I'm not either...but he isn't irreplaceable sadly.
4 former Gophers made all conference with their new teams this week. Liam Robbins (Vanderbilt), Marcus Carr (Texas), Jamal Mashburn Jr. (New Mexico), and Gabe Kalscheur (Iowa State).
Ouch.
Well the problem was the coach they had here...and some were not ready for this level.
Gophers benefitting from 3 questionable calls in the last 3 minutes but keep giving it back with horrible turnovers. 3pt lead with 24 secs left
Gophers win 76-73!
Double double for Garcia plus good on D
Even with tonight's result, I'm guessing they still have to win the B1G tournament to make the NCAA's? ?
Seriously though, good for them. Conference play has been pretty much one bite of the sh*t sandwich after another for this team, but they went in tonight and gutted it out. I always admire a display of nutting up.
Nice win, especially after Battle fouled out. Cooper had 16 points and 12 assists, tying a school record for assists in Big Ten tournament games.
Fred Hoiberg not exactly lighting the world on fire at Nebraska.
Fred Hoiberg not exactly lighting the world on fire at Nebraska.
He had a good thing going at Iowa State and should've stayed put.
Fred Hoiberg not exactly lighting the world on fire at Nebraska.
He had a good thing going at Iowa State and should've stayed put.
I think they were getting sick of his constant using the media (Hi Doogie!) to get raises and his recruiting strategy was not going to be a long term successful plan. (transfer heavy) They probably aren't lamenting it much 😉
I never wanted him coaching here he just didn't seem like a good program builder.
Gopher hoops season ends tonight with a loss to Maryland.
Maryland defensively shut the Gophers down in the paint outside of Payne (who was incredible). Garcia, Battle, and JOJ were 5/17 from the field with Battle and Garcia being 3/15. Maryland basically dared anybody not named Garcia and Battle to beat them. Payne and Carrington did their best (17 and 12 respectively) but they just couldn't make jumpers consistently enough to overcome Maryland.
Now we watch the transfer portal. Jaden Henley seems like a decent bet to transfer out depending on where his buddy Dennis Evans ends up.
First year I went to basketball games at the barn in a long time and it was bad. The shooting got worse as the game went on. I was shocked they beat Nebraska. I hope coach Johnson gets a team put together, this year was a bust.
First year I went to basketball games at the barn in a long time and it was bad. The shooting got worse as the game went on. I was shocked they beat Nebraska. I hope coach Johnson gets a team put together, this year was a bust.
I mostly expected this year to be pretty rough.
4 true freshmen playing significant minutes in a veteran-laden conference is bound to be rough. They all made significant improvements as the season went on. IF all 4 return and they keep Garcia, with Christie coming in they should be much better next season. Especially if Cooper and Battle both return too. They also have Ihnen and Fox who will maybe actually be healthy next year as depth guys if Battle does move on.
They had a lot of close games go the wrong way for them this season (3 point loss @ Wisconsin, 4 point loss vs. Wisconsin, 4 point loss @ Michigan, 4 point loss vs Indiana, 2 point loss in OT against Nebraska, plus a 7pt loss to Penn State where they cut the lead to 3 with 3 minutes left and then subsequently turned the ball over 2x, missed a 3, and missed 3 out of 4 FTs). Gotta think that a team with a bit more experience in close games on big stages pulls a game or two out of those.
The transfer portal will be big for them in the next few weeks. Hopefully they don't lose anyone.
Edit to add: they also will have Kadyn Betts next season. He enrolled early and redshirted this season. He was a pretty well thought of recruit (top 50 in his position, top 250 overall according to 247sports, though a couple other places had him inside their top 100 by the time he committed here).
Keep your core, add some depth. They’ll be better next year.
I mean this season was historically bad so...
Evans commits to Louisville, who had an even worse year than Gophers. Curious…….
Evans commits to Louisville, who had an even worse year than Gophers. Curious…….
NIL money. Rumors on Twitter were that Louisville was going to throw a ton of money at him through NIL deals. Seems that is what happened.
Henley enters the portal
https://twitter.com/marcus_r_fuller/status/1635308747940827136?s=46&t=UtlPiq7Vt1Te97QT76L7LQ
I think Johnson is lucky Whalen "stepped down" or he would be in a lot of trouble right now. As it is his job is not long for this world unless he has a helluva turnaround next year. I like Ben but this is a massive disaster and there is not much real hope out there that the team will be any good.
Henley enters the portal
https://twitter.com/marcus_r_fuller/status/1635308747940827136?s=46&t=UtlPiq7Vt1Te97QT76L7LQ
I would bet he ends up with Louisville with his best friend. Louisville had 3 freshmen enter the portal as well.
Backup F/C Treyton Thompson has entered the transfer portal as well. He saw his playing time significantly reduced as the season went on.
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
Lol draft waters...good luck you don't even stand out in a historically bad team.
I like his potential but there’s so many holes in his game this is ridiculous. Just the amount of bad turnovers he made in the last 5 minutes of games makes him undraftable.
Virginia Basketball... go big of go home
2018: Lost to #16 UMBC seed in the 1st round.
2019: Won the NCAA Tourney.
2020: No Tourney - Covid.
2021: Lost to #13 Ohio seed in the 1st round.
2022: Didn't qualify.
2023: Lost to #13 seed Furman in the 1st round.
Keep your stick on the ice...
I like his potential but there’s so many holes in his game this is ridiculous. Just the amount of bad turnovers he made in the last 5 minutes of games makes him undraftable.
I likened his game in college to that of Ricky Rubio in the NBA. Great distributor, good leader, but not a good shooter.
I would be shocked if he decides to try the NBA. If he transfers out, it certainly hurts the team next year.
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
Ben Johnson is a dead man walking...
So we’re up to 3 transfers and a lost commit?
Why wouldn’t Battle have to sit out when transferring? It would be his second change.
Maybe he is a grad transfer? Or transferring down.
Rats fleeing a sinking ship. I am not about firing guys quick but Johnson is a disaster. Waiting a year will not help. This team is not even going to be an NIT squad next year so he is done.
I like Ben but he is not a Big Ten coach and this program can't handle a Tim Brewster. Cut bait now cause next year is going to be harder to lure someone here.
If they hadn't just 'fired' Whalen would Johnson be gone already?
Probably not (unless a big name wanted tbe job) because the optics would suck and there is a big buyout. Next year it is way less and he is way canned barring a miracle.
Probably not (unless a big name wanted tbe job) because the optics would suck and there is a big buyout. Next year it is way less and he is way canned barring a miracle.
I actually think part of the reason (and don't get me wrong, there are many) they fired Whalen this year was so they can fire Ben next year and have the optics look ok.
Both were disastrous hires by Coyle.
Whalen I got...Johnson was at best a reach. They believed the AAU coaches that he could recruit top end guys and coach.
Whalen I got...Johnson was at best a reach. They believed the AAU coaches that he could recruit top end guys and coach.
I mean he has recruited high end guys. Evans, Christie, Payne, and Betts were all top 100-150 guys depending on which ranking system you want to use.
#16 FDU... Fairleigh Dickinson 63, #1 Purdue 58... LoL!!!
Keep your stick on the ice...
What an absolute choke job by Purdue. And an even worse coaching job by Painter. Holy hell.
What an absolute choke job by Purdue. And an even worse coaching job by Painter. Holy hell.
There have been some awful play at the ends of these games. Even worse coaching. Leads to the upsets, but it's tough to watch awful execution.
I'm sorry... #1 seed and even a #2 seed should never lose in the 1st round of the NCAA's.
Keep your stick on the ice...
Since 1985 when the field went to 64, #1 seeds are 150-2 vs. #16 seeds.
Keep your stick on the ice...
Amazing win by FDU. Purdue has the hands down best big man in the country vs FDU who is the smallest team in the tournament averaging 6’1”…literally David vs Goliath
Amazing win by FDU. Purdue has the hands down best big man in the country vs FDU who is the smallest team in the country averaging 6’1”…literally David vs Goliath
353 of 353...
Keep your stick on the ice...
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
Whalen I got...Johnson was at best a reach. They believed the AAU coaches that he could recruit top end guys and coach.
I mean he has recruited high end guys. Evans, Christie, Payne, and Betts were all top 100-150 guys depending on which ranking system you want to use.
Evans didn't stay committed ge doesn't count. And he has zero ability to retain talent even local guys he has relationships with.
If he had a manageable buyout he would likely be sweating bullets and deservedly so.
Rule #1 never pick Purdue to go far. I barely watch anymore and would have had them at best making the Sweet Sixteen.