FSN: Gophers balancing big men with eye on both present, future

[BleedGopher]

per FSN:

On Monday, Pitino was asked about the possibility of redshirting Diedhiou, given that the Gophers' season is now past the midway point and the 6-foot-9 forward still hasn't played. By all accounts it sounds as if Pitino and the coaching staff remain hopeful that Diedhiou can contribute this season. Pitino added the fact that Diedhiou is a 21-year-old freshman, making a redshirt season make even less sense -- he'd be 26 by his senior year.

On top of all that, the Gophers have struggled to rebound the basketball this year. Minnesota ranks second-to-last in the Big Ten in rebounding margin, averaging just 34.7 rebounds per game. Having Diedhiou's 6-foot-9 frame could certainly help.

"We've got to get him going, because part of our rebounding problem is it's not a lack of effort from Joey (King) and (Charles) Buggs," Pitino said. "They're just not real big guys and they're not naturally great rebounders. I think we've got to get him rolling, too."

As the rest of the season plays out, Pitino will have to continue to rotate his big men. Walker has given the Gophers a spark on offense at times, while Eliason brings a better defensive presence. Yet in some cases, those two veterans -- as well as King and Buggs -- may see some of their minutes go to Minnesota's freshmen big men as Pitino and the Gophers continue to build for the future.

"I think both guys are different," Pitino said of Konate and Diedhiou. "We're trying to win games, that's for sure. I think Bakary earned that playing time. Gas was getting there to earning that playing time. It's just key in practice and getting those opportunities in games as well."

http://www.foxsports.com/north/stor...ig-men-with-eye-on-both-present-future-012015

Go Gophers!!

 

[WanderingGopher]

If the only goal were to win the most games possible this year, I'd argue that Mo Walker should start at PF, and Eliason should start at C and Pitino should do everything possible to try and restore his confidence and get him back to the way he was playing early last year. They'd have to play mostly zone defense and obviously would have to change the offense (would look more like a Tubby offense, run some high-low post, etc.), and mostly scrap the up-and-down system Pitino prefers.

Pitino isn't doing it because he doesn't want to delay implementation and practice of his system, even if we don't have all the players yet to run it well. Some coaches would look at the players they have and run a system to their strengths even if it's not the one they'd otherwise prefer. I can't say either approach is run. Pitino's approach certainly is going to turn up the heat on him, though.

 

[station19]

If the only goal were to win the most games possible this year, I'd argue that Mo Walker should start at PF, and Eliason should start at C and Pitino should do everything possible to try and restore his confidence and get him back to the way he was playing early last year. They'd have to play mostly zone defense and obviously would have to change the offense (would look more like a Tubby offense, run some high-low post, etc.), and mostly scrap the up-and-down system Pitino prefers.

Pitino isn't doing it because he doesn't want to delay implementation and practice of his system, even if we don't have all the players yet to run it well. Some coaches would look at the players they have and run a system to their strengths even if it's not the one they'd otherwise prefer. I can't say either approach is run. Pitino's approach certainly is going to turn up the heat on him, though.

It's not the system. The game has changed. Neither Mo or EE are quick/athletic enough to play the 4 on defense.