BleedGopher
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Mike Ellis was on with Dubay and Doogie this morning (before the Illinois game). Here is a recap of the interview. This is not verbatim, but close:
Ellis on why this team can't get transition points...It's a good question. I think by design, I have seen us slow the ball down and not be willing to run. I agree that we're better in the full court. We're much better when we run. Depth isn't a real strength of this squad. That's a concern that if you run, run, run you will run your guys into the ground. There is the other side that you have to put yourself in a position to win. Our limitations offensively are much less magnified in transition. When we get out in the full court we are at our best.
Ellis on Gophers guards...Dre isn't a point guard, he's working hard on becoming a PG and he's worked his tail off. He's not a finished product off by any means. He's not playing instinctively. In the open floor when he can run up and down instinctively he's better. You don't get to play free (in the half court set) and he and Austin and Joe Coleman absolutely when they run they are better players.
Ellis on if this team is ready for Illinois (mentally)...I think its as good as you could hope for. They are positive. It's a new season. We are in the Tournament but you don't want to back in. Make your own momentum. I saw it happen two years ago (at VCU) and it took on a life of its own. I do think it can happen. If they don't look energetic in warmups it will be a bad sign. Regardless of what Tubby says, the players have to own it a bit. The 40 minutes is up to them and how they approach it.
Ellis on Gophers' strength of schedule (Tubby apparently said he'd rather go with a soft schedule on the Monday Coach's Show, and "I don't know what it gets us.")...I agree 100% (that we need a tough non-conference schedule). Without the toughness of schedule we wouldn't have the conversation of the NCAA. Absolutely I agree. We put this team in a much better position when you understand where your weaknesses are. You don't learn anything about yourself against softer teams. You get lazy. You don't want to overdue it the other way but its something we've definitely talked about and we have some ideas as well.
http://www.1500espn.com/ondemand/
Go Gophers!!
Ellis on why this team can't get transition points...It's a good question. I think by design, I have seen us slow the ball down and not be willing to run. I agree that we're better in the full court. We're much better when we run. Depth isn't a real strength of this squad. That's a concern that if you run, run, run you will run your guys into the ground. There is the other side that you have to put yourself in a position to win. Our limitations offensively are much less magnified in transition. When we get out in the full court we are at our best.
Ellis on Gophers guards...Dre isn't a point guard, he's working hard on becoming a PG and he's worked his tail off. He's not a finished product off by any means. He's not playing instinctively. In the open floor when he can run up and down instinctively he's better. You don't get to play free (in the half court set) and he and Austin and Joe Coleman absolutely when they run they are better players.
Ellis on if this team is ready for Illinois (mentally)...I think its as good as you could hope for. They are positive. It's a new season. We are in the Tournament but you don't want to back in. Make your own momentum. I saw it happen two years ago (at VCU) and it took on a life of its own. I do think it can happen. If they don't look energetic in warmups it will be a bad sign. Regardless of what Tubby says, the players have to own it a bit. The 40 minutes is up to them and how they approach it.
Ellis on Gophers' strength of schedule (Tubby apparently said he'd rather go with a soft schedule on the Monday Coach's Show, and "I don't know what it gets us.")...I agree 100% (that we need a tough non-conference schedule). Without the toughness of schedule we wouldn't have the conversation of the NCAA. Absolutely I agree. We put this team in a much better position when you understand where your weaknesses are. You don't learn anything about yourself against softer teams. You get lazy. You don't want to overdue it the other way but its something we've definitely talked about and we have some ideas as well.
http://www.1500espn.com/ondemand/
Go Gophers!!
