Seth Davis says Minnesota is 2nd-worst job in B1G | BMTN Interview

[GopherWeatherGuy]

I'm with you.

I think Nebraska stands alone in their disadvantaged status. They've never won an NCAA game. Fred was very successful at ISU and can't seem to get any traction there. Northwestern had historically been the program that couldn't seem to get anywhere, but Collins has flipped the script there...although could it fly on its own there without him? Penn State has some disadvantages (e.g., out in the middle of nowhere, although that hasn't seemed to affect the football program), and they've been taking two steps forward and one step back over and over since they joined the conference.

Minnesota has both advantages and disadvantages. There's been too many successes over the years to characterize this as a bad situation, but sustained success isn't automatic either. We're disadvantaged at the moment because of the last quarter century of underperforming the situation, but I see our potential as being no worse than Wisconsin or Iowa.

I'll disagree with you on Nebraska. There's no reason they shouldn't be successful. Fred is a very overrated coach. They have great facilities and plenty of money to spend. Location isn't a big issue considering there are 3 highly successful programs within a 3 hr drive.

 

[matt]

Is Seth Davis still a thing?

He’s doing a podcast with Tony Liebert… so no.

 

[howeda7]

Minnesota is a better job than Northwestern and Penn State easily.

It also probably better than Rutgers and Nebraska. Both of those jobs feel like they've peaked and are now declining. If Piekiell and Hoiberg with a shiny new arena couldn't do it, who will?

We are in the bottom group, but there's nothing inherently better about Iowa, Washington etc. either.

 

[Unregistered User]

I'd imagine Fred Hoiberg is still held in high regard. Fact is he's about as good a leader for that program as they can get.

Fred Hoiberg
84 - 108 - .438 winning percentage in his career in the Big10. 1 tourney appearance, 0 wins.

Ben Johnson
56 - 71 - .441 winning percentage in his career in the Big 10.

 

[formerlybis]

Minnesota is a better job than Northwestern and Penn State easily.

It also probably better than Rutgers and Nebraska. Both of those jobs feel like they've peaked and are now declining. If Piekiell and Hoiberg with a shiny new arena couldn't do it, who will?

We are in the bottom group, but there's nothing inherently better about Iowa, Washington etc. either.

I don’t think Rutgers has a new arena. You can have an argument about which is a worse job, but RU (currently) has a rabid home crowd and a fertile recruiting area - both better than MN. OTOH, they are worse historically and played in lower leagues until joining the B10. I’d put that program higher than MN.

 

[goldenboy]

I think Seth Davis is the second worst basketball commentator in the country.

 

[Obi-Wan Okogie]

I have been saying the Gophers are a problem for a while. Tubby Smith wass shocked at the state of our facilities when he got here. All of our coaches have struggled mightily to have success since Clem and that's not all on the coaches ability, a lot of that is the program/school.

We are second rate. The Timberwolves have had similar issues. When KG got traded to the Celtics he marveled at how different the culture around basketball was in that franchise. Arod and Lore were against at some of the amenities at Target Center such as how absolutely low rate one of the main areas that players and media have to go through to get into TC looked. They immediately got to work making it better.

All of that stuff matters. You have to have good facilities, high booster engagement, University funding, etc. The Gophers haven't made that a priority.

 

[Spaulding!No!]

He’s doing a podcast with Tony Liebert… so no.

Aww jeez.

 

[Bad Gopher]

I have been saying the Gophers are a problem for a while. Tubby Smith wass shocked at the state of our facilities when he got here. All of our coaches have struggled mightily to have success since Clem and that's not all on the coaches ability, a lot of that is the program/school.

We are second rate. The Timberwolves have had similar issues. When KG got traded to the Celtics he marveled at how different the culture around basketball was in that franchise. Arod and Lore were against at some of the amenities at Target Center such as how absolutely low rate one of the main areas that players and media have to go through to get into TC looked. They immediately got to work making it better.

All of that stuff matters. You have to have good facilities, high booster engagement, University funding, etc. The Gophers haven't made that a priority.

I think Clem was extraordinary, and he succeded in spite of all those things. I must emphasize, though, that practically all of this can be overcome. Rather than an excuse for continued struggles in the future, these things and others serve as a to-do list.

As I noted, this program has some inherent disadvantages, but so does almost every other program in the country. I remember reading an article--an interview with Mark Few about the early days of his tenure and all the things that needed to be improved if they were to be a major program and realize what he and other visionaries saw as its potential. And they did all those things, and the rest is history.

I see Niko's energy and vision and knowhow, and I know that he can get it done, but it can't be just him alone.