STrib: Ben Johnson hopes his Gophers ignore criticism following 0-3 Big Ten start; he has a $2.93 million buyout if fired after this season.

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TwistingMyMelon said:
A predictably witless response. No amount of talking (good or bad) will make it better. The only thing that could make it better is a complete reversal of fortune which to anyone following the team seems very unlikely to happen. Meanwhile, it just a slog to the end of the season unless the coach is fired before that.
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End the slog and give the players/fans something to rally around. At this point I don't even want them to win until we KNOW that Coyle will move on from this disaster. Whether they go 0-20 or 2-18 doesn't matter. But God forbid they go 6-14 and convince themselves to let it ride because he signed a couple "promising" freshman.
 

TwistingMyMelon said:
A predictably witless response. No amount of talking (good or bad) will make it better. The only thing that could make it better is a complete reversal of fortune which to anyone following the team seems very unlikely to happen. Meanwhile, it just a slog to the end of the season unless the coach is fired before that.
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We be sloggin'. There isn't an assistant to test drive, so my guess is it doesn't happen until EOS. Could be wrong. I'd personally do it now, if anything to signal to the fan base changes are coming. That of course assumes people are even paying attention.
 

howeda7 said:
End the slog and give the players/fans something to rally around. At this point I don't even want them to win until we KNOW that Coyle will move on from this disaster. Whether they go 0-20 or 2-18 doesn't matter. But God forbid they go 6-14 and convince themselves to let it ride because he signed a couple "promising" freshman.
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That would truly be a "disaster".
 

howeda7 said:
It would be nice if the local media, Marcus included, could hold this program more accountable than "they have no NIL. Poor Ben. What can he do?" and acknowledge how historically awful this is, what it's done to attendance etc. Both Ben and Mark should be held to some account.
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So they write a story or run a news piece eviscerating the program for hiring Johnson and the mess of the last few years.....then what? Keep running the same piece over and over again everyday until he is fired?

Everyone can see what a mess the basketball program is right now, and a coaching change will happen in the near future. Ben Johnson will be held accountable by Coyle and fired. Coyle will be held accountable by his bosses who will demand he make a good hire this time around. In the meantime is it really that important to some of you to have the media and everyone constantly kicking the coaches/players/program while it's down?

Would that make you feel better to open the trib or pioneer press daily and read a story about how bad the program is?
 

howeda7 said:
End the slog and give the players/fans something to rally around. At this point I don't even want them to win until we KNOW that Coyle will move on from this disaster. Whether they go 0-20 or 2-18 doesn't matter. But God forbid they go 6-14 and convince themselves to let it ride because he signed a couple "promising" freshman.
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I really don't think we need to worry about that.

6-14 wouldn't be near good enough to secure another season
 


MNVCGUY said:
So they write a story or run a news piece eviscerating the program for hiring Johnson and the mess of the last few years.....then what? Keep running the same piece over and over again everyday until he is fired?

Everyone can see what a mess the basketball program is right now, and a coaching change will happen in the near future. Ben Johnson will be held accountable by Coyle and fired. Coyle will be held accountable by his bosses who will demand he make a good hire this time around. In the meantime is it really that important to some of you to have the media and everyone constantly kicking the coaches/players/program while it's down?

Would that make you feel better to open the trib or pioneer press daily and read a story about how bad the program is?
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It would help if journalists were honest in their assessment, if they are going to act as commentators. Or, just stop reporting at all. We can all enjoy more reporting on the women's team at this present time.
 

Zeppelin Gopher said:
I really don't think we need to worry about that.

6-14 wouldn't be near good enough to secure another season
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Agree, especially when you factor in that nearly the whole roster is going to turnover again no matter who the coach is.

Outside of a ridiculous run in Big Ten play (that would have to come out of nowhere) I really don't see anyway Johnson saves his job at this point.
 


MNVCGUY said:
So they write a story or run a news piece eviscerating the program for hiring Johnson and the mess of the last few years.....then what? Keep running the same piece over and over again everyday until he is fired?

Everyone can see what a mess the basketball program is right now, and a coaching change will happen in the near future. Ben Johnson will be held accountable by Coyle and fired. Coyle will be held accountable by his bosses who will demand he make a good hire this time around. In the meantime is it really that important to some of you to have the media and everyone constantly kicking the coaches/players/program while it's down?

Would that make you feel better to open the trib or pioneer press daily and read a story about how bad the program is?
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Eviscerating? No. Over and and over? No.

An honest assessment of the shambles the program is in would be nice. Something deeper than "Poor Ben. The Gophers just can't compete. They have no NIL. I feel so bad for him. Poor Ben." As it is now, we get some version of this or no coverage at all.
 



Zeppelin Gopher said:
I really don't think we need to worry about that.

6-14 wouldn't be near good enough to secure another season
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You wouldn't think so. But I'm not 100% convinced. As long as no one seems to care, Coyle might be fine letting it ride.
 

Zeppelin Gopher said:
I really don't think we need to worry about that.

6-14 wouldn't be near good enough to secure another season
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Oh no, I think it would. However the "need to worry" part of your statement would be that no way do they get close to 6 wins!!! LOL
 


TNGophfan said:
I keep waiting for Ruesse to lower the boom, like he would have, and back-handily has, with Fleck.
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He won't. He likes Ben and thinks college basketball is now a joke. Poor Ben.
 
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howeda7 said:
End the slog and give the players/fans something to rally around. At this point I don't even want them to win until we KNOW that Coyle will move on from this disaster. Whether they go 0-20 or 2-18 doesn't matter. But God forbid they go 6-14 and convince themselves to let it ride because he signed a couple "promising" freshman.
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When can we move on from Coyle?
 


Angry said:
When can we move on from Coyle?
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No time soon I'm afraid. Football is pretty good. Hockey's good. His women's basketball and volleyball hires seem OK. But he's not in demand enough to get poached either.
 

MNVCGUY said:
So they write a story or run a news piece eviscerating the program for hiring Johnson and the mess of the last few years.....then what? Keep running the same piece over and over again everyday until he is fired?

Everyone can see what a mess the basketball program is right now, and a coaching change will happen in the near future. Ben Johnson will be held accountable by Coyle and fired. Coyle will be held accountable by his bosses who will demand he make a good hire this time around. In the meantime is it really that important to some of you to have the media and everyone constantly kicking the coaches/players/program while it's down?

Would that make you feel better to open the trib or pioneer press daily and read a story about how bad the program is?
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And some of you couldn't see this coming and loved up CBJ from the outset, and have made excuse after excuse. YOU are the problem.
 



BarnBurner said:
And some of you couldn't see this coming and loved up CBJ from the outset, and have made excuse after excuse. YOU are the problem.
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Look, nitwit, nobody "loved" CBJ. Some were just willing to tolerate the situation for a time like they would for any coach (at least temporarily). At this point, the only redeeming quality CBJ has is that his presence pisses off the assholes like you. In that one limited respect, I'm proud to join him.
 

FinnGopher said:
How is a person on a chat board who hopes the best for Gopher Sports by hoping Johnson can win here...the problem?
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By making oodles of excuses. By downplaying the reality of the situation. By rationalizing the talent of players that have no business in the big 10.

Mnvcguy is very, very good at what he does.
 

TwistingMyMelon said:
Look, nitwit, nobody "loved" CBJ. Some were just willing to tolerate the situation for a time like they would for any coach (at least temporarily). At this point, the only redeeming quality CBJ has is that his presence pisses off the assholes like you. In that one limited respect, I'm proud to join him.
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Wrong.

Plenty of gh posters sang the praises of the hire. Loved it, a Mn kid and an alum.

Some people can recognize and acknowledge the obvious. Others like you? Nope.
 

It was over the moment all the player but one took off when he was named coach. It spoke volumes.
 

I honestly think there is more nuance here than the "bad hire" - "bad coach" narrative.

Johnson was hired in large part because he was a MN alum with ties to the HS and AAU Coaches - and he would work cheap. One of the main rationales for hiring Johnson was that he would be able to improve in-state HS recruiting.

and then - NCAA approved NIL and unlimited transfers. now HS recruiting has become less important. the whole notion of a developmental program is out the window - it's all about the portal. and like it or not, if you want the top HS recruits or the top portal transfers, you have to have the money to pay them.

in short - a coach like Johnson would not be hired today. the game has changed and a different set of skills are needed. bad timing all around.

and lest we forget - Coyle hired Johnson. Coyle has to share in the responsibility. He's the AD. He cannot just hide in his office and say "they made me hire a black coach. It's not my fault."

If I was a higher-up at MN, I would fire Coyle first. Hire a new AD, and let the new AD hire the new coach.
 

short ornery norwegian said:
I honestly think there is more nuance here than the "bad hire" - "bad coach" narrative.

Johnson was hired in large part because he was a MN alum with ties to the HS and AAU Coaches - and he would work cheap. One of the main rationales for hiring Johnson was that he would be able to improve in-state HS recruiting.

and then - NCAA approved NIL and unlimited transfers. now HS recruiting has become less important. the whole notion of a developmental program is out the window - it's all about the portal. and like it or not, if you want the top HS recruits or the top portal transfers, you have to have the money to pay them.

in short - a coach like Johnson would not be hired today. the game has changed and a different set of skills are needed. bad timing all around.

and lest we forget - Coyle hired Johnson. Coyle has to share in the responsibility. He's the AD. He cannot just hide in his office and say "they made me hire a black coach. It's not my fault."

If I was a higher-up at MN, I would fire Coyle first. Hire a new AD, and let the new AD hire the new coach.
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You’ve changed. Take an optimism pill.
 

short ornery norwegian said:
I honestly think there is more nuance here than the "bad hire" - "bad coach" narrative.

Johnson was hired in large part because he was a MN alum with ties to the HS and AAU Coaches - and he would work cheap. One of the main rationales for hiring Johnson was that he would be able to improve in-state HS recruiting.

and then - NCAA approved NIL and unlimited transfers. now HS recruiting has become less important. the whole notion of a developmental program is out the window - it's all about the portal. and like it or not, if you want the top HS recruits or the top portal transfers, you have to have the money to pay them.

in short - a coach like Johnson would not be hired today. the game has changed and a different set of skills are needed. bad timing all around.

and lest we forget - Coyle hired Johnson. Coyle has to share in the responsibility. He's the AD. He cannot just hide in his office and say "they made me hire a black coach. It's not my fault."

If I was a higher-up at MN, I would fire Coyle first. Hire a new AD, and let the new AD hire the new coach.
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I agree with just about everything you've said above but I doubt Coyle is evaluated primarily on the success or failure of any given coach. ADs are not professional sports franchise general managers. They're mostly business managers and their responsibility includes the entire athletic department. It could be that Coyle is doing well enough under the criteria of those who evaluate him even though he isn't popular with the university's basketball fans. He hired Fleck and has kept him here so football fans should be reasonably happy with him. I don't see any danger in letting him hire Johnson's replacement.

I think you're right that Coach Johnson was a particularly bad hire for the new competitive environment but I think his shortcomings go beyond that and really are being exposed in this season. Most of these players have played better previously in their careers and it's not just a matter of most of them stepping up to a tougher league. They didn't play particularly well against the nonmajors in the nonconference schedule either. The team actually is shooting better in conference games than they did in nonconference games. It's the defense that has gone completely to hell in the conference games.
 

FinnGopher said:
How is a person on a chat board who hopes the best for Gopher Sports by hoping Johnson can win here...the problem?
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I assumed I must the the person BB was referring to so I hit show ignored content and holy crap he is just completely nuts at this point.....

Save your time trying to reason with him though. Just put him on ignore and call it a day, you won't be missing anything.
 



MNVCGUY said:
I assumed I must the the person BB was referring to so I hit show ignored content and holy crap he is just completely nuts at this point.....

Save your time trying to reason with him though. Just put him on ignore and call it a day, you won't be missing anything.
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You read every word.
 

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