Tubby's window of opportunity

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The 19-20 year old kids that are playing college basketball right now would have been 6 or 7 the last time Tubby won a National Championship. I don't think the Tubby Smith name and legacy does as much for kids as it does for fans on message boards.

It's a what have you done for me lately world.
 

CourtneyJames4 said:
The 19-20 year old kids that are playing college basketball right now would have been 6 or 7 the last time Tubby won a National Championship. I don't think the Tubby Smith name and legacy does as much for kids as it does for fans on message boards.

It's a what have you done for me lately world.
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This is true. Remember, however, that Tubby Smith is still the same Tubby Smith who won that national championship. It's possible that the methods he used to be be successful 12 or 13 years ago can't be as successful today ... I don't know. But it's still the same guy, the same coach who has had great success. You don't need a national championship to get kids to commit to you. If you did, then Iowa and Michigan will remain in the crapper and we won't have to worry about them.
 


Go Gophs said:
Guards, guards, guards. We need more good guards if you really want to be top tier. College basketball is all about guards and 3 point shooting. It just is. I really cannot believe that a highend point guard has never been recruited since Tubby has been here. That should be our #1 target at least every other year. It is imperative to have a good point guard if you want to go anywhere.
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But why would a top guard want to play somewhere if the coach will pull him out of the game for not playing 140% on defense? Guards (typically) want to run and gun and score. Not worry about getting into passing lanes.
 

bga1 said:
I don't see Purdue, Ohio State or Wisconsin having a bad stretch anytime soon. Those coaches are tremendous. MSU is having one bad year, but Izzo will have that straightened out either by year end or certainly by next year. Again he's too good. What happens when Indiana, Iowa and Michigan come out of their cycle is that some very good teams will miss the NCAAs each year. This is a scenario that happened in the 80's and 90's and even in the early 00's. One such year was when the Rickert led squad didn't make it. Very good squad- but the Big Ten was loaded.

Tubby is good as well. All I'm saying is that there is a period in time here- and this year is included- where it's a little easier to make hay in the Big Ten than normal. Not an easy year to win the Big Ten Championship- because of Ohio State - but a very good year to have a strong upper division showing.
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Purdue will struggle mightily next year. Is that soon? OSU could struggle too if enough players leave early.
 


From the Barn said:
Purdue will struggle mightily next year. Is that soon? OSU could struggle too if enough players leave early.
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Purdue will probably have a tough time next year. Ohio State is reloading Kentucky style. Their class is unreal at least in terms of rankings.
 

I know it's a big "if", but if Hummel is anywhere near 100% next season the Boilers will still be pretty good.

No question, if the Gophers return all their guys they'll be loaded with experience next season and will have what amounts to at least a 4-man recruiting class (Oto, Eliason, Hollins & Coleman) + a 5th guy (Mo) who basically will be new. Certainly 2011-12 should offer an opportunity for the Gophers to avoid the 8-10 to 9-9 doldrums they've remained stuck in. A lot of Big Ten teams will lose significant players, the Gophers less so. But we'll need to find a couple guys that can put the ball in the basket on a night-in, night-out basis.

The best teams in the Big Ten next year? Ohio State (no matter what the Bucks lose they'll still have a ton of talent) and Illinois (perhaps losing their seniors will be addition by subtraction?). After that talent-wise I see a lot of similar teams with the exception of Penn State, which likely will suck after losing Battle & 3 other key seniors.

Bottom line? I think the Big Ten takes a step back next season, meaning opportunity for the Gophers to move up the conference pecking order.
 

SelectionSunday said:
I know it's a big "if", but if Hummel is anywhere near 100% next season the Boilers will still be pretty good.

No question, if the Gophers return all their guys they'll be loaded with experience next season and will have what amounts to at least a 4-man recruiting class (Oto, Eliason, Hollins & Coleman) + a 5th guy (Mo) who basically will be new. Certainly 2011-12 should offer an opportunity for the Gophers to avoid the 8-10 to 9-9 doldrums they've remained stuck in. A lot of Big Ten teams will lose significant players, the Gophers less so. But we'll need to find a couple guys that can put the ball in the basket on a night-in, night-out basis.

The best teams in the Big Ten next year? Ohio State (no matter what the Bucks lose they'll still have a ton of talent) and Illinois (perhaps losing their seniors will be addition by subtraction?). After that talent-wise I see a lot of similar teams with the exception of Penn State, which likely will suck after losing Battle & 3 other key seniors.

Bottom line? I think the Big Ten takes a step back next season, meaning opportunity for the Gophers to move up the conference pecking order.
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I agree. Plus you add in Nebraska. They aren't great.
 

SelectionSunday said:
I know it's a big "if", but if Hummel is anywhere near 100% next season the Boilers will still be pretty good.

No question, if the Gophers return all their guys they'll be loaded with experience next season and will have what amounts to at least a 4-man recruiting class (Oto, Eliason, Hollins & Coleman) + a 5th guy (Mo) who basically will be new. Certainly 2011-12 should offer an opportunity for the Gophers to avoid the 8-10 to 9-9 doldrums they've remained stuck in. A lot of Big Ten teams will lose significant players, the Gophers less so. But we'll need to find a couple guys that can put the ball in the basket on a night-in, night-out basis.

The best teams in the Big Ten next year? Ohio State (no matter what the Bucks lose they'll still have a ton of talent) and Illinois (perhaps losing their seniors will be addition by subtraction?). After that talent-wise I see a lot of similar teams with the exception of Penn State, which likely will suck after losing Battle & 3 other key seniors.

Bottom line? I think the Big Ten takes a step back next season, meaning opportunity for the Gophers to move up the conference pecking order.
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But not in the back court. None of the players that will be here next year (the 3 freshmen) have shown they are capable of solidifying the 2 guard spot. Coleman hasn't finished HS yet. Andre Hollins is probably the pg and may be good to great but will still be a freshman.

Anything can happen but experience will not be the MO of the back court.
 



I think we up the athleticism overall on the perimeter next year especially on defense. We lose our shooter but we gain quite a few guys who can get to the rim. I think with our depth hopefully we can get back to more pressing. Hollins, Hollins, Chip, and Coleman all have the potential to be good defenders.
 

True. I hope the guards we have next year can not only handle it but shoot it.
 

SelectionSunday said:
I know it's a big "if", but if Hummel is anywhere near 100% next season the Boilers will still be pretty good.

No question, if the Gophers return all their guys they'll be loaded with experience next season and will have what amounts to at least a 4-man recruiting class (Oto, Eliason, Hollins & Coleman) + a 5th guy (Mo) who basically will be new. Certainly 2011-12 should offer an opportunity for the Gophers to avoid the 8-10 to 9-9 doldrums they've remained stuck in. A lot of Big Ten teams will lose significant players, the Gophers less so. But we'll need to find a couple guys that can put the ball in the basket on a night-in, night-out basis.

The best teams in the Big Ten next year? Ohio State (no matter what the Bucks lose they'll still have a ton of talent) and Illinois (perhaps losing their seniors will be addition by subtraction?). After that talent-wise I see a lot of similar teams with the exception of Penn State, which likely will suck after losing Battle & 3 other key seniors.

Bottom line? I think the Big Ten takes a step back next season, meaning opportunity for the Gophers to move up the conference pecking order.
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I agree, we're set up relatively decent going forward if all the pieces commit to sticking around, as they should. Yes, we'll be lacking at guard, but knowing that coming into the season is a lot different than finding it out mid-Big Ten season. I think they will make some adjustments to account for that. I also anticipate the guard play of guys like Chip and Mav to be improved after a year under their belt. I will say though, that weakness at the guard spot (assuming no one blows up) could hurt come tourney time, when guards really seem to take over and push teams through. But throughout the year, I don't think it'll hurt us as much.
 

Monty519 said:
I agree, we're set up relatively decent going forward if all the pieces commit to sticking around, as they should. Yes, we'll be lacking at guard, but knowing that coming into the season is a lot different than finding it out mid-Big Ten season. I think they will make some adjustments to account for that. I also anticipate the guard play of guys like Chip and Mav to be improved after a year under their belt. I will say though, that weakness at the guard spot (assuming no one blows up) could hurt come tourney time, when guards really seem to take over and push teams through. But throughout the year, I don't think it'll hurt us as much.
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An awful lot rides on Andre Hollins......
 




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