2010-2011 Gophers

[CJH]

Tubby needs to stop criticizing Hoff. Tubby is the jackwagon that put him in the position he is. He is giving him everything he has, and hasn't complained. He is criticizing to cover up for his weak coaching effort.

[goblueM]

my question is, who would you find that is better than Tubby?

correct me if I'm wrong but hasn't he greatly improved the program?

[zepman]

If you consider 9th place in the conference an improvement...then yeah, he has.

[goblueM]

hmmm I guess I was thinking more big picture, you know, the recent NCAA tournament appearances, and making it to the BTT championship as well

are y'all that much of bandwagon fans? I mean I know the season started out with a lot of promise and has since been a trainwreck, but Tubby is an excellent coach, and he's not going anywhere

Who would be better than Tubby Smith right now? I'm hard pressed to think of available coaches with his resume and track record

[CodyDawg]

I dont think they are better off with Tubby. He has 0, yes 0, NCAA tourney wins in 4 years here. His players have defected or given up and he is lashing out at them. The wheels are off. Do I see an upward trend? Actually, quite the opposite. We are trending downward. So, what has Tubby done to inspire us? 1 nice run in 1 big ten tourney that didnt result in winning the tourney? that is it? How can you defend a guy like that? If he didnt have a big reputation, everyone would be frothing at the mouth to get rid of him. Remember, he was ran out of Kentucky for much the same result. He won it all, one time, with Pitino's players, then trended downward. his whole coaching rep is based on the 1 season with Pitinos players. I think you roll the dice and find another coach. Offer Flip the keys to the University.

[zepman]

I don't think he gets fired...I just think he'll leave.

I think from top to bottom the Big Ten is one of the toughest conferences year in and year out in the country...there are no easy wins. Tubby is finding that out the hard way.

He's headed south.....

[Northlander]

Even with the caliber of players he could get at kentucky he didnt do what he should have. He will never get those type players at Minn. so he better get to some coaching clinics and brush up on some of his coaching skills. The Big 10 is a great conference and he needs to get them boys ready to play every night not be rippin on them when they dont have the talent base to be contenders yet. I just dont see it ever happening when blue chip players can go to places like Ohio State etc.

[Scott M]

The thing for me is Tubby's bullheadedness. I like a guy that is a disciplinarian; in that way I don't believe he failed with how he treated the off court issues of some of his players. Where I have a problem is his inability to make changes on the court. Their is no discernible offense, the substitution patterns are puzzling, and he can't seem to utilize his players talents. In these deficiencies he has alienated players. Devoe Joseph and Justin Cobbs left for these reasons; if Tubby had either of these guys we would be talking about what seed they would be getting in a week instead of what their NIT matchup will be. I played for some screamer coaches that demanded perfection and drove you hard, but we also were given the reins to freelance with the ball and if things got stagnant, then we went to plays. Those same screamers rewarded good play with minutes, so we rode hot hands and nobody complained about minutes as long as we were winning, and win we did. A good coach can find that compromise. You can be firm about certain rules and expectations, but you also have to keep player happy because they play the game. Tubby hasn't shown me he can walk that line.

I don't know what this current team is doing. The emphasis to start the year was to go to the post, and they stopped doing that very early on. The minutes have fluctuated wildly for everyone, Hoffarber has played the final third of this season out of position, and the season is lost.

When Tubby first came here, the emphasis was on defense. I loved it; he made some of Monson's players way more gritty and they won games they were supposed to. The last couple years, the defensive intensity has diminished and they lose games they are supposed to win. So the offense and the defense hasn't been discernible. Tubby's recruited these really athletic guys, and we don't have outside or free throw shooters, but he won't compensate by pressing hard or trying to get out in transition. They fall back and look bad on defense, then come up and pass it around for 30 seconds of the shot clock waiting for someone else to shoot. I don't see it getting better with their best shooter Hoffarber moving on after this year. Mbakwe would be a fool to stay.

I'm not calling for Tubby's head, but I also don't think we should be held ransom for his demands. Call me old fashioned, but I want to practice where I play. Morning gameday shootarounds on familiar rims and the comfort of knowing your spots on the floor. I don't think Tubby needs a multi million dollar practice facility. I know the scribes are getting on him about it, so I won't beat a dead horse, but instead of worrying about a practice facility, start winning games in Williams at the clip you should be... .900 or .950 sounds about right. That should be a place where opponents run in for layup lines and can't wait to get outta there. Tubby could have that but he can't coach up his players or run a competent team on both ends of the floor.

If Tubby walks when his contract expires (in three more years), the state shouldn't take on this victim's mentality. The old line is "who can we get that's better?" There are plenty of coaches that move around in the month of April when the tournament is over. You watch the up and comers get plucked from mid-majors and plugged in. The truth is, Tubby has some good things (Nat'l championship* *with Pitino's players, a load of wins) and bad things (terrible half court offenses, concerns about utilization of player's skills) in his CV. It's a complete package; you take the wins/losses, current on court performance, off court handling of business/graduation rates/rapport with fanbase and boosters, player development, and recruiting and add it all up. I'm not saying fire him, but if he leaves, the University should be prepared to find a replacement. I'd hope they have a contingency plan in place.

You'll be hearing about Gary Waters at Cleveland State, Rob Jeter at UW-Milwaukee, Geno Ford at Kent State, Gregg Marshall at Wichita State, Billy Kennedy at Murray State, Dave Paulsen at Bucknell, or Chris Mack at Xavier leaving to take a job at a major program when things shake out this spring.

As for next year it's going to a completely different team. Nolen and Hoffarber graduated, Mbakwe presumably gone, and rumors about Armelin playing football or going elsewhere. Armelin looks like a good penetrator and creator; Tubby better be keeping him happy because they're gonna need him. I guess we have to hope Oto Osenieks and Joe Coleman can shoot the ball. Ahanmisi and Andre Hollins sharing time at point, Austin Hollins at the 2, Rodney at the 3 and he needs to live at the gym working on his game, Colton and Ralph at the 4 and 5 trying to find their pulses. Mo Walker hopefully continuing to develop. It's a guess what they'll get from Eliason off his redshirt or Halvorsen's transfer. And then if Tubby has scholarships left, see what he can still recruit. I don't see a complete team, at least not the caliber of team Tubby began this year with when healthy. He's gonna need to find some experience and shooting.

[Scott M]

Another disappointing defeat. I foresaw a rough road coming when Nolen was hurt, but I didn't ever think it would go like this. A nearly undefeated nonconference schedule with some very quality wins, and then 6-12 in the conference. Astonishing.

Today the Gophers executed offensively down the stretch, but couldn't get a stop to save their life. Penn State got wide open looks one right after the other in the final 2-3 minutes. Last year they had glue guys in Paul Carter and Damian Johnson that were reliable and good defenders. Now they're young and hesitant. It's hard to watch. Guys can't make open shots, and it'll get worse with Hoffarber gone.

I can't help but watch how no one sets up their cuts, jabs, or pump fakes. I notice how guys don't establish position on either end of the floor. I notice how guys are settling for catching the ball 5 feet away from the 3 point line. I would love to see what Tubby practices, because I find it hard to believe he wants his bigs catching the ball way out there. It's a bunch of little things folks...those are the offensive warts of Tubby Smith.

This team will be lucky to beat Northwestern and will get hammered by Ohio State if they advance. At this point they aren't even guaranteed home games in the NIT.

[CJH]

Tubby needs to get an offensive specialist for an assistant coach. Its just plain ugly. I am still baffled they don't press more and try and create more turnovers/fastbreak points. That's what he hung his hat on at Kentucky. You've got these athletic Frosh with fresh legs, use them!!!!

[Hookmaster]

Tubby needs to get an offensive specialist for an assistant coach. Exactly!!!

[CJH]

This isn't a knock on Tubby, since these players were recruited and signed right when Tubby got here, but man we would be in great shape if we had Leur and Jordan Taylor (both from MN).

A lineup with Taylor, Hoff, Leur, Mbawke, and one of our twin towers and we could be really good. AND mostly with MN boys. It just goes to show that you could win with MN talent, if you kept them here.

[CodyDawg]

is there any homegrown talent this year? I havent heard much about any HS baller like i have in years past.

Good analysis dachise. I enjoyed reading it and agree with it wholeheartedly. I especially like the offensive warts line.

i did watch sampson FINALLY get a hook shot over the rim last game. of course it was way too far to the right, but at least it was over the rim.

and what has happened to Iverson and sampson....i just dont get how they plateaued. iverson used to be a scrappy guy, now he just likes to hack.

[EBass]

Down by 12 with a lil over 5 mins left - doesn't look good.

[Born2Fish]

75-65....What a stinker.

[EBass]

Minnesota (17-14) has lost 10 of its last 11. Are we a bubble team for the NIT?

[CodyDawg]

it was interesting listening to the ex Indiana coach who was the broadcaster...who was that? anyway, he sure alluded to bad coaching....he said multiple times....everyone knows that NW slashes after they pass the ball but MN is unprepared for it. He also talked about how our bigs play at the top of the key and dont get position underneath and demand the ball. i remember some of that early...like the NC game, but it has pretty much disappeared now. same old, same old. isnt the definition of insanity to do the same exact thing and expect different results?

[CJH]

Its official, the Goph's didn't even make the NIT.

At least they signed the Welch (JC) kid for next season, this past weekend. He and Hollins, the incoming frosh, should be an upgrade at the guard position (hopefully). However its 50/50 if Mbwakwe comes back. Probably a late second rounder in the NBA, but could probably get interest overseas.

Humorous note: Sampson has been thinking about leaving/declaring for the draft and his dad talked to about three scouts who told him not to bother!!!

[EBass]

Yup I heard this AM on KFAN that Gophs weren't invited to the NIT. Heck I was joking when I wrote that, but if the shoe fits. Ugh - what a train wreck for a season

[Scott K]

They got what they deserved!

[Scott M]

Pathetic. You guys nailed it. Not even an NIT bid. That's for mediocre teams. They're not even mediocre. They couldn't beat half the teams in D1 the way they were playing down the stretch. Sid "Homer" Hartman said that Mbakwe will probably come back because Tubby doesn't think he's ready. Sampson talking about putting in for the draft is comical, like when Mark Titus declared himself eligible and the NBA told him to withdraw his name.

To be honest, and maybe it's because I was there for Senior Day, but I feel bad for Nolen and Hoffarber. They gave everything they could to this program (well, Al didn't quite do everything last year when he didn't keep his grades up) and got thrown under the bus for this year and a lack of leadership. Nolen was a pretty good on the ball defender that will go down in the record books for steals and assists. That's very opportunistic because there was an opening for four years at PG. Hoffarber was needed for four years too, and will go down in the books for career threes and 3PT shooting percentage. Yet it would have been nice to see Nolen develop a jumper or see Hoffarber score off the dribble. Neither happened.

I don't see next year's team being better. I see another year of being on the bubble, grinding out a .500 conference record. Unless there is a huge amount of player development or Tubby learns to coach offense, they don't have the shooters or the complete players to make a decent run at anything. I'm getting sick of winning early in the year and falling on our face late in the year.

[CodyDawg]

how can you not take a strong look at firing Tubby. 16-4, ranked I believe #13 at the time and you lose 1 player and you dont make the NIT? Nolen wasnt that good. a nice player sure, but c'mon, he has to take some heat for this.

So next year looks much the same.....then you loose Colton, Ralphie and Trevor. So the following year doesnt exactly ooze confidence. albeit, that is a long ways away.

so ralphie and trevor are at least contemplating the NBA. Riddle me this, name another team with 2 NBA players that failed to make the NIT? Cant do it? Maybe then, we dont have 2 NBA players.

[thatoneguy]

If you don't understand what losing Nolen meant, you weren't paying attention this year. And if you think Sampson has a chance to be an NBA player, you REALLY weren't paying attention this year

That said, yes, Tubby should take some heat. His offense is completely unimaginative, and he needs to recruit somebody who can make a jump shot for crying out loud!

[CJH]

Senior Day, but I feel bad for Nolen and Hoffarber.

I feel bad for Hoff. He kept his nose clean, his grades up, played hard for four years and what did he get? Tubby throwing him under the bus, when it was Tubby's crappy player mgmt, offense, and player development that got him in this mess. At least he is getting a good degree in Finance and supposedly has several job offers, so he should land on his feet. Outside chance he can catch on overseas, but doubtful.

Lost a lot of respect for Tubby after those comments. He still has not taken any responsibility publicly for the season. One of the Gopher's Beat writers (Fuller I think) basically said he soured a lot of boosters after that. His inability to figure it out and adjust baffles me, from a "big time" coach.

[TR21HP]

Just reported that Tubby is talking to Arkansas about their vacant coaching job. I say good ridance and take Maturi with you!

[Scott M]

The rumor mill is swirling again. We'll see what the truth is.

[zepman]

I don't think he gets fired...I just think he'll leave.

I think from top to bottom the Big Ten is one of the toughest conferences year in and year out in the country...there are no easy wins. Tubby is finding that out the hard way.

He's headed south.....

Arkansas...hmmmm....that's in the south.

[CodyDawg]

thatoneman,

If you think that losing Nolen was there downfall, then you werent paying attention at all this year. Nolen was but the last of the dominoes to fall. Running off Joseph and Cobbs, designing a very poor offense, bad overall gameday coaching, making one move (Hoff to the 1) and then sticking with it all the way down the toilet bowl, not using your bigs, poor scouting (Ie northwestern) were some of the others. If your whole program is that dependent on 1 player, you have failed as a coach.

My point about Sampson was that he was NOT an NBA player. Read more carefully.

I agree, I lost a ton of respect for Tubby when he threw Hoff under the bus.

[RiverFish]

Hey guys what time to the Gophers play tonight? I couldn't find them on the tv guide

Go Badgers!!!

[Dotch]

Now be nice! What goes around comes around ya know...

I agree though, since the Gophs are nowhere to be found I'm pullin' for 'Sconni!