What is Niko building?

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bga1

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Watching last night's game was discouraging and I found myself asking the question- how do you build something in this era? So, today I took a look at the roster Niko put together. It is interesting that he went after a bunch of guys with a few years left- which is encouraging.

Notables with a shot to return next year and their class now:

Asuma-so
Durkin-jr
Turner-so - he has potential but needs to lose weight and increase focus
Willis- jr
Grove- fr - is going to be a solid Big Ten player
Stephens- jr
Omot- jr
Shinholster-fr. - I like him!
JCJ

Then you have the incoming guys

Mpoyi -big
Anderson- shooter
Tomes -PG- shooter

No stars there but no one that is going to command huge NIL either. So you have a chance to get out there and find a couple of real difference makers to add to a more experienced quad. Obviously, not all 8 of the eligible returners will do so, but if you get 6 to stay (the right 6) then you have a 9 man core to add to which is far better than we have had in the NIL era.
 
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No one said it would be easy. These Hoopsters are obviously limited. The challenge is to maximize their potential as individuals and as a squad. Watch for improvement and pull for the youngsters as they meet these hurdles and hopefully improve and grow!
 

bga1 said:
Watching last night's game was discouraging and I found myself asking the question- how do you build something in this era? So, today I took a look at the roster Niko put together. It is interesting that he went after a bunch of guys with a few years left- which is encouraging.

Notables with a shot to return next year and there class now:

Asuma-so
Durkin-jr
Turner-so - he has potential but needs to lose weight and increase focus
Willis- jr
Grove- fr - is going to be a solid Big Ten player
Stephens- jr
Omot- jr
Shinholster-fr. - I like him!

Then you have the incoming guys

Mpoyi -big
Anderson- shooter
Tomes -PG- shooter

No stars there but no one that is going to command huge NIL either. So you have a chance to get out there and find a couple of real difference makers to add to a more experienced quad. Obviously, not all 8 of the eligible returners will do so, but if you get 6 to stay (the right 6) then you have a 9 man core to add to which is far better than we have had in the NIL era.
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Your point about few one year rentals is well taken. Seemed like we lived off one year rentals in previous administrations. At least this gives Niko a chance to build culture and a system.
 

I don’t know why folks are frustrated. The team defends well and on Offense they get good looks. Set plays and inbound plays are creative. The shots just aren’t falling.

They might not with this roster but multiple contributors are shooting significantly below their average percentages from last year:

-Durkin (3PT, FG, FT)
-Willis (FT)
-Crocker-Johnson (3PT, FG)
-Vaihola (FT)
-Langston-Reynolds (3PT, FT)
 

Should have a solid core coming back next year and will need to go out and find a go to scorer or two that can really make the offense go.

I know people want the instant turnaround these days but it may take a few years to really get the roster really set the way he wants it to be.
 


MNVCGUY said:
Should have a solid core coming back next year and will need to go out and find a go to scorer or two that can really make the offense go.

I know people want the instant turnaround these days but it may take a few years to really get the roster really set the way he wants it to be.
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Rosters no longer get set over seasons. They are a revolving door every year. The only multi year plan we can expect is that Niko shows enough of a system that talented enough players want to play in for the cash we have to pay.
 

gopherlaney said:
I don’t know why folks are frustrated. The team defends well and on Offense they get good looks. Set plays and inbound plays are creative. The shots just aren’t falling.

They might not with this roster but multiple contributors are shooting significantly below their average percentages from last year:

-Durkin (3PT, FG, FT)
-Willis (FT)
-Crocker-Johnson (3PT, FG)
-Vaihola (FT)
-Langston-Reynolds (3PT, FT)
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I agree, GEEZ 3-4 games into a new coach and we are already in doubt? C'mon Man!!! Lets keep in mind, in the new CBB era, starting from scratch is the new norm for nearly every team, not just here for the Gopher.
 

Holy Man said:
Rosters no longer get set over seasons. They are a revolving door every year. The only multi year plan we can expect is that Niko shows enough of a system that talented enough players want to play in for the cash we have to pay.
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True....but we are unlikely to see whole sale roster flips under Niko the way we did under Johnson. There will be movement in and out for sure but will be surprised if it is as chaotic as it was.

I would bet we will have a decent core from this year back again next year and then it will be a matter of what Niko is able to add to it.
 

MNVCGUY said:
True....but we are unlikely to see whole sale roster flips under Niko the way we did under Johnson. There will be movement in and out for sure but will be surprised if it is as chaotic as it was.

I would bet we will have a decent core from this year back again next year and then it will be a matter of what Niko is able to add to it.
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I agree. It sure looks to me like he built this roster with an idea that he would be ready to compete at a higher level in year 2.
 





Gold Vision said:
Who do you all see as the solid core coming back to build around for next year with this group?
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I don't know who you are asking but for me:

With another year under their belts I see these three as solid starters, or maybe 2 of the 3
Asuma
Willis
JCJ

I could see any of the other returners as good rotation players

I am hoping one frosh is a starter quality player and a couple rotation players- I like the tape of the big kid Mpoyi, but it may be a little early for him.

Need to bring in 2-3 starters- probably a big and a scorer/shooter

 
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RockChalk said:
I agree, GEEZ 3-4 games into a new coach and we are already in doubt? C'mon Man!!! Lets keep in mind, in the new CBB era, starting from scratch is the new norm for nearly every team, not just here for the Gopher.
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If every team is starting from scratch every year, why shouldn't we have a B1G contender this year?

Why are we already having the apologists talking about next year?

Can't Niko keep up? He's starting where everyone else is, every year.
 



To be middle of the pack we need at least 4 starters capable of starting for another Big Ten team. This year we discovered one diamond in the rough who will be out of eligibility You can’t win with one and we don’t have anybody likely to ascend to the level of starting for Michigan, Illinois or on down.
 

USAF said:
If every team is starting from scratch every year, why shouldn't we have a B1G contender this year?

Why are we already having the apologists talking about next year?

Can't Niko keep up? He's starting where everyone else is, every year.
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LOL, I'm guessing you know the answers to your questions.
 

60's Guy said:
To be middle of the pack we need at least 4 starters capable of starting for another Big Ten team. This year we discovered one diamond in the rough who will be out of eligibility You can’t win with one and we don’t have anybody likely to ascend to the level of starting for Michigan, Illinois or on down.
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I think by next year both Asuma and JCJ at the very least will be guys capable of starting on most Big Ten teams if not all. JCJ was on a pretty good tournament team and one of their top 3 guys.
Definitely need a couple more and one of them has to be a big and the other a pretty big scorer/shooter to replace Tyson.
 

I think a program has to start with a system and find players to fit that system. Medved's in his first year and we have a bit of a hodgepodge of guys this year. That will likely change over the next couple of years and the talent level will improve. But it has to start with a system or else a team that ends up collecting guys that don't mesh and it's just ugly basketball. I think Medved knows what he wants to do and that's encouraging.
 


Niko already has a system in place. He needs to step up his recruitment next season. At this point, I struggle to believe the talent level is better than what Ben brought to MN. And issues are starting to show.

Niko's honeymoon period could be short lived unless some things change; mainly FT and FG shooting, find a way to beat zones, better depth with the main hope being Omot's return. And bring in better talent than what could return next season.
 

Bayfield Gopher said:
Niko already has a system in place. He needs to step up his recruitment next season. At this point, I struggle to believe the talent level is better than what Ben brought to MN. And issues are starting to show.

Niko's honeymoon period could be short lived unless some things change; mainly FT and FG shooting, find a way to beat zones, better depth with the main hope being Omot's return. And bring in better talent than what could return next season.
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I agree, but as you lay out, the difference between Medved and Johnson is that Medved has a solid idea of what he wants to run and the players that best fit his system. It's not apples-to-apples, but I view Johnson as similar to Brewster minus the blather. I do think if Christie, Payne, and Hawkins had stuck around, Ben would have gotten that team into the NCAA tournament, but I don't think Johnson had a firm idea of what he wanted to install.

I heartily agree that the athleticism has to improve to make the next step.
 

USAF said:
If every team is starting from scratch every year, why shouldn't we have a B1G contender this year?

Why are we already having the apologists talking about next year?

Can't Niko keep up? He's starting where everyone else is, every year.
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Yes there's a ton of player movement, but every team isn't from scratch. I figured Niko would bring at least 1-2 more CSU players with him. I'm sure he did too. But UNC offered the PG a massive bag of cash and the rest stayed loyal to Ali. I think we would be a very different team with the PG here. Willis has been a disappointment.
 

Eastside Forever said:
No one said it would be easy. These Hoopsters are obviously limited. The challenge is to maximize their potential as individuals and as a squad. Watch for improvement and pull for the youngsters as they meet these hurdles and hopefully improve and grow!
Click to expand...
Ben’s teams used to start out decent and get worse by the end of the year. If Nico‘s teams can improve throughout the year then we know we have something.
 


Anderson looks like the real deal, Shinholster has potential, the key is keeping them around. Hopefully the profit sharing will make that more realistic.
 

Ill be curious to see if the five to play five rule comes into effect, how that changes things. Guessing Violla done regardless, but be nice to have Tyson around potentially one more year, if he can come back he's the most obvious choice. Niko's CSU teams always seemed to have a guy work their way up into star status, Roddy, Tonje, Stevens, Nique Clifford and Evans. I would think Asuma would be the most likely, Willis was Mr Basketball in the State of Michigan and will have ample opportunities for minutes. Either way it's nice to know 8/11 guys who have gotten minutes can comeback next year.
 


jovs said:
Anderson looks like the real deal, Shinholster has potential, the key is keeping them around. Hopefully the profit sharing will make that more realistic.
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Does Anderson have the ability to start here next year in your view?
 


bga1 said:
Does Anderson have the ability to start here next year in your view?
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I think so, depends on if he can defend at B1G level as a Freshman. Always the wild card.
 

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