Minnesota Golden Gophers 2024

[douglass9]

tried can't seem to get the broadcast on tvcuatro.tv/

[pointu]

Aug 18, 2024 21:30:47 GMT -5 douglass9 said:

tried can't seem to get the broadcast on tvcuatro.tv/

www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=1447410145917416 try this

[gophergirl]

AVCA poll came out. I’m pleasantly surprised we’re ranked 18. I’ll take it and look forward to surprising some teams this year. Let’s go Gophers!

[GoGophs]

Aug 19, 2024 11:34:10 GMT -5 gophergirl said:

AVCA poll came out. I’m pleasantly surprised we’re ranked 18. I’ll take it and look forward to surprising some teams this year. Let’s go Gophers!

I like it! Definitely think it’s possible for them to finish higher at the end of the season!

[gophergirl]

Aug 19, 2024 11:38:46 GMT -5 GoGophs said:

Aug 19, 2024 11:34:10 GMT -5 gophergirl said:

AVCA poll came out. I’m pleasantly surprised we’re ranked 18. I’ll take it and look forward to surprising some teams this year. Let’s go Gophers!

I like it! Definitely think it’s possible for them to finish higher at the end of the season!

I’m honestly surprised they ranked us at all. Let’s keep rising!

[GoGophs]

Aug 19, 2024 11:40:28 GMT -5 gophergirl said:

Aug 19, 2024 11:38:46 GMT -5 GoGophs said:

I like it! Definitely think it’s possible for them to finish higher at the end of the season!

I’m honestly surprised they ranked us at all. Let’s keep rising!

It could’ve gone either way haha but I’m optimistic that we’ll see a completely different (and hopefully much more efficient) team this year.

I don’t think they’ll be top 5 or even top 10 but the coaching staff is excellent and the talent ceiling is high so they should improve from last year even with losing Landfair, Murr and Davis. We’ve already seen Hanson take over matches a couple times now so I expect her to fill in Landfair’s shoes nicely and if Acevedo can push for that starting spot even better. Murr is the biggest loss IMO but Z learned a lot from her and we picked up a very capable L/DS with Thibault (who also has built in chemistry with the team). And as much as everyone hates on Shaff, she is a key piece to defense both at the net and backcourt and we saw in the spring matches they’ve been working hard at getting more offensive middle production. If the middles can get more balls that’ll help tremendously in our pins ability to terminate (imagine Grote getting more one blocker and open net shots!). If all those pieces can fit together, it should be a much better season 🤞

[douglass9]

I think top 16 home for the dance.   However we need the coach to run a better game and not be afraid to sub out players who are struggling.  

[mop]

I don’t mind the anti-MN sentiment. Let them prove themselves, hopefully they’re motivated to do so.

[gophergirl]

Aug 19, 2024 13:06:05 GMT -5 mop said:

I don’t mind the anti-MN sentiment. Let them prove themselves, hopefully they’re motivated to do so.

Agreed. It’s funny seeing some people bash them on IG and Facebook, hopefully in a few weeks they’ll be eating crow!

[uofaGRAD]

I’m pro-Minnesota unless y’all bench Shaff😁

[BigDigEnergy]

Like many of us here already said, I think this team has a lot of potential and the ability to play higher than #18. If everything comes together nicely, I can see us in the top 10 later in the season.

[skolgophers]

Aug 19, 2024 13:55:11 GMT -5 uofaGRAD said:

I’m pro-Minnesota unless y’all bench Shaff😁

Oh no… you’re really going to get one poster fired up 😂

I’m team Shaffmaster for this season. I think I may be in the minority on this forum though.

[uofaGRAD]

Aug 19, 2024 13:58:33 GMT -5 skolgophers said:

Aug 19, 2024 13:55:11 GMT -5 uofaGRAD said:

I’m pro-Minnesota unless y’all bench Shaff😁

Oh no… you’re really going to get one poster fired up 😂

I’m team Shaffmaster for this season. I think I may be in the minority on this forum though.

I have her for fantasy because her stats are bonkers (outside of her assists).

I get SS is good. I have zero doubt about it. but a healthy Shaffmaster can be a game changer. she’s so physical at the net, great serve, and great defense. I feel like wasting a year of SS’ eligibility when you have Shaffmaster is stupid unless she’s clearly outplaying her, which sorry, I have a really difficult time seeing.

[skolgophers]

Aug 19, 2024 14:00:50 GMT -5 uofaGRAD said:

Aug 19, 2024 13:58:33 GMT -5 skolgophers said:

Oh no… you’re really going to get one poster fired up 😂

I’m team Shaffmaster for this season. I think I may be in the minority on this forum though.

I have her for fantasy because her stats are bonkers (outside of her assists).

I get SS is good. I have zero doubt about it. but a healthy Shaffmaster can be a game changer. she’s so physical at the net, great serve, and great defense. I feel like wasting a year of SS’ eligibility when you have Shaffmaster is stupid unless she’s clearly outplaying her, which sorry, I have a really difficult time seeing.

Agree 100%

I also think giving Stella a year to train and improve will do wonders for her.

[jeepers]

Aug 19, 2024 14:00:50 GMT -5 uofaGRAD said:

Aug 19, 2024 13:58:33 GMT -5 skolgophers said:

Oh no… you’re really going to get one poster fired up 😂

I’m team Shaffmaster for this season. I think I may be in the minority on this forum though.

I have her for fantasy because her stats are bonkers (outside of her assists).

I get SS is good. I have zero doubt about it. but a healthy Shaffmaster can be a game changer. she’s so physical at the net, great serve, and great defense. I feel like wasting a year of SS’ eligibility when you have Shaffmaster is stupid unless she’s clearly outplaying her, which sorry, I have a really difficult time seeing.

We're all in agreement here that Shaffmaster is an elite all around volleyball player.

The problems are:

1. We've had a lot of below average serve receive during her career. Since she's so tall and often dragging around a bum knee, she has a hard time chasing down these balls to get a decent set.
2. Even when the passing is good, she hasn't had a connection with her middles in her 4 years so far at Minnesota. She had a bit of success with Booth and Gros running the slide a couple of years ago, when that was clicking, the team looked a lot better offensively. Hopefully she can develop that same connection with Minatee this year.

If you're a coach, do you save SS on the bench for an entire year when situations 1 and 2 arise?

This is definitely Shaffmaster's team, I just think saving a player in the transfer portal era is folly. Luckily, as a local player and a legacy, SS is more likely to stick around, but I'd hate to start saving players so they can transfer to Nebraska and Texas for year 5.