I could say defense, and I could say turnovers, but I think that lacking strong emotional and vocal leaders on the team could wind up biting the Gophers in the derriere this year. Someone needs to pull the team together when its eroding. The only person I saw doing that on Friday was Mason.
He needs to play. Who is there behind Joey King? No one, only Konate and Martin and Konate is still learning that position. Martin will be needed, and Pitino knows it.
Remains to be seen after a shoddy performance in PR. They should be very capable with five guards who can light it up from the perimeter in Andre Hollins, DeAndre Mathieu, Carlos Morris, Daquein McNeil and Nate Mason, along with King, who has a pretty good jumpshot as well.
I think Rick Pitino would definitely not want to beat his son by 50 points, I'll say that.
Pitino knows fans want more interesting non-conference games, and he was just talking about that yesterday. The problem is that scheduling is complicated and not every team wants to play another high major team (he suggested Louisville might not, for instance) with so many other commitments. I think he'll try to do what he can.
The home slate is pretty rough this year.
Konate needs time, just as the other newcomers do. I think he's going to be a very good player for Minnesota, but he needs to get some more experience first. But taking minutes isn't the issue right now, the Gophers simply need his depth.
Probably Andre Hollins most of the time with Carlos Morris and Daquein McNeil switching off on him here and there.
But I don't think the conditions were to blame for anything. This Gophers team trained in the heat, is well conditioned and had better depth than Louisville. They just got beat.
Minnesota will have some stability when the team starts winning and coaches want to stay. It really is that simple.
I will not -- three games in one week is already quite a bit considering everything that goes along with it. I do want to start covering the women's program more this year but unfortunately, I won't be getting to a game until Dec. 20 vs. Liberty.
Buggs got those minutes because of foul trouble. I don't think that performance moved him up in the depth chart at all.
Yes, wasn't a surprise to me. He's too efficient and too valuable offensively to come off the bench.
You were drunk, Casey, enough rum already.
I have not. Please bring some to 425 Portland Avenue South, please.
I said please twice, so you know I'm serious.
No, he was told several days in advance.
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Gophers, 73-69; Mason and Hollins are the top scorers.
For sure. It's hard to deny that the team has lots of talent with two first-teamers in Rachel Banham and Amanda Zuhui B., plus a very capable transfer in Shae Kelley. I'm interested to see what Stollings can do with this team.
That would be the Star Tribune .......................................................................
Yes, I don't see why not -- there's nothing inherently middling about Minnesota.
As for the second question, it's mostly winning. To do that initially you have to find a coach who is very good at finding underrated talent and developing it. And then turning that into wins. Wins turn into money. Money turns into facilities. Facilities and money and wins turn into 16-year-olds being very interested in your program, which turns into more winning and money and facilities and suddenly, you've taken the next step.
No, please send it my way.
I agree with that lineup for now, except swap out Walker and Eliason, but I'm not committing to it for the year.
I think Pitino hopes other guys will challenge for those spots.
Illinois. The Illini's defense was solid last year, and the offense should be a lot more diverse this season. Should be much improved overall.
Players have workouts, practice, classes and tutoring, in some order, almost every day. It changes with the schedule. Obviously, they're traveling a lot during the year as well. At some point, they have to find time for food.
For me, it's waking up between 5-5:30, reading the paper with breakfast and coffee, working out and then writing and working and all the things that go along with that until whenever I'm done.
Yes, Eliason has always been strong off the bench. In general, I think Walker is the more complete player.
If he has a rough year this year, I can't imagine him keeping his job.
I could say defense, and I could say turnovers, but I think that lacking strong emotional and vocal leaders on the team could wind up biting the Gophers in the derriere this year. Someone needs to pull the team together when its eroding. The only person I saw doing that on Friday was Mason.