quote:

ORIGINAL: Jim Frenette

quote:

ORIGINAL: TJSweens

I got a good laugh out of the shots of Rick Pitino sitting behind the Gophers bench, yelling out instructions while Rich had the team assembled during timeouts. I kept waiting for him to look up and go "will you shut-up".

Me too, almost wondering who was the real coach. It's almost like he's grooming his son to be his replacement.

quote:

ORIGINAL: bstinger

A very solid first year for Pitino, the kid can coach. Now he needs to recruit. We need to entice Minnesota's top talent to stay home and poach a few good kids from other locations. We need more size, skill and overall athleticism to really compete with the big boys.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Karl Juhnke

quote:

ORIGINAL: bstinger

A very solid first year for Pitino, the kid can coach. Now he needs to recruit. We need to entice Minnesota's top talent to stay home and poach a few good kids from other locations. We need more size, skill and overall athleticism to really compete with the big boys.

Sure it's the consolation tournament, but this NIT run can only help make them better next year. When you have a situation with a new coach especially, I'd think these extra games and practices would be a very worthwhile thing.

Not a bad year for his first year. That 1 week stretch where they lost to Nebraska, Northwestern and Purdue all by close margins just killed them. Win those 3 and you're a shoe-in to the NCAA. Frustrating to be so close, but they have nobody but themselves to blame.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed

Saw a ? on one of the talking-head stations.

Was it better to get to the finals of the NIT, or would you rather have been in the NCAA tourney and get wiped out?

I think for less-experienced guys,more games was better.

quote:

ORIGINAL: David Levine

Our 31 year old coach just won 25 games and an NIT championship in his first season with marginal talent, no legitimate PF and not a lot of strength around the basket.

quote:

ORIGINAL: drew

quote:

ORIGINAL: David Levine

Our 31 year old coach just won 25 games and an NIT championship in his first season with marginal talent, no legitimate PF and not a lot of strength around the basket.

And his best player being a shell of himself from last year. This was a pretty encouraging year, as you already said DL. I hope Dre gets healthy for next year, and gets right mentally. He did play better in the Garden than he had been.

Pitino needs to get a big time PG recruit next year. We are so reliant on Mathieu to create, and we have no one else who can do what he can do. I don't believe any of the incoming recruits are true PG's either (I've heard Mason is more of a combo). It seems like Pitino's system puts a lot of demands on the PG.

Finally, I was so happy for Austin for how he finished his career. I had my moments of frustration watching him, but he really made himself into a good player. Very good defender, good outside shooter, rebounds well, just does all the little things. I believe he really maximized his ability. It was awesome when he drilled that 3 that gave us the lead for good, and pretty cool for a senior to get MVP of the tourney. Nice way to go out.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jeff Jesser

JMO.


Quick exit from NCAA's = instant glory that fades

Winning the NIT = long term building of the program


Let's all be honest. This group wasn't supposed to do either this year.

quote:

ORIGINAL: drew

Finally, I was so happy for Austin for how he finished his career. I had my moments of frustration watching him, but he really made himself into a good player. Very good defender, good outside shooter, rebounds well, just does all the little things. I believe he really maximized his ability. It was awesome when he drilled that 3 that gave us the lead for good, and pretty cool for a senior to get MVP of the tourney. Nice way to go out.

quote:

ORIGINAL: drew

quote:

ORIGINAL: David Levine

Our 31 year old coach just won 25 games and an NIT championship in his first season with marginal talent, no legitimate PF and not a lot of strength around the basket.

And his best player being a shell of himself from last year. This was a pretty encouraging year, as you already said DL. I hope Dre gets healthy for next year, and gets right mentally. He did play better in the Garden than he had been.

Pitino needs to get a big time PG recruit next year. We are so reliant on Mathieu to create, and we have no one else who can do what he can do. I don't believe any of the incoming recruits are true PG's either (I've heard Mason is more of a combo). It seems like Pitino's system puts a lot of demands on the PG.

Finally, I was so happy for Austin for how he finished his career. I had my moments of frustration watching him, but he really made himself into a good player. Very good defender, good outside shooter, rebounds well, just does all the little things. I believe he really maximized his ability. It was awesome when he drilled that 3 that gave us the lead for good, and pretty cool for a senior to get MVP of the tourney. Nice way to go out.

quote:

ORIGINAL: David Levine

quote:

ORIGINAL: drew

Finally, I was so happy for Austin for how he finished his career. I had my moments of frustration watching him, but he really made himself into a good player. Very good defender, good outside shooter, rebounds well, just does all the little things. I believe he really maximized his ability. It was awesome when he drilled that 3 that gave us the lead for good, and pretty cool for a senior to get MVP of the tourney. Nice way to go out.

He'll probably go down as one of the most underrated Gophers of all time.

quote:

ORIGINAL: David Levine

quote:

ORIGINAL: drew

Finally, I was so happy for Austin for how he finished his career. I had my moments of frustration watching him, but he really made himself into a good player. Very good defender, good outside shooter, rebounds well, just does all the little things. I believe he really maximized his ability. It was awesome when he drilled that 3 that gave us the lead for good, and pretty cool for a senior to get MVP of the tourney. Nice way to go out.

He'll probably go down as one of the most underrated Gophers of all time.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed

Saw a ? on one of the talking-head stations.

Was it better to get to the finals of the NIT, or would you rather have been in the NCAA tourney and get wiped out?

I think for less-experienced guys,more games was better.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Jandro

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed

Saw a ? on one of the talking-head stations.

Was it better to get to the finals of the NIT, or would you rather have been in the NCAA tourney and get wiped out?

I think for less-experienced guys,more games was better.

I believe Baylor and Their opponent in last years NIT final both made the sweet 16 this year. So yes, playing more games is better and the confidence in winning the tourney can't hurt either

quote:

ORIGINAL: JT2

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Jandro

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed

Saw a ? on one of the talking-head stations.

Was it better to get to the finals of the NIT, or would you rather have been in the NCAA tourney and get wiped out?

I think for less-experienced guys,more games was better.

I believe Baylor and Their opponent in last years NIT final both made the sweet 16 this year. So yes, playing more games is better and the confidence in winning the tourney can't hurt either

Not true

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed

Just got done talking w/ Pitino. Said Andre Hollins will get hips checked. More than his ankle was bothering him. Never was 100%.


Doogie/ESPN 1500

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Jandro

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed

Just got done talking w/ Pitino. Said Andre Hollins will get hips checked. More than his ankle was bothering him. Never was 100%.


Doogie/ESPN 1500

I thought Andre was the better Hollins but I could easily be mixing them up. Does Andre have one or two seasons of elegibility left?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Jandro

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mr. Ed

Just got done talking w/ Pitino. Said Andre Hollins will get hips checked. More than his ankle was bothering him. Never was 100%.


Doogie/ESPN 1500

I thought Andre was the better Hollins but I could easily be mixing them up. Does Andre have one or two seasons of elegibility left?