On the Gophers:
3. Richard Pitino strikes out on his own: The progeny of Hall of Famer (and reigning national champion coach) Rick Pitino has always looked a bit like his dad, but in recent years -- as Richard has risen to an assistant coach at Florida, then Louisville, then as the head coach at Florida International, then as just a son cheering his dad on at the Final Four, the resemblance has become uncanny. Minnesota fans hope the proverbial apple-fall isn't limited to looks. The younger Pitino, all of 30, has been handed the keys to the Gophers' challenging high-major job, and he's spent his offseason striking all the right notes -- and getting in on all of the right recruits, and celebrating Minnesota's massive and much-needed planned facilities overhaul -- in advance of his first season under the Big Ten klieg.
Minnesota
Best case: There is still some talent in Minneapolis, particularly in the Andre Hollins/Austin Hollins backcourt duo, so it's not fair to expect Minnesota to do a total rebuilding crater in Pitino's first season. Still, the best case here is less of the cold "make the tournament" calculus and more about erecting that all-important program foundation.
Worst case: Gophers fans, like most fan bases (even UCLA!) got a bit of a shock when they had to come to terms with the fact that their program wasn't quite as desirable as they thought and that a 30-year-old with a brand name was the best candidate they could lure. If Pitino struggles in his first season, expect a few of these kinds of grumbles right away.
Minnesota: Andre Hollins
Richard Pitino has made no small matter of the fact that he plans to run in his first season at Minnesota -- a philosophy pretty much antithetical to former coach Tubby Smith's sluggish, bruising Gophers teams. The personnel might not remind anyone of the 2005 Phoenix Suns just yet, but Pitino does have a very capable scoring point guard in Andre Hollins, who posted a 25.3 percent assist rate and shot 41.8 percent from 3 as a sophomore. The problem (both for Hollins and the Gophers was turnovers, and until Hollins reigns those in, the thought of him leading an up-tempo secondary break is more laughable than exciting.
Go Gophers!!