In Tubby Smith’s first season coaching the Golden Gophers, they won 20 games. With his first recruiting class, they almost cracked the top 20 (25 on ESPN.com). Can anyone say Immediate Impact?
In his first full year at the University of Minnesota, Smith changed the culture of college basketball and the players bought in from the beginning. Winning 20 games was even more proof that hiring Smith was the greatest coaching hire in U of MN history.
Moving into the 2008-09 season, the natural step in this Smith revolution is higher expectations. Minnesota is the new “it pick” in the Big Ten with many experts picking them in the top third of the league and making the NCAA Tournament.
With a good core of returning players with; sophomore guards Al Nolen and Blake Hoffarber, juniors forward Damian Johnson, and guard Lawrence Westbrook, the Gophers had added a talented recruiting class that adds quality depth, something lacking in previous seasons.
Record: 20-14 (8-10 in Big Ten)
Key Players Out:
Lawrence McKenzie, Guard (11.8 ppg and 2.6 apg)
Dan Coleman, Forward/Center (11.3 ppg and 5.8 rpg)
Spencer Tollackson, Forward/Center (9.3 ppg and 3.7 rpg)
Key Returning Players:
Al Nolen, Guard Soph. (4.3 ppg, 1.9 steals pg, and 3.5 assist pg)
Blake Hoffarber, Guard Soph. (8.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, and 42% 3 point shooting)
Damian Johnson, Forward Jr. (7.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, and 1.4 blocks pg)
Lawrence Westbrook, Guard Jr. (8.5 ppg, 1.9 steals pg, and 3.5 assist pg)
Key Players In:
Devron Bostick, Guard Fr. 6-5 210 Racine, Wis./Southwestern Illinois CC
Devoe Joseph, Guard Fr. 6-3 170 Ajax, Ontario, Canada/Pickering
Colton Iverson, Forward Fr. 6-10 235 Yankton, S.D./Yankton
Ralph Sampson III, Forward Fr. 6-11 220 Duluth, Ga./Northview
Paul Carter, Forward So. 6’8” 195 Little Rock, Ar./Missouri State-West Plains JC
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2 months ago
Great article...Hope to see more about the Golden Gophers as it gets closer to the season!
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