STrib blog: Is next year a rebuilding year for the Gophers?

[Seany]

I am also fine with the experts' expectations. I also agree with the statement that we can expect some hiccups and growing pains, but in any legitimate rebuilding year, I expect to see the team improve as the season goes on. One thing I would have trouble stomaching is another year where I feel significantly worse about my team at the end of the season than I do on January 1.

Yeah, I agree with this completely, and so to me brought the downfall the Tubby Smith era, his maddening inability to master the B10 and make us true contenders within the conference, and how without fail and no matter how brightly the season might have started, as the calendar moved into January and February, we would just wilt under the bright lights the Big Ten, leaving such a sour and bitter taste behind, and the ever wonderment what might have been, and Tubby throwing up his arms in seemingly utter resignation at the all of it, dull, tired, grey, and so always willing to throw his own players under the bus rather than acknowledging any his own nor his staffs culpability and ultimate responsibility for every moment took place out there on that court.

That's why as good a man and as great a coach as Tubby once was, I'd vastly prefer cast my lot with an entirely unproven quantity sporting not much more than the cachet his father's name, but also given the fundamental and relentless dynamism and hunger of youth, the ambition, as well the mentoring beneath some of the finest minds in the game. So if 'rebuilding' this is, than give me the rebuild always, rather than the continuing to spin the wheels endlessly while getting exactly nowhere, underneath a coach whose best years are far and far behind him.

Cast a line into uncertainty, and it's possible one might capture greatness, or at lease something much better than we had before.

 

[EG#9]

Only one incoming freshman in a rebuilding year? Yes, the Gophers have only one incoming freshman, but they could have chosen to bring in four freshman. The Gophers could (they won't, but could) bring in two more freshman for next year. When discussing rebuilding, it's more important (IMHO) to discuss who was lost and the resulting expectations for who is left. The Gophers lost Rodney and Trevor and don't add a single player who is anywhere near their pedigree to the roster. To make matters worse, the Gophers really don't have a single PF option on their roster. Finally, the Gophers lost a 3rd starter in Joe Coleman. The expectations going in to last year (among most Gopher fans) seemed to be a B1G finish of 5th or better and a tournament win or two. The Gophers got the tournament win, but they fell woefully short of expectations by going 8-10 in conference play.

If last years team finished 8-10 in conference play and we lost 3 starters off that team that was not very deep...why would we expect to better that conference record? The Big Ten might be slightly down and Andre and Austin Hollins give the Gophers a talented, veteran back court. Outside of those two reasons, I see little reason to believe that this team won't be in for a bit of a struggle.

We can certainly debate whether we are "rebuilding" or simply "building", but I think it's unrealistic to pick this team to go even .500 in the conference as currently constructed.

 

[cncmin]

Only one incoming freshman in a rebuilding year? Yes, the Gophers have only one incoming freshman, but they could have chosen to bring in four freshman. The Gophers could (they won't, but could) bring in two more freshman for next year. When discussing rebuilding, it's more important (IMHO) to discuss who was lost and the resulting expectations for who is left. The Gophers lost Rodney and Trevor and don't add a single player who is anywhere near their pedigree to the roster. To make matters worse, the Gophers really don't have a single PF option on their roster. Finally, the Gophers lost a 3rd starter in Joe Coleman. The expectations going in to last year (among most Gopher fans) seemed to be a B1G finish of 5th or better and a tournament win or two. The Gophers got the tournament win, but they fell woefully short of expectations by going 8-10 in conference play.

If last years team finished 8-10 in conference play and we lost 3 starters off that team that was not very deep...why would we expect to better that conference record? The Big Ten might be slightly down and Andre and Austin Hollins give the Gophers a talented, veteran back court. Outside of those two reasons, I see little reason to believe that this team won't be in for a bit of a struggle.

We can certainly debate whether we are "rebuilding" or simply "building", but I think it's unrealistic to pick this team to go even .500 in the conference as currently constructed.

Since the Gophers seemed to vastly underachieve (in the B1G) last year, and some think the under Pitino's system they'll at least play as well as their roster holds, then losing some roster while gaining some heart supports the argument that many have here that the team won't significantly worsen, at least not in the B1G season. I think that argument holds some validity.

 

[CDH27]

Pitino has talked from day one about the aggressive style of basketball that he wants to bring to MN. I'm guessing he has inherited a roster of some players that will excel in that style and some that wont. It ill be very difficult for Pitino to convert this roster into the type of team he wants in one season. I think next season will be a challenge, but I am hopeful that the team shows improvement throughout the year as the players adapt to the new style. My expectations are low and I'm sure hoping Pitino and the team proves me wrong.

 

[joshvanklomp]

Yes, I don't understand why everyone seems to think Buckles is a done deal. Big assumption, kind of like Black was.

We never had a chance at Black. Huge difference.

 

[march madness]

Lets change "Rebuilding Year" to "Adatpting Year"

Pitino has talked from day one about the aggressive style of basketball that he wants to bring to MN. I'm guessing he has inherited a roster of some players that will excel in that style and some that wont. It ill be very difficult for Pitino to convert this roster into the type of team he wants in one season. I think next season will be a challenge, but I am hopeful that the team shows improvement throughout the year as the players adapt to the new style. My expectations are low and I'm sure hoping Pitino and the team proves me wrong.

Adapting to:
A team without a physical low post presence and rebounder in Trevor.
A team down 3 starters.
A team changing philosphy to pressing and uptempo in a league where no one really plays that way.
A hanful of newcomers.
A new stable of coaches.
**so there is some adversity and some hope***

 

[die hard gopher]

i've already said this but we are pretty much only down one starter with that being mbakwe since malik smith can replace coleman and buckles can replace rodney, and as for our style offense cant get any worse with what tubby had, pressing might be abit of an issue but austin hollins can maybe be a good on ball defender and lead the big ten in steals

 

[die hard gopher]

i've already said this but we are pretty much only down one starter with that being mbakwe since malik smith can replace coleman and buckles can replace rodney, and as for our style offense cant get any worse with what tubby had, pressing might be abit of an issue but austin hollins can maybe be a good on ball defender and lead the big ten in steals

actually austin wont be an on ball defender but he will lead te big ten in steals with this press we are implementing

 

[march madness]

Buckles

i've already said this but we are pretty much only down one starter with that being mbakwe since malik smith can replace coleman and buckles can replace rodney, and as for our style offense cant get any worse with what tubby had, pressing might be abit of an issue but austin hollins can maybe be a good on ball defender and lead the big ten in steals

Isn't Buckles a big question mark? Doesn't he have to get eligible, grades in order, then can he even stay healthy for a season. I think it is premature to assume a healthy Buckles will be playing the 4 for the gophers at this point.

 

[scher215]

Isn't Buckles a big question mark? Doesn't he have to get eligible, grades in order, then can he even stay healthy for a season. I think it is premature to assume a healthy Buckles will be playing the 4 for the gophers at this point.

He just needs some kind of waiver to play next year. While I don't think there is a rule for it, a "sorry your coach left" waiver, an APR waiver, an "I was hurt a lot" waiver (for 2 seasons from now, I believe)

So eligibility wise it is nothing Buckles has to do or isn't doing, it is an NCAA thing.

He would need to stay healthy though too of course.

 

[jaymil]

Remember, Pitino was quoted by Doogie as saying "at least one is coming" when he was asked about adding a forward. Common sense should tell us that Buckles is the most likely, but if not, it seems almost certain we will have at least one more body who can play some minutes at the 4/5 next year.