What's wrong with Springs?

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Otis

Otis

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Is he hurt?

These last couple games he has not provided much for offense at all. Are other teams playing him tighter or is some malady throwing off his shot?

I'm sure he is trying, don't take this as me questioning his effort, just want to know how a reliable shooter is being hamstrung.
 

Pitino mentioned after Nebraska that his back was hurting, essentially why he didn't play more for Senior Night.
 

he's a ball hog and we're better when he's on the bench IMHO.
 

BarnBoy said:
Pitino mentioned after Nebraska that his back was hurting, essentially why he didn't play more for Senior Night.
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He is definitely off right now and could certainly be due to the bad back Pitino referenced in that Nebraska video. Hopefully he can get some rest and get it feeling right again because the team definitely misses his shooting ability right now.
 

An injury would be a good explanation - he was having a difficult time even grazing the front of the rim on jumpers yesterday
 


Time to move McBrayer back into Starting lineup?
 

nasa35 said:
he's a ball hog and we're better when he's on the bench IMHO.
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A person could say that very early in the season (preseason) Springs wasn't really in the flow of the game and he forced some bad shots. I believe now that was mostly because he wasn't completely comfortable in the offense. To put that label on him now; is simply wrong. He has stepped up big in some games when McBrayer was struggling and was a great stabilizing/steady leader. Springs has been consummate leader and team player that has been an offensive spark. Hope he gets better quick. We need him.
 

Otis said:
Time to move McBrayer back into Starting lineup?
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McBrayer has played more minutes than Springs 4 of the last 5 games. They lost one game, I wouldn't worry about tinkering with the starting lineup
 

MaroonGold1 said:
An injury would be a good explanation - he was having a difficult time even grazing the front of the rim on jumpers yesterday
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i was there last night and was watching him shoot jumpers and he looked fine- 3 for his last 3 from the left corner. Then he went in to rebound for other shooters and a ball got lodged between the rim and the board and he tried to jump flat footed to get it out and couldn't reach it. looked stiff and sore - but you had to look close, he covered it pretty well and tried to play through it
 



MaroonGold1 said:
McBrayer has played more minutes than Springs 4 of the last 5 games. They lost one game, I wouldn't worry about tinkering with the starting lineup
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Yep. It isn't who starts the game, it is who ends it.
 

Hope the back isn't a lingering issue. He clearly didn't look right yesterday. Need him healthy.
 

SelectionSunday said:
Hope the back isn't a lingering issue. He clearly didn't look right yesterday. Need him healthy.
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Agree, it definitely looked like he was bothered by something and was more than just a shooting slump. Seemed like he tried to shoot his way out of it anyway, which obviously didn't work out well. I was kind of surprised Pitino kept him in for as many minutes as he did, although his defense was decent and McBrayer wasn't exactly lighting it up either.
 

Springs has to be hurting more than is being let out. His shot had no lift last night, none. Everything was short, that's either fatigue or an injury and he's not playing enough to have tired legs. It's hard to get any lift on your shot when your back is hurting, so hopefully that figures itself out by Friday. He's been a huge reason the Gophers are dancing.
 



One nice added benefit of getting in the top 4 is an extra day of rest for everyone but especially guys like Springs who are clearly being bothered by something.
 

I think Springs is hurt. His shot looks forced and everything has been short. He also had very little lift on the dunk attempt vs. Nebraska.

If his back is tight, it would change his jump shot. Hopefully he can get it figured out by Friday. 3 games in 3 days (ideally) would be tough on anyone.
 

nasa35 said:
he's a ball hog and we're better when he's on the bench IMHO.
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You can't be a ball hog if the coaches and players are fine with him taking a shot whenever he feels like it.

I've heard he's been battling back issues. Hopefully the 6 days of rest, and limited playing in the BTT get him to at least 90% health come NCAAs
 

If Springs continues to be limited, it would be nice to see Gilbert get some minutes. They don't have enough outside shooting without Springs, and Hurt seems totally reluctant to pull the trigger, though he's been playing better overall.
 

For years we've known that nasa only posts after a loss - another benefit of a winning season!
 

Moonlight said:
For years we've known that nasa only posts after a loss - another benefit of a winning season!
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I've liked this team all year. Springs makes terrible decisions on his shot. You'd have to blind not to notice. I thought the reactions to yesterdays loss was ridiculous.
 

howeda7 said:
If Springs continues to be limited, it would be nice to see Gilbert get some minutes. They don't have enough outside shooting without Springs, and Hurt seems totally reluctant to pull the trigger, though he's been playing better overall.
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Yes, Hurt doesn't act like he even wants the ball.
 

This is tournament time... shoot his back up with something. Hurt is not the answer...timid and weak...not confident. Gilbert as the answer...LOL!!!...where'd that come from...the dude's played a handfull of minutes all year...
 


Great post watertown 87. remember though the avalanche of fans on this board who were screaming about benching Mason and Murphy !
 

watertown 1987 guy n said:
A person could say that very early in the season (preseason) Springs wasn't really in the flow of the game and he forced some bad shots. I believe now that was mostly because he wasn't completely comfortable in the offense. To put that label on him now; is simply wrong. He has stepped up big in some games when McBrayer was struggling and was a great stabilizing/steady leader. Springs has been consummate leader and team player that has been an offensive spark. Hope he gets better quick. We need him.
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Yup, we do need him.
Springs is exactly the type that can propel an upset win or two in the dance. A crazy streaky shooter, but when he's on it's almost automatic. He said he came here specifically to make the NCAA. he did, now is his chance to make a name for himself.
 

Winasota Gopher said:
Yup, we do need him.
Springs is exactly the type that can propel an upset win or two in the dance. A crazy streaky shooter, but when he's on it's almost automatic. He said he came here specifically to make the NCAA. he did, now is his chance to make a name for himself.
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I hope he finds his shot back soon.
 

Springs looks like he's trying to force it a little too much. He may just need to relax, and let the game come to him.
 

Hurt needs to AT LEAST look at the rim. He catches the ball, turns and passes. He is fine for a few minutes but be a threat. Look at the rim. Look to make an interior pass. Look to shoot once in a while. Not saying he needs to be instant offense off the bench and come out firing like McBrayer but some type of offensive threat would be excellent.
 

Even when he was at full health it's frustrating to see him only be hot when the game is early or a 1-3 possession game in the 2nd half. Would love to see Springs start hitting 3s when we are up 8+ points in the second half. Blow 'em away.

I also wouldn't mind seeing Springs dish it to a waiting Murph/Lynch when the defense is expecting him to shoot a 3 because he just hit 2 in the last 5 minutes You don't always have to keep shooting until you get cold.

I'm not really criticizing Springs because I love the admiration the rest of the guys clearly have for him and what he's been doing on the court with this team. It's a bummer he was the only starter to be left out of post season honors. Can't he make the all academic team considering he's a graduate student minoring in SWISH?

That Maryland game is our blueprint to the Sweet 16.
 

UpAndUnder43 said:
Hurt needs to AT LEAST look at the rim. He catches the ball, turns and passes. He is fine for a few minutes but be a threat. Look at the rim. Look to make an interior pass. Look to shoot once in a while. Not saying he needs to be instant offense off the bench and come out firing like McBrayer but some type of offensive threat would be excellent.
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Why does he need to do that? There is about a 0 chance of Michael Hurt being "instant offense" this year. He needs to do exactly what he is doing, not turn the ball over, play enough defense to give Coffey a breather for 5 minutes in the 1st half. If we have a lead he needs to do it again for 3 minutes in the 2nd half. That's his role on the team. Set screens, stay in the offense, move the ball and play defense.
 

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