Recruiting

It's amazing what the Caitlin Clark effect has had on Iowa recruiting. She was an Iowa girl that stayed home to play for the local team. And now because of her some out state girls are considering the Iowa program.
It begs one to ask what kind of a recruiting impact Bueckers could've made for the Gophers program if she had stayed home, especially for the local talent.
 

It's amazing what the Caitlin Clark effect has had on Iowa recruiting. She was an Iowa girl that stayed home to play for the local team. And now because of her some out state girls are considering the Iowa program.
Clark effect TBD-Since Bluder resigned, Iowa has struggled to cash in on the Clark hoopla, missing on their top high school and portal targets. Jensen did keep Lucy Olsen and their one previously-committed top 25 recruit (Addie Deal). Otherwise Jensen struck out on ‘25 elite high school and portal targets, including a Davenport McDonald’s AA going to LSU.

Iowa also passed on several local top 100 players in the ‘25 class to chase elite ‘25 and ‘26 targets. Jensen has a lot riding on the ‘26 class.

Similar story at Indiana. Despite great coaching and fan support, Moren struggles to attract elite recruits.

Would be nice if a legacy BIG team could break through and win a National Championship. Otherwise it’s still mostly about UCONN and the SEC.
 

It begs one to ask what kind of a recruiting impact Bueckers could've made for the Gophers program if she had stayed home, especially for the local talent.
Gophers probably would've needed to have a serious coach first instead one that gave the Gophers nothing to show for having Zahui B and Banham for that to ever happen.
 

Gophers probably would've needed to have a serious coach first instead one that gave the Gophers nothing to show for having Zahui B and Banham for that to ever happen.
DP has taken the Gophers to the WBIT in her first two years. If the Gophers continue to win more, I can see more recruiting success.
 



It's amazing what the Caitlin Clark effect has had on Iowa recruiting. She was an Iowa girl that stayed home to play for the local team. And now because of her some out state girls are considering the Iowa program.

They have landed some decently rated players and Deal for 2025 is a Top 25 recruit (and they will have some promising young posts on next season roster) but while they have gone after a lot of top rated recruits they haven't landed many. Still, their NCAA runs with Clark have certainly given them the chance to land some stars that maybe would not been able to pursue pre-Clark and generally Hawk fans shouldn't be complaining about recruiting (although some are). Not sure what the future will be for them but they are still in a pretty good spot.

Plus, and as a rival I hate to acknowledge it, they have been a fun team to watch.
 


It would never have happened. UConn was Paige's dream school.
True...but that wasn't really my point. IF she had committed to the Gophers, would that have opened the floodgates for other top local prospects to follow her lead?

I'm not convinced it would've and that's why I asked the question hypothetically. MN quietly produces a lot of high end HS prospects and there will be another "Bueckers" level talent coming along sooner rather than later.

Keeping the best instate talent for the Women's hoops team could have a bigger impact on winning moreso than equivalent recruiting for Men's hoops, Football and both hockey programs.

It's just my opinion, though. I'm still a realist.
 

True...but that wasn't really my point. IF she had committed to the Gophers, would that have opened the floodgates for other top local prospects to follow her lead?

I'm not convinced it would've and that's why I asked the question hypothetically. MN quietly produces a lot of high end HS prospects and there will be another "Bueckers" level talent coming along sooner rather than later.

Keeping the best instate talent for the Women's hoops team could have a bigger impact on winning moreso than equivalent recruiting for Men's hoops, Football and both hockey programs.

It's just my opinion, though. I'm still a realist.
Minnesota is a recruiting hotbed for both men's and women's basketball. A Gopher team with the top instate recruits would have pushed Gopher WBB to unimaginable heights. I agree.
 



Minnesota is a recruiting hotbed for both men's and women's basketball. A Gopher team with the top instate recruits would have pushed Gopher WBB to unimaginable heights. I agree.
Yes---and you can also say that for men's and women's hockey. I wish our instate high school talent in those four sports equated to success for our Golden Gophers. (yes, yes, you can say the hockey teams are successful, but I expect even more from them as we are the State of Hockey)
 


The best chance that Minnesota has of recruiting either Mya, Ashlee or Chloe is for the current staff to put a consistent winner on the floor that can get to say the sweet sixteen or great eight in the NCAA tournament. And they have to generate a star-like player that young girls can identify with like a Caitlin Clark.
 

Both Wilson sisters are playing for All Iowa Attack, correct? I feel like that club pipeline is going to favor Iowa over the U.

Didn't know where to put this so just storing it here:


Beckett is class of 2029 (8th grader).

Isn't there one more Greenway sister as well? Does she play basketball?

There are 2 more Greenway daughters. One is a 4th grader and plays for North Tartan (Chad coaches the team and they are quite good). The last one is probably a 2nd grader? I don't know if she plays basketball, but chances are likely!
 



Kusso should be a top priority. However, I’m hearing Michigan.
Any update on Kussow? Saw she had recent visits to Michigan and Duke. Heading toward a decision maybe by end of June. Any Skim Milkey subscribers out there? Minnesota a finalist?
 


Any update on Kussow? Saw she had recent visits to Michigan and Duke. Heading toward a decision maybe by end of June. Any Skim Milkey subscribers out there? Minnesota a finalist?
Minnesota is very much in on Kussow. I would venture to say to that it likely will come down to Minnesota or Michigan for her.
 

DP can coach. I can see the Lady Gophers get to new heights in the coming years.
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? I do like her as a coach but last year was not a good coaching year. It just was not. They did not beat any team in the big ten that they were not favored to beat. To be a good coach you need to start upsetting some teams along the way. Their record was set up as good by their terrible preseason schedule. They had a good run at the end but none of the teams they beat were tournament teams. I hope and think DP is good but I need some proof before I make that claim.
 

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? I do like her as a coach but last year was not a good coaching year. It just was not. They did not beat any team in the big ten that they were not favored to beat. To be a good coach you need to start upsetting some teams along the way. Their record was set up as good by their terrible preseason schedule. They had a good run at the end but none of the teams they beat were tournament teams. I hope and think DP is good but I need some proof before I make that claim.
Have you taken a look at her history, you seem to be judging based on year two in the Big Ten. She has earned her way here, you don’t do that by being a bad coach. She has been a winner at every stop. I guess the only question is this, and I loved Whalen as a player, but she was a horrible coach. She may improve but if you can’t see the difference between night and day, I’m not sure your mind is going to be changed. Dawn has earned her way from being a star point guard in the D2 ranks to winning at every stop she’s been at including a D2 title as a coach. Shes been a winner in the D1 ranks as well. She probably will be hindered some by our NIL pool but if she wins consistently that will also change. She’s a good coach and proven it at multiple stops.
 

I don't want to turn this thread into a coaching rating thread so this will be my final comment. I do agree she has been a good to great coach elsewhere. 410-168 record proves that. Her two year big ten record is 13-23 .361 not good. I hope she turns out to be a good big ten coach. As Whalen knows coaching in big ten is the big leagues. So far she just has not won enough big games for me to jump on the band wagon of her being a great coach. Hopefully everybody stays healthy this year and we see. Like I said she has the track record I just need to see results.
 

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? I do like her as a coach but last year was not a good coaching year. It just was not. They did not beat any team in the big ten that they were not favored to beat. To be a good coach you need to start upsetting some teams along the way. Their record was set up as good by their terrible preseason schedule. They had a good run at the end but none of the teams they beat were tournament teams. I hope and think DP is good but I need some proof before I make that claim.
I give her grace. Two post-season tournament appearances in a row. She restored confidence in the program. That is a great start. They will get better as DP attracts more players to the team.
 

Have you taken a look at her history, you seem to be judging based on year two in the Big Ten. She has earned her way here, you don’t do that by being a bad coach. She has been a winner at every stop. I guess the only question is this, and I loved Whalen as a player, but she was a horrible coach. She may improve but if you can’t see the difference between night and day, I’m not sure your mind is going to be changed. Dawn has earned her way from being a star point guard in the D2 ranks to winning at every stop she’s been at including a D2 title as a coach. Shes been a winner in the D1 ranks as well. She probably will be hindered some by our NIL pool but if she wins consistently that will also change. She’s a good coach and proven it at multiple stops.
What's Whalen got to do with this? Gopher Mac didn't mention her. I guess some people just enjoy beating a dead horse.
 

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? I do like her as a coach but last year was not a good coaching year. It just was not. They did not beat any team in the big ten that they were not favored to beat. To be a good coach you need to start upsetting some teams along the way. Their record was set up as good by their terrible preseason schedule. They had a good run at the end but none of the teams they beat were tournament teams. I hope and think DP is good but I need some proof before I make that claim.
Okay. Can you explain why you are overlooking the fact that they did not lose to any team in quad 3 or 4 levels? Despite their best player out for all but 5 games. Do you feel Ohio State and Michigan coaches are good coaches? Ohio State lost to Penn State and Michigan Lost to Wisconsin. Dawn didn't lose to those teams despite being down 2 of their top 7.

Yet again, literally was missing 23-25 points a game with Woodson and Braun out, yet did not lose to any quad 3 or 4 teams and including beating Illinois and Indiana at home.

-Why do you overlook those two wins with them down 2 of top 7 players?
-Why do you overlook so easily that they didn't lose to any "lesser" teams?
-Also in the run of WBIT title... they defeated Florida.. Who beat Alabama during the season... Same Alabama that defeated LSU.

You think they lucked into all of that?
 

What's Whalen got to do with this? Gopher Mac didn't mention her. I guess some people just enjoy beating a dead horse.
I’m making a comparison, Whalen was terrible as a coach. That’s the comparison, if you you don’t think Dawn is a good coach, not sure what to say to you.
 




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