Down 30 to MD early in the 2nd. This just isn’t fun to watch. Hope there’s exponential improvement with his 2nd class next year.
Has anyone contacted those two prized recruits lately? Do they still want to come here?
I’m on the younger side of Gopher fandom, but is this rock bottom?
This is nearing Basement Brew embarrassment.
Has anyone contacted those two prized recruits lately? Do they still want to come here?
I believe they signed their NIL so it doesn't matter 😉
There’s this school in NM that’s looking really good this year. Maybe should look into that coach.
As Bob would say, the boogieman is still out there.
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
Men lost by 35 in their last game, and now the women lose by 30.
* side note unrelated to the Gophers-- The UConn women have now lost 2 in a row for the 1st time in 30 YEARS..
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
That's gonna leave a mark.
WOW...
Obviously hurts quite a bit but with the current composition of the roster I'd rather it be him than Christie. Our guard play is mostly terrible. Payne and JOJ have looked very solid (and seem to improve every game) in the post as true freshmen and Dawson Garcia is still very good and still has a couple years left.
With him backing out hopefully Ben is able to get an impact guard in here to replace the scholarship and retain the young core with Payne, Carrington, JOJ, Henley, and Kaydn Betts (redshirting this season) without losing them to the transfer portal.
With a good guard addition and returning this year's freshman class, along with Battle and Garcia and adding Christie into the guard mix I'd expect to see significant improvement.
Their FT shooting and 3pt shooting is absolutely abysmal and they don't have anybody other than Battle that they can really trust in close games to make FTs or to hit a big momentum swinging 3 and they don't have a guard that makes defenses stay honest. Cooper is a decent 3pt shooter (38%) but is barely 50% from the line so he basically has to drive and dish or shoot a 3 to be effective. Taurus Samuel, their primary 2 guard, is playing almost 20 minutes a game and averages 2.5 points/game while shooting a whopping 27% from the field and 28% from 3.
Right now they basically have to play 1 guard and 4 forwards and hope the other team can't get out and run the floor. It hasn't been working very well.
What a sad Program. 1 Big 10 title on 40 years 1 NCAA Tourney win in what 10 years?
Has anyone contacted those two prized recruits lately? Do they still want to come here?
I believe they signed their NIL so it doesn't matter 😉
Umm…
It still stands true. The U doesn't HAVE to let Evans out of their NIL. They probably will (or already have) but once that is signed your only option is to have the U release you or come to campus.
You need a player like that. I say screw it You committed, you are going to play
What is to be gained by making a player who doesn't want to be here play for one year and then go into the transfer portal after their first year?
Why not let him leave and use his scholarship on a player who wants to be here.
What is to be gained by making a player who doesn't want to be here play for one year and then go into the transfer portal after their first year?
Why not let him leave and use his scholarship on a player who wants to be here.
Some one star from Litchfield MN for 4 instead of a 4 star for a year. I will take the 4 star for a year.
Reading it sounds like the Gophers will grant the release.
This team has been in such a free fall the past 3 seasons. Between everyone bailing after Pitino left and surviving on a bunch of transfers to get through Ben's first year to essentially playing all freshmen this year... what a cluster.
I mean, there's really no way the team can be worse next year. They're already the worst B1G team by KenPom since 2004 or something.
But, there's really no excuse for the free throw issues. I always thought that was a Pitino thing, apparently it's a MN thing.
What is to be gained by making a player who doesn't want to be here play for one year and then go into the transfer portal after their first year?
Why not let him leave and use his scholarship on a player who wants to be here.
Some one star from Litchfield MN for 4 instead of a 4 star for a year. I will take the 4 star for a year.
Reading it sounds like the Gophers will grant the release.
Yep if a kid wants to leave their only option is to bring in a 1 star recruit from Litchfield. 😉
I dealt with Ben Johnson's parents last year on a fundraising project. They're nice people and I was really hoping Ben would succeed but the job is just too big for him. The U needs to cut bait and find a more experienced coach.
Dennis Evans commits to the U!
I don’t follow squeakyshoe, but came to this thread to gauge the reaction to the news here. This was evidently the most recent post the last time I entered this thread.
https://twitter.com/Gopherated/status/1630257355345543168?s=20
There are a lot of rumors that Louisville is where he will end up and they are currently 4-25 so I wouldn't think the team's success (or lack thereof) has much to do with the decision to decommit.
I have to think due to the small number of players on rosters basketball has to be the sport most susceptible to change under the current rules.
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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There are more than a few replies that suggest #1 is a bit of a stretch of a reason. Now if Henley is going to transfer...
There are more than a few replies that suggest #1 is a bit of a stretch of a reason. Now if Henley is going to transfer...
Henley had a very difficult time for a while getting playing time (in the early season he would play 20+ minutes per game while Battle was out) but then his playing time plummeted (47 minutes across 6 games from Dec. 11 to Jan. 12). So his frustration with playing time is understandable.
Personally I'd definitely buy into the "NIL" contract offers from Louisville more than anything else.
Gophers fighting tooth and nail against Rutgers. Battle hits a buzzer beater 3 to win in dramatic fashion. The referees are reviewing every single aspect possible to try to wave the shot off but the ball left Battle's hands with .4 seconds left so IDK what the hell the issue is.
Rutgers was up 10 with 75 seconds left.
This long ass delay after the game is over is totally ridiculous
After 15 minutes of trying to do whatever they can to give Rutgers the win, the referees finally determine there's no way they could wave the basket off and not get crucified for rigging the game and the basket counts!
Honestly insane that it took so long. The ball left Battle's hand with .4 seconds left. It wasn't even bang bang.
I've been watching sports for a LONG time. That was the most ridiculous effing clown show I have ever seen in my life. What a bleeping fiasco. JFC.
The main ref was obviously exhausting absolutely every opportunity to try to give Rutgers a chance. The clock started immediately when we touched it with 5.8 seconds left and even if it didn’t how is that reviewable? You’re gonna wave off the basket because the clock didn’t start fast enough? Come on.After 15 minutes of trying to do whatever they can to give Rutgers the win, the referees finally determine there's no way they could wave the basket off and not get crucified for rigging the game and the basket counts!
Honestly insane that it took so long. The ball left Battle's hand with .4 seconds left. It wasn't even bang bang.
I’ve never seen anything like that, it was at least 15 minutes after the end before they finally gave up and called it. Stoopid.
Rutgers was up 10 with 75 seconds left.
You would think we would have to be perfect in that last minute to come back but of course they missed a couple shots and still somehow won. Some epic pant shitting by Rutgers.
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
I was also baffled by the review. It turns out that there was a question whether the ball touched his leg before he picked the ball up. That would have made a difference. But still—if you can’t tell after a few minutes…I've been watching sports for a LONG time. That was the most ridiculous effing clown show I have ever seen in my life. What a bleeping fiasco. JFC.
Seen the replay... this review should've lasted no more than a minute.
Keep your stick on the ice...
Didn’t see this, but it sounds like shades of 1972 Olympic basketball final 🤔
Didn’t see this, but it sounds like shades of 1972 Olympic basketball final 🤔
And those silver medals still sit locked in a vault in Munich.
Keep your stick on the ice...
Gophers leading by 7 at half against Sconnie.
Gophers down 1 with 6 to go. Free throws will end this team.
Gophers crumbling down the stretch.
Good lord. Make a free throw. Gophers go 2/6 in the last minute from the line. No excuse for losing this game as it was lost on the easiest shot in bball.
FT shooting has been terrible all year. Wisconsin got a lead and made the Gophers try to catch up by making FTs, which they shoot at like 61% all year.
The Gophers seem to suck at FTs every year. I know powwow ripped both Tubby and Pitino squads for it...
The Gophers seem to suck at FTs every year. I know powwow ripped both Tubby and Pitino squads for it...
It has definitely been a recurring theme throughout the years. At least in the past they'd have 2-3 guys in the 80% range for FTs. This year only Battle (85%) is above 71% (for the guys who play meaningful minutes--Treyton Thompson is shooting a respectable 77% but only plays about 11 minutes/game).
Payne is at 48%, JOJ is at 58%, Cooper is at 58%. Henley is at 64%.
Carrington and Garcia are both at 70% (serviceable but not great).
Just saw on Twitter that after tonight's game they are officially dead last (363 out of 363) in FT percentage on the year. Just ridiculously bad at the line. Wonder how many more wins they would have had if they made even 5% more from the line each game.
I'm going to predict their team free throw ranking will be better next season. 😉
Players: Coach we can only go up from here.
Saw some tweets this morning that indicated that Battle (and maybe Cooper) may turn professional-likely going to European leagues. I think it was from Gopherhole?
That would certainly be a buzzkill.
Battle yes...Cooper meh.
Battle yes...Cooper meh.
With how terrible are guard depth was behind Cooper, I'm not super keen on relying exclusively on Carrington and Christie and TransferPortalGuy X to be the only guards.