Ant at minimum would at least still have been a Lottery Pick under our tutelage.
The Four Freshmen are playing at Crooners on the 28th, by the way.
Not sure how much coaching went on in 6 months when ANT was always a 1 and done high pick.
After being a season ticket holder for almost all of the Pitino era and only giving them up due to not being able to attend as much—and even last year watching every game possible. And for all of my life being a huge fan—I’m with you. I think I just don’t care anymore. When I watch other teams I care about I feel happy or sad or excited or nervous. With Gopher basketball I feel nothing.
If the plan is to wait for him to be ready to contribute (assuming he comes here) that is a major issue.
A Season Ticket holder friend of mine (circa 10-15 years ago) whenever he asked his kids to go, they would lie about having excessive homework or an upcoming test to avoid having to accompany him to the Barn.
Different eras. Different circumstances. Bad comparison. And probably not true anyway.
He’s available. Would you want him?
I was in college back then, and believe me you, there was grumbling. There was also ridicule. The Minnesota Daily did a parody issue set 25 years in the future, and the article about the basketball team was that they were still on the verge of turning the corner, but by that time Clem's daughter Clemette was coaching the team. They'd come back to make their most recent game closer when Todd Alexander II made a 25-point field goal from the top of the opposite key.
Very good question. It probably doesn’t have a precise answer but it deserves some answer. My standard from the gate was competing for NCAA tournament in season 3, which feels like an impossible dream now.
The era doesn't matter. The circumstances are the same. The comparison is spot-on. And it is definitely true...zero question about it.
Exactly. Despite inheriting a dumpster fire...despite Haskins' playing freshmen and good recruiting...most wanted to run him out of town in year-2. This never changes.
I actually think it is very possible. I think that by next year Payne will be as good or better than Oturu was in year 2. We have Battle and Garcia. Fox and Ihnen coming back. Ola Joseph. The young guards will get better. He needs a high end transfer PG and perhaps one more guard. He has to be able to go get those pieces and then put together an offense and defense that works with that group. There is no reason that, with the addition of one key guy and good coaching, we can't be in the NCAAs next year. There should be no excuses next year and anyone that just says- "stop complaining until 2025" - is really part of the problem.
Your unquestioned confidence suggests absolute brilliance or simply a modified con game. I vote for the first, because it benefits us as fans much more.
Make the NCAAs.
We should see progress in our freshmen next year. But our best recruits will be freshmen. You have to give it 1 more year.
Your list of ifs just seems too long to me. Assuming healthy returns from injury is at the top of the list for me. Big if.
I've said that I don't know if Coach Johnson will succeed or fail. But we have to give him the same opportunity as Clem. We have to let him develop his first recruits until they're juniors.
I keep reading this fox and ihnen thing. II was/is full of potential, that is all. Fox, while garnering a lot of offers, has never played major conf bb. Both of those are "bigs".
Actually Haskins' recruiting was not that great in those early years. Ben's has been much better.
It's true that we don't know on Fox and Ihnen, but with them in the fold -whether or not they are starters, we know they would be good depth and the front court would be plenty deep with guys that can contribute. The issue with Fox an Ihnen is that it points to very poor roster construction that we are that heavy with bigs and minimal guard play.
I highly disagree with counting on Fox, Ihnen, and judging CBJ on next-year's won-loss record.
Good point.
So in your opinion every single coach (barring some huge scandal) should get through year 4 no matter the results is that correct? So say 4-14. 1-17, 2-16 in conf the first 3 years and you would still feel that they are owed a 4th year?
This is a different age of basketball. These kids play non-stop basketball, travel the country with AAU teams and are far more ready than the kids of Clem's days. If they aren't ready to go by the time they are sophomores, chances are they never will be. The arena is already half empty. We need success by next year- badly. The fan base is tired of losing and the Barn (an arena I love) looks like a total dump when it isn't mostly full, the parking is a mess and its a cold walk. Right now, we have a group of 6 tickets and it is hard to give the tickets away. This is as bad as it has been.
Clem comparison is one comparison. 2022 has the portal, and things are dramatically changed. No need to watch and wait for 4 years to see winning. No need.
