Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

[The Rube]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

So Tech has become your version of UMD. Cripes, if you end up dating a chick from there, you'll end up selling out and becoming a Tech fan like a certain midget became a UMD fan.

Don't let the door hit your *** too hard on the way out of our fanbase.

Never. I'm not you, or Scooby, giving up on this team.

Plus, I've never been to the Nazi Bunker. Might as well get cheap tix for a game.

 

[Bakunin]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

Hey, I still watch their games - I'm just very realistic about their chances. They only have one line that can score goals with any regularity, their defense contributes practically nothing on offense, and if they give up the first goal, there's something like a 90% chance that they will lose the game. That is not the stuff an NCAA berth is made of, it's not the stuff home ice in the first round is made of, but it's definitely the stuff an abortion of a season is made of.

I have high expectations for the team. They have built-in advantages that would make most programs soak their collective panties if they simply got a taste of some of them. What is MN doing with these advantages? ****ting the bed. Either they play with no urgency, or they look like a bunch of disorganized peewees who can't complete a pass. These are players who are mostly NHL draftees and who are getting a discounted education at the U to wear the M. It's an insult to me and to thousands of other alumni who went to the school and paid our way through to see this level of performance out of the team for any length of time. Yes, a bad game here and there is inevitable - but several bad seasons in a row? We're approaching angry mob with torches and pitchforks territory.

If the U is going to charge nearly pro-level prices to see their games, then their teams had * well better produce the results to justify it. Can you imagine paying nearly $40 per game (face value) + $10 for parking to watch this team? Can you imagine paying that plus hundreds more annually for a donation to get in the building as a season ticket holder? It's an insult, plain and simple.

 

[4four4]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

We're approaching angry mob with torches and pitchforks territory.

That is what two national championships does to people, buys coaches time when they get into serious trouble. Not that I disagree with you but my guess is thats the thinking.

 

[VarsityWisconsin]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

Hey, I still watch their games - I'm just very realistic about their chances. They only have one line that can score goals with any regularity, their defense contributes practically nothing on offense, and if they give up the first goal, there's something like a 90% chance that they will lose the game. That is not the stuff an NCAA berth is made of, it's not the stuff home ice in the first round is made of, but it's definitely the stuff an abortion of a season is made of.

I have high expectations for the team. They have built-in advantages that would make most programs soak their collective panties if they simply got a taste of some of them. What is MN doing with these advantages? ****ting the bed. Either they play with no urgency, or they look like a bunch of disorganized peewees who can't complete a pass. These are players who are mostly NHL draftees and who are getting a discounted education at the U to wear the M. It's an insult to me and to thousands of other alumni who went to the school and paid our way through to see this level of performance out of the team for any length of time. Yes, a bad game here and there is inevitable - but several bad seasons in a row? We're approaching angry mob with torches and pitchforks territory.

That was a very quality soap box you went on there, lad. Did I mention I love seeing Minnesota down?

 

[Mike Rane]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

Never. I'm not you, or Scooby, giving up on this team.

Plus, I've never been to the Nazi Bunker. Might as well get cheap tix for a game.

Your passion is relentless.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

Your passion is relentless.

I gotta have something.

And Bakunin: I agree with the $50/game, hence me not going to the Mooch hardly at all, even when they are good. And if I were to catch a game at the Ralph vs MN, that's also what I would be doing. So I took this opportunity. At least it's against a team I can sorta cheer for, and not WI, DU, CC, UAA....well you get the idea.

 

[Bakunin]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

That is what two national championships does to people, buys coaches time when they get into serious trouble. Not that I disagree with you but my guess is thats the thinking.

If '02 ends in regulation with a Maine win, and '03 ends in the semifinals against Michigan (both were very coin-flippy games that went MN's way), Lucia is out the door after this season. If there's no NCAA berth next season, he's definitely gone. It's one thing if the results simply don't go your way - it's quite another when the team is listless and is very clearly giving up every time there's a moment or two of adversity in a game and they go down a goal.

There's no shortage of talent available to this team, so several years of ugly results and no noticeable improvement of any kind is not only perplexing, but it's infuriating. Then you throw in the players abandoning ship (either in the games or leaving the program entirely), and it's very clear something is wrong here.

 

[4four4]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

If '02 ends in regulation with a Maine win, and '03 ends in the semifinals against Michigan (both were very coin-flippy games that went MN's way), Lucia is out the door after this season. If there's no NCAA berth next season, he's definitely gone. It's one thing if the results simply don't go your way - it's quite another when the team is listless and is very clearly giving up every time there's a moment or two of adversity in a game and they go down a goal.

There's no shortage of talent available to this team, so several years of ugly results and no noticeable improvement of any kind is not only perplexing, but it's infuriating. Then you throw in the players abandoning ship (either in the games or leaving the program entirely), and it's very clear something is wrong here.

I agree if Lucia doesn't figure out a way to right the ship next year he is gone. I am in the camp that many players don't understand their roles and many of them believe they are just buying their time until the NHL starts calling.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

I agree if Lucia doesn't figure out a way to right the ship next year he is gone. I am in the camp that many players don't understand their roles and many of them believe they are just buying their time until the NHL starts calling.

I mentioned on GPL about a week ago there is a disconnect in communication. We've seen what the Gophers CAN do, but why aren't they doing that (even in "good" losses or "bad" wins) every game?

Given the inconsistency, I (sadly) have to lay blame on the coaches. I love tDon, think he's a great coach, but maybe the players just aren't buying into his message anymore, or he's not conveying it correctly. Either way, if next year is the same as this year, it's time for a change (assuming this year they miss the NCAA's or are one-and-done).

 

[4four4]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

I mentioned on GPL about a week ago there is a disconnect in communication. We've seen what the Gophers CAN do, but why aren't they doing that (even in "good" losses or "bad" wins) every game?

Given the inconsistency, I (sadly) have to lay blame on the coaches. I love tDon, think he's a great coach, but maybe the players just aren't buying into his message anymore, or he's not conveying it correctly. Either way, if next year is the same as this year, it's time for a change (assuming this year they miss the NCAA's or are one-and-done).

There is something wrong with the coaching. I wonder if Lucia is feeling good yet. Not to make excuses for the guy but when a person doesn't feel good it is hard to go to work. If it is still bad maybe he should step down.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

There is something wrong with the coaching. I wonder if Lucia is feeling good yet. Not to make excuses for the guy but when a person doesn't feel good it is hard to go to work. If it is still bad maybe he should step down.

I really don't think it's his health. He's stepped down (temporarily) before (and before a HUGE series), so I would think that if it was his health, he'd just say forget it. It's not like he's poor.

I think that due to the changing mentality of players (NHL hopes), his changing (or attempting to change) of recruiting strategies, and the rookie cap in the NHL.....that all leads to a perfect storm for bigger programs such as MN. Everyone has different ideas about how to do things, and right now, those ideas lack the glue that keeps a team together, which is what I'm seeing in MN.

The whole "rebuild then success" doesn't usually fly in college programs without changing the coach. It's a "reload" mentality, and right now, that mentality ain't working.

 

[4four4]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

I really don't think it's his health. He's stepped down (temporarily) before (and before a HUGE series), so I would think that if it was his health, he'd just say forget it. It's not like he's poor.

I think that due to the changing mentality of players (NHL hopes), his changing (or attempting to change) of recruiting strategies, and the rookie cap in the NHL.....that all leads to a perfect storm for bigger programs such as MN. Everyone has different ideas about how to do things, and right now, those ideas lack the glue that keeps a team together, which is what I'm seeing in MN.

The whole "rebuild then success" doesn't usually fly in college programs without changing the coach. It's a "reload" mentality, and right now, that mentality ain't working.

Don Lucia's incoming recruiting class was tied first overall with Michigan. Players still want to come here and play.

This year has really bugged me seeing the Gophers playing really well like the CC series and then lay an egg against the following weekend. Why can't they be more consistent?

Somebody please explain to me why the Gophers pass laterally so much? Shoot the puck and go to the net. We don't have the superstars this year but we need a player or two who will drive to the net.

 

[VarsityWisconsin]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

Yawn. Another Don Lucia debate. How about we quit whining and talk about the hockey game this weekend? Minnesota obviously can't score with UW so they need to hope both games are defensive battles with Kengas playing like a brick wall, or UW will blow them out of whatever building we play in.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

Don Lucia's incoming recruiting class was tied first overall with Michigan. Players still want to come here and play.

This year has really bugged me seeing the Gophers playing really well like the CC series and then lay an egg against the following weekend. Why can't they be more consistent?

Somebody please explain to me why the Gophers pass laterally so much? Shoot the puck and go to the net. We don't have the superstars this year but we need a player or two who will drive to the net.

1. Of course they do. What was it, 26 of 32 games this season were on tv, and last year EVERY game was on tv? Big name program, exposure, etc. Now, I'm not saying that's the only reason they came here. I mean, jeez, we're barely below .500 and the sky is falling. THAT'S a big part of why they come here. We <strike>expect</strike> DEMAND success. Many teams in D1 would love to be a .500 team.

2. I put in my 2 cents about the consistency.

3. That's the style, historically. Make the goals look pretty. That extra pass is always beautiful. They can't do that right now. They need to get gritty.

 

[Gophers #1]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

Yep. Women's Big Ten Tourney is bumping the Gophers friday night game to tape delay.

 

[4four4]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

Yawn. Another Don Lucia debate. How about we quit whining and talk about the hockey game this weekend? Minnesota obviously can't score with UW so they need to hope both games are defensive battles with Kengas playing like a brick wall, or UW will blow them out of whatever building we play in.

Can anybody believe we haven't seen any section upsets this year? Everybody is just rolling.

 

[4four4]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

1. Of course they do. What was it, 26 of 32 games this season were on tv, and last year EVERY game was on tv? Big name program, exposure, etc. Now, I'm not saying that's the only reason they came here. I mean, jeez, we're barely below .500 and the sky is falling. THAT'S a big part of why they come here. We <strike>expect</strike> DEMAND success. Many teams in D1 would love to be a .500 team.

2. I put in my 2 cents about the consistency.

3. That's the style, historically. Make the goals look pretty. That extra pass is always beautiful. They can't do that right now. They need to get gritty.

I would like to see Lucia recruit a couple more power forward types. Many of them in college always seem to get gritty.

 

[solovsfett]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

Yawn. Another Don Lucia debate. How about we quit whining and talk about the hockey game this weekend? Minnesota obviously can't score with UW so they need to hope both games are defensive battles with Kengas playing like a brick wall, or UW will blow them out of whatever building we play in.

VW - This is UW vs. Minnesota. In this rivalry, I don't care if it's 1992 or 1993 where UW had "on paper" a top 3 team, and I'd argue #1 for both years with Zent, Schier, Blaine Moore, Rafalski, Jim Carey and on and on. or it's 1995-96 or so where Minnesota had Brian Bonin, Mike Crowley et al... you can't count on anything in this series except **** good hockey.

I don't ever remember a time where I thought UW would blow Minnesota out of the water. Ever. does it happen for one side or another on occasion? yes. but please don't make the mistake in thinking that their records are going to somehow have any bearing on this game. they won't. ANY outcome this weekend for UW wouldn't surprise me. 4, 3, 2, 1, 0 points. Nothing would surprise me.

for the record. I expect and suspect a split. not what I want as a fan, but realistic.

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

Herb Brooks brought the current style of hockey to the Gophers years ago. He was an innovator in American hockey, creating what became known as the "hybrid" style. Mixing a European puck possession style of play with the North American dump-and-chase style of play, he created a fast-paced, low grit and creative style which became the cornerstone of his Gopher championship teams and the 1980 gold medal team. But the missing component for the past few years was his uncanny way of motivating players and getting the most out of them. We are not seeing the latter and that is to a large degree THE problem. Acquiring more gritty players works to a degree but the current systems are designed for speed and playmaking, not collisions.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Gophers-Badgers: Not Good Enough for Mariucci

Herb Brooks brought the current style of hockey to the Gophers years ago. He was an innovator in American hockey, creating what became known as the "hybrid" style. Mixing a European puck possession style of play with the North American dump-and-chase style of play, he created a fast-paced, low grit and creative style which became the cornerstone of his Gopher championship teams and the 1980 gold medal team. But the missing component for the past few years was his uncanny way of motivating players and getting the most out of them. We are not seeing the latter and that is to a large degree THE problem. Acquiring more gritty players works to a degree but the current systems are designed for speed and playmaking, not collisions.

Unless you employ the trap, so to speak.

MN made a sorta run in recent past, but they're trying to revert to that wide open style, and failing to adapt.

Anywhichway, I think we can outplay WI, it's a matter of IF we outplay WI.

Whoa, hockey talk on a Sunday????

Better dead than red! Go * some more deer! How's that paint thinner?