We didn't need 'em
The continuous loss of quality in-state basketball talent is starting to make me feel that the Gophers are like the guy who can't get off the first tee because he keeps slapping tee shots in the pond. The simple reason of Dan Monson not snagging top-notch talent or even a steady stream of quality basketball players is deplorable in my mind. Day by day he is either proving he sucks at judging talent or frankly, he simply can't make the sell. Here's a few examples of players I highly bet he could have gotten from Minnesota. How do I know -- well, just look at the schools these players ended up at and tell me they wouldn't rather wear Maroon & Gold at Williams Arena. I'm sure I could find more as well, but I'm in particular taking a look at these two neighboring teams who are enjoying more success than the Goph's.
Northern Iowa (#24 in AP Poll, RPI of 14 on 2/1/06):
- Eric Coleman, F, soph, Maplewood, MN: he's averaging 28 minutes, 12 pts., 7.6 rebs., 2 ast., 1.7 TOs
- Erik Crawford, G, sr., Oakdale, MN: averaging 32 minutes, 10.5 pts., 4.5 rebs., 2.6 asts., 2.1 TOs
North Dakota State (beat Wisconsin on 1/21/06, RPI of 171, w/ 7 MN players on roster)
- Ben Woodside, G, fr., Albert Lea, MN: team leader in points (17.8/gm), minutes (34.9/gm), and assists (5.1/gm)
- Andre Smith, F, jr., St. Paul: 27.8 min, 13 pts, 7.5 rebs
- Brett Winkelman, F, Morris, MN: 31.3 min, 11.9 pts., 6.8 rebs, 2.2 asts
posted by The Divoteer at 10:15 AM
1 Comments:
Yea, so I'm gonna have to go ahead and disagree with you there. I take it that only Nancy and I actually read this blog... so no need to hold back here.
You are wrong about Dan Monson letting those kids go. While I am the first to rip Monson on recruiting (after all if he were a good recruiter there would be no need to play - much less START Puchtel) Monson's lack of choosing quality players is much more damning than his flaw of letting good players go.
I understand that may be confusing, but I really believe that all of those guys you named are a dime a dozen in the basketball world. Even the "gem" of the group, Ben Woodside, is not good enough to play on any Big 10 teams much less top 25 teams. That's why he's at NDSU and not at Duke, UNC, UCONN, etc.
The problem with Monson is not that he lets those kids go, its that he chooses kids that have the same upside or worse. Then when he gets them, he coaches poorly. My interpretation of Gopher offensive strategy:
Boone brings it up the floor. Swing pass to the left, swing back to the right. Yell and motion like you are setting up a play until the shot clock reaches 5. Pass it to Grier and have him make a play one on one.
It's disgusting.
Okay, I need to stop writing now - I'm getting all hot and bothered about Gophers Hoops. I'll end it with this:
Fire Dan Monson.
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