There's a dozen threads rattling-off the names of every obscure possibility for the next Gopher basketball coach. And not just no-names from small colleges....we're even listing high-school coaches now.

I mentioned Lovie Smith back when Kill retired....but no one else here wanted him.

Claeys can't recruit, has no head coaching experience, no personality, can't attract any standout assistants, has a serious weight issue, brings zero enthusiasm, is viewed as a lame-duck and a shell of Kill, and is a total no-name that no other Big Ten team would even think of considering.

So okay, who do you guys want for our next football coach? Let's hear some names.

Have we won all the B1G Hockey titles since we became a Hockey conference?

FWIW: For the first time in 5 years Tom Lemming does not have the Gopher recruiting class ranked in his Top 50.

Here is his ranking of the Gophers in past years:
2012 - #39
2013 - #50
2014 - #45
2015 - #41
2016 - NR

Lemming ranks Carter Coughlin as the #10 OLB and Seth Green as the #12 Dual QB

Who is ranked #1? Alabama for the 6th straight year

Maybe Unlimited or someone close to the program can answer.... What happened this year? I know we had a couple of injuries and red shirts, but the program is at a historic low under J Rob.... Are we on a serious downward trajectory?

5 conference titles in a row for Lucia - NCAA record - and we want him gone?

High expectations. It's tough to expect perfection each year.

2016-17 recruits Mitch McKee and Hunter Marko both won their 3rd and 4th state titles, respectively. And, then McKee and Gopher Recruit Lucas Jeske both wrestled in the Cliff Keen Dream Classic last weekend in New Prague, MN.

Here are articles on both topics:

Gopher Recruits Cap Prep Careers with Titles

Mitch McKee and Hunter Marko end high school careers by continuing state championship streaks


GopherSports.com
March 11, 2016

The college wrestling season is speeding toward its close at the NCAA Championships next week. Meanwhile, earlier this winter, both Gopher signees for the 2016 recruiting class wrapped up their high school careers with state championships.

Across the Hudson River in Wisconsin, Hunter Marko became the 14th four-time state champion in Wisconsin history when he won a 138-pound title in Madison, Wis. earlier this winter. The state title capped an undefeated senior year for Marko, who went 39-0 in his last season wrestling for Amery High School and his father, head coach Scott Marko. His run through the state tournament featured an opening round tech fall, a 7-1 decision in the semifinals and a 9-1 major decision to claim first place. Marko had previously won titles at 106, 113 and 126 pounds.

Just a few miles down Interstate 94 from the Gopher wrestling room, St. Michael-Albertville’s Mitch McKee won his third consecutive state title. A five-time finalist in his high school career, McKee had previous won
titles at 120 and 126 before winning a 138-pound championship this season. Like Marko, McKee’s title completed an undefeated campaign, one in which he went 50-0. All four of McKee’s wins at state were bonus point wins, beginning with a fall in the first round, followed by major decisions in the quarters and semis and a 20-5 tech fall for the title.

Both Marko and McKee will join the Gopher program this fall.


Hall shines in No. 1 vs. No. 2, but Team USA dominates Minnesota

Josh Lowe, InterMat High School Analyst
3/13/2016


Mark Hall defeated Alex Marinelli by major decision, 14-5 (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine)

NEW PRAGUE, Minn. -- Held about a month earlier than normal, the Wrestling USA Magazine Cliff Keen Dream Team Classic took place last night in New Prague, Minn. This year's event featured some of the nation's top seniors facing many of the top seniors from the Gopher State. To be expected, a group of seniors from across the United States was clearly favored; and in mostly unsurprising fashion, Minnesota seniors won just three of the thirteen bouts.

However, one of those wins was the evening's biggest story. Coming in the last match, No. 1 Mark Hall (Apple Valley) used a third period barrage to upend No. 2 Alex Marinelli (St. Paris Graham, Ohio) by a 14-5 major decision at 170 pounds. Hall is the nation's overall top senior, bound for Penn State; while Marinelli, an Iowa commit, is third overall in the senior class regardless of weight class.

One of the other two wins for a Minnesota wrestler came against Marinelli's St. Paris Graham teammate Brent Moore. Earning the 10-2 major decision victory was No. 5 Mitchell McKee (St. Michael-Albertville) at 138 pounds. The third and final Gopher State victory came at 126 pounds, as Adam Hedin (Rosemount) rallied from a 5-0 deficit to earn a 6-5 upset victory over No. 3 Kevin Norstrem (Brandon, Fla.) at 126 pounds; Hedin was a state runner-up at 132 in Minnesota's big-school Class AAA this year.


Nick Reenan celebrates after defeating Taylor Venz at 182 pounds (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)

That first Minnesota win came in the evening's seventh bout, which meant that Team USA amassed wins in the evening's first six bouts. It started off with a victory at 182 pounds coming from Nick Reenan (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.), who is ranked No. 2 nationally at 195; Reenan earned a 13-10 victory over two-time state champion Taylor Venz (Farmington) in an absolute barn-burner. Next on the mat was the 195 pound bout, where No. 4 Ben Darmstadt (Elyria, Ohio) pinned No. 3 (at 182) Keegan Moore (Jackson County Central) in the first period. The 220 pound match had zero surprise with No. 2 Matt Stencel (Oregon Clay, Ohio) earning a 9-1 major decision victory over Kevin Kniesl (Delano).

It was somewhat an unexpectedly close bout at 285 pounds, where No. 1 Osawaru Odighizuwa (David Douglas, Ore.) beat No. 20 Andrew Piehl (Rogers) 3-1 in overtime. Turning back to the lower weights, No. 4 Danny Vega (Ironwood Ridge, Ariz.) earned a 12-3 major decision over 2015 state champion Ethan Cota (Kenyon-Wanamingo) at 113. Last in the six match winning streak to open the dual meet, it was a 21-6 technical fall for No. 5 (at 126) Jack Mueller (Trinity Christian Academy, Texas) over 113 pound state champion Victor Gliva (Farmington).

Sandwiching the first two Minnesota victories, which came over future Virginia Tech wrestlers, it was No. 6 (at 138) Taylor LaMont (Maple Mountain, Utah) earning an 11-5 victory over two-time state runner-up Jamie LeDuc (Farmington) at 132. After the loss at 138, it was three straight United States victories before the last bout of the evening.

Winning at 145 was No. 4 Carter Happel (Lisbon, Iowa), who beat state runner-up Brock Morgan (Apple Valley) 7-4. Then at 152 pounds, it was No. 1 Mason Manville (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) scoring a 4-1 victory in the tiebreaker over No. 3 Griffin Parriott (New Prague) in a battle of future Big Ten wrestlers; Manville bound for Penn State along with Hall, and Parriott the Purdue commit. Lastly it was a pair of nationally ranked 182 pound wrestlers taking to the mats at 160, where No. 8 Daniel Bullard (Archer, Ga.) beat No. 16 Lucas Jeske (St. Michael-Albertville) 3-1.

Results:
182: No. 2 (at 195) Nick Reenan (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) dec. Taylor Venz (Farmington), 13-10
195: No. 4 Ben Darmstadt (Elyria, Ohio) pinned No. 3 (at 182) Keegan Moore (Jackson County Central), 1:43
220: No. 2 Matt Stencel (Oregon Clay, Ohio) maj. dec. Kevin Kneisl (Delano), 9-1
285: No. 1 Osawaru Odighizuwa (David Douglas, Ore.) dec. No. 20 Andrew Piehl (Rogers), 3-1 OT
113: No. 4 Danny Vega (Ironwood Ridge, Ariz.) maj. dec. Ethan Cota (Kenyon-Wanamingo), 12-3
120: No. 5 (at 126) Jack Mueller (Trinity Christian Academy, Texas) tech. fall Victor Gliva (Farmington), 21-6 4:10
126: Adam Hedin (Rosemount) dec. No. 3 Kyle Norstrem (Brandon, Fla.), 6-5
132: No. 6 (at 138) Taylor LaMont (Maple Mountain, Utah) dec. Jamin Le Duc (Farmington), 11-5
138: No. 5 Mitchell McKee (St. Michael-Albertville) maj. dec. No. 8 Brent Moore (St. Paris Graham, Ohio), 10-2
145: No. 4 Carter Happel (Lisbon, Iowa) dec. Brock Morgan (Apple Valley), 7-4
*152: No. 3 Griffin Parriott (New Prague) won by forfeit.
Exhibition 152: No. 1 Mason Manville (Wyoming Seminary, Pa.) dec. No. 3 Griffin Parriott (New Prague), 4-1 OT
160: No. 8 (at 182) Daniel Bullard (Archer, Ga.) dec. No. 16 (at 182) Lucas Jeske (St. Michael-Albertville), 3-1
170: No. 1 Mark Hall (Apple Valley) maj. dec. No. 2 Alex Marinelli (St. Paris Graham, Ohio), 14-5
* Manville did not make weight

Gopher Mitch McKee had a tough Brent Moore from powerhouse St, Paris Graham, OH, but Mitch made easy work of this match! McKee is very aggressive and very technically sound...he got 4 takedowns, including one where he did an innovative step around on a whizzer to lock the other leg that I'd never seen before!! Mitch got back points on a double arm bar and he rides very well. This guy might be further along than Tommy Thorn was when he came into the program and he is a real blue chip, big time recruit!!!

Lucas Jeske wrestled well, and he has the body structure and the basics to be very good...he just needs some technical improvement, which he will get once he is in the Gopher Wrestling room!

One question I have. #55 Lucas Jeske (St. Michael-Albertville) and #42 Owen Webster (Shakopee) have been verbally committed for a while, but they must not have signed their NLI yet, as Gopher Wrestling does not comment on their activities like they do with McKee and Marko. Not sure why this is, but it's something to watch.

Gophers get Milwaukee at the Barn on Wed. If they win, they play the winner of the South Dakota / Creighton game. location TBA. Be good to see them make a run so Banham can add to her record point totals.

This is two of the best high school teams you will see in Minnesota. Hopkins beat them by 8 earlier this year. Coffey is banged up so we shall see how this goes.

..

Pitino, Ben Johnson, Kimani watched Nate lead his team to state title game tonight with 17/9. Offered him after.

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Some up's

School has hired Ayo Taylor-Dixon as the Senior Associate Athletic Director, the school announced this afternoon.

Taylor-Dixon comes to Minnesota from the University of Northern Colorado, where he was a senior associate athletic director since 2014. At Minnesota, some of his main responsibilities will be to oversee the marketing department and sales and service operations.

Should be a interesting game tomorrow evening in Rochester. Rochester John Marshall's Michael and Matthew Hurt go against Lakeville North's Nate Reuvers. Lakeville North is the #1 seed
and JM is #2

Next Gopher hoops coach?

Great record. Great coaching bloodlines. Great recruiter. Oh wait, he's a high school coach. They can't recruit, can they?

Never mind.

17 straight trips to the dance. Were on the bubble the whole WAC tourney and beat a very good St.Mary's team last night for the title. With 27 wins I expect St.Mary's to also get in.
No super stars on either team the with the exception of Sabonis. Stability is a good thing....

Watched 6 games yesterday. Here are my Gopher related thoughts:

Amir Coffey. Scored three times early around the rim, had an incredible block chasing a guy down in transition, made his foul shots, did a great job rebounding, had a beautiful bounce pass, and then with like 9mins to go in the first half he took a nasty nasty fall and hurt his back. Came back and played a little but then sat for the entire second half for precautionary reasons. Hope that back felt good this morning because the Trent vs Coffey round 2 is about to fill the Target Center tonight.

Gary Trent Jr. Blaine was totally overmatched coming out of a weak section and Gary score 23 points in 22 minutes and then sat for the rest of the night. His scores were on the attack as Blaine had nobody that could deal with him.

Tre Jones. Also played 23 minutes and say most of the second half. Controlled the pace of the game completely, scored four times, dished out 5 assists, was on the bench relaxing. Nothing to really take because the competition could do nothing with him.

Joe Hedstrom. Remember this name. He is a 6-foot-10 sophomore from Hopkins. Scored 10 points yesterday but usually doesn't play. Has an NDSU offer already. Guy is fantastic in position, has a really nice touch, and the best part is he is very aggressive at his size and moves well. Guarantee we will be talking about him a lot in the near future.

Goanar Mar/Gabe Kalscheur. Had what is really about a normal day for them. Both scored 6 field goals, both played well, Goanar had a double-double of 19/12 but had some turnover issues. Competition really wasn't very good (which is a terrible trend in MN HS basketball first round state tournament games) so not much you can take from it that we didn't already know.

Adam Trapp. I have never been more baffled by how a kid was used. He would get post position and it was obvious that the coach instructs his players to lob it up straight in the air and let it fall into his hands like snow falling. Well, he catches that but the floating lob lets two guys come down for a triple team, Adam losses position in the post that he had established, and the smaller guy can push him in the back off the block out of position because he no longer has leverage when he stands to get the ball. Tough day. Scored once, had to guard a 6-ft-5 small forward who has scholarship potential so that didn't go well (Annandale had their guy bring the ball up the floor which took Trapp away from the basket so he wasn't able to be the Post threat on D he usually he). Trapp is running better, and averaged 15/7/4 this year on a team that slows the game way down, but didn't show his touch much and has a hard time moving laterally .

Nate Reuvers. Scored his points from the fol line hitting all nine, had trouble with Reed Nikko who was much stronger and knocked Nate off balance on his shots often which led to the 5-13 fg but Nate fouled Reed out and had a nice double-double of 19/14.

thin body but has very nice skills at 6'10.

Pitino and Ben Johnson watched him tonight. Will play in championship game on sat

On Rosen sports Sunday 10:35

Aaron Hackett, a TE from Venice HS (Florida) was offered by the Gophers on Thursday.

Hackett has another P5 offer from Iowa State and offers from Marshall, Toledo and Marshall.

Venice was one of the top programs in Florida last season and likes to move the ball through the air. Login to view embedded media

Sconnie scum is in town thus weekend and we need 3 points to guarantee a B1G title. Went to my normal watering hole at The Commons and had to maneuver between the commie pigs. Unfortunately moved over to Applebee's to avoid them. 16 minutes left in Happy Hour, I'm buying if you show at the bar during happy hour

The defending national champions defeated Princeton, 6-2, in the quarterfinals today.
Minnesota will make its 12th overal final four and fifth consecutive.
Gophers will face the winner of today's fourth NCAA quarterfinal game between No. 2 seed Wisconsin and Mercyhurst on Friday.

Clickbait title but Jarvis just tweeted "Guess who's back (with female raising hand emoji)"

Could be nothing but we could use some good b-ball news

RJ, have you heard anything about this?

I'll post over here to avoid a war over in GI.

I know that I am the minority from all the likes for Hurt's dad's post, but I thought it was a little frightening. The worst thing Goldteam said was that he thought the young one was lazy. But he even said before that he was rooting for Hurt and seemed to be a fan. He voiced his opinion, big deal. Hurt basically challenged him to a fight in a gym over it and was dropping the message board equivalent of "do you know who I am."

Let's face it. GI has a history of smooching the tails of players families and friends who post and then it often turns bad, Royston, Berkley Edwards etc.

I hope I am wrong here, but if we got a Wally Ellenson type family response from Goldteam;s comments, then there could be rough days ahead. You are not going to be able to challenge everyone in the barn to a fight who boos your kid after a couple of turnovers.

Introducing 2017 stars from the Midwest https://n.rivals.com/news/introducing-2017-stars-from-the-midwest