal and (2) shovel in the ground plan for practice facility. There's no reason for the young highly recruited coaches to go to anywhere but to a program with a vacancy they regard to be a sure thing.

Flip while in his late 50's can network directly with corp and big dollar alumni donors. H can assemble a fine assistant coaching group, and step right in to show the big three their pathway to the NBA.

Please, no more stagnant offense! Flip may have been engaging in self-promotion, but he was right about the offense and would teach movement in the offense.
 

By the way, something tells me Flip may know a few in-bound pass strategies and plays. No more losses in the last 60 second up by 3 with the ball PLEASE!
 




MRJ said:
If Chris Mack ever ended up on campus, it would be fun to watch Souhan's head explode. Other than that, Flip has an obvious intrigue about him because he's an alum and has a proven NBA pedigree. Still might be a bit risky however due to his lack of collegiate coaching experience.
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I don't see the Flip as being so risky- He's along the same lines as Fred Hoiberg but has more experience and a proven track record. He's won over 600 games in the NBA, worked as a D1 assistant for 7 years so has knowledge of the college game, and has vast connections. Could Tubby ever coach a team to an NBA championship? I would argue that the NBA is more complex. Flip has been to where all of these kids aspire to be.

When Tubby first came, the place would explode in chants of "Tubby, Tubby" and hail to him when his name was announced. It felt like everyone (myself included) trusted he'd turn the program into a B10 contender and the excitement was there. I just don't see that trust and excitement that he's the guy. IMO I'd like to see a change at the end of the season. Flip, at a minimum (other options idk?), would be worth making a change.
 

Please answer this question - can Flip recruit?

He's spent most of his career in the NBA. I have no idea if he can go into some 17-year-old kid's house and sell that kid on the U of M. Yes, he has some NBA cred - but the college game and the pro game are very different animals. If Flip got the U job, he would have to land some assistant coaches with recent college experience, and a proven track record in recruiting. That's not Trent or Quincy - both great guys, but they haven't been out there beating the bushes, kissing AAU coaches behinds, or doing all the grunt work needed to recruit today's generation of athletes.

Having said that - I spent a little time with Flip back when he was coaching at Golden Valley Lutheran, and would bring his teams over to Augsburg for practice (when Irv Inniger was the Auggie coach.) Seemed like a nice guy back then. (admittedly, that was nearly 40 years ago......)
 

ruppertflywheel said:
Flip, Brian Dutcher as his top ass't.
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Brian Dutcher would have been a great top assistant when Tubby first came on board. No way is he leaving San Diego State now that he's been officially named HC in waiting.

Go Gophers!!
 

BieberHole69 said:
Lol. no. <------- At the shot of getting Stevens.
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I don't know why he'd come. Especially with Butler likely ending up in the new Big East. But this was said as a possibility from someone with a pretty good background in these things.
 

I get the impression Flip will be great at relating to kids. Seems to me he worked with a young college aged kid back in the day and it worked out well. That being Kevin Garnett. He is a name,an alumni,and great coach. He needs like any coach,some hard working assistents to recruit among other things. With his basketball connections that should be no problem.
 

I don't see how anyone would be against Flip.

1. He has the obvious connection to the program.
2. He has proven to be a good coach. 4 Conference title trips in the NBA.
3. He has the NBA experience to sell to recruits.
4. I am almost positive he could recruit very well.
5. He cares about the program.
6. He would create a fast paced approach which is what this program needs.

I'd say Smart 1 but Flip is a close second, imo.
 

Rodney's Open said:
I don't see how anyone would be against Flip.

1. He has the obvious connection to the program.
2. He has proven to be a good coach. 4 Conference title trips in the NBA.
3. He has the NBA experience to sell to recruits.
4. I am almost positive he could recruit very well.
5. He cares about the program.
6. He would create a fast paced approach which is what this program needs.

I'd say Smart 1 but Flip is a close second, imo.
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Let's see...he got beat up in the NBA...he's so good he's still be coaching...never coached college kids and recruited before. I'm so excited about Flip because you're "positive he could recruit well"...wait..."very well"....LOL That's all we need!
 

Parski1 said:
Let's see...he got beat up in the NBA...he's so good he's still be coaching...never coached college kids and recruited before. I'm so excited about Flip because you're "positive he could recruit well"...wait..."very well"....LOL That's all we need!
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So you know nothing about Flip before the TWolves I take it.
 

Not many NBA coaches haven't been fired a time or two. He has limited Junior college experience although he was a head coach, along with being an assistant at Tulsa. Why he couldn't relate to college kids is beyond me. The man's whole life as been basketball from the CBA to the NBA. I can't think of a better prospective coach for the U. i think the chances of getting the big three also goes up with Flip. The bad vibe from this program and coaching staff right now is just too much to let it continue.
 

Parski1 said:
Let's see...he got beat up in the NBA...he's so good he's still be coaching...never coached college kids and recruited before. I'm so excited about Flip because you're "positive he could recruit well"...wait..."very well"....LOL That's all we need!
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Rather have Flip than Tubby, though could't stand the way he "coached" Garnett or that Offense. Two things though he DID coach in College at Golden Valley Lutheran (record of 92-14 over four years). He also was an Assistant Coach at the U for five years in the 80's before he went to Tulsa for a couple of years. Two schools that Tubby is also familiar with.

That means he did coach College kids, though it was a very long time ago and probably means he recruited them at both levels too.

The Cleveland, Ohio, native began his successful coaching career at Golden Valley Lutheran College, where he compiled a 92-13 record (including a perfect 56-0 mark at home) in four seasons. In 1981, he joined the coaching staff at his alma matter, the University of Minnesota, as an assistant coach where he helped the Golden Gophers to the 1982 Big Ten Championship. After five seasons at Minnesota, Saunders moved to an assistant coach position at the University of Tulsa, where he worked for two seasons before heading to the pro ranks.

http://www.nba.com/coachfile/flip_saunders/
 

Parski1 said:
Let's see...he got beat up in the NBA...he's so good he's still be coaching...never coached college kids and recruited before. I'm so excited about Flip because you're "positive he could recruit well"...wait..."very well"....LOL That's all we need!
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I'd take Flip Wilson at this point over Tubby...
 

Flip is around the program. He is around the kids and is very familiar with local area basketball. He goes to all the home football games. He could have the players meet his daughters and the dance team that might sell the recruits.
 


Parski1 said:
Let's see...he got beat up in the NBA...he's so good he's still be coaching...never coached college kids and recruited before. I'm so excited about Flip because you're "positive he could recruit well"...wait..."very well"....LOL That's all we need!
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Saul, I know you're upset that your dad may be getting the boot and you won't have a job either, but Flip is an easy improvement over Orlando.
 




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