WHY HAS GOPHER WOMENS BASKETBALL BEEN SO BAD FOR SO LONG?

[Gopher Mac]

I am asking and don't know the answer. Since the 2010 season Gopher womens basketball has finished with a winning record in the big ten only 3 times. Pam did it once and Stolling twice. I don't think we want to revist the Stolling era. One time a 500 record and 11 times below 500. 11 out of the last 15 years below 500. Why? I think a ton of local talent in Minnesota and sounding states. Should be able to recuit talent. I don't understand why we are this bad for so long.

 

[El Amin Fan]

WHY ARE WE YELLING?

 

[walleye]

I am asking and don't know the answer. Since the 2010 season Gopher womens basketball has finished with a winning record in the big ten only 3 times. Pam did it once and Stolling twice. I don't think we want to revist the Stolling era. One time a 500 record and 11 times below 500. 11 out of the last 15 years below 500. Why? I think a ton of local talent in Minnesota and sounding states. Should be able to recuit talent. I don't understand why we are this bad for so long.

It is because of the Lake Wobegon syndrome. We think all our kids are above average. We think that we can win with mostly Minnesota kids. Whalen was naive enough to listen to Coyle and influential alumni that we should heavily recruit Minnesota kids. I remember the announcers on BIG saying she had eleven Minnesota players against Indiana's few in-state players. Blue chip players like Whalen, Banham, and Bueckers come along about every 4-6 years in Minnesota. Other areas of the country produce players of that level much more frequently. Women's college basketball became a national sport a long time ago and now it is an international sport. The Gophers have to figure out how to recruit impact players from beyond the borders; we now recruit Wisconsin. First, the Gophers have to somehow improve their record. Secondly, the Gophers have to play the game and give players lucrative NIL packages.

 

[thatjanelpick]

It is because of the Lake Wobegon syndrome. We think all our kids are above average. We think that we can win with mostly Minnesota kids. Whalen was naive enough to listen to Coyle and influential alumni that we should heavily recruit Minnesota kids. I remember the announcers on BIG saying she had eleven Minnesota players against Indiana's few in-state players. Blue chip players like Whalen, Banham, and Bueckers come along about every 4-6 years in Minnesota. Other areas of the country produce players of that level much more frequently. Women's college basketball became a national sport a long time ago and now it is an international sport. The Gophers have to figure out how to recruit impact players from beyond the borders; we now recruit Wisconsin. First, the Gophers have to somehow improve their record. Secondly, the Gophers have to play the game and give players lucrative NIL packages.

I take your point but I think you're underestimating the number of blue chip players here (many of whom opt to go elsewhere): just off the top of my head and limited to current rosters, i'd include Tessa Thompson, Gianna Kneepkins, Liv McGill, Aliyah Crump

 

[BBJones]

I take your point but I think you're underestimating the number of blue chip players here (many of whom opt to go elsewhere): just off the top of my head and limited to current rosters, i'd include Tessa Thompson, Gianna Kneepkins, Liv McGill, Aliyah Crump

Not to mention Olivia Olson.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Bad coaching, bad development, and bad recruiting.

There's plenty of talent. No coach has seemed to know what they're doing.

Coach P seems like she's no good, either.

 

[walleye]

I take your point but I think you're underestimating the number of blue chip players here (many of whom opt to go elsewhere): just off the top of my head and limited to current rosters, i'd include Tessa Thompson, Gianna Kneepkins, Liv McGill, Aliyah Crump

I probably shouldn't have used the term "blue chip." I was thinking more in terms of "Impact Players." Teams that reach the upper levels in the conference or NCAA have an impact player and teams that reach the final four often have more than one impact player. I define impact player as someone who can take over a game, put the team on her/his back, and do this almost every game. The Gophers currently have four players who have had impact games but they have them so infrequently that they can't be considered impact players. Impact players usually get drafted by the WNBA and make the rosters. The three players from Minnesota that I mentioned were impact players and had success in the WNBA. Note that the Gophers had two impact players on their final four team; they had to recruit one from Wisconsin. No one on the current Gopher team is an impact player although it is possible that one could suddenly become one. I suspect that none will be drafted and some may play overseas. Perhaps, with different coaching and more competition, they could find their way to the WNBA. The key points are that Minnesota produces impact players much less than other areas of the country, the Gophers won't reach the upper levels without an impact player(s) regularly, and they have to recruit other areas of the country strongly. Minnesota produces many good players as you mentioned. They are good foundation players. I think Olivia Olson may become an impact player but she is not quite there yet. Many people get their hopes up over the crop of players produced in Minnesota. However, some of them are overhyped by the local media because they want readers or viewers. The Fab Four recruited by Whalen were highly touted but are not talented enough to lift this team to the upper echelons.

 

[Gopher Mac]

I watched the first half of the gopher men's basketball game against Nebraska. Boy they are fun to watch. I cannot remember when the last time it was fun to watch the womens team. It usually is painful even in a win. The men also have injured players!

 

[DietCokeFan]

Another game where Niko (plays 7 guys) in year one had his team competing. May not get the wins but he has them in every game, sharing the ball, moving, cutting, and has the barn rocking.
Again, year one. He will have guys wanting to come and play here.

Here we sit on the women’s side nervous for Wisconsin.

 

[fanfromthevalley]

Another game where Niko (plays 7 guys) in year one had his team competing. May not get the wins but he has them in every game, sharing the ball, moving, cutting, and has the barn rocking.
Again, year one. He will have guys wanting to come and play here.

Here we sit on the women’s side nervous for Wisconsin.

And, the Wisconsin women are playing better than they have in years. They are no longer the pushover they've been for the last several seasons.