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MadtownGopher

MadtownGopher

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Captains have been voted on by the players. <a href="https://twitter.com/aHolli_20">@aHolli_20</a> , <a href="https://twitter.com/CaLi_LuvsME">@CaLi_LuvsME</a> , and <a href="https://twitter.com/AndreHollins">@AndreHollins</a></p>— Richard Pitino (@MNCoachPitino) <a href="https://twitter.com/MNCoachPitino/statuses/383743399301373952">September 28, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>First two practices are in the books. Effort was good but turnovers were a glaring weakness.</p>— Richard Pitino (@MNCoachPitino) <a href="https://twitter.com/MNCoachPitino/statuses/383744039935164416">September 28, 2013</a></blockquote>
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It'll be interesting to see how Mav progresses with Pitino as the coach. Small sample size, but he shot 38.8% (19/49) from 3 last year. Pitino says they'll shoot a lot of 3's this year, maybe Mav will get more minutes.
 

So far it seems like Pitino is very high on Mav. I think he sees him more as a combo/shooting guard though.
 

PiPress: Gophers basketball: Off and running ... and running

"The adjustment is not as big as I thought it would be," Richard Pitino said at his news conference Tuesday. "The guys have been extremely willing to pick up on it and embrace it."

"The first thing we do is a five-man fast break," senior guard Maverick Ahanmisi said. "That's how we warm up. So you can tell already at the beginning of practice that our style of play has changed from previous years. That's the warm-up. To me, I like our practice style. Talking to all the guys, they like the style of play as well. There's not a real hard part of practice, but there are moments when it's more intense."

http://www.twincities.com/gophers/ci_24217833/gophers-basketball-off-and-running-and-running

Go Gophers!!
 

FSN: Gophers adjusting to Richard Pitino, embracing underdog status

"We've been going hard these past five, six days, really picking up our intensity defensively," junior point guard Andre Hollins said Tuesday. "It's fun. It's a nice, refreshing change."

Despite making the NCAA tournament last year and winning a game, the Gophers are not predicted by experts to be among the Big Ten's top teams. In fact, due in large part to the losses of Trevor Mbakwe and Rodney Williams, many believe Minnesota fill finish near the bottom of the conference this year.

That doesn't faze the Gophers, who insist they aren't buying into any of the preseason hoopla.

"We kind of take it as a slap in the face, but that's their prediction," Andre Hollins said. "We're going to use that as motivation and prove ourselves."

Added Austin Hollins: "They can say what they want, but I guarantee you we're working harder than any team in the Big Ten. We're going to go out there and show them what we can do."

http://www.foxsportsnorth.com/colle...ichard-Pitino-embr?blockID=946559&feedID=3793

Go Gophers!!
 


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Junior Andre Hollins says he's been playing both shooting guard and point guard in practice. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Gophers&src=hash">#Gophers</a> <a href="http://t.co/GFCY4SmI8Q">http://t.co/GFCY4SmI8Q</a></p>— Marcus R. Fuller (@GophersNow) <a href="https://twitter.com/GophersNow/statuses/385180574874619904">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Senior guard Maverick Ahanmisi talks about JC transfer PG Deandre Mathieu who joined the team in the fall. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Gophers&src=hash">#Gophers</a> <a href="http://t.co/hKrD1mR8ap">http://t.co/hKrD1mR8ap</a></p>— Marcus R. Fuller (@GophersNow) <a href="https://twitter.com/GophersNow/statuses/385134560729894913">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Junior guard Dre Hollins says the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Gophers&src=hash">#Gophers</a> will be a "surprise team" this year like Illinois last season. <a href="http://t.co/MdSjHKclVh">http://t.co/MdSjHKclVh</a></p>— Marcus R. Fuller (@GophersNow) <a href="https://twitter.com/GophersNow/statuses/385133144665780224">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>New <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Gophers&src=hash">#Gophers</a> basketball coach Richard Pitino talks about one possible starting guard tandem. <a href="http://t.co/soyz8vqVr1">http://t.co/soyz8vqVr1</a></p>— Marcus R. Fuller (@GophersNow) <a href="https://twitter.com/GophersNow/statuses/385126394445185024">October 1, 2013</a></blockquote>
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MadtownGopher said:
<<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>First two practices are in the books. Effort was good but turnovers were a glaring weakness.</p>— Richard Pitino (@MNCoachPitino) <a href="https://twitter.com/MNCoachPitino/statuses/383744039935164416">September 28, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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I was hoping this was a cultural thing with Tubby. Maybe not. I hate turnovers, hopefully the new staff can get this fixed.

I think we would have been pretty damn good last year if we just had an average turnover rate
 

True point guards and turnovers.

There is a reason that point guard is considered the most important position in college basketball. The only true point guard of note in the last 7-8 years was Al Nolen. He wasn't a good enough outside shooter for some, but if you ask me had he played on last years team we might have stayed a top 10 team. He could penetrate and dish, but he couldn't throw a post entry pass (weird). And his defense was top notch.

We have had a lot of athletes that were below average ball handlers and shooters. Defenders sagged and we would force drives and turn it over (Coleman, Rodney).

Mathieu may be a true pt guard, but he wasn't that highly rated. If we are really pushing the tempo expect the turnovers to increase. But hopefully the steals, and forced turnovers do as well. If we turn it over a ton in the non-conf. just imagine how bad it will become once the bump and grind of the big ten starts.

I would love for Dre to become a super high volume shooter and force teams to double him and hedge, opening things up for other players. Their may not be a ton of other offense.


JimmyJamesMD said:
I was hoping this was a cultural thing with Tubby. Maybe not. I hate turnovers, hopefully the new staff can get this fixed.

I think we would have been pretty damn good last year if we just had an average turnover rate
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Mav looks older and more mature. I know Pitino mentioned he needs to shed some weight, and it looks like he did. He's not carrying that baby fat anymore.
 



march madness said:
There is a reason that point guard is considered the most important position in college basketball. The only true point guard of note in the last 7-8 years was Al Nolen. He wasn't a good enough outside shooter for some, but if you ask me had he played on last years team we might have stayed a top 10 team. He could penetrate and dish, but he couldn't throw a post entry pass (weird). And his defense was top notch.
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Complemented Hoffarber's strengths extremely well in that backcourt
 

BleedGopher said:
FSN: Gophers adjusting to Richard Pitino, embracing underdog status

"We've been going hard these past five, six days, really picking up our intensity defensively," junior point guard Andre Hollins said Tuesday. "It's fun. It's a nice, refreshing change."

Despite making the NCAA tournament last year and winning a game, the Gophers are not predicted by experts to be among the Big Ten's top teams. In fact, due in large part to the losses of Trevor Mbakwe and Rodney Williams, many believe Minnesota fill finish near the bottom of the conference this year.

That doesn't faze the Gophers, who insist they aren't buying into any of the preseason hoopla.

"We kind of take it as a slap in the face, but that's their prediction," Andre Hollins said. "We're going to use that as motivation and prove ourselves."

Added Austin Hollins: "They can say what they want, but I guarantee you we're working harder than any team in the Big Ten. We're going to go out there and show them what we can do."

http://www.foxsportsnorth.com/colle...ichard-Pitino-embr?blockID=946559&feedID=3793

Go Gophers!!
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Austin playing the Tebow card a little bit here. A similar result would be a pleasant surprise.
 

march madness said:
There is a reason that point guard is considered the most important position in college basketball. The only true point guard of note in the last 7-8 years was Al Nolen. He wasn't a good enough outside shooter for some, but if you ask me had he played on last years team we might have stayed a top 10 team. He could penetrate and dish, but he couldn't throw a post entry pass (weird). And his defense was top notch.
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This is so often forgotten.

One of the problems with Dre playing pg is he doesn't have the quicks to guard some of the elite pg's........nor did mav or julian. I believe Austin even took his shot at guarding some pg's last year.
 

station19 said:
This is so often forgotten.

One of the problems with Dre playing pg is he doesn't have the quicks to guard some of the elite pg's........nor did mav or julian. I believe Austin even took his shot at guarding some pg's last year.
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Hopefully our new Dre will be able to handle this since the early buzz on him is that he's quick as hell.
 



All this PG talk has me thinking about those lazy Welch passes towards the sideline that ended up being easy layups for the other team. I'm really not going to miss those.
 

If you are 5'9" you better be quick as hell! It would be nice to have an additional stopper besides Austin. One who is quick but has more muscle. Not sure we have that on this roster. I get scared the more i look at this team. I hope Dre Hollins can get us 20 a game.
 

march madness said:
If you are 5'9" you better be quick as hell! It would be nice to have an additional stopper besides Austin. One who is quick but has more muscle. Not sure we have that on this roster. I get scared the more i look at this team. I hope Dre Hollins can get us 20 a game.
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You have led and continue to lead a very protected life if that is what scares you. But as long as you have your security bankee, you will be ok.
 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Today the guys held themselves accountable for the first time. Was great to see. Got tougher today.</p>— Richard Pitino (@MNCoachPitino) <a href="https://twitter.com/MNCoachPitino/statuses/385565783801081856">October 3, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Go Gophers!!
 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Really impressed by <a href="https://twitter.com/KingJoey_24">@KingJoey_24</a> & Elliott Eliason's defense yesterday in practice. Both did a great of job of communicating on the court.</p>— Richard Pitino (@MNCoachPitino) <a href="https://twitter.com/MNCoachPitino/statuses/385382856077225984">October 2, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Go Gophers!!
 

Sneak Peek: Minnesota's Malik Smith

It’s been a long and winding path for Malik Smith. At different points in his life, the idea that he’d be a key player for a Big Ten program wouldn’t have appeared very realistic. Nonetheless he’s made it.

Smith averaged 14.1 points per game during his first season of D-I basketball while playing for Florida International and first year head coach Richard Pitino. Now both at Minnesota, Pitino will look for Smith to provide leadership and scoring in 2013-14.
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...it's long. Full thing at the link. Looks at Malik's shooting, background, movie stardom, etc.
 


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Just talked to Richard Pitino. Says he put Andre Hollins at small forward today. Might play the 1,2 or 3 for the Gophers. Interesting.</p>— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/MedcalfByESPN/statuses/387620507522064384">October 8, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Go Gophers!!
 

BleedGopher said:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Just talked to Richard Pitino. Says he put Andre Hollins at small forward today. Might play the 1,2 or 3 for the Gophers. Interesting.</p>— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/MedcalfByESPN/statuses/387620507522064384">October 8, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Go Gophers!!
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Finding ways to put your best players on the floor is a good thing. He has a lot of good guards- so he plans to use them. I think it's easier to put unique lineups out there if you are running, size mismatches hurt you less when the floor is opened up. The challenge is to find ways to rebound off the defensive boards.
 

Pitino already said there is very little difference between the 1, 2, and 3 in his system.
 


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