Reusse theory: Big 3 waiting to see if U brings in dynamic HC

Donate To GopherHole
BleedGopher

BleedGopher

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 11, 2008
Messages
61,972
Reaction score
18,166
Points
113
per Reusse:

Tubby has time to rehab his image with the masses in the final weeks of his sixth Minnesota season, but only if these Gophers win a couple of NCAA games and reach the Sweet Sixteen, at a minimum.

For now, this isn't an isolated question: "It was a great win, but does it hurt long-term because Tubby stays?''

There is a theory that the Minnesota juniors -- Tyus Jones, Rashad Vaughn and Reid Travis _ have not yet made a verbal commitment to one of the elite programs because they are waiting en masse to find out what the coaching situation will be with the Gophers.

The basis of this theory is that if the Gophers were able to bring in Shaka Smart or another dynamic, younger coach, the trio might stay home and try to do some big things together. Throw in Alex Illikainen, the 6-9 sophomore from Grand Rapids, and that could be the best homegrown roster since ... ever

The other half of the theory is that Tubby is going to have to work relentlessly to land even one of three juniors.

So, the Indiana win was fantastic in the short-term, but not so great for the long-term?

I don't buy it.

I don't see Shaka Smart as the be-all, end-all of potential coaches. And I don't see Smart or any other coach with big options coming here as long as a practice facility remains merely a gleam in the eye of AD Woody Teague.

Tubby will win a tournament game or two with this club. That will get him at least one of the juniors. And Woody will have announced a ground-breaking date for a practice facility by this time next year.

If Tubby does OK next winter, he stays, and if not, there will be a young coach with promise to hire.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/193582441.html

Go Gophers!!
 

This is a pretty realistic take on the situation. I wonder if a ghost writer was involved and covered for Reusse on this one!
 

Then there is the theory that Tubby has built up a relationship with these guys, and only if Tubby leads this team to a successful tournament will we have a shot to get these guys. Bringing in some new guy, no matter the circumstances, that hasn't had the time to build up a relationship with these guys, could lead them to just go elsewhere instead?!

Not saying I adhere to this theory, or to the other one Reusse mentions, just saying that's one of the more prevalent opposing theories out there right now.


Which theory do I adhere to? Which ever one results in us getting those guys, I guess, lol.
 

so much abuse of the word theory in this thread. it makes my heart hurt.
 

#1nHkyCfbBsbDncSolarDebat said:
Then there is the theory that Tubby has built up a relationship with these guys, and only if Tubby leads this team to a successful tournament will we have a shot to get these guys. Bringing in some new guy, no matter the circumstances, that hasn't had the time to build up a relationship with these guys, could lead them to just go elsewhere instead?!



Not saying I adhere to this theory, or to the other one Reusse mentions, just saying that's one of the more prevalent opposing theories out there right now.


Which theory do I adhere to? Which ever one results in us getting those guys, I guess, lol.
Click to expand...

If Tubby is an honorable man, he'll take his buyout, announcing a retirement and then introduce those 3 players personally to Shaka. In a day and age where loyalty means nothing to Coaches and McDonald's All-Americans who are forced to play just 1 season in college, I don't worry about them being upset at all over Tubby's ouster.
 


#1nHkyCfbBsbDncSolarDebat said:
Then there is the theory that Tubby has built up a relationship with these guys, and only if Tubby leads this team to a successful tournament will we have a shot to get these guys. Bringing in some new guy, no matter the circumstances, that hasn't had the time to build up a relationship with these guys, could lead them to just go elsewhere instead?!

Not saying I adhere to this theory, or to the other one Reusse mentions, just saying that's one of the more prevalent opposing theories out there right now.


Which theory do I adhere to? Which ever one results in us getting those guys, I guess, lol.
Click to expand...
That's the big $ question right? I wish our AD knew (maybe he does) what the big three, plus Henry, plus the young man from Grand Rapids think of Tubby. Personally I wish Tubby had more fire and passion (like Clem and like Jerry Kill), but right now I think this current team's talent is about #5 in the Big ten. We have had some very bad losses this year, and some really nice wins. How many more wins would a great coach have coaxed out of this current lineup?
 

If I were Tubby...

Moses87 said:
If Tubby is an honorable man, he'll take his buyout, announcing a retirement and then introduce those 3 players personally to Shaka. In a day and age where loyalty means nothing to Coaches and McDonald's All-Americans who are forced to play just 1 season in college, I don't worry about them being upset at all over Tubby's ouster.
Click to expand...

I would ask (or have one of my assistants or the AD if that's legal) the following question to the Big Three: "....if there were a head coach other than Tubby at Minnesota, could that make the difference in you selecting Minnesota as your college? Otherwise stated, is Tubby's presence at Minnesota a reason you wouldn't select that school?"

People may jump all over me about this approach, but there needs to be some open and honest dialogue somehow with these kids and their parents. Another approach may be the following question: "what would it take for you to select Minnesota?"

Regardless of the their answers, I'm not suggesting that Tubby should stay or leave. After all, allowing these three kids to determine the fate of Tubby Smith is sort of strange, to say the least. But, it would be useful information. Perhaps I'm naive in thinking that conversations like this don't regularly take place.

I concede that I'm no expert when it comes to this kind of thing, but I also know that I have the skills to carry on a frank, open and honest discussion with any human being. Whether that human being will respond or will respond openly and honestly is the question.

You have to somehow get it out in the open what are the three primary factors in the recruits' decision making. Having said all this, I realize we're talking about 17 year old boys. They may be unable to articulate their exact feelings or reasoning. Or, they may be too embarrassed to say something like the following: "I love the colors at Michigan State, and Magic Johnson went to Michigan State and, according to my dad, Magic was the greatest basketball player to ever play the game, and I think Keith Appling is a major stud, and they have a great business program".
 

nokomismod said:
but right now I think this current team's talent is about #5 in the Big ten. We have had some very bad losses this year, and some really nice wins. How many more wins would a great coach have coaxed out of this current lineup?
Click to expand...

I saw a pretty talented group of players that came to play last night, on a night when they couldn't hit a three if their life depended on it, they could go far in the tournament or completely flop, talent is there though.

Not sure why they are so inconsitent but when the Gophers want to they put out a pretty good product, I think this includes both the coaches and the players.
 

jovs said:
I saw a pretty talented group of players that came to play last night, on a night when they couldn't hit a three if their life depended on it, they could go far in the tournament or completely flop, talent is there though.

Not sure why they are so inconsitent but when the Gophers want to they put out a pretty good product, I think this includes both the coaches and the players.
Click to expand...

The bold part is exactly what I've been thinking. If we could have had the team last night show up with that kind of intensity away against Iowa (outside of the first few minutes of that game, of course), the outcome of that one is drastically different. I really hope the play they had last night continues into the next few games! I really enjoyed watching EE's intensity last night. I know he always brings quite a bit of hustle and intensity, albeit a little out of control sometimes. But, I thought he played really well!
 



My theory is that Reusse waits until he poops 3 times in his pants before he decides he needs to wipe.
 

My theory is Reusse is an idiot. His analysis and opinions on anything save for maybe baseball can't be respected. His opinions go from one extreme to the other based one game. Gophers don't have the talent now they'll make the Sweet Sixteen. Tubby is stupid now he's a great coach deserving to remain the head coach.
 

On the subject of the Big 3, one thing I have wondered is if Tubby has tried to either get them all in a room together (or on a conference call), make a pitch about how revered they would be if they all came here and would be forever known as the three who took Minnesota basketball to the top, and then leave them alone (in the room or on the phone line) to discuss it among themselves.
 

I've wondered the exact same thing. My bet is that ideas like this, while seemingly great in theory, rarely happen. I'm not sure why that is, but my gut tells me it just doesn't work.
 



BreakTheGopherCurse said:
I've wondered the exact same thing. My bet is that ideas like this, while seemingly great in theory, rarely happen. I'm not sure why that is, but my gut tells me it just doesn't work.
Click to expand...

I think we've seen pitches to get multiple players to come together work. I think Suter and Parise agreed to come to the Wild as a pair this year, and the same thing happened with Lebron/Bosh (as much as I hate them). I don't think if they were leaning away from us, it would be any kind of magic pill, but I hope we have at least put them together. If two of them were leaning this way but were unsure about how good we would be, I think it would help if they new other highly touted recruits were going to come.
 


Decker: "Enough of your theories, Kirk. That thing's on the way to the heart of the galaxy!"
 

Moses87 said:
If Tubby is an honorable man, he'll take his buyout, announcing a retirement and then introduce those 3 players personally to Shaka. In a day and age where loyalty means nothing to Coaches and McDonald's All-Americans who are forced to play just 1 season in college, I don't worry about them being upset at all over Tubby's ouster.
Click to expand...
Dude I rarely post on here but you are VERY annoying. Do us all a favor and go away until tubby actually resigns or gets fired someday. Thanks buddy!
 



I was thinking of something earlier today. I was wondering, for the first time in a VERY long time, about Troy Bell. What ever happened to that young man?

And what struck me, is that you never hear about him. He's a native Minnesotan, but Sid never mentions him. Is he alive? Playing in the NBA? Married with kids and a job at the car dealership somewhere just outside of Boston?! Is he loved and revered by all Bostonians? Did he get his current job partly because of his time playing for BC?!

Does anyone from Minnesota outside of his family members and old school friends care?!


I mean, I know the arguments been made before, that going to the U can have long term benefits, but the reality is, it really can. How many Gopher fans want Flip Saunders to be the next coach?! How many wanted Marc Trestman to be the Gopher fb or the Viking coach? Quincy Lewis has been mentioned as a possible candidate for an Asst coaching position. And what local high school wouldn't hire a former Gopher great to coach their teams? I mean, it just seems like being a former Gopher great really is a big deal around here, and the # of opportunities that can be taken advantage of because of that just seem like a lot. Is it really the same when you go far off to go to school? To some degree I am sure. And maybe it depends on where you go, but I am just not sure?

Any thoughts?
 


#1nHkyCfbBsbDncSolarDebat said:
I was thinking of something earlier today. I was wondering, for the first time in a VERY long time, about Troy Bell. What ever happened to that young man?

And what struck me, is that you never hear about him. He's a native Minnesotan, but Sid never mentions him. Is he alive? Playing in the NBA? Married with kids and a job at the car dealership somewhere just outside of Boston?! Is he loved and revered by all Bostonians? Did he get his current job partly because of his time playing for BC?!

Does anyone from Minnesota outside of his family members and old school friends care?!


I mean, I know the arguments been made before, that going to the U can have long term benefits, but the reality is, it really can. How many Gopher fans want Flip Saunders to be the next coach?! How many wanted Marc Trestman to be the Gopher fb or the Viking coach? Quincy Lewis has been mentioned as a possible candidate for an Asst coaching position. And what local high school wouldn't hire a former Gopher great to coach their teams? I mean, it just seems like being a former Gopher great really is a big deal around here, and the # of opportunities that can be taken advantage of because of that just seem like a lot. Is it really the same when you go far off to go to school? To some degree I am sure. And maybe it depends on where you go, but I am just not sure?

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

It is not a perfect analog, but I think of Dan Wilson for the Mariners. After his first 2 seasons of pro ball, Wilson was traded to the Mariners. He spent the rest of his career there. By doing the following things, he became as loved and recognized as anyone else on the team by the end of his career (and is now their color man), despite being a solid defensive catcher but otherwise unremarkable player:
1) stayed with the Mariners
2) didn't get in trouble
3) didn't mouth off to coaches or media
4) gave a full effort, every time
5) was a nice guy to teammates and fans

If players of the Big 3's caliber stuck with Minnesota, and followed those rules, I bet they have a chance to become real basketball legends here.
 

I haven't heard from anyone that all 3 kids have considered playing together. If Tubby's the coach, he simply can't go 0-3. If he can land 2 of 3 he gives the program new life.
 



It seems to work for the Gophers Hockey team to get the stud hometown guys - it would be nice to see that happen with basketball for a change. No way we get all of the Big Three but if we did, the head coach would be almost irrelevant. They could probably pretty much guide themselves to the final four. In fact, i could probably start an entirely new thread about how Tyus is just the right person to bring the player-coach back and eventually to the NBA. :D
 



Troy is still playing over in Italy, for Pallacanestro Reggiana

#1nHkyCfbBsbDncSolarDebat said:
I was thinking of something earlier today. I was wondering, for the first time in a VERY long time, about Troy Bell. What ever happened to that young man?

And what struck me, is that you never hear about him. He's a native Minnesotan, but Sid never mentions him. Is he alive? Playing in the NBA? Married with kids and a job at the car dealership somewhere just outside of Boston?! Is he loved and revered by all Bostonians? Did he get his current job partly because of his time playing for BC?!

Does anyone from Minnesota outside of his family members and old school friends care?!


I mean, I know the arguments been made before, that going to the U can have long term benefits, but the reality is, it really can. How many Gopher fans want Flip Saunders to be the next coach?! How many wanted Marc Trestman to be the Gopher fb or the Viking coach? Quincy Lewis has been mentioned as a possible candidate for an Asst coaching position. And what local high school wouldn't hire a former Gopher great to coach their teams? I mean, it just seems like being a former Gopher great really is a big deal around here, and the # of opportunities that can be taken advantage of because of that just seem like a lot. Is it really the same when you go far off to go to school? To some degree I am sure. And maybe it depends on where you go, but I am just not sure?

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
 


You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom