Monson resigns as coach at Minnesota

[mnwild]

About time is all I can say about this. I hope they bring in a guy who can get some good players so the Gophers can be competitive again..

[BLACKJACK]

I never did like Monson - he replaced my hero Clem - and now hes gone. Good riddance. He was definately overmatched. He may know the x's and O's but you also have to be able to recruit.

[IFallsRon]

Any good recruit isn't going to mess with the U's academic requirements. Monson didn't have a chance. The AD needs to bail and fire Mason before he goes.

[Snag]

Puchtel and Abu walk-ons saved his tail last year. I'm so glad he's gone. I went to the Northwestern game last year and have never seen the barn so dead.

[beer batter]

Who's going to coach now? Interim coach for the remainder or will they bring someone in off the street?

[Scott M]

Interim coach is Molinari, who's not actually half bad defensively. I think who they hire is really key. They need to wait a while to make a decision. There are great guys leading mid-majors, if Flip's Pistons roll over someone should make a call over there, Trent Tucker would be a good coach, Wisconsin's old coach Dick Bennett is still out there, Rick Majerus is around and with the hospital right on campus he wouldn't have to worry about heart attacks (joke,joke,joke)...the point is there are lots of good coaches out there, don't go get some hot shot, get someone that will a) turn the program around and fill the barn with fans again. I miss the good old days, but much like the academic scandal, it will take a while before the program gets headed in the right direction. We're already watching the march of in-state talent heading out to other schools for next year.

[beer batter]

Flip would be great to have as the Gopher's coach. He played there didn't he? I believe he still lives here as well. I just can't see the Pistons firing him after 2 seasons when they had the best record in the league last year.

Glad to see Monson gone, I hope who ever comes in brings the barn back to life.

[nofishfisherman]

Flip has had some turmoil in Detroit lately. Things aren't all rosey for him right now.

I would love to see Flip as head coach with Tucker as an assistant. Tucker will be good in the future I think but he has never been a coach at any level. I would like to see a guy who has atleast one weeks worth of experience.

Make him the assistant and maybe in the future he could be moved to head coach. This situation might work if Majerus is hired since he won't be around for a long time so you might want to have a guy like Tucker on the bench that can take over after a few years of experience.

[Willy]

I agree. Flip would be ideal. Tucker has ZERO coaching experience but definitely knows the game. He should be the first considered as an assistant. He would be one of the best recruiters an assistant could have here. He is not a head coach however.

Flip played here, lives here, was an assistant coach through a legitimate big ten title here, his son plays here, and he is as big a supporter of U of M basketball there is.

He would instantly increase our talent level, pride and excitement if we are able to get him away from the Pistons. Can you imagine the recruits he could pull in with his NBA connections? Our in-state talent would be clamoring to get on the squad if nothing else.

[zachp]

How about gettin Clem off the streets, have him shave his beard, get him a new set of clothes and bring him back to the barn.

[schweady]

yost lost my lunch.

[Coach1310]

We need a salesman. As a veteran High School bball coach, most "great" coaches are great at selling. You can be a genius with the x's and o's, but in college, if you can't sell your school and program in a recruits living room, it really doesn't matter. I think they should go after Tim Miles, he is the head coach at NDSU. He already has great recruiting ties in MN, the Dakotas and Iowa. He is a great "salesman" and a very accomplished coach. He has turned around every program he has ever touched. Flip and Trent may sound good, but a high school kid doesn't even know who Trent Tucker is and I can't see him being a great recruiter. A good face for the U, but not a good recruiter. Flip couldn't motivate the T-Wolves. I can't see him coming to the college game and being able to motivate and work with players for less time and get better results. He would be a good face as well, but no to a high schooler! Just my two cents. I know some people like Molinari, but we did give up 90pts to Clemson @ HOME!!!

[Scott M]

I agree with everybody about Tucker, yes, no experience, but he would make a fantastic assistant. Coach, I agree with you...I'd swap Monson and Mason with Miles and Bohl, U of M for NDSU head football and basketball coaches right this instant.

As far as Molinari, he won't turn anything around for any reason but I bet he gets the kids' attention and they keep games close. I bet they will put together a nice defensive game plan for the remainder of the season.

I do disagree with you about Flip and Tucker. The knock (one of several) on Monson was that his kids never got a lick better. Look at the projects Flip has taken at the pro level. Yes, it would less money for Flip, but the chance to coach his son and be a hero for his alma mater? That's gotta be worth something. I heard last year he called the athletics department to let them know he was interested (contrary to what he supposed has said about the job this year). Flip and Tuck would recruit kids and they know their X's and O's. The barn would be full again. He would have to take a pay cut but maybe, just maybe, the Pistons will fall apart. (I wouldn't hold my breath)

As someone not too far removed from H.S. basketball, Trent Tucker has a lot of credibility with the younger generation in this state. He has been running basketball camps here for a long time, has been hired as a personal trainer by young talent in the state (Rickert and Humphries before the draft), is well remembered for his time on Timberwolves basketball telecasts, and has his own line of basketball clothing (google trent tucker and hoopology). Kids that have been watching timberwolves basketball when they were young will remember his speaking style and phrases. (IMO one of the greatest basketball announcing tandems of all time was Kevin Harlan on play by play, Trent Tucker on color, and Tom Hanneman in the tunnel where he belongs) Just my two cents.

[Scott M]

Molinari stoppped the bleeding.

At least they'll play the game the right way. His post game quote I liked: "Our identity is going to be that we are going to play good man-to-man defense, defend threes and scrap for loose balls."

[Coach1310]

da/chise-

I will disagree with you on a couple points. First and foremost, "look what Flip has done" I guess I am not that impressed with what he has done. In MN he had 1 good season. He also had that season when KG had a career year and the likes of Sam Cassel and Latrell Spreewell had great years as well. I think you are giving him a bit too much credit. As far as Detroit, he inherited a team that had all the pieces. Yeah they had a great Regular Season, but they did that under Larry Brown too and Flip and the Pistons flopped in the playoffs. I also don't like the idea of Trent Tucker for the slim fact, he is a broadcaster, not a coach. Sure he does personal training, camps and he knows the game but when was the last time he really coached??? I just can't see handing over a Big Ten job to a guy who spends his days in a broadcast booth, even though I think he is great at it. Molinari may have stopped the bleeding, but many times a coaching change with initiate a spark in the team for a short while. Eventually that will wear off and we will be back to our players aren't as good as the rest of the Big Ten, not even close. If I had to pick between Flip and Trent, I would take Flip hands down! I just think there are better options, but I am not too sure any of those better options will want to come here! Just my 2 cents!!

[Willy]

Look at Flip's college record. He was something like 56-2 at whatever college he coached at to begin with, also a good assistant here at MN. Many pro coaches were once great college coaches and not had great success in the NBA.

IMO, Flip is a best-case scenario. However, a young and upcoming coach such as Tim Miles at NDSU (who just beat #8 Marquette by the way, Andre smith MN kid had 27) might be a good way to go too.