MN Daily: Oto Osenieks finds his niche

[Costa Rican Gopher]

Glen Mason ring a bell? Seriously though there's always a pleasant surprise when a new coach comes in. So far Oto takes the cake. Mo might be there too but who knows. When Tubby came, Damien Johnson and Jamal Abu Shamala were much improved players from the previous season. One could make the argument for Lawrence Westbrook as well. I'm sure someone on Monson's first team stepped up as well

Boom!

 

[Costa Rican Gopher]

As many remember, I said last year that Oto was doing the little things that win games & that when his shot finally started falling (and that it would!) that he'd turn into a decent player. Shooters shoot. Eventually they find their mark.

Aside from his shot falling though he's not doing anything else significantly better. He was always a good, solid, team basketball guy which is why Tubby kept playing him despite his horrific slump. I'm not saying Pitino isn't a good coach, that Oto didn't need a change of faces or whatever, but I am saying that he was going to find his range eventually & I agree with the adage that players make their most significant progress as a player between their So-Jr years.

 

[Gopherguy0723]

As many remember, I said last year that Oto was doing the little things that win games & that when his shot finally started falling (and that it would!) that he'd turn into a decent player. Shooters shoot. Eventually they find their mark.

Aside from his shot falling though he's not doing anything else significantly better. He was always a good, solid, team basketball guy which is why Tubby kept playing him despite his horrific slump. I'm not saying Pitino isn't a good coach, that Oto didn't need a change of faces or whatever, but I am saying that he was going to find his range eventually & I agree with the adage that players make their most significant progress as a player between their So-Jr years.

Old adages often prove false when facts come into play. Look at baseball and sabremetrics. Also, Oto could be responding to Pitino's coaching or style of reinforcement. We're not in the locker room, so we cannot say for certain. But Oto credits Pitino for positive motivation.