Gophers

aMAILiaBAG: Expectations for next year, Minnesota as a destination and Capella tower gems

You ask 'em; I answer 'em.

April 17, 2015 at 2:48PM

In every program, the spring and summer marks college basketball's second season, one that's ultimately proven a lot more optimistic for Minnesota fans who've watched their hopes dashed more often than not in November through March lately.

Spring sprouts seductively, I begin to remember things I like about Minneapolis again, and along with all the natural world's rebirth and all that jazz comes the Gophers' new beginning in the minds of the ever-forgetful (as a coping mechanism) fan.

Last season is gone, far away already, and next season will be better -- at least according to the sports fan's gospel. There are recruiting opportunities, revamped training and new players arriving on campus any way.

Next season is far away too, so I won't stomp on your insatiable buoyancy -- er wait, yes I will. The summer ahead is intriguing, even after the loss of assistant Dan McHale to a head coaching job at Eastern Kentucky (congrats Dan, well deserved), and 2015-16 features the kind of roster turnover that folks are understandably hungry for following 2014-15's collapse. Will the team be better? That's a different story.

Read on as I answer your questions about the road ahead for Minnesota as long as you don't mind watching me bulldoze your meadow of daisies.

What should be our expectations for next season? Better or worse than this year?

-@Gopherated

Great question. I think the obvious answer is worse based on the fact that Minnesota (18-15; 6-12 last year) loses four seniors who all seemed critical to the team before last year began, and will now be very, very young and inexperienced. That said, the Gophers underperformed to such extent last year that it's hard to overstate the veterans' importance -- those seniors, after all, played big roles in the team's nine losses by six or fewer points, when the greatest benefit of experience is supposed to be the upper hand in such situations. The reality is we don't know just how good the team will be next year, because the Gophers will be relying on such unknown properties. Normally that's not a good thing, but who knows? If the team can grow quickly and harness a better chemistry than last year's bunch, the Gophers could even improve by a game or two in the league schedule. But that result is really hard to expect with so many questionmarks rooting the lineup, and the expectation that key players will need to develop.

Do the Gophers have any new bigs that will commit for the 15-16 season?

-@karock15

Richard Pitino and Co. certainly hope so. With senior centers Mo Walker and Elliott Eliason both expiring their eligibilities, the Gophers have some major holes in the middle and in the frontcourt in general, where Joey King is really the only reliable forward (and that's saying something). The later in the spring we get, the likelihood of finding quality bigs grow dimmer -- most are snatched up during the fall anyway -- but it's not impossible. The Gophers have their eyes on JUCOs Chris Boucher (6-10; 20, at Northwest College) and Cullen Russo (6-9; 210, at Southern Tech) and there are rumblings about a certain other big man that could be transferring soon. Remember, recruits have until May 20 to sign, so Minnesota does have some time.

The Gophers job has seemingly always been a connecting flight, what realistic steps can be taken to make it a destination gig?

-@AndyCarlsonShow

The formula is pretty simple, but time-taking and arduous and unpredictable. Minnesota needs to build the kind of basketball environment that would belie outside offers. Fans seem to think a coach would be silly to take a job at, say the University of Alabama if he has a "cushy job in the Big Ten" -- I've seen that actual phrase used several times, but it's a confused statement. What makes the Gophers' Big Ten job "cushy?" While Minnesota's basketball program makes money, its gross income is dwarfed by that of many league schools. Pitino gets cut one of the smaller paychecks in the conference (if you folks don't think Alabama would have given him a bloated raise, you don't know much about Alabama). The Gophers have no practice facility for basketball -- the only league team in that situation -- and even though the blueprints are drawn up, they're realistically years away. All of this while a coach is expected to "build" a program (let's be honest, Minnesota has been "building" for the last 15 years) in the heart of one of the perennially toughest conferences in basketball. It is very hard to build when your team is getting its face kicked in on a nightly basis. It's also not easy to recruit when there are no facilities to speak of, no winning tradition in high schoolers' memories and snow everywhere (if I had been shown around the Star Tribune in the gutless bowels of March I might have said no thank you).

Minnesota (and its donors) needs to throw down the money -- for its coaches and its facilities and its amenities, and then someone needs to start winning so the formula can progress. In the Big Ten, though, that can be a tough, long turnaround.

For a recruit, what's the biggest draw that the U has that Pitino can sell to come here?

-@kschins

Beyond the ability to play in the Big Ten, probably still his last name at this point, to be perfectly honest. But that attraction will fade quickly if the Gophers have a couple more down years.

Any Gopher interest in (forward) Kyle Washington now that he's transferring from NC State? Won't help much next season, but could after.

-@KirkMcKinley

Washington, the Champlin native, back to his home state? It's possible, and Minnesota could certainly use his size, but you'd better believe he'll have a lot more suitors than the Gophers hanging on his every word.

Any chance (former Duke freshman and Minnesota native) Tyus Jones will reconsider and transfer to the U of M rather than take a chance in the NBA?

-@MilleBrando

Stay in college, forgo a very large paycheck upon being selected in the NBA draft, transition from a national championship team to rebuilding mode and, hey, sit out a year because why not? Sounds very realistic, Brando, great call.

How does recent loss of McHale affect recruiting? Currently and recruits he was involved with.

-@j_auginash

It's a big blow for Minnesota initially because he had a hand in so many important recruits, including Malik Ellison (son of Pervis), whose commitment seemed all but in the bag before McHale left. Over the last two years, McHale has been a big part of the Gophers' recruiting efforts -- and on another note, he was the king of scouting reports, anyone who has ever been close enough to the court to see him on gamedays knows that -- and this is a critical recruiting time, so it won't be easy. But Nate Pomeday, his heir, has a recruiting reputation as well. Minnesota will move on, as programs always do, and hope its still in the running for the recruits that McHale worked so hard on this winter.

Are you happy about Dunkin Donuts coming to Minneapolis? #AMAILiaBag

-@fasolamatt

No because I can't eat 'em (Celiac problems) -- what would make me really happy is if someone around here could figure out how to make a gluten-free donut. As for Dunkin coffee that everyone in New England is so infatuated with? I'll pass.

Did you see that The Sportive was named Best Local Sports Podcast in a local alt-weekly.

-@RandBallsStu

Wowee, look at that, big time, and to think I once graced those airways.

New Star Wars trailer, your thoughts?

-@daanderson20

I'm literally weeping over the sight of Chewie.

What is your favorite spot in the Capella Tower?

-@xjGophers

Still figuring it out! For those of you who aren't aware, the Star Tribune moved to our new home a few weeks ago. It's very swanky and exciting and contains windows which provide sunlight and stuff. Our new Peace coffee shop is completely charming and addicting, our Steele fitness gym is top-notch and we're in the skyway now, so it feels like a whole new world even though we're just a few blocks away from our old home. I love the new Simpls market for the fresh salads, panna cotta cups and kombucha on tap. Also, I might be plowing through massive omelets at Keys Cafe at the Foshay Tower for breakfast every morning this summer.