Recruiting strategy/style of play

[EG#9]

I thought Osenieks (and to a lesser extent Hollins) were brought in to fill the void in outside shooting left by Hoffarber graduation after this year. Now, the Gophers have offered Paul Jesperson who seems like an ok prospect, but seems to duplicate the strengths and weaknesses of Osenieks/Hollins. Hypothetically, if Jesperson commits, that would leave us with 2 scholarships for 2011 and one absolutely has to go to a well regarded pg as we lose Nolen. So that leaves only one scholarship for either an athletic wing that can guard multiple positions or a power forward. We currently only have Rodney Williams and Trevor Mbakwe to fill those roles. The difference between the Gophers and the Badgers the past two seasons (in my opinion) was the matchup issues Damian Johnson and Paul Carter created. I don't think anyone anticipated that the Gophers would be getting less athletic in years 4 and 5 under Tubby than they were in years 2 and 3, but that appears to be what is happening. I just see those 6'5-6'8 versatile guys as critical to the type of basketball Tubby likes to play, and it seems like the recruiting priority has shifted to more offensively polished recruits who don't have top notch athletic ability. I see this teams recent recruiting strategy as moving it closer to a Wisconsin or Northwestern style of play as opposed to what we were used to seeing from the Gophers.

Obviously, the roster could look very different in 2011 than it currently projects too, but I was hoping to see the team become more athletic and play a faster style as Tubby brought in more recruiting classes. Instead, it appears the Gophers are going in the opposite direction of intending to play a slower style.

 

[Winona Gopher]

I see what youre getting at and it makes sense. Now i am not saying Maverick is going to be a star here, but depending on how he plays might determine whether they go after a pg. IMO it doesnt seem like they are going after man PGs besides maybe Estan Tyler who would be a solid get.

As for the athletic part, Joe Coleman is very athletic, however he is 6ft 3in maybe 4in so maybe that doesnt fit in well. The type of player youre talking about describes Ross Travis pretty well, 6ft 7in long athletic and can shoot it decently. Idk if the gophers are looking at Ross, or Jonah for that matter, but they seem to be the type of player youre looking for.

I also believe Paul is much more than a spot up shooter, he supposedly plays PG for his HS team so he must have a pretty decent handle on the ball.

Maybe if JohnnyGopher or Gopher Warrior could help us out here and determine how interested the Gopher staff is in either Travis.

 

[GophersOnTheRise]

Coleman is very explosive and Hollins is a good athlete. Rodney is a freak athlete and will be here for a while. If Mbakwe is back too we'll still be an athletic team. I hope we go after more athletes too though and keep the pressure defense and score in trasition as much as possible. I really like the thought of getting Jesperson and I'm sure we'll be getting even more athletes as well.

 

[bga1]

Coleman is very explosive and Hollins is a good athlete. Rodney is a freak athlete and will be here for a while. If Mbakwe is back too we'll still be an athletic team. I hope we go after more athletes too though and keep the pressure defense and score in trasition as much as possible. I really like the thought of getting Jesperson and I'm sure we'll be getting even more athletes as well.

It appears Tubby is settling into the realities of recruiting here. You just are not going to attract a team full of great 4-5 star athletes here. You have to do it with a variety of skill sets, a mixture of athletes and gym rats who know how to play ball the right way. Bobby Knight used to get really good players, but not teams loaded with athletes. His guys all could shoot, ballhandle and perform the fundamentals well. There might be one guy who would run around and set picks and not shoot. Good shooting covers a multitude of other deficiencies. He won some championships doing it.

 

[Friend Of Tubby]

It appears Tubby is settling into the realities of recruiting here. You just are not going to attract a team full of great 4-5 star athletes here. You have to do it with a variety of skill sets, a mixture of athletes and gym rats who know how to play ball the right way. Bobby Knight used to get really good players, but not teams loaded with athletes. His guys all could shoot, ballhandle and perform the fundamentals well. There might be one guy who would run around and set picks and not shoot. Good shooting covers a multitude of other deficiencies. He won some championships doing it.

I'd think Tubby could sign the same type of skilled recruits that he did at Georgia.

Once in a while, 5 Star. Regularly, 4 Star who are mostly in-state. And a mix of 3 Star and 2 Star to fill out the roster.

The Kentucky name bring 5 Star and 4 Star recruits there. Tubby signed 17 such players at UK.

 

[Gopher Teeth]

Another point to consider here is that the Gopher's biggest problem the last couple of years has been when the game bogs down into a half court game we can't score. We have been able to do extremely well in an up-and-down game, but that isn't good enough. I see Tubby's moves as trying to shore up the half court offensive game.

 

[bga1]

I'd think Tubby could sign the same type of skilled recruits that he did at Georgia.

Once in a while, 5 Star. Regularly, 4 Star who are mostly in-state. And a mix of 3 Star and 2 Star to fill out the roster.

The Kentucky name bring 5 Star and 4 Star recruits there. Tubby signed 17 such players at UK.

I don't trust the star system but you can go 2,3,4 years without having a bonafide 4* + player here. The RW/RW year was an anomaly. Then when you get one you can't be sure they will stay. A guy who is a 4 star here sticks out like a sore thumb in Minnesota HS bball. These kids so outshine the competition that they can get to think the sun rise and sets around them. Some of them think they are rock stars.

So you take what you can get but you almost have to plan a different strategy until we become a consistent winner. Don't get me wrong this is a great place with a great University. However, our current reputation is that it's cold here and that we have a great coach that isn't too interested in prepping guys for the NBA after a year in college.

 

[Roland Brooks]

Good Basketball Players

I want players who will be good College basketball players. I dont care about 3 star/ 4 star etc and potential NBA ability.. I want a good college program.

Last time I looked there were not alot of Mich St players in the NBA... Ager, Brown and Davis were drafted high- 1 is left in the NBA. Suton didnt make. You got J.Rich and Randolph last 10 years with How many final 4's?..

Bo Ryan doesnt have many players in the NBA nor does Purdue...


Look at the team with Hagen, Lawson and Lil A I would take a college basketball team like that every year. A team who played D and played for each other.

I like the idea of having a walk-on and some lesser known players that means they are hungry.

Put a guy like J'son Stamper on last years team and he makes more of a difference then 90% of any 4 star freshman coming in...

 

[kiedro]

I want players who will be good College basketball players. I dont care about 3 star/ 4 star etc and potential NBA ability.. I want a good college program.

Last time I looked there were not alot of Mich St players in the NBA... Ager, Brown and Davis were drafted high- 1 is left in the NBA. Suton didnt make. You got J.Rich and Randolph last 10 years with How many final 4's?..

Bo Ryan doesnt have many players in the NBA nor does Purdue...


Look at the team with Hagen, Lawson and Lil A I would take a college basketball team like that every year. A team who played D and played for each other.

I like the idea of having a walk-on and some lesser known players that means they are hungry.

Put a guy like J'son Stamper on last years team and he makes more of a difference then 90% of any 4 star freshman coming in...

AGREE!!!!!!!

 

[NurumbiCongo]

Maybe if JohnnyGopher or Gopher Warrior could help us out here and determine how interested the Gopher staff is in either Travis.

 

[EG#9]

It appears Tubby is settling into the realities of recruiting here. You just are not going to attract a team full of great 4-5 star athletes here. You have to do it with a variety of skill sets, a mixture of athletes and gym rats who know how to play ball the right way. Bobby Knight used to get really good players, but not teams loaded with athletes. His guys all could shoot, ballhandle and perform the fundamentals well. There might be one guy who would run around and set picks and not shoot. Good shooting covers a multitude of other deficiencies. He won some championships doing it.

There is no reason that Minnesota should not be expected to recruit as well or better than most of the schools in the nation (exceptions such as UNC, Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, UCLA, etc). My orginal post had nothing to do with star ratings, but I see no reason to not expect a significant number of 4 star players at Minnesota.

 

[freshtrout]

IMO the two areas that they need to improve upon are: Rebounding and having a go to player that can score. Strength under the basket will be realized with Mbakwe, (let's hope he plays) but a consistent scorer? Not so sure. One of the juniors will have to step up, or Blake goes up a level or two as a senior..

 

[GophersOnTheRise]

I don't know if I would say a 4-star from Minnesota is a complete anomaly. Might not be loaded with them every year, but Coleman will probably be a 4-star and Ross Travis potentially could too, although he will probably be a high 3-star. Next year Woodard could be and the following year there could be a couple and the following year there is Tyus who I would be surprised if he wasn't a 5-star.

 

[march madness]

minnesota talent

I'd think Tubby could sign the same type of skilled recruits that he did at Georgia.

Once in a while, 5 Star. Regularly, 4 Star who are mostly in-state. And a mix of 3 Star and 2 Star to fill out the roster.

The Kentucky name bring 5 Star and 4 Star recruits there. Tubby signed 17 such players at UK.

So you are comparing the number of four star in state players in Georgia to Minnesota? There probably are more in the City of Atlanta alone? Only advantage is 1 div 1 basketball team in our state but a lot less 4 and 5 star players.

 

[Friend Of Tubby]

So you are comparing the number of four star in state players in Georgia to Minnesota? There probably are more in the City of Atlanta alone? Only advantage is 1 div 1 basketball team in our state but a lot less 4 and 5 star players.

No. He signed mostly IN-STATE 4 Star recruits at Georgia. He'll sign MOSTLY in-state 4 Star recruits at Minnesota.

 

[PavedWithGold]

The comment that Purdue doesn't put a lot of players in the NBA right now is a little premature. Remember, they were flat awful in Keady's last few years. When Painter took over he brought in the big class that will be seniors next year. Hummel, Moore, & Johnson will all be drafted.

MSU brings in a bunch of 4 & 5 star guys. They get drafted, but what they accomplish in the NBA I think is irrelevant in this discussion. They bring in the best guys and are consistently the best team in the Big10. That's what it's all about.

 

[futurecotter]

Hey Roland Brooks,
Purdue has Carl Landry, and Brad Miller in the NBA
Wisconsin has Alondo Tucker, Devin Harris, and Michael Finley in the NBA
So i recommend that you get out more

 

[Friend Of Tubby]

The comment that Purdue doesn't put a lot of players in the NBA right now is a little premature. Remember, they were flat awful in Keady's last few years. When Painter took over he brought in the big class that will be seniors next year. Hummel, Moore, & Johnson will all be drafted.

MSU brings in a bunch of 4 & 5 star guys. They get drafted, but what they accomplish in the NBA I think is irrelevant in this discussion. They bring in the best guys and are consistently the best team in the Big10. That's what it's all about.

Top 25 = 5 Star. Top 75 = 4 Star. Top 150 = 3 Star.

ACTUALLY Mich St signs more 3 Star recruits than 4 and 5 Star recruits COMBINED. Izzo has lots of success with guys overlooked by other bigtime schools.

 

[Roland Brooks]

FC

Read first -I said they dont produce many didnt say None...

Thanks for making my point on Purdue... Add Brian Cardinal to if you need to dig that deep... so 3 guys the last 15 years or so about the same as the Gophers... Not many for how good the COLLEGE program has been.. Premature? Talking as of today. Sad- looked what happened to Hummel no guarantees on the future..

Thanks for making my point on Wisconson. Bo Ryan's been there 10 years Tucker and Harris and some NBDL guys.. Ryan is a great coach who coaches to his system.

My point is in college a great coach can have very good teams recruiting for a system like a Bo Ryan etc. 3/4 ratings are a joke either the people doing ratings are inept or there are alot of good coaches with good systems fielding good college basketball teams with lesser players.

 

[futurecotter]

oh i am sorry for being so harsh about that but i understand your point now

 

[PavedWithGold]

Top 25 = 5 Star. Top 75 = 4 Star. Top 150 = 3 Star.

ACTUALLY Mich St signs more 3 Star recruits than 4 and 5 Star recruits COMBINED. Izzo has lots of success with guys overlooked by other bigtime schools.

Obviously there are more 3-stars than 4&5's. My point is that MSU gets at least a couple 4-5 guys most years and it's no suprise. It's not rare by any means. Here at the U it's an annomaly and generates huge buzz if they sign a top recruit once every 5-6 years.

I wouldn't be so sure about MSU getting guys that are overlooked. Don't you think most schools, if they hear that Izzo is onto a guy, that they're going to do some research on him?

 

[Friend Of Tubby]

Obviously there are more 3-stars than 4&5's. My point is that MSU gets at least a couple 4-5 guys most years and it's no suprise. It's not rare by any means. Here at the U it's an annomaly and generates huge buzz if they sign a top recruit once every 5-6 years.

I wouldn't be so sure about MSU getting guys that are overlooked. Don't you think most schools, if they hear that Izzo is onto a guy, that they're going to do some research on him?

To answer your ? no.

Izzo gets players that other "bigtime" schools overlook. He gets a few others that they DO want.

No coach has done more with lesser rated recruits than Izzo over the past 12 to 15 years.

 

[EG#9]

Obviously there are more 3-stars than 4&5's. My point is that MSU gets at least a couple 4-5 guys most years and it's no suprise. It's not rare by any means. Here at the U it's an annomaly and generates huge buzz if they sign a top recruit once every 5-6 years.
I wouldn't be so sure about MSU getting guys that are overlooked. Don't you think most schools, if they hear that Izzo is onto a guy, that they're going to do some research on him?

This is just not correct, Minnesota has signed 4 recruits rated 4 stars or higher in the last two years. Dan Monson even had Kris Humphries and Rick Rickert and got a commitment (from the admittedly overrated) Wesley Washington (who at the time was a 4 star kid and ended up a 3 star) and transfer 4 star Adam Boone. Clem signed a number of highly rated recruits, though not as many as he should have. The anomaly would be the U going more than 2 years without signing a top recruit (which happened under Monson).

 

[Roland Brooks]

FC

No problem... Good dialogue... You made some valid points!

 

[BleedGopher]

This is just not correct, Minnesota has signed 4 recruits rated 4 stars or higher in the last two years. Dan Monson even had Kris Humphries and Rick Rickert and got a commitment (from the admittedly overrated) Wesley Washington (who at the time was a 4 star kid and ended up a 3 star) and transfer 4 star Adam Boone. Clem signed a number of highly rated recruits, though not as many as he should have. The anomaly would be the U going more than 2 years without signing a top recruit (which happened under Monson).

Monson's highest rated out of state recruit was Aliou Kane, who was considered a big get at the time and chose the Gophers over legit offers from North Carolina, Wake Forest, etc.

Go Gophers!!