Spencer says Gophers job is no better than 9th in the Big Ten

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BleedGopher

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per a USA Today article titled "Minnesota's Tubby Smith on the hot seat vs. Florida in NCAAs" - per the article:

The job is a good one, but not necessarily a destination job for coaches. Gopher Radio Network analyst Spencer Tollackson, who played his last season at Minnesota during Smith's first year, said the job is no better than the ninth-best in the league based on challenges related to resources and support.

"Other than when Clem (Haskins) cheated his ass off, what have they done (before Smith)?" Tollackson said. "Maybe it's not the head coach. Maybe these problems are deeper. If they think just getting another guy in place is the answer, I think people are severely naïve."

As an example of the gulf between the Minnesota program and some of its peers, Tollackson said he recalls waiting for a flight to another Big Ten school in recent months when he saw a private jet land, a woman and two kids get off. Then out walked Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, Tollackson said, who went to see highly touted point guard Tyus Jones play before getting back on the plane in time to be home for dinner.

"Until Minnesota has that, it will be very difficult to compete," Tollackson said. "You hear about keeping up with the Joneses. If you don't, you have no shot at surviving."

And now Smith's future could hinge on Sunday's NCAA tournament game against Donovan's Gators.

"I'm never surprised with anything," Smith said. "In this business? Are you kidding me, I'm too old to be surprised anymore."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...olden-gophers-basketball-tubby-smith/2013975/

Go Gophers!!
 



OMG, you mean to tell me that the U of M head basketball coach, has to fly commercial or drive a university supplied car for recruiting? Say it ain't so! I could have sworn I saw Tubby step off the luxuriously appointed Goldie Gopher recruiting bus. After all, the U does supply a driver, so it's not like Tubby has to drive it himself.
 

Disagree, I'd say this job is tied for 7th in the Big Ten. :)
 


UofMdad said:
OMG, you mean to tell me that the U of M head basketball coach, has to fly commercial or drive a university supplied car for recruiting? Say it ain't so! I could have sworn I saw Tubby step off the luxuriously appointed Goldie Gopher recruiting bus. After all, the U does supply a driver, so it's not like Tubby has to drive it himself.
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1. Easier to fit visits into your schedule when you are able to take advantage of things like private jets.
2. Remember back when you were 17 and 18 years old, and how things impressed you then that you may think are stupid now. It doesn't matter what you or I think when it comes to the recruiting process, it's all about teenage kids.
 






It's anywhere between 4th and 8th. Realistically, probably between 6th and 8th. But Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and Purdue are all pretty much on the same level. Indiana, MSU and OSU are 1-3. Iowa, Nebraska, NW and PSU are 9-12.
 

Spencer is reading and tweeting my posts off GH again...

This team is on a tier with Wisconsin/Purdue below the Indiana, Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State, Illinois (in that order). You could make compelling arguments to place us anywhere 6-9.

The program could pass Illinois in the next decade with a decent winning percentage and new/remodeled facilities. To bump either Michigan/Ohio State down would probably require a national title.

Oh and Maryland is a better job, so when they enter they'll bump us down. I would put them above Illinois and group them on the Michigan/Ohio State tier.
 


howeda7 said:
It's anywhere between 4th and 8th. Realistically, probably between 6th and 8th. But Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and Purdue are all pretty much on the same level. Indiana, MSU and OSU are 1-3. Iowa, Nebraska, NW and PSU are 9-12.
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I'll give you three links as to why they're not on the same level.

Illinois:

http://www.athletics.illinois.edu/facilities/facilities/ubben/default.htm

Michigan:

http://www.athletics.illinois.edu/facilities/facilities/ubben/default.htm

Purdue:

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/32783/touring-purdues-new-facilities

Also, what makes it a better job than Iowa?
 



howeda7 said:
It's anywhere between 4th and 8th. Realistically, probably between 6th and 8th. But Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and Purdue are all pretty much on the same level. Indiana, MSU and OSU are 1-3. Iowa, Nebraska, NW and PSU are 9-12.
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I think you pretty much nailed it, I think it's a lot easier to make an argument for Minnesota as the 5th or 6th best job in the conference than you could that it's the 9th best job. My only slight disagreement is that I'd probably put the Michigan job as a clear number 4 now that they have new facilities. The more relevant point is that it's on a tier with a few other jobs that are probably "ahead" of Minnesota right now (ex Wisconsin), but would have been considered significantly less attractive than Minnesota in the 80's/90's.

Definitely need that new practice facility, there's no doubt about that.
 



I would think there are four/five that have a distinct advantage, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Indiana, and Illinois.

I don't see how it is that much different than Purdue, Wisconsin, or Iowa for the right coach

Better than Nebraska, Penn State, Northwestern,
 

What makes one job being better than another? The fact is that the answer depends on the parties involved. Some is tangible and obvious - lots of it isn't.

Such a ranking doesn't mean jack unless you define what you're basing your ranking on. "Here's a ranking I did.. not going to tell you how I concluded these are my rankings, but... here they are."
 

Johnnyboy18 said:
I'll give you three links as to why they're not on the same level.

Illinois:

http://www.athletics.illinois.edu/facilities/facilities/ubben/default.htm

Michigan:

http://www.athletics.illinois.edu/facilities/facilities/ubben/default.htm

Purdue:

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/32783/touring-purdues-new-facilities

Also, what makes it a better job than Iowa?
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Fine, caveat that it was/will be on the same level when we get a practice facility. But there's no fundamental reason for it not to be.
 

Gopher Warrior said:
What makes one job being better than another? The fact is that the answer depends on the parties involved. Some is tangible and obvious - lots of it isn't.

Such a ranking doesn't mean jack unless you define what you're basing your ranking on. "Here's a ranking I did.. not going to tell you how I concluded these are my rankings, but... here they are."
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I would say facilities (MN Lacking - Williams is awesome tho), large money donors (one?), strong history/tradition of winning (kind of - not recent), proximity to high level talent (not really), administrative support (Joel Maturi), and location (city is nice, but it's cold)
 

Gopher Warrior said:
What makes one job being better than another? The fact is that the answer depends on the parties involved. Some is tangible and obvious - lots of it isn't.

Such a ranking doesn't mean jack unless you define what you're basing your ranking on. "Here's a ranking I did.. not going to tell you how I concluded these are my rankings, but... here they are."
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-Tradition/Historical Success
-Fan base
-Proximity to recruiting hotbeds
-Misc. location/weather/media exposure
 


I think you all are nuts...MN at 9 is a gift. IMO only Northwestern & Penn St is a worse job and when Rutgers joins, add them below us. MN will remain 10/11 until they invest in facilities. And the only reason Northwester will remain below us even after they build their new shiny facility is because it is damn hard to get admitted...if they would loosen up on admissions for student athletes, they could pass us in a few years.

MN just isn't a good job right now compared to the top programs in the country...and for an up and coming coach, MN has no history of being a quality stepping stone or destination for long term success.
 

I'd almost rather be coaching at Nebraska than Minnesota right now. New practice facility, opening a new arena, top 10-15 football program (having a powerhouse football team makes things easier, no doubt), and you might as well throw in low expectations.

I expect Miles to be successful sooner than later in Lincoln.

As far as Tubby, as much as I'd like him replaced, might as well let him ride out next season while the practice facility becomes more of a reality. The Gophers will be a more attractive job next spring, attract better candidates, if the practice facility is closer to being built than this job would be next week.
 

goldengophers said:
Access to talent Johnnyboy, start using your critical thinking skills.
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Even though the talent has been better lately in MN, it is no where near what it is in most other Big Ten states. Wisconsin, for example, has had way more top 150 talent the past five years or so. I know Wisconsin has to compete with Marquette, but they still have a lot more in their backyard.

Before anyone acts like I'm making an excuse for Tubby, I am not. Regardless of the talent pool, it doesn't excuse the lack of success up to this point. Just that when a potential new coach looks at MN, I don't think local talent would be a major factor.
 

The fact that Spencer was Mr. Basketball followed Travis Busch shows how bad MnBBall was during that era.. He is a little better but still pretty poor on the radio. Does he think he was a gopher great? Below average player and broadcaster.
 

howeda7 said:
It's anywhere between 4th and 8th. Realistically, probably between 6th and 8th. But Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and Purdue are all pretty much on the same level. Indiana, MSU and OSU are 1-3. Iowa, Nebraska, NW and PSU are 9-12.
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Illinois has better facilities and two major metropolitan areas in St Louis and Chicago in their backyard for recruiting. Michigan better facilities and much larger athletic budget. Wisconsin, Iowa both have a practice facility so I'll give them a slight edge, we build one and we will definently be their equal. Nebraska, they're investing in their program with a new arena, a new practice facility and a little project known as Husker air where their assistants will have provite jets at their disposal. Minnesota is definently a better job than Penn State and Northwestern and for now Nebraska, but if we stay in neutral, Nebraska will pass us. Maryland is the better job, I don't know anything about Rutgers but they suck so I'll say we're a better job. So for now I got us 10th out of 14 teams. 9th as the conference currently stands. Anyone who puts us in the top five with this universities track record of a lack of commitment to revenue sports is delusional, a huge homer, or hates Tubby so much they're blinded by it.
 

bemidjigopher said:
Illinois has better facilities and two major metropolitan areas in St Louis and Chicago in their backyard for recruiting. Michigan better facilities and much larger athletic budget. Wisconsin, Iowa both have a practice facility so I'll give them a slight edge, we build one and we will definently be their equal. Nebraska, they're investing in their program with a new arena, a new practice facility and a little project known as Husker air where their assistants will have provite jets at their disposal. Minnesota is definently a better job than Penn State and Northwestern and for now Nebraska, but if we stay in neutral, Nebraska will pass us. Maryland is the better job, I don't know anything about Rutgers but they suck so I'll say we're a better job. So for now I got us 10th out of 14 teams. 9th as the conference currently stands. Anyone who puts us in the top five with this universities track record of a lack of commitment to revenue sports is delusional, a huge homer, or hates Tubby so much they're blinded by it.
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The facilities issue is valid. But Minnesota is in major metro area and the only school in a state of 5 million people. Wisconsin has to compete with Marquette (and UW Milwaukee, GB, etc.) Iowa is in the middle of nowhere and has to be compete with ISU (and Drake, NIU, etc.). Illinoi probably is a better job. Chicago certainly produces more talent. But Northwestern is also there. And Depaul. And UIC. etc. Missouri and Kansas certainly have as much claim to St. Louis talent as Illinois does.

Minnesota also has good fan support. Look up national attendance #'s. We're usually in the top 25. The Barn still provides a pretty good home court advantage. Revenue should not be a disadvantage. There's been articles posted recently about the 'most valuable' programs. We're in the top 10 (the B1G does well in these lists). If we're funneling that money elsewhere and being cheap with the program, we can fix that. There are a lot of positives. The facilities are the main negative. But that is a fixable problem.
 

Spencer is mostly correct. My issue is that if Teague pulls the plug on Tubby, he damn well better make sure it's an upgrade over Tubby. Illinois is a much better job than Minnesota and they had a hard time landing a coach and ended up with Groce, who is someone I wouldn't call better than Tubby.
 

I don't know if you noticed it or not but the Minnesota press tends to be pretty negative and non-supportive when it comes to both our basketball and football programs. The word tends is a gross understatement. Add to that how a small percentage of our fan base can now easily communicate their constant negativity on forums such as Gopher Hole and various social media formats.


The fact is that one key recruit in basketball can make a huge difference. Look at the many small programs (after last night you can throw in Wichita State in as an example) In Minnesota almost every year we have some special basketball talent. What makes this a less than attractive job as the Minnesota coach is how hard we make it for our coach to recruit even in his own state. If you were Tyrus and the other top recruits in 2014 and you keep reading that the coach is not going to be around, what would you think.

That class has the ability to make their home school one of the top coaching jobs in the county and begin to build that Gopher legacy. Those kids would most likely love to be home town heroes and have their friends and families come to every game. I think we need the new facility and the funds to make it as easy as possible for our coach to visit key prospects, but to me it is not the biggest issue.
 

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