The Comparable 4: Minnesota (Johnson), Iowa State (Otzelberger), Penn State (Shrewsberry), Utah (Smith)

[GopherWeatherGuy]

With all due respect, how is Johnson more of a reach than Whalen?

Whalen, higher level of play as a player, No coaching background.
Johnson, not the level of play as Whalen does have asst. coaching experience.

Both are on par with one another and that is TERRIBLE reaches for both.

One is a proven winner and leader at all levels of basketball. The other has never won anything.

Whalen won 9 B1G regular season games in year 1, which is the same as BJ has won in 3 years combined to date.

In Whalen's worst season they had 4 B1G wins, which ties BJ's best season to date. Whalen could also recruit top ranked talent.

Whalen deserved to be fired, but comparing her to BJ is a slap to Whalens face.

 

[MaxyJR1]

With all due respect, how is Johnson more of a reach than Whalen?

Whalen, higher level of play as a player, No coaching background.
Johnson, not the level of play as Whalen does have asst. coaching experience.

Both are on par with one another and that is TERRIBLE reaches for both.

Agree very similar. Other women have made the same jump that Whalen made with success. Whalen had been around the Gopher program as an assistant in her offseason in the past. Johnson had been an assistant as well, however not for many winning seasons. Johnson was more of a reach for me in that it was the Men's programs which is more of a $$ generating program.

 

[howeda7]

Hired the wrong guy on the men's side and the wrong women on the ladies side.

He fixed one of his errors already at least.

 

[bga1]

Craig Smith has Utah in the top 15 of the NET. 6-2 against Quads 1-3. Ranked #25 in KenPom.

TJ has ISU in the top 10 of the NET. 2-2 against Quads 1-3. Ranked #14 in KenPom.

Shrewsbury has been a disaster in year 1 at ND, but did just thump UVA by 20+ yesterday. 3-6 against Quads 1-3.

3 internationals among the top 5 scorers for Utah State, they ain't Minnesotans but that's pretty crafty recruiting. The Gophers have had little to no luck with internationals in recent years.

 

[tjgopher]

Just as an aside, another coach hired the same year as the "Comparable 4" was fired today. DePaul cut loose Tony Stubblefield in the middle of year three after going 28-54 overall and 9-38 in the Big East.

For comparison, Ben Johnson is 34-45 overall and 9-37 in the Big Ten.

 

[tjgopher]

3 internationals among the top 5 scorers for Utah State, they ain't Minnesotans but that's pretty crafty recruiting. The Gophers have had little to no luck with internationals in recent years.

What does Utah State's current roster have to do with this discussion?

 

[MplsGopher]

I disagree about the permanent black mark and I would say that fundraising is more important than a spotless coach hiring record. For most universities, ADs are more like business managers than pro sports general managers. Failed coaches happen all over the place and Coyle's responsibilities include the entire athletic department, not just one team.

Fair take on fundraising.

No chance that all sports teams matter equally. Football, men's basketball, and at Minnesota men's hockey matter several times more than other sports, as far as getting it right.

 

[RockChalk]

One is a proven winner and leader at all levels of basketball. The other has never won anything.

Whalen won 9 B1G regular season games in year 1, which is the same as BJ has won in 3 years combined to date. DIFFERENT TIME, TRANSFER PORTAL WASN'T AS BIG. WHALEN INHERETED A NICE ROSTER. BEN DID NOT. HIS BEST SEASON WAS HIS FIRST WITH A COMPLETELY TURNED OVER ROSTER.

In Whalen's worst season they had 4 B1G wins, which ties BJ's best season to date. Whalen could also recruit top ranked talent. AS TIME WENT ON WHALEN GOT WORSE.

Whalen deserved to be fired, but comparing her to BJ is a slap to Whalens face. I DISAGREE. BOTH WERE REACHES AT THE TIME OF THEIR HIRE.

 

[RockChalk]

the Cyclones won their seventh straight home game against a ranked opponent and improved to 13-0 at Hilton Coliseum this season. This program went 0-18 in Big 12 play in 2020-21 before coach T.J. Otzelberger's arrival. Three years later, Hilton Magic has returned, and the Cyclones are firmly in the league title hunt with two wins over top-10 league foes already on their resume.