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Post by gophervbfan on Nov 17, 2018 15:22:46 GMT -5
I am generally okay with Hugh doing his thing but I would agree on senior night he EASILY could have let Kayla and Sophie get some playing time. The Gophers were ahead 20-10 in the first set. Pretty easy to put them in there and give them some playing time. Instead, Kayla gets put in to play one point right at the end of the match when it was 24-21. That seemed forced as if one of the assistant coaches pointed out that Kayla hadn't been in and she gets put in for one point. That was just awkward player management.
It is always difficult to make the decision to pull players when the team is not playing well. Last night was a good case in point. Samedy started the match scuffling and the Gophers got blown out 25-17. Samedy was 0 kills, 2 errors on 9 swings. What if Hugh pulled Samedy there and the replacement played marginally better but not good enough and the Gophers lost the match? Instead, from that point on, Samedy had 15 kills, 1 error on 27 swings. Samedy also had a service run of 7 serves in the critical 2nd set when the Gophers turned a 14-8 deficit to a win.
So, to me, the two circumstances are apples and oranges. I would give Hugh a failing grade on getting the seniors in for some decent playing time on senior night but give him the coach's discretion pass for lack of substituting when a team is struggling (and the Gophers have had FEW struggling stretches).
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2018 15:51:52 GMT -5
I don’t understand how “senior night” means you don’t play a normal game.
The team had quite an off night last night, but wow, the natives turned on the coaching staff pretty quickly.
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Post by mplssetter on Nov 17, 2018 15:54:48 GMT -5
I don’t understand how “senior night” means you don’t play a normal game. The team had quite an off night last night, but wow, the natives turned on the coaching staff pretty quickly. It seems to be just a couple posters. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2018 16:02:03 GMT -5
Either you believe that you have a role to play whether you are on the court or you don't. It's entirely possible that the Rutgers match will provide an opportunity to give the starters a break, which, to me, is more important than token appearances. We'll see. It's not a lock that the subs would beat Rutgers.
By the way, I was watching the bench in that Indiana match. It was Hugh who made sure Kayla was in there. If she had contributed a block, or contributed in transition, they would have won 25-21. That didn't happen. It made perfect sense to re-insert Pittman at 24-22 (and she had the match-ending kill). I don't see much value in losing that 3rd set just to give a senior playing time.
It was nice Kayla and Sophie had a chance to enter a set and be cheered. That was not something Hugh had to do.
I still maintain that one of Minnesota's absolute strengths is that they know who they want on the court. There are a lot of top 10 teams that don't know -- and it hurts them. Texas being the most obvious example. I sometimes wonder if Minnesota recruits with this in mind. I doubt it, but I suppose it's possible.
Anyhow, their role is to push the starters in practice and support them in the matches.* That is not a role that should be undervalued.
*And to be prepared to step in should the need arise.
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Post by gophervbfan on Nov 17, 2018 16:44:58 GMT -5
I have been involved with a couple of college programs over the years and coaches in general make an attempt to get seniors in on senior night if they can. It is not mandatory and if the match is a tough one, not necessarily to be expected. Having said that, the programs I have been involved with have always found an opportunity to get seniors in the game/match. It is easier in some sports than others. When the Gophers were up 20-10 in set one, it was the time to get the seniors in if as a coach you want to do that. Often times, parents and family have not had a chance to attend matches and they will be there that night. Once again, it is totally coach's discretion. I just happen to have been involved with programs that have typically done it and it is a nice touch to add to the evening.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2018 17:19:39 GMT -5
The Gophers are trying to do something they have never done before, and they think maybe they have the best team they have ever had. (Despite how they've looked in a couple recent matches). I can see why Hugh McCutcheon wants to do what feels right to him to develop the team.
If he was in the mood for ceremony, instead of developing his team, he probably would have gone to the HOF ceremony.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2018 17:24:49 GMT -5
For the record, Sophie *did* get in to the match at 20-10.
I'm not sure there is a right or wrong here. But it is Hugh's team. He obviously thinks this is the right course for his team. Can't really argue with the results.
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Post by B1Gminnesotafan on Nov 17, 2018 17:42:31 GMT -5
All I wanted, senior night, is a chance to cheer for the seniors and I got it. As for the rest of the discussion, I rarely find that I think Hugh should substitute. As for "playing time" to be "ready" when needed, I just remind myself that the members of the team on the bench during games practice every day against the best team in the B1G, maybe even the best in the country. Therefore they are well prepared to sub in when needed. I don't know why the coaching staff doesn't substitute, but I do remember that Hugh said that they are still working everyday at getting better. Perhaps the coaches feel that the 8 players out there still need to improve in order to secure a place in the final four, a chance at a championship. And as for injuries, well, I just don't want to think about that at all.
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Post by lovebugsm on Nov 17, 2018 22:04:45 GMT -5
This senior class! Aka SSS, there has been no other player to do what she has done! No player has won 2 big ten titles and made it to 2 final 4s (praying for that 3rd). There has been a plethora of amazing players come through Minnesota, but no one has done what SSS has done for this program! There are only 8 games at most with her left. Ughhh I don’t want it to end!
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Post by TuesdayGone on Nov 17, 2018 22:20:03 GMT -5
Congratulations to Minnesota Gophers on winning the BIG!!
Most dominant run since the PSU teams of old.
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Post by pavsec5row10 on Nov 17, 2018 22:36:23 GMT -5
It's simply not who he is as a coach, or who this team is (which is also why the seniors didn't play much on senior night): "Play every point as if it's the same" gets tricky with different personnel. Heck, I'm surprised when he switches up the rotation the Gophers start a set in. Then he should quit using the rhetoric - Hugh is the one that preaches “meritocracy” and about the incredible depth on his team and how not much separates the players. If that is the case then how does Martin who earned the L1 spot get benched for the year after one shaky set. How does Sheehan who was a starting six rotation player at her last school not get subbed in when someone is struggling and how do you not play the seniors for some decent time on senior night against a team that they were beating fairly easily. How do you not give Swider a little bit of game time experience or the smalls. It’s his team and he can do what he wants but at least be transparent about it. My concern is what if someone goes down with an ankle or something like that at this point of the season you will be putting in a player/players who have had no significant game time experience when there have been plenty of opportunities to do so. Coaches/teams want and need depth for a reason - so use it! Seems you are using a false premise on what Hugh views as meritocracy and your perception of how the lineup has changed. Assume Rollins has won the job in PRACTICE not just because of one bad set from Martin. There is also something to be said for letting your best players play through a rough stretch. Heck, it may even instill confidence in them, rather than have them look over their shoulders. I'd much prefer Hugh's approach, than say Cook's. It's Hugh's seventh season as Gophers coach, his substitution patterns are pretty set. He just is not going to go the bench very much. Agree with others that the bench players probably get just as much preparation in practice as they would subbing into a blowout match for a few points. That said, I wouldn't mind seeing Martin, Swider, Nielsen get to play a little more when we are up 10, but I also have faith in Martin being able to step in if needed. |
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Post by sparlimb on Nov 17, 2018 22:42:28 GMT -5
Congratulations to Minnesota Gophers on winning the BIG!! Most dominant run since the PSU teams of old. Thank you. We couldn't be more proud of our team (no matter how many first sets we drop). What a run this year. And no one really saw it coming. 2 more for a chance at matching PSU. And, as it should be, PSU gets a chance to break the streak. I'm really looking forward to the post-season with this team. |
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Post by pavsec5row10 on Nov 17, 2018 22:51:57 GMT -5
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quickhit
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Post by quickhit on Nov 18, 2018 2:22:48 GMT -5
And despite maybe not getting as much PT as they could have, for the rest of their lives Kayla and Sophie will be able to look at the picture hanging on their walls of them holding the B1G Championship trophy, surrounded by their teammates. A dream come true.
And they're not done yet.
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Post by spikerthemovie on Nov 18, 2018 12:17:02 GMT -5
And despite maybe not getting as much PT as they could have, for the rest of their lives Kayla and Sophie will be able to look at the picture hanging on their walls of them holding the B1G Championship trophy, surrounded by their teammates. A dream come true. And they're not done yet. And, to underscore the importance to the team of Buford and Beckley, note who is holding the trophy in the apres-game picture with the B1G trophy. |
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B1G Champs!