Post game - Pitino is hoping they make the NIT, doesn't think they take a CBI bid...

[GopherLady]

Here are my quick notes following the loss to Ohio State. Official transcripts will be out later, and I'll post those.

It was a really emotional locker room, lots of tears, very quiet and sad. Those guys really were torn up. Here you go:

Richard Pitino:
• Certainly proud of how hard these guys fought, to be down 13 with 9.5 to go, shows the type of heart we have on this team. A lot is attributed to the seniors - they set a school record for wins last year. Mo and Andre went to an NCAA tourney, DeAndre should be very proud. We knew it would be tough. Hoping we go to the NIT so we can keep playing, but we'll see.
• On not wanting the season to end - I saw it from DeAndre, he was playing at tremendous speed, I could see it from an offensive standpoint.
• The future - I thought we did tread water, but something we're going to miss next year iis a true low post presence with Mo. Bakary's going to have to figure it out. He's a huge target, which I like. We're going to miss Mo offensively. Those guys did a good job holding serve in the 1st half, in the 2nd half, we weren't rebounding.
• I don't think we'd take a CBI or CIT bid. I hope we're an NIT team. You're labeled a failure iif you don't make iit to the NCAA tournament, but you keep on playing.
• What does he wants to see from Nate - Consistency from the foul line, I don't get why he's not a great FT shooter, and from the perimeter. As a freshmen, he had a freshman year. The target will be on his back, he needs to get better this offseason.
• Foul trouble hurt us a lot tonight. If Mo was in the game, we probably would of had a lead. Our guys weren't confident throwing it to BK.
• Joey has always been a pretty good shooter, my biggest thing was for him to become an awesome leader, now he needs to become a more vocal leader. He improved greatly. He was a guy that came from Drake and wasn't even all conference.
• On if he would do anything differently this season - Not really, anytime you lose a bunch of close games, you try to figure out what you could do differently. When you lose so many close games, people are looking to point fingers. Our guys did a good job of staying positive and staying together. There are things that we all could have done differently, but I don't think it does a whole lot of good to look back on that.

Mo Walker:
• We all made plays down the stretch and we needed stops defensively
• All season, it's been a process all season, the younger guys have really grown, they're always working hard. I siit down with Bakary and talk to him often, on and off the court.

DeAndre Mathieu
• We played hard until the very end, coach talked about that the 1st day we met
• It's the way the game goes, referees have more control than people think*
• I hope we have more games left to play
• I enjoyed every second of playing with these guys, 2 years wasn't long enough. Nobody from where I'm from has ever been to where I've been.
• Too little, too late, I got away from the way I played, I needed to look to score more.*
• I don't want to play in the CBI, I don't even know what the CBI is, better to go to the rec center.*
• We definitely came in with the mindset of making a run and going to the NCAA tourney.
• On Nate Mason - Nate brought ii every day in practice, he works hard, he knows the game, he's mature beyond his years, if he continues to work, he's going to be a really good player for the next 3 years.


Mo Walker
• No matter how we fought back, we lost the game, it doesn't matter.
• These guys are young guys, being able for them to contribute is huge for them
• I just want to play basketball doesn't matter where
• He did a great job this wake tournament, it shows great growth from him
• He said it's been great coaching you guys, he loves all of us, and we'll sit around and see what's next
• It's been a long 5 years.*
• We all made plays down the stretch and we needed stops defensively
• All season, it's been a process all season, the younger guys have really grown, they're always working hard. I siit down with Bakary and talk to him often, on and off the court.


Nate Mason
We felt like we let down the seniors
• All week we've been talking about this, just play as hard as we could
• Of course it's in the back of my head (not making the all freshmen team)

Andre Hollins
• The freshmen have been tremendous, they learned a lot this year.*

We wanted payback, and I think in the 2nd half, we didn't rebound, that's what cost is the game.

 

[GopherLady]

Here's the official transcript - some of my comments were also from the locker room:

COACH RICHARD PITINO
ANDRE HOLLINS
DEANDRE MATHIEU
MAURICE WALKER

COACH PITINO: Well, certainly proud of how hard these guys fought. To be down 13 with nine and a half to go, had a couple of opportunities to cut it to one or two, shows the type of heart that we have on this team, and a lot of that is attributed to the seniors. So I'm proud of them. They set a school record for wins last year with 25, won an NIT. Mo and Andre certainly went to an NCAA Tournament, and DeAndre, what he's been able to do in the last couple years to get to where he had to get to, he should be proud, too.
Disappointed that the NCAA Tournament we knew it would be tough, but disappointed certainly we can't go back to that. Hoping we get invited to NIT so we can keep playing, but we'll see. We lost to a very good team. That's a very talented team and a well coached team, so you've got to give them credit, as well.

Q. DeAndre, we were talking in the locker room about the season. Did you guys expect coming in that you would be going to the NCAA Tournament?
DEANDRE MATHIEU: Yeah, we definitely came in with the mindset of making a run. Winning five games in five days and getting chosen to play in the NCAA Tournament.

Q. For any of the players, can you talk about where you were down? Coach was talking about making up that ground and giving yourselves a shot right to the end of the game there?
ANDRE HOLLINS: You know, Dre made some great moves to the basket, got an and one. I think that's when the momentum changed a lot. Mo also got an and one that really shifted the momentum. You know, we were right there. Russell is a great player. He hit a big time shot. I mean, and we still clawed back. The only thing I can say is I'm just proud of being a part of this team and the way that we fought tonight.
MAURICE WALKER: Like Andre said, we all made plays down the stretch, and we just needed stops defensively, and they hit big shots. Got to give them credit because they are a good team.

Q. Andre, you had that late missed three pointer, I think, with 30 something seconds left and then fouled Loving after that, and it looked like you were beating yourself up a little bit on the way to the other end. What was going through your head?
ANDRE HOLLINS: I was upset that I kind of lost the ball. I didn't have a clean grip, and that's what I was upset about. I should have just sidestepped or did something else.

Q. Mo, can you just talk about coming into the tournament in these last few games, if any of the seniors, if you guys sat the younger guys down at all and tried to tell them about what is going to be expected of them moving forward?
MAURICE WALKER: All season it's been a process all season. The younger guys have really grown. Practice every day, they're always willing to learn, they're always working hard. I know personally Bakary, I really sit down with him and I talk to him often about things on and off the court or during the course of the game. I try to give him little pointers and things that he can do that I see out there. All the young guys have really grown, and they all have very bright futures.

Q. DeAndre, for you in particular, the way that Nate has kind of led of team at the point guard spot toward the end of the season here, what have you seen from him to make you think that he can kind of take the next step next year?
DEANDRE MATHIEU: Nate brought it every day in practice. He works hard. He knows the game. I thought he was mature beyond his years the first day I seen him. If he just continues to work, continues to think basketball and learn the game, he's going to be a really, really good player for the next three years.

Q. Coach, did you get a sense down the stretch there when you were making your comeback that the seniors kind of took it upon themselves because this might be their last game?
COACH PITINO: I thought from DeAndre, certainly he was playing at a tremendous speed. It was tough with Mo, the foul trouble really hurt us just because offensively we couldn't get a lot going when he was in foul trouble. But DeAndre, I could certainly see it just from an offensive standpoint.

Q. You were obviously forced to sort of piece together some different lineups with Mo on the bench. In the first half you did play Bakary and Gas together a lot, but you guys were able to tread water. What do you think that says about
COACH PITINO: Yeah, you know, about the future? You know, I thought we did kind of tread water, but I think something we're really going to miss next year is a true low post presence with Mo. I don't know what he shot on the year from the field. I'm sure it was very good. When he got it, it was pretty good. Obviously Bakary, he's going to need to figure that out. What I like about Bakary, he's a huge target. But he's got to just continue to get better. We're going to miss Mo offensively because a lot of what we did was kind of inside out. But I did think those guys did a good job holding serve in the first half.
I thought in the second half we started playing zone, we just were not rebounding the ball, so we had to get out of it.

Q. Obviously you're not the one who makes this decision, but do you think that you guys are an NIT team, and if you did not get an NIT nod, would you take any lesser tournament?
COACH PITINO: No, I don't think we would take a CBI or CIT. I hope we're an NIT team. I want to keep playing with these guys, keep coaching them. We enjoyed it last year. I get it, you're kind of labeled in sports today. If you don't make it to the NCAA Tournament, you're labeled a failure. I mean, I understand that. I don't look at it like that with these guys. We enjoyed the NIT. We got a lot out of it, so I'd like to keep playing. Almost 95, 99 percent sure I wouldn't take a CIT or a CBI bid.

Q. I know it's a ways off, but the way Nate played in the point guard role this year, going into next year you're going to have some options with a couple of recruits. Do you see him possibly being able to move over and maybe have a role like Andre did next year at the 2?
COACH PITINO: Yeah, I think he'll play both. I think we've got to figure that out a little bit, but he's definitely going to have to play both. I kind of see him doing it, just because Kevin Dorsey can't play the 2. Jarvis may be able to play the 2 a little bit, but Nate will definitely play the one and the two, so that's definitely something we'll look at. That's a ways away, but that's definitely something we'd look at.

Q. Since this is the end of the season, what do you want to see from Nate developing in the off season?
COACH PITINO: Probably consistency from the foul line. I don't get why he's not a great free throw shooter. And from the perimeter. He shoots it different off the dribble than he does off the catch. That's something he needs to get more consistent with. But I think as a freshman he had a tremendous year. He was arguably one of the best freshmen in our conference. His big thing has got to be he can't be like the target will be on his back. He needs to get better this off season. He can't fall into that sophomore slump, which a lot of people do fall into. He can't do that.

Q. We talked about you guys treading water without Mo a little bit in the first half, but how much do you think that foul trouble really did hurt you tonight?
COACH PITINO: A lot, a lot. Yeah, just from an offensive standpoint. I thought we were getting stops because of the zone, but we weren't getting scores. I thought if Mo was in the game, we probably would have had a lead. We were getting stops, just they were choking down the driving lanes and just our guys weren't real confident throwing it to BK, so I just thought it cost us from building a lead because we were getting stops in that zone and turning them over and doing some good things.

Q. The way that Joey has shot the last two games coming into this one make you think that maybe he has another level he can hit next season?
COACH PITINO: Yeah, I mean, I think he's always been a pretty good shooter. He's playing with great confidence. My biggest thing with him is become an awesome leader because he's got the respect of everybody in the program, but now become a vocal leader. Sometimes younger guys wait their turn a little bit when you've got as many seniors as we had. They sit back and they wait. And I think he'll take that role over really good next year.
He improved greatly. He's a guy who came from Drake, wasn't even all conference, and to think of how good he was towards the end of this year, I'm excited about him.

Q. Looking back at the season, do you have any major regrets or things that you would have done differently?
COACH PITINO: Not really. Not really. I mean, any time you lose a bunch of close games you're always trying to figure out what you can do differently. No, not really. I mean, I think our guys, what I thought we all did a pretty good job of with them, when you lose so many close games in kind of today's world, everybody piles on everybody. They're just looking to point fingers. That's natural. It's not any one place. And I thought our guys did a really good job of staying positive, staying together, you know, and more than anything, keep on working. I'm sure there's things we all could have done differently, but I don't know that it does a whole lot of good to look back on that.

 

[book]

This team just wasn't clutch in clutch situations. Joey misses a wide open 3, Andre misses a wide open 3 and Mo misses a ft. And ohio State nails a 3 when the time clock is expiring. Its been happening all year. We must get better defensively in the next years.

 

[Bad Gopher]

This team just wasn't clutch in clutch situations. Joey misses a wide open 3, Andre misses a wide open 3 and Mo misses a ft. And ohio State nails a 3 when the time clock is expiring. Its been happening all year. We must get better defensively in the next years.

That's just it right there. It's not lacking the ability to make plays - those guys have made plays like that for four years. It's making those plays when the chips are down. This team has generally not been a chips-are-down team.

 

[Sparlimb]

That's just it right there. It's not lacking the ability to make plays - those guys have made plays like that for four years. It's making those plays when the chips are down. This team has generally not been a chips-are-down team.

Not sure what happened to Andre the last 2 years, but he went from clutch player to afterthought. My guess is we are done for the year and that is likely best for all involved. Let the coaches see if there is any more help to be found or not.

 

[Winasota Gopher]

Not sure what happened to Andre the last 2 years, but he went from clutch player to afterthought. My guess is we are done for the year and that is likely best for all involved. Let the coaches see if there is any more help to be found or not.

What?

When was Andre a clutch player other than blowing up against Memphis? I'm not dogging Andre, I'm just sick of people acting like he's regressed. It's complete bullsh1t.

 

[bc2211]

What?

When was Andre a clutch player other than blowing up against Memphis? I'm not dogging Andre, I'm just sick of people acting like he's regressed. It's complete bullsh1t.

Couldn't agree more. I get disappointed with our fans when they make comments like sparlim's. Andres been a hot and cold player his whole career. If he didn't light it up in the middle of the big ten season this year, we would still have 0 wins. It's not Andre's fault that that there isn't another scorer on the team that defenses need to worry about.


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[bleedsmaroonandgold]

I am not a big fan of teams turning down these tournament invites. Their attitude always seems to be that "we are too good for that tournament." Guess what, if you don't get invited to NCAA or NIT, then you are not too good. If you were too good, you would have won more games and gotten a better invite.

 

[supadupafly]

Couldn't agree more. I get disappointed with our fans when they make comments like sparlim's. Andres been a hot and cold player his whole career. If he didn't light it up in the middle of the big ten season this year, we would still have 0 wins. It's not Andre's fault that that there isn't another scorer on the team that defenses need to worry about.


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Think this shows just how much we missed a complimentary guy like Austin Hollins this year.

 

[Winasota Gopher]

Think this shows just how much we missed a complimentary guy like Austin Hollins this year.

You all trashed Austin the same way last year. Austin just finished the year STRONG, Andre had a STRONG middle. Some of you will have the same romantic memories of Andre next year. You'll miss him when he's gone.

Just a bunch of mindless drivel after losses on this site. Flip floppers and bandwagon hoppers. Cant wait for recruiting to ramp up so we can listen to everyone to hate on Pitino for not finding a 6'9" PF who can run like a gazelle in the spring.

 

[scher215]

You all trashed Austin the same way last year. Austin just finished the year STRONG, Andre had a STRONG middle. Some of you will have the same romantic memories of Andre next year. You'll miss him when he's gone. Just a bunch of mindless drivel after losses on this site. Flip floppers and bandwagon hoppers. Cant wait for recruiting to ramp up so we can listen to everyone to hate on Pitino for not finding a 6'9" PF who can run like a gazelle in the spring.

Honestly, I think we will miss Austin far more than Andre. And that isn't a knock on Dre, but a compliment to Austin. He went through a shooting slump, but was the most complete player on the team last year. Mentally, offensively, defensively, he was so key for that team.

 

[JimmyJamesMD]

I am not a big fan of teams turning down these tournament invites. Their attitude always seems to be that "we are too good for that tournament." Guess what, if you don't get invited to NCAA or NIT, then you are not too good. If you were too good, you would have won more games and gotten a better invite.

Great post.

Play the games and give big minutes to the freshman and Buggs.

 

[bc2211]

You all trashed Austin the same way last year. Austin just finished the year STRONG, Andre had a STRONG middle. Some of you will have the same romantic memories of Andre next year. You'll miss him when he's gone.

Just a bunch of mindless drivel after losses on this site. Flip floppers and bandwagon hoppers. Cant wait for recruiting to ramp up so we can listen to everyone to hate on Pitino for not finding a 6'9" PF who can run like a gazelle in the spring.

I hoped for more out of him, but I don't think I trashed him. I think the hate for Andre is different... Andre's shots just didn't fall at times and the board calls the kid a failure. But I recall Austin completely disappearing on offense. I'm glad it finally clicked for him though, his streak made the NIT bearable.

Anyways, great teams seem to have three consistent scoring threats. Good teams have two. Next year will likely be our third year with one option (I'm assuming mason will be 'the guy'). Hopefully we all don't hate on him if he produces 10 ppg again next year. Because he won't be the problem if he succeeds at that.


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[JimmyJamesMD]

You all trashed Austin the same way last year. Austin just finished the year STRONG, Andre had a STRONG middle. Some of you will have the same romantic memories of Andre next year. You'll miss him when he's gone.

Just a bunch of mindless drivel after losses on this site. Flip floppers and bandwagon hoppers. Cant wait for recruiting to ramp up so we can listen to everyone to hate on Pitino for not finding a 6'9" PF who can run like a gazelle in the spring.

+1000

It's a vicious cycle.

 

[Bad Gopher]

I am not a big fan of teams turning down these tournament invites. Their attitude always seems to be that "we are too good for that tournament." Guess what, if you don't get invited to NCAA or NIT, then you are not too good. If you were too good, you would have won more games and gotten a better invite.

I'm with you. I'd rather see them accept a CBI invitation than turn it down. It's been a tough year and a death march through most of the Big Ten schedule, but I'd rather still watch them play than have the season end right now. I suspect that the reason they'd turn it down would be prestige and PR. They'd be trashed by all the usual suspects for lowering themselves to the third-rate tourney.

 

[goldy93]

If the whole point of the last few games was to get reps for the new guys, why would we turn down a CBI invite? We are too good for it? I would think you would want every chance you could get to have minutes for the new guys in real games.

 

[bc2211]

I'm with you. I'd rather see them accept a CBI invitation than turn it down. It's been a tough year and a death march through most of the Big Ten schedule, but I'd rather still watch them play than have the season end right now. I suspect that the reason they'd turn it down would be prestige and PR. They'd be trashed by all the usual suspects for lowering themselves to the third-rate tourney.

I think it also costs money to participate. And I'm guessing the upperclassman give about 65% effort. Underclassmen maybe 70.


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[Winasota Gopher]

Honestly, I think we will miss Austin far more than Andre. And that isn't a knock on Dre, but a compliment to Austin. He went through a shooting slump, but was the most complete player on the team last year. Mentally, offensively, defensively, he was so key for that team.

Disagree... Austins failings were identical to Andre's this year. Andre was a behind the scenes consistent defender and role player on a team that lacked both. Only difference is that Austin could guard just about anyone and Andre got hamstrung a couple times this year having to guard guys way outside his size/speed capabilities simply because we had few other options. Austin's shortcomings last year were shadowed by a team that was over achieving so the vitriol was much less than what has gone on for Andre this year. Could you imagine if we finished last year like we did this year and Austin was shooting the way he was? Kid would have been run out of town!

 

[Bad Gopher]

I think it also costs money to participate. And I'm guessing the upperclassman give about 65% effort. Underclassmen maybe 70.


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You have to look at it as an investment in player development.

 

[bc2211]

You have to look at it as an investment in player development.

No I completely agree, just pointing out a couple of other considerations. At what point is Pitino prohibited from scheduling practices or individual sessions? I think the extended practice time for the freshman may be just as important as the games.


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[jaymil]

You all trashed Austin the same way last year. Austin just finished the year STRONG, Andre had a STRONG middle. Some of you will have the same romantic memories of Andre next year. You'll miss him when he's gone.

Just a bunch of mindless drivel after losses on this site. Flip floppers and bandwagon hoppers. Cant wait for recruiting to ramp up so we can listen to everyone to hate on Pitino for not finding a 6'9" PF who can run like a gazelle in the spring.

Well said. I know I'll miss Andre for sure. I think injuries had a big impact on his play the last few years, but he never made it an excuse and always worked hard and gave it his best. Some fans are in for a rude awakening next year not having him as a threat on the court.

 

[Dr.Don]

You all trashed Austin the same way last year. Austin just finished the year STRONG, Andre had a STRONG middle. Some of you will have the same romantic memories of Andre next year. You'll miss him when he's gone.

Just a bunch of mindless drivel after losses on this site. Flip floppers and bandwagon hoppers. Cant wait for recruiting to ramp up so we can listen to everyone to hate on Pitino for not finding a 6'9" PF who can run like a gazelle in the spring.

Mindless drivel? Never happens on GH!

 

[GoodasGold]

Here's the official transcript - some of my comments were also from the locker room:

COACH RICHARD PITINO
ANDRE HOLLINS
DEANDRE MATHIEU
MAURICE WALKER

COACH PITINO: Well, certainly proud of how hard these guys fought. To be down 13 with nine and a half to go, had a couple of opportunities to cut it to one or two, shows the type of heart that we have on this team, and a lot of that is attributed to the seniors. So I'm proud of them. They set a school record for wins last year with 25, won an NIT. Mo and Andre certainly went to an NCAA Tournament, and DeAndre, what he's been able to do in the last couple years to get to where he had to get to, he should be proud, too.
Disappointed that the NCAA Tournament we knew it would be tough, but disappointed certainly we can't go back to that. Hoping we get invited to NIT so we can keep playing, but we'll see. We lost to a very good team. That's a very talented team and a well coached team, so you've got to give them credit, as well.

Q. DeAndre, we were talking in the locker room about the season. Did you guys expect coming in that you would be going to the NCAA Tournament?
DEANDRE MATHIEU: Yeah, we definitely came in with the mindset of making a run. Winning five games in five days and getting chosen to play in the NCAA Tournament.

Q. For any of the players, can you talk about where you were down? Coach was talking about making up that ground and giving yourselves a shot right to the end of the game there?
ANDRE HOLLINS: You know, Dre made some great moves to the basket, got an and one. I think that's when the momentum changed a lot. Mo also got an and one that really shifted the momentum. You know, we were right there. Russell is a great player. He hit a big time shot. I mean, and we still clawed back. The only thing I can say is I'm just proud of being a part of this team and the way that we fought tonight.
MAURICE WALKER: Like Andre said, we all made plays down the stretch, and we just needed stops defensively, and they hit big shots. Got to give them credit because they are a good team.

Q. Andre, you had that late missed three pointer, I think, with 30 something seconds left and then fouled Loving after that, and it looked like you were beating yourself up a little bit on the way to the other end. What was going through your head?
ANDRE HOLLINS: I was upset that I kind of lost the ball. I didn't have a clean grip, and that's what I was upset about. I should have just sidestepped or did something else.

Q. Mo, can you just talk about coming into the tournament in these last few games, if any of the seniors, if you guys sat the younger guys down at all and tried to tell them about what is going to be expected of them moving forward?
MAURICE WALKER: All season it's been a process all season. The younger guys have really grown. Practice every day, they're always willing to learn, they're always working hard. I know personally Bakary, I really sit down with him and I talk to him often about things on and off the court or during the course of the game. I try to give him little pointers and things that he can do that I see out there. All the young guys have really grown, and they all have very bright futures.

Q. DeAndre, for you in particular, the way that Nate has kind of led of team at the point guard spot toward the end of the season here, what have you seen from him to make you think that he can kind of take the next step next year?
DEANDRE MATHIEU: Nate brought it every day in practice. He works hard. He knows the game. I thought he was mature beyond his years the first day I seen him. If he just continues to work, continues to think basketball and learn the game, he's going to be a really, really good player for the next three years.

Q. Coach, did you get a sense down the stretch there when you were making your comeback that the seniors kind of took it upon themselves because this might be their last game?
COACH PITINO: I thought from DeAndre, certainly he was playing at a tremendous speed. It was tough with Mo, the foul trouble really hurt us just because offensively we couldn't get a lot going when he was in foul trouble. But DeAndre, I could certainly see it just from an offensive standpoint.

Q. You were obviously forced to sort of piece together some different lineups with Mo on the bench. In the first half you did play Bakary and Gas together a lot, but you guys were able to tread water. What do you think that says about
COACH PITINO: Yeah, you know, about the future? You know, I thought we did kind of tread water, but I think something we're really going to miss next year is a true low post presence with Mo. I don't know what he shot on the year from the field. I'm sure it was very good. When he got it, it was pretty good. Obviously Bakary, he's going to need to figure that out. What I like about Bakary, he's a huge target. But he's got to just continue to get better. We're going to miss Mo offensively because a lot of what we did was kind of inside out. But I did think those guys did a good job holding serve in the first half.
I thought in the second half we started playing zone, we just were not rebounding the ball, so we had to get out of it.

Q. Obviously you're not the one who makes this decision, but do you think that you guys are an NIT team, and if you did not get an NIT nod, would you take any lesser tournament?
COACH PITINO: No, I don't think we would take a CBI or CIT. I hope we're an NIT team. I want to keep playing with these guys, keep coaching them. We enjoyed it last year. I get it, you're kind of labeled in sports today. If you don't make it to the NCAA Tournament, you're labeled a failure. I mean, I understand that. I don't look at it like that with these guys. We enjoyed the NIT. We got a lot out of it, so I'd like to keep playing. Almost 95, 99 percent sure I wouldn't take a CIT or a CBI bid.

Q. I know it's a ways off, but the way Nate played in the point guard role this year, going into next year you're going to have some options with a couple of recruits. Do you see him possibly being able to move over and maybe have a role like Andre did next year at the 2?
COACH PITINO: Yeah, I think he'll play both. I think we've got to figure that out a little bit, but he's definitely going to have to play both. I kind of see him doing it, just because Kevin Dorsey can't play the 2. Jarvis may be able to play the 2 a little bit, but Nate will definitely play the one and the two, so that's definitely something we'll look at. That's a ways away, but that's definitely something we'd look at.

Q. Since this is the end of the season, what do you want to see from Nate developing in the off season?
COACH PITINO: Probably consistency from the foul line. I don't get why he's not a great free throw shooter. And from the perimeter. He shoots it different off the dribble than he does off the catch. That's something he needs to get more consistent with. But I think as a freshman he had a tremendous year. He was arguably one of the best freshmen in our conference. His big thing has got to be he can't be like the target will be on his back. He needs to get better this off season. He can't fall into that sophomore slump, which a lot of people do fall into. He can't do that.

Q. We talked about you guys treading water without Mo a little bit in the first half, but how much do you think that foul trouble really did hurt you tonight?
COACH PITINO: A lot, a lot. Yeah, just from an offensive standpoint. I thought we were getting stops because of the zone, but we weren't getting scores. I thought if Mo was in the game, we probably would have had a lead. We were getting stops, just they were choking down the driving lanes and just our guys weren't real confident throwing it to BK, so I just thought it cost us from building a lead because we were getting stops in that zone and turning them over and doing some good things.

Q. The way that Joey has shot the last two games coming into this one make you think that maybe he has another level he can hit next season?
COACH PITINO: Yeah, I mean, I think he's always been a pretty good shooter. He's playing with great confidence. My biggest thing with him is become an awesome leader because he's got the respect of everybody in the program, but now become a vocal leader. Sometimes younger guys wait their turn a little bit when you've got as many seniors as we had. They sit back and they wait. And I think he'll take that role over really good next year.
He improved greatly. He's a guy who came from Drake, wasn't even all conference, and to think of how good he was towards the end of this year, I'm excited about him.

Q. Looking back at the season, do you have any major regrets or things that you would have done differently?
COACH PITINO: Not really. Not really. I mean, any time you lose a bunch of close games you're always trying to figure out what you can do differently. No, not really. I mean, I think our guys, what I thought we all did a pretty good job of with them, when you lose so many close games in kind of today's world, everybody piles on everybody. They're just looking to point fingers. That's natural. It's not any one place. And I thought our guys did a really good job of staying positive, staying together, you know, and more than anything, keep on working. I'm sure there's things we all could have done differently, but I don't know that it does a whole lot of good to look back on that.

Hey GL, what's up with that? Pitino didn't mention EE at all and I kinda thought he brought some energy to the floor with a block and some rebounds and his foul-whines were as good as ever. Did you ask Coach about EE or were you able to talk to EE at all? Love your game comments BTW...keep up the good work girl!

 

[cjbfbp]

Hey GL, what's up with that? Pitino didn't mention EE at all and I kinda thought he brought some energy to the floor with a block and some rebounds and his foul-whines were as good as ever. Did you ask Coach about EE or were you able to talk to EE at all?

From the way Pitino has treated EE over the latter part of the season, I suspect that he wishes EE would have quit the team and made ignoring him easier. I also don't think asking questions about EE would have endeared the interviewer to Pitino and some public figures have a way of restricting your access if you tend to ask them questions they'd rather not answer.

 

[GopherLady]

Hey GL, what's up with that? Pitino didn't mention EE at all and I kinda thought he brought some energy to the floor with a block and some rebounds and his foul-whines were as good as ever. Did you ask Coach about EE or were you able to talk to EE at all? Love your game comments BTW...keep up the good work girl!

Thank you. Sorry, I did not ask him about EE, I'm kind of surprised he didn't have him at the presser, just because the other 3 that play were. Honestly, I don't like to ask question I know the answer to...he hasn't played much because he hasn't done very well, no need to make the Coach say that.

 

[BarnBoy]

What was the scoop with EE's evaporated playing time in the latter half of the year? I missed a handful of games when he hit the bench.

I understand the "future is now" approach to getting the young guys reps, but EE was a pretty solid defender. Any scoop? I am sure I missed some articles about it. Was it an attitude thing?

 

[cjbfbp]

What was the scoop with EE's evaporated playing time in the latter half of the year? I missed a handful of games when he hit the bench.

I understand the "future is now" approach to getting the young guys reps, but EE was a pretty solid defender. Any scoop? I am sure I missed some articles about it. Was it an attitude thing?

There is no scoop. It's not the kind of thing a coach or the players on the team would discuss in public and it's not likely to be a question a reporter who wants to maintain favor would ask. Maybe after this season some of the players will talk and some of that talk will get around.

 

[GoodasGold]

There is no scoop. It's not the kind of thing a coach or the players on the team would discuss in public and it's not likely to be a question a reporter who wants to maintain favor would ask. Maybe after this season some of the players will talk and some of that talk will get around.

Yeah, you're most likely right. I'm gonna give Mrs Walker a call...she'll talk.

 

[cjbfbp]

Yeah, you're most likely right. I'm gonna give Mrs Walker a call...she'll talk.

Good idea! If you do, please let us know what she says.

 

[Dr.Don]

Good idea! If you do, please let us know what she says.

And make sure you find out her relationship with AJ's mom's bff.

Look, if the Gophers are gonna be bigtime programs, the PARENTS have to stay the hell out of things.

This ain't Junior High schidt, ya know.