mcal24
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http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncbexperts/post?id=2363&ex_cid=espnapi_public
Each season there are teams that break through and show significant improvement from the prior season. In 2013-14, we saw Tony Bennett's Virginia Cavaliers win both the ACC and ACC tournament. Tim Miles’ Nebraska Cornhuskers went from a Big Ten bottom-feeder to the Big Dance. Kevin Ollie's Connecticut Huskies -- ineligible for the postseason a season earlier -- won the national title.
Breakthrough teams typically return a core group of players, have excellent guard play, defend, are physically tough and have roles that are well-defined. Let’s take a look at which programs are poised to have major seasons.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
The Golden Gophers embraced Richard Pitino's full-court system en route to the NIT title last season. They were second in the Big Ten in steals and shot 37.2 percent from the 3-point line in the Big Ten tournament and NIT combined. The Gophers will be led by a dynamic backcourt in Andre Hollins and Deandre Mathieu. The powerful Hollins shoots the ball with range and is an excellent one-on-one player. He led the Gophers in scoring, averaging 13.6 points a game while shooting 34.9 percent from 3-point range.
Mathieu is a dynamic, quick point guard that can score, is a willing passer and sees plays early. Despite being just 5-9, he averaged 12 points and 4.2 assists per game. He is almost impossible to keep out of the lane. Both Hollins and Mathieu do an excellent job of pressuring the ball in the Gophers’ full-court press.
The Minnesota frontcourt has some flexibility as well. Center Elliott Eliason averaged 6.6 rebounds a game and a board every three minutes. At 6-11, 240 pounds, he’s a big body and a physical presence. Maurice Walker (7.8 points, 4.5 rebounds) and Joey King (7.1 points, 2.7 rebounds) both showed flashes of potential last season.
Each season there are teams that break through and show significant improvement from the prior season. In 2013-14, we saw Tony Bennett's Virginia Cavaliers win both the ACC and ACC tournament. Tim Miles’ Nebraska Cornhuskers went from a Big Ten bottom-feeder to the Big Dance. Kevin Ollie's Connecticut Huskies -- ineligible for the postseason a season earlier -- won the national title.
Breakthrough teams typically return a core group of players, have excellent guard play, defend, are physically tough and have roles that are well-defined. Let’s take a look at which programs are poised to have major seasons.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
The Golden Gophers embraced Richard Pitino's full-court system en route to the NIT title last season. They were second in the Big Ten in steals and shot 37.2 percent from the 3-point line in the Big Ten tournament and NIT combined. The Gophers will be led by a dynamic backcourt in Andre Hollins and Deandre Mathieu. The powerful Hollins shoots the ball with range and is an excellent one-on-one player. He led the Gophers in scoring, averaging 13.6 points a game while shooting 34.9 percent from 3-point range.
Mathieu is a dynamic, quick point guard that can score, is a willing passer and sees plays early. Despite being just 5-9, he averaged 12 points and 4.2 assists per game. He is almost impossible to keep out of the lane. Both Hollins and Mathieu do an excellent job of pressuring the ball in the Gophers’ full-court press.
The Minnesota frontcourt has some flexibility as well. Center Elliott Eliason averaged 6.6 rebounds a game and a board every three minutes. At 6-11, 240 pounds, he’s a big body and a physical presence. Maurice Walker (7.8 points, 4.5 rebounds) and Joey King (7.1 points, 2.7 rebounds) both showed flashes of potential last season.