Surprise, Surprise....Optimism for 2012/2013

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tikited said:
"If" Trevor comes back, anything worse than a 3rd place finish would be terrible. No excuses if we get a full season out of Trevor and company. Trouble with that is that Minnesota teams must offer one of their best players to the injury gods each season.
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So you'd be upset if we finish 12-6 next year? Because that is what the 4th place team finished this year. I think 9-9 is the absolute minimum we should go next year, with or without Mbakwe. Anything less would be a failure.
 

GophersInIowa said:
So you'd be upset if we finish 12-6 next year? Because that is what the 4th place team finished this year. I think 9-9 is the absolute minimum we should go next year, with or without Mbakwe. Anything less would be a failure.
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I think I could live with 12-6.
 

dpodoll68 said:
I love how this is called "optimism". What it really is is setting up unrealistically high expectations so that when the Gophers finish in the 4th-7th range next year, Moses can say "I said before the season that they should've finished 2nd. Tubby's never gonna get it done here" or some similar variation.
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dpodoll, you hit it right on the nuts.
 

GophersInIowa said:
I think 9-9 is the absolute minimum we should go next year, with or without Mbakwe. Anything less would be a failure.
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All things being equal, and assuming our entire team is on the floor and none of 'em are in street clothes (or unwisely declaring for the NBA draft with an agent), I agree with GophersInIowa. I do not expect the Gophers to be a title contender next season, but nor do I expect them to be near the dregs & trying to hold off Nebraska and Penn State for 10th place. No reason with the players the Gophers have coming back we can't finish in the 10-8/11-7 (maybe even 12-6) range, which should get us in the #4-5 in the B1G range and safely in the 4-letter tournament.

Yes, I understand our history and I know how tough the Big Ten is likely to be, but the Gophers -- with or w/o Trevor -- are going to be a seasoned team with a lot of players who have played in a lot of tight, taut B1G battles. Next season I would expect there to be some benefit (read: wins) from having gone through those battles. And I certainly think the staff and players should be hungry to atone for 2 straight late-season swoons?

We will not be an inexperienced team in 2012-13, and the returning roster is not devoid of talent. That is a good thing in a conference like the one we play in.
 

SelectionSunday said:
All things being equal, and assuming our entire team is on the floor and not some of 'em in street clothes, I agree with GophersInIowa. I do not expect the Gophers to be a title contender next season, but nor do I expect them to be near the dregs & trying to hold off Nebraska and Penn State for 10th place. No reason with the players the Gophers have coming back we can't finish in the 10-8/11-7 (maybe even 12-6) range, which should get us in the 4-5 range and safely in the 4-letter tournament.

Yes, I understand our history and I know how tough the Big Ten is likely to be, but the Gophers -- with or w/o Trevor -- are going to be a seasoned team with a lot of players who have played in a lot of tight, taut B1G battles. Next season I would expect there to be some benefit (read:wins) from having gone through those battles. And I certainly think the staff and players should be hungry to atone for 2 straight late-season swoons?

We will not be an inexperienced team in 2012-13, and the returning roster is not devoid of talent. That is a good thing in a conference like the one we play in.
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+1

I won't get into the debate of this year, etc. But really, last year was to be a veteran team ready for a run, until Nolen went down. Regardless of what folks think, this years team after Mbakwe went down, was really young. A transition year..that said, not happy with the finish, but the dividends of the close games this year, should be paid next year. Next year has all the makings of what we were expecting last year (if that makes sense). I agree with SS's expectations..
 


SelectionSunday said:
All things being equal, and assuming our entire team is on the floor and not some of 'em in street clothes, I agree with GophersInIowa. I do not expect the Gophers to be a title contender next season, but nor do I expect them to be near the dregs & trying to hold off Nebraska and Penn State for 10th place. No reason with the players the Gophers have coming back we can't finish in the 10-8/11-7 (maybe even 12-6) range, which should get us in the #4-5 in the B1G range and safely in the 4-letter tournament.

Yes, I understand our history and I know how tough the Big Ten is likely to be, but the Gophers -- with or w/o Trevor -- are going to be a seasoned team with a lot of players who have played in a lot of tight, taut B1G battles. Next season I would expect there to be some benefit (read:wins) from having gone through those battles. And I certainly think the staff and players should be hungry to atone for 2 straight late-season swoons?

We will not be an inexperienced team in 2012-13, and the returning roster is not devoid of talent. That is a good thing in a conference like the one we play in.
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Rouser said:
+1

I won't get into the debate of this year, etc. But really, last year was to be a veteran team ready for a run, until Nolen went down. Regardless of what folks think, this years team after Mbakwe went down, was really young. A transition year..that said, not happy with the finish, but the dividends of the close games this year, should be paid next year. Next year has all the makings of what we were expecting last year (if that makes sense). I agree with SS's expectations..
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Sounds good to me. Hope you guys are on the money. My other wish besides a 10-8, would be for the team to progress as the year goes on, peaking at the proper time.
 


The Badgers will be a much better basketball team next year. Especially by January.

I really like Hollins and Coleman. Even without Trevor, the Gophers should be much better next year.
 

Iowa brags about their incoming class but Woodbury is not very good. I read a post on the Hawkeye website and he is the proverbial weak, slow, klutzy HS 7 footer. The Gophers will be better but still be 4th to 7th place IMO, I hope Trevor can play. Northwestern only loses Shurna(Curletti and Mirka are worse than RSIII) and have 2 redshirts including a PG more highly rated than Sobo (Demps- injured), a junior PF transfer from TCU where he started(Cerina), a Shurna-clone freshman(Abrahamson top 3 in Iowa), 6'10" Romanian center who is athletic(Olah) as well as Benilde star Sanjay Lumpkin(Benilde will win the state championship). They also will have Jershon Cobb, who missed 3/4 of the year, back for the whole year and he was arguably their best player the last 4 games. My guess is that they will be the surprise team in the B1G.
 



Northwestern

I completely forgot about Northwestern not having Demps this season. Even losing Shurna, I wouldn't expect the Wildcats to drop off the map next year. Crawford's a really good player, and there are some other pieces in place. Once again, they won't be a pushover, but can they get over the proverbial hump?
 

gopherMD said:
Iowa brags about their incoming class but Woodbury is not very good. I read a post on the Hawkeye website and he is the proverbial weak, slow, klutzy HS 7 footer. The Gophers will be better but still be 4th to 7th place IMO, I hope Trevor can play. Northwestern only loses Shurna(Curletti and Mirka are worse than RSIII) and have 2 redshirts including a PG more highly rated than Sobo (Demps- injured), a junior PF transfer from TCU where he started(Cerina), a Shurna-clone freshman(Abrahamson top 3 in Iowa), 6'10" Romanian center who is athletic(Olah) as well as Benilde star Sanjay Lumpkin(Benilde will win the state championship). They also will have Jershon Cobb, who missed 3/4 of the year, back for the whole year and he was arguably their best player the last 4 games. My guess is that they will be the surprise team in the B1G.
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I wouldn't bet the house on it. I was hoping to see him in the M&G.
 

I know the Gophers wanted him and Hammonds but I am just reporting what a Hawkeye observer said on their message board. I bet EE will be a better player than Woodbury.
 

Woodbury had offers from UNC and Ohio St. (among others). I find it hard to believe that he "is not very good".
 



I am not so sure why most of this post has Trevor returning? From the bit I have heard it's a long shot. Of course one can be optimistic but should we even include him in the serious discussions of next year? Even if he is allowed to return, ... will he?
 

march madness said:
I am not so sure why most of this post has Trevor returning? From the bit I have heard it's a long shot. Of course one can be optimistic but should we even include him in the serious discussions of next year? Even if he is allowed to return, ... will he?
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He said if he is given the sixth year, he'll be back. Had a tweet about needing to make the tourney next year and he'll make sure of it whether he can play or not.
 

Yeah, I've got the feeling he won't be back. But if he does get another year, then it's just a bonus for us.
 

If Burke leaves, I think our Gophers have to be (gulp) pre-season favorites to win the Big Ten...lol
 


Moses87 said:
If Burke leaves, I think our Gophers have to be (gulp) pre-season favorites to win the Big Ten...lol
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I think that will go to MSU or OSU regardless. Michigan / Wisconsin / Indiana 3-4-5 and Minnesota 6th.

Now, If Burke leaves, and we are able to sign Lockett ... We'd be top 3 Pre season for sure.

Either way, I think we are Pre season ranked. This team has caught national attention with Dre and Rodney. Add Trevor and Mo. I think we start 20-25 overall.
 

Moses87 said:
If Burke leaves, I think our Gophers have to be (gulp) pre-season favorites to win the Big Ten...lol
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Well. Let's not go nuts. Michigan, Indiana, MSU are all bringing in close to top-10 classes next year. We could feasibly be picked top 3 if Lockett transfers.
 

Moses87 said:
If Burke leaves, I think our Gophers have to be (gulp) pre-season favorites to win the Big Ten...lol
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Gopher07 said:
Well. Let's not go nuts. Michigan, Indiana, MSU are all bringing in close to top-10 classes next year. We could feasibly be picked top 3 if Lockett transfers.
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Hey man, if Arsenal can recover from what they were going through earlier in the year, the Gophers can turn around their PROGRAM IN CRISIS!!! and actually compete next year. Optimism!
 

OSU might be losing Sullinger, Thomas AND Buford...I can't see them replacing all 3 and staying at the top.

MSU losing Green is just massive...he was the glue. They'll be up there as always and perhaps Payne and Nix can improve and they'll be dominant.

IU has nice talent but I don't like the way they play defense and I think you'll see what I mean tonight. They allowed that Wisconsin kid to score 30 on them in the Big Ten Tourney and that's not the only example of their defense getting exposed. There is something fundamentally off with Crean's defense and the players. I can't see that changing much.

Michigan will be in tatters if Burke leaves...Hardaway is decent but over-rated.

The Gophers, especially if they make room(bye Chip and Mav) for Lockett, will have the most production coming back.
 

Michigan and Indiana will have the most talent in the Big Ten next year. Whether that translates to success remains to be seen, but as far as predictions go, you kinda have to have Michigan and Indiana at 1 and 2 IMO (assuming Burke and Zeller return). Their recruiting classes are very, very impressive. Although if you want to predict the Gophers finishing higher than either of them I won't complain.
 

A top 5 finish is very doable if Trevor decides to come back. With the way the young guys have developed this year and the return of Mo, we will be a very solid team. But favored to win the B1G? Please get serious and pass the pipe to someone else. A 7-8 game improvement over this year's finish, which is likely what it will take to win the B1G next year, is asking a bit much, don't you think? Especially in light of the returning talent and incoming recruits of teams like MSU, Oh St., MI, and IN.

I for one am very excited about our prospects next year, and fully expect a team that is capable of a Top 5 finish and reaching the Sweet 16 if the team stays healthy all year, if match ups go our way, and if we play to our potential. But a B1G championship is something I will hope for, not expect. I like to keep a posture of hope, tempered with realistic expectations. Go Gophs!
 

Just a bump to show that I'm not always a pessimistic curmudgen...Also doesn't look very far fetched. If I was re-do this now I would say:

1)Michigan...Burke is the best closer in the country.
2)IU.....I see now that Parea is going to make them very nasty inside.
3)Minn...Could challenge for top spot in the league if Andre can improve his playmaking.
4)OSU...They are athletic but struggle to hit shots.
5)MSU...Great inside play, as always and Appling to hit score and hit shots.
6)Iowa....2nd most improved besides the Gophers.
7)Illini...Not a bad first year under Groce. Bertrand, Richardson and Paul are very nice players.
8)Wisc...Berggren and Bruiser will have to carry them along with the flat top guy.
9)Pur....Could fall even further if they don't improve quickly.
10)Neb...Miles was a good hire but the cupboard was mostly bare.
11)NW...I was impressed with Demps but little else in their home loss to Stanford.
12)PSU...I knew they would lose Frazier....
 

Moses, as always, you could say nothing optimistic about the Gophers.

Moses, nice edit after I called you on it. You are amazing.
 

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