Plitzuweit

Everyone is entitled to their opinion on the job Coach P has done but I think some people need to understand the state of the program that she took over. It's not as if Minnesota was making the NCAA tournament on a regular basis, advancing far into the conference tournament and winning 20+ games. The program hasn't made the NCAA tournament since 2017-18 and the winning percentage from 2018-2023 was 48.3%. Since Coach P has arrived, she has won 62.5% of the games coached and she had them most likely 1 win away from making the NCAA tournament this season, all without Braun and Woodson. She has this program headed in the right direction.
While I agree with most of this, win % doesn't mean anything with the terrible schedule they had this year. Win conference games, win tier 2 and some tier 1 games. That gets you into the tournament.
 

I am going to get killed for this coment but here goes. What from last years performance makes you think DP is a good coach?
To answer your question (and move it from the recruiting thread), I would say a number of things from last season mark Coach P as a good coach. First, leading the BIG in turnover rate in conference play is the mark of an organized and disciplined team. Turnover rate is not everything, but when you are trying to overcome some talent gaps (and shooting inefficiency), not turning the ball over is a really good thing. Second, GG and McKinney in back-to-back years are proof of a very good recruiting eye. Neither player was heavily recruited, but both made a post-season list (below) of top 40 players in the league last year, which is impressive for under recruited underclassmen. Third, fourth and fifth, game planning, organization and resilience. Coach P's Gophers are well organized, usually with a good game plan, e.g. at UCLA, and a resilient bunch, witness the late comebacks at Maryland and Ohio State. Even in a disappointing year where the Gophers went 2-10 in the league against teams with a pulse, the coaching acumen of Coach P was evident.

Ultimately, however, as your post indicates, results matter, and the results weren't there in the BIG. I agree with those who give Coach P slack for the injuries to Braun and Woodson. My biggest concern with Coach P is can she produce an efficient high-major offense? Her West Virginia (NCAA tournament) team and her two Gopher teams have all had relatively poor effective field goal percentages. Coming into last season, Coach P had identified improved offensive efficiency as the # 1 goal for the season. With a healthy Braun (who has had her own shooting woes) and Woodson, Coach P needs to deliver a better offense next season, with a solid NCAA tournament team.


 

It would be hard to imagine how poor this team would be today if Coyle hadn't fired Whalen and hired Plitzuweit. Plitzuweit has made all the difference and as fans we should all be happy that she leads this program and has made great strides in just two years. She has done a remarkable job.
 












It would be hard to imagine how poor this team would be today if Coyle hadn't fired Whalen and hired Plitzuweit. Plitzuweit has made all the difference and as fans we should all be happy that she leads this program and has made great strides in just two years. She has done a remarkable job.
I'm not sure 8 and 10 in the Big Ten is a remarkable accomplishment. Whalen was 7 and 11 in 21-22 in the Big Ten. Her recruits are the core of the team.
Are you confident once Whalen's recruits graduate we will not backslide? Or maybe better question...How is that going to happen that we continue to improve? Tori and Grace alone are not going to get us to 8 and 10 '26-27.
 

I'm not sure 8 and 10 in the Big Ten is a remarkable accomplishment. Whalen was 7 and 11 in 21-22 in the Big Ten. Her recruits are the core of the team.
Are you confident once Whalen's recruits graduate we will not backslide? Or maybe better question...How is that going to happen that we continue to improve? Tori and Grace alone are not going to get us to 8 and 10 '26-27.
I like Dawn's recruiting and she is clearly a better coach than Lindsey was. Also, Dawn has kept the recruits while Lindsey was losing players. I am happily confident that our trend is upward.
 



I'm not sure 8 and 10 in the Big Ten is a remarkable accomplishment. Whalen was 7 and 11 in 21-22 in the Big Ten. Her recruits are the core of the team.
Are you confident once Whalen's recruits graduate we will not backslide? Or maybe better question...How is that going to happen that we continue to improve? Tori and Grace alone are not going to get us to 8 and 10 '26-27.
Won't Mara Braun also be back in '26-27? Of course, we'll need more than those three (Mara, Grace, & Tori) to keep an upward trajectory.
 

Are we forgetting about another Tori that will be playing in 26-27?


For anyone questioning Dawn’s recruiting, do you think Whalen would have gotten Tori Oehrlein? This young woman is going to be a difference maker once she arrives on campus. She has already broken the state record for rebounds as a junior.
 

I like Dawn's recruiting and she is clearly a better coach than Lindsey was. Also, Dawn has kept the recruits while Lindsey was losing players. I am happily confident that our trend is upward.
Ya, I'll agree with that.
 

Won't Mara Braun also be back in '26-27? Of course, we'll need more than those three (Mara, Grace, & Tori) to keep an upward trajectory.
I don't know if Mara has another year...the rules are a moving target. Be awesome if she does!
 

Are we forgetting about another Tori that will be playing in 26-27?


For anyone questioning Dawn’s recruiting, do you think Whalen would have gotten Tori Oehrlein? This young woman is going to be a difference maker once she arrives on campus. She has already broken the state record for rebounds as a junior.
Well, Whalen got the Minnesota girls she got...so I don't think you can say she wouldn't.
Happy she is going to be a Gopher! She should be an asset, no doubt!
 
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To Clarify a few things

-Yes Mara has two years left. She only played 5 games and one of the reasons she didn't rush back this last season was she didn't want to risk losing a full year of eligibility. Now if she has a breakout year and the team has a good year, she could see herself going to the WNBA draft but yes she has two years she could play left.

-In terms of Tori Oehrlein, while we may never know, i'd say there woul have been a good chance Whalen could of gotten her to stay home. She likely wanted to stay close for family and friends so it's not out of the relm of possibility.
 





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