Shama on Medved: There’s reason to believe he’s the best since the Clem Haskins era of 1986-1999.

[Spaulding!No!]

I'll take your word for it

Once I get my Spirit Box up and running I’ll ask Flip directly.

 

[GopherGuy82]

I wouldn't say interest was "high" under Pitino. So we already disagree.

The average attendance at the Barn under Pitino was NEVER higher than it was during Smith's final season (12,580).

The 2 seasons Pitino got the Gophers to the NCAA Tournament, avg attendance was well under 11,000.

Williams Arena Attendance Figures - University of Minnesota Athletics

Year G Attend. Avg. BT G BT Attend. BT Avg. High 1946-47 11 132,949 12,087 7 107,399 15,343 16,519 1947-48 11 136,692 12,427 7 104,764 14,967 16,690 1948-49 ...

gophersports.com

Even more casual fans have dropped out because of the general state of NCAA athletics, which is another major hurdle Medved will have to navigate.

Medved is going to have to win at a clip much greater than he has previously to get this city to "blow up" for Gopher hoops. That seems rather obvious.

They can't include the attendance numbers from the Clem seasons that supposedly didn't happen. Man this stuff is silly.

 

[Ope3]

Can't believe the athletic department hired 2 guys with no experience with 2 different athletic directors. It would be similar to hiring a salesperson with no experience in sales or the product and wonder why they weren't successful, then fire him and hire another guy with no experience in sales. Then hire a 3rd person that was available when you fired the first guy and getting patted on the back for a great hire. All the while your company's failing due to failing poor sales.

Richard Pitino had minimal Head Coaching experience, it was not without any. 1 Year at FIU. Pretty solid Asst Coaching cred under Billy Donovan & Rick Pitino as well.

His first year in Minnesota demonstrated that the choice wasn't really a reach. Years 2 & 3 were the regressions (too many recruiting whiffs).

I don't disagree with the rest of your analogy.

 

[Ope3]

They can't include the attendance numbers from the Clem seasons that supposedly didn't happen. Man this stuff is silly.

Yeah, that is bizarre. Regardless of the sanctions, just showing attendance FACTS should not be excluded.

 

[dbmn]

Richard Pitino had minimal Head Coaching experience; it was not without any. 1 Year at FIU. Pretty solid Asst Coaching cred under Billy Donovan & Rick Pitino as well.

His first year in Minnesota demonstrated that the choice wasn't really a reach. Years 2 & 3 were the regressions.

I don't disagree with the rest of your analogy.

Please, he was head coach of Florida International. A big10 team hiring Pitino after 1 year head coaching experience at FL International is basically saying Pitino's resume was the only one available. Reaching for a 1-year coach from conference usa for a b10 job is only slightly better than hiring CBJ with no head-coach experience and turned down by multiple different smaller schools for head coaching jobs. Both times the failure falls on the athletic director and the administration for hiring the athletic director. Should have hired a coach in 2013 and 2020 with the experience and resume of Pitino as of today, 10 years as a head coach with "some success".

 

[Ope3]

Please, he was head coach of Florida International. A big10 team hiring Pitino after 1 year head coaching experience at FL International is basically saying Pitino's resume was the only one available. Reaching for a 1-year coach from conference usa for a b10 job is only slightly better than hiring CBJ with no head-coach experience and turned down by multiple different smaller schools for head coaching jobs. Both times the failure falls on the athletic director and the administration for hiring the athletic director. Should have hired a coach in 2013 and 2020 with the experience and resume of Pitino as of today, 10 years as a head coach with "some success".

It's working for Michigan St, Wisconsin, Northwestern & Purdue in which their current Coaches had 1 Year HC Experience combined.

The 1 season was Painter. In the Missouri Valley.

 

[dbmn]

It's working for Michigan St, Wisconsin, Northwestern & Purdue in which their current Coaches had 1 Year HC Experience combined.

The 1 year was Painter. In the Missouri Valley.

You're ignoring MSU, WI and Purdue's current head coaches were assistants at the schools before being hired as the head coach following head coaches that had been at those schools for many years. Are you advocating that Northwestern is an example of what other B10 schools should do when hiring a new head coach? Doesn't seem to be working at NWU and is not comparable to MSU, WI or Purdue.

 

[brucekaupa]

I just ducked in here to point out that Clem's overall Big Ten record is only 119-120...

 

[Ope3]

You're ignoring MSU, WI and Purdue's current head coaches were assistants at the schools before being hired as the head coach following head coaches that had been at those schools for many years. Are you advocating that Northwestern is an example of what other B10 schools should do when hiring a new head coach? Doesn't seem to be working at NWU and is not comparable to MSU, WI or Purdue.

Not working at Northwestern? How many times had they made the NCAA Tournament before Collins got there compared to after? This season was largely derailed due to injury.

I fulling recognize that Izzo, Gard, & Painter had other qualifications, yet it was still largely unknown how they would perform when actually coaching games or being the CEO in charge of their programs. Still gambles to some extent.

Pitino had solid Asst Coaching experience under 2 coaches with National Championship pedigree. It didn't work out long term in Minneapolis, but it was not an absolute failure either, eventually fired by his 3rd AD.

 

[dbmn]

I just ducked in here to point out that Clem's overall Big Ten record is only 119-120...

What was the attendance during Clem's tenure? I had season tickets beginning when Clem was hired and the Williams Arena capacity was 16k, at least thru 1992 when Williams was remodeled. There were many-many-many sellouts for b10 games.

 

[dbmn]

Not working at Northwestern? How many times had they made the NCAA Tournament before Collins got there compared to after? This season was largely derailed due to injury.

I fulling recognize that Izzo, Gard, & Painter had other qualifications, yet it was still largely unknown how they would perform when actually coaching games or being the CEO in charge of their programs. Still gambles to some extent.

Pitino had solid Asst Coaching experience under 2 coaches with National Championship pedigree. It didn't work out long term in Minneapolis, but it was not an absolute failure either, eventually fired by his 3rd AD.

I don't understand how you could agree with the UofM hiring Pitino and CBJ with their experience.

 

[Ope3]

I don't understand how you could agree with the UofM hiring Pitino and CBJ with their experience.

Where did I ever even mention the UofM hiring CBJ much less say I "agree"?

 

[dbmn]

I don't understand how you could agree with the UofM hiring Pitino and CBJ with their experience.

My mistake regarding CBJ. Regardless both were bad hires.

 

[brucekaupa]

What was the attendance during Clem's tenure? I had season tickets beginning when Clem was hired and the Williams Arena capacity was 16k, at least thru 1992 when Williams was remodeled. There were many-many-many sellouts for b10 games.

Yes. I was there. The atmosphere at games was much much more electric back then. You felt like we could potentially win any game (most years) but often the team laid eggs on the road.

To be fair, Clem did only really have 3 truly terrible years...those first two rebuilding years and then the year after Willie/Shik/Newbern/Coffey (and Lewis).

Regarding crowds, though, you also have to keep this in mind: The Wolves first season was 89-90 (Clem's 4th year) and they absolutely sucked until 96-97.

 

[dbmn]

Yes. I was there. The atmosphere at games was much much more electric back then. You felt like we could potentially win any game (most years) but often the team laid eggs on the road.

To be fair, Clem did only really have 3 truly terrible years...those first two rebuilding years and then the year after Willie/Shik/Newbern/Coffey (and Lewis).

Regarding crowds, though, you also have to keep this in mind: The Wolves first season was 89-90 (Clem's 4th year) and they absolutely sucked until 96-97.

Be tough to get the gopher attendance back. Entire generation has passed since they were competitive.

 

[Ope3]

Be tough to get the gopher attendance back. Entire generation has passed since they were competitive.

It's not just the Gophers lack of competitiveness. Lots (including me) just aren't into NCAA D1 Hoops in general as much as decades prior due to:

NIL, Portal & Conference Expansion.

Even if the Gopher on court success improves there is no chance I will be heading back to the Barn as much as I did pre-2020 (6-10 games per yr). Zero.

Good luck, Niko!