Until we stop bargain bin shopping for coaches, the result will mostly be the same.

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My current list:

Tier 1:
-Niko Meved
-Craig Smith
-Leon Rice

Tier 2:
-Anthony Grant
-Chris Mack

Tier 3:
-Sundance Wicks
-Bryce Drew
-Will Wade
 

howeda7 said:
My current list:

Tier 1:
-Niko Meved
-Craig Smith
-Leon Rice

Tier 2:
-Anthony Grant
-Chris Mack

Tier 3:
-Sundance Wicks
-Bryce Drew
-Will Wade
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I have 0 interest in the first 6 names in that list. Bryce Drew and Will Wade on the other hand, sign me up!
 






GopherWeatherGuy said:
Brian Dutcher would have been the easy hire 4 years ago. Coyle wanted it. The old prez did not because of DEI. Now he's off the table with his new contract/buyout.
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Coaching??

What would Dutcher have done? Bring in better players than Garcia, Payne, Hawkins, Christie...and kept them here??

With what? Rice Krispies box tops?
 




EasyThere Pilgrim said:
Coaching??

What would Dutcher have done? Bring in better players than Garcia, Payne, Hawkins, Christie...and kept them here??

With what? Rice Krispies box tops?
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I don't think Dutcher has huge NIL budget at SDS. It's getting the right players and they being able to coach them up.

You don't think we'd have a better product than we do now?
 

Wouldn't have a better team with Dutcher? WTF

Part of getting NIL money is to put a good product on the floor.

I'm stunned at the comments of nothing being different with Dutcher.

I also think with Dutcher, that same team we rolled out on the floor last night beats Northern Texas by 15

Coaching does matter.
 

EasyThere Pilgrim said:
Coaching??

What would Dutcher have done? Bring in better players than Garcia, Payne, Hawkins, Christie...and kept them here??

With what? Rice Krispies box tops?
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Yes, coaching matters. You continue to look like a moron by posting this garbage every 5 minutes.

Good coaches sell the culture and the program to players and boosters. Ben does neither.

I’m sure North Texas paid for a better roster though…
 




Niko Medved is the correct answer. Has been for quite a few years. And it’s fairly common knowledge he’s a program builder but also importantly in today’s climate is he can operate in the gray areas.

And yes, I’ll still think he’s the guy even if Colorado State has a so-so season this season.

Furman, Drake (in one season), and Colorado State. … he elevated all 3 programs he’s been at.

He’s not the only choice, but would be 100% on board with it. I’m not a big Coyle fan, but glad he’ll be doing the hiring this time instead of the former U president.

Beat Yale!
 
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SelectionSunday said:
Niko Medved is the correct answer. Has been for quite a few years. And it’s fairly common knowledge he’s a program builder but also importantly in today’s climate is he can operate in the gray areas.

And yes, I’ll still think he’s the guy even if Colorado State has a so-so season this season.

Furman, Drake (in one season), and Colorado State. … he elevated all 3 programs he’s been at.

He’s not the only choice, but would be 100% on board with it. I’m not a big Coyle fan, but glad he’ll be doing the hiring this time instead of the former U president.
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This time?? 😉
 

SelectionSunday said:
Niko Medved is the correct answer. Has been for quite a few years. And it’s fairly common knowledge he’s a program builder but also importantly in today’s climate is he can operate in the gray areas.

And yes, I’ll still think he’s the guy even if Colorado State has a so-so season this season.

Furman, Drake (in one season), and Colorado State. … he elevated all 3 programs he’s been at.

He’s not the only choice, but would be 100% on board with it. I’m not a big Coyle fan, but glad he’ll be doing the hiring this time instead of the former U president.

Beat Yale!
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Niko would be an upgrade over Ben, literally anyone would be, but he’s an underwhelming ‘one of us’ hire.

He’s had success but a number of coaches come into the MW and have more success in a shorter timeframe than he has. DeVries was also immediately better at Drake than Niko was.
 

kg21 said:
Wouldn't have a better team with Dutcher? WTF

Part of getting NIL money is to put a good product on the floor.

I'm stunned at the comments of nothing being different with Dutcher.

I also think with Dutcher, that same team we rolled out on the floor last night beats Northern Texas by 15

Coaching does matter.
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I read somewhere that a lot of people don't invest in shitty products. 1731595129474.png

:) :)
 

GopherWeatherGuy said:
Niko would be an upgrade over Ben, literally anyone would be, but he’s an underwhelming ‘one of us’ hire.

He’s had success but a number of coaches come into the MW and have more success in a shorter timeframe than he has. DeVries was also immediately better at Drake than Niko was.
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Wouldn't that (bold) be a possible description for Coach Johnson instead of a DEI hire?

In another direction, I wouldn't be surprised if someone (assuming the team doesn't turn it around) not being discussed rises to the top.
 

GopherBB12 said:
As long as this Program continues to cut corners in hiring coaches, the outcome will remain largely unchanged. Without investing in proven, top-tier leadership (within reason), sustained success will always be out of reach.
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Agree! Embarrassing to say the least. Need to go pay a coach and need to start paying players
 

STPGopher said:
Wouldn't that (bold) be a possible description for Coach Johnson instead of a DEI hire?
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No because Ben had never even been a lead assistant let alone a head coach prior to becoming the head coach here. Niko at least has experience.

STPGopher said:
In another direction, I wouldn't be surprised if someone (assuming the team doesn't turn it around) not being discussed rises to the top.
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Agree.
 

GopherWeatherGuy said:
Niko would be an upgrade over Ben, literally anyone would be, but he’s an underwhelming ‘one of us’ hire.

He’s had success but a number of coaches come into the MW and have more success in a shorter timeframe than he has. DeVries was also immediately better at Drake than Niko was.
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Fair point, but I I think "one of us" is only part of the Medved equation.

It's true DeVries had a better first season at Drake than Medved did, but is it possible he helped set the table for the DeVries before Niko quickly bolted for Colorado State?

2016-17 (season prior to Medved): 7-24, 5-13 in MVC
2017-18 (Medved's only season @ Drake): 17-17, 10-8 MVC
2018-19 (DeVries 1st season @ Drake): 24-10, 12-6 MVC

Truth is, I wouldn't mind either of those guys, but unfortunately DeVries' very talented son is a senior and wouldn't be coming with him. If this season goes as it's currently trending, once again Coyle has a chance to put his stamp on the program. As always, we can only hope he gets it right. I'll give him a second chance, this time (fortunately) without Gabel around.
 

SelectionSunday said:
Fair point, but I I think "one of us" is only part of the Medved equation.

It's true DeVries had a better first season at Drake than Medved did, but is it possible he helped set the table for the DeVries before Niko quickly bolted for Colorado State?

2016-17 (season prior to Medved): 7-24, 5-13 in MVC
2017-18 (Medved's only season @ Drake): 17-17, 10-8 MVC
2018-19 (DeVries 1st season @ Drake): 24-10, 12-6 MVC

Truth is, I wouldn't mind either of those guys, but unfortunately DeVries' very talented son is a senior and wouldn't be coming with him. If this season goes as it's currently trending, once again Coyle has a chance to put his stamp on the program. As always, we can only hope he gets it right. I'll give him a second chance, this time (fortunately) without Gabel around.
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DeVries is not leaving WVU after one year to come here.

That would be stunning.
 

SelectionSunday said:
Fair point, but I I think "one of us" is only part of the Medved equation.

It's true DeVries had a better first season at Drake than Medved did, but is it possible he helped set the table for the DeVries before Niko quickly bolted for Colorado State?

2016-17 (season prior to Medved): 7-24, 5-13 in MVC
2017-18 (Medved's only season @ Drake): 17-17, 10-8 MVC
2018-19 (DeVries 1st season @ Drake): 24-10, 12-6 MVC

Truth is, I wouldn't mind either of those guys, but unfortunately DeVries' very talented son is a senior and wouldn't be coming with him. If this season goes as it's currently trending, once again Coyle has a chance to put his stamp on the program. As always, we can only hope he gets it right. I'll give him a second chance, this time (fortunately) without Gabel around.
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Richard Pitino should be a cautionary tale for coaches that are looking at our situation. He had very little success here and suddenly he is looking a lot better at stinking New Mexico. There is no doubt his team would beat ours right now and would have last year as well. What is it that is going on here that is killing coaches? Even Tubby failed.

Until that issue is resolved why would coaches who are having decent success, like Medved, risk getting their career scuttled by this mess? Ben was set up to fail, should never have gotten the job, and now the situation is far worse with 4 more years of losing and we are now in a professional sport where we don't have the resources to compete for high end guys.
 

GopherWeatherGuy said:
No because Ben had never even been a lead assistant let alone a head coach prior to becoming the head coach here. Niko at least has experience.



Agree.
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Ummm. He's a Gopher. He's from a local Catholic HS. He has coaching experience. He's young. He was up and coming. Often times that gets a look if you can't swing for the fences budget wise. A high risk, potential high reward hire. Such decisions are made all of the time.

The gamble may have been deemed worth it. Niko is still out there to be had. And if he wasn't, there is most likely someone else. Not sure there was an affordable Tubby Smith type hire at the time. IMHO Niko wasn't on that tier.

Sometimes labeling someone as a DEI hire is being lazy. What appears to be his biggest problem is player retention. He's not the only coach struggling with NIL.
 

I don't think it's as simple as "hire a better coach."

in today's climate, NIL does matter. and from all accounts, most of the Gophers' NIL money goes to the football program. Dinkytown Athletes just did a big matching-funds campaign - and said openly the money would go to support Football and Volleyball.

Why not basketball? That's a question for Derek Burns - and also for Mark Coyle.

To be clear - I like Ben Johnson as a person. so far, his coaching record is not good. But, he came in planning to build through HS recruiting, and then the rules of the game changed to where HS recruiting is now less important that being able to afford the NIL to bring in higher-level transfers and keep your best players from leaving.

would switching coaches - with no other changes - result in more wins? it's certainly possible.

but as noted, the Gopher men's basketball program has not really mattered in the B1G - let along nationally, for a long time.

Ben Johnson may be part of the problem - but he is not the only problem. if the house has termites, a new coat of paint may make things look better, but it doesn't address the underlying problem.

The Gopher basketball program has termites. switching coaches - with no other changes - would be like a new coat of paint.
 

STPGopher said:
Wouldn't that (bold) be a possible description for Coach Johnson instead of a DEI hire?

In another direction, I wouldn't be surprised if someone (assuming the team doesn't turn it around) not being discussed rises to the top.
Click to expand...
Coach Ben is both ess tee per. Baiter.
 



STPGopher said:
Ummm. He's a Gopher. He's from a local Catholic HS. He has coaching experience. He's young. He was up and coming. Often times that gets a look if you can't swing for the fences budget wise. A high risk, potential high reward hire. Such decisions are made all of the time.

The gamble may have been deemed worth it. Niko is still out there to be had. And if he wasn't, there is most likely someone else. Not sure there was an affordable Tubby Smith type hire at the time. IMHO Niko wasn't on that tier.

Sometimes labeling someone as a DEI hire is being lazy. What appears to be his biggest problem is player retention. He's not the only coach struggling with NIL.
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Ben had little relevant experience, was not an up and coming guy!!!!!! Dishonest much?
Ben was a dei hire, even though you don't accept that fact.
 

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