Pitino averaged 5.8 new players each season, 50% turnover, BJs first team will exceed that rate.

[SanDiegoGopherFan]

Gophers basketball roster turnover hits overdrive with center Liam Robbins in transfer portal​

Minnesota center Liam Robbins (0) goes up for a dunk over Purdue forward Trevion Williams (50) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
By ANDY GREDER | [email protected] | Pioneer Press
PUBLISHED: April 6, 2021 at 10:56 a.m. | UPDATED: April 6, 2021 at 1:16 p.m.
A revolving door has led into and out of the Gophers men’s basketball roster in the three weeks since the end of head coach Richard Pitino’s era and in the opening two weeks of Ben Johnson’s tenure.
The latest turn came Tuesday when the Gophers’ 7-foot starting center Liam Robbins entered the NCAA transfer portal, a source confirmed to the Pioneer Press.

Robbins, the Gophers’ leading rebounder and second-leading scorer in the 2020-21 season, became the seventh U player to enter the portal since March 17. Add two players that left the team during last season and one retiring after the year means the U could — as of now — see up to 10 of the 13 scholarship players exit.
Only one player from last year’s team, sophomore forward Isaiah Ihnen, has reestablished his commitment to the U. The one-time four-star prospect from Germany tweeted Thursday he’s “excited for what’s to come” with Johnson, and the new head coach replied, “Welcome aboard my man.” Forward Brandon Johnson and guard Both Gach, two players who arrived as transfers before last season, have not revealed their intentions publicly.

Meanwhile, Ben Johnson’s rebuilding began via the portal with three players committing to the U last week: forward Jamison Battle (George Washington), and guards Luke Loewe (William and Mary) and E.J. Stephens (Lafayette).
Johnson acknowledged in an hour-long KFAN appearance Monday that coaching changes can have a “big-time” effect a college basketball roster nowadays. More than 1,200 names were reportedly in the portal as of Monday.
“It definitely is unchartered waters for everybody,” Johnson said on the radio. “If any coach told you, ‘Oh, we got it figured out,’ they are lying because you don’t. And it changes your roster minute by minute because all of sudden one kid one day could tell you they are happy and, boom, in 10 hours (he says), ‘Hey, coach, I changed my mind. I’m going to end up going in the portal.’
“It could be for a number of reasons,” he added.
Robbins joined the Gophers last year as a transfer from Drake. He was a highly-sought-after player for prominent programs across the country; he picked Minnesota to play in the Big Ten and under his uncle, assistant coach Ed Conroy, and with his cousin, senior walk-on Hunt Conroy.

The Davenport, Iowa, native averaged 11.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and a Big Ten-best 2.7 blocks in 23 games last year. Robbins tried to play through a late-season severely sprained ankle and had limited playing time in February before missing the final six games of the season.
Johnson has yet to make announcements about his coaching staff, and Conroy was considered a contender for the Utah State head coaching job before it went to Maryland-Baltimore County head coach Ryan Odom on Monday.
“It hasn’t really slowed down. I didn’t expect it to slow down,” Johnson said of the pace of his new job. “Obviously, (I) continue to recruit, put a staff together, figure out this roster and what I have coming back, so (in) that recruiting you fit the puzzle pieces together.”

Under Pitino, the Gophers averaged 5.8 new players each season, which is nearly 50 percent turnover each year. Johnson’s first team at Minnesota will exceed that rate.

​

Andy Greder | Gophers football and Minnesota United beat writer​

​

 

[Spaulding!No!]

After eight year penistino was still struggling at fielding a team yr in yr out. Some of us stated that this was a dumb approach after year four but oh well.

 

[60's Guy]

Doesn’t most every program average in the neighborhood of 5 new players per year?
Perfectly spaced out 3 plus would graduate and somebody is going to leave for playing time, homesick, injury, bad advice etc.
At least one will be delusional and that’s 5 every year for everybody.

 

[Some guy]

After eight year penistino was still struggling at fielding a team yr in yr out. Some of us stated that this was a dumb approach after year four but oh well.

Yeah. Next year is likely gonna suck. I’m not panicking about roster turnover or losing until year 3.

then I’ll complain about a new coach in 2024 if necessary

 

[cjbfbp]

Yeah. Next year is likely gonna suck. I’m not panicking about roster turnover or losing until year 3.

then I’ll complain about a new coach in 2024 if necessary

Well, you're more patient than me. When it comes to complaining, I'm only committed to a one-year grace period

 

[Some guy]

Well, you're more patient than me. When it comes to complaining, I'm only committed to a one-year grace period
I mean I just don’t see upside to constantly complaining

 

[bigticket1]

Comparing the turnover of Johnson's first year to Pitino's is comparing apples to oranges since there was not a transfer and be immediately eligible situation when Pitino arrived here.

 

[Spaulding!No!]

Even with kids moving all over Pitino would have gone into July with openings for his squad. Every summer it appeared that Pitino was begging kids to come to the U. That’s a losers approach in all facets of life.

 

[MNVCGUY]

Comparing the turnover of Johnson's first year to Pitino's is comparing apples to oranges since there was not a transfer and be immediately eligible situation when Pitino arrived here.

Yep, this current landscape is very very different in regards to the transfer portal. Plus, there is still the added piece that just going into the portal does not guarantee you are gone. There is always the chance that some of the guys in the portal end up coming back before it is all said and done if they can't find a better option and Johnson is willing to take them back.

 

[SnoopDonkeyKong]

I mean I just don’t see upside to constantly complaining

But Wisconsin! is my new obsession. There are something like 350 Division I teams and looking at a total aberration is not how I would go. (Dick Bennett & Bo Ryan clearly aren't normal coaches.)

How about what Frank Martin has at South Carolina or the decade it took Scott Drew to get Baylor off the floor?

Minnesota's relevant comparisons in the B1G right now are Nebraska, Penn State, Rutgers, Iowa. In time it can be Purdue, Ohio St., and Wisconsin.

Semi-related, I see Wisconsin struggling for a while.

 

[50PoundHead]

Comparing the turnover of Johnson's first year to Pitino's is comparing apples to oranges since there was not a transfer and be immediately eligible situation when Pitino arrived here.

Not only that, it seems everywhere with a coaching change has a bunch of guys considering transferring. Let's give Johnson at least one year as head coach before we start seeing headlines like this one.

 

[PhiloVance]

But Wisconsin! is my new obsession. There are something like 350 Division I teams and looking at a total aberration is not how I would go. (Dick Bennett & Bo Ryan clearly aren't normal coaches.)

How about what Frank Martin has at South Carolina or the decade it took Scott Drew to get Baylor off the floor?

Minnesota's relevant comparisons in the B1G right now are Nebraska, Penn State, Rutgers, Iowa. In time it can be Purdue, Ohio St., and Wisconsin.

Semi-related, I see Wisconsin struggling for a while.

Took Drew 10 years Mn gave Pitino 8. I'm not sure are relevant comparisons are the teams you mentioned. Wisconsin has a winning tradition I believe their more apt than not to recover more quickly than Mn.