Nadine Babu: Al Nolen puts academic issues behind him and is ready to lead Gophers

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The 2009-2010 Gopher basketball season was filled with too many off-the-court distractions, including the in-season academic suspension of point guard Al Nolen. Nolen missed most of the Big Ten season and all of the post-season which was a major blow to the Gophers defense and offensive flow. But a half a season spent on the sidelines turned into a period of reflection and life-lessons for the Minneapolis native.

But a new year is a fresh start for Nolen and the Gophers and Coach Tubby Smith has tapped Nolen as one of his co-captains. GopherHole’s Nadine Babu caught up with Nolen to learn more about his situation last year and how he has grown from that experience.

http://www.forums.gopherhole.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1223
 

Good interview.

I remember reading or hearing a few weeks ago that Al was only the second player that Tubby's had that went academically ineligible.
 


Good to have Al back. While he did say that he matured from this process... he didn't exactly take full blame and seemed to offer excuses. Bottom line, all students have sh$t going on in their life, his reasons were pretty weak if you ask me. just my 2 cents.


Again, glad to have him back and I hope he has a great final year.
 

Rouser said:
Good to have Al back. While he did say that he matured from this process... he didn't exactly take full blame and seemed to offer excuses. Bottom line, all students have sh$t going on in their life, his reasons were pretty weak if you ask me. just my 2 cents.


Again, glad to have him back and I hope he has a great final year.
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Well in that situation, he has got to ask himself what is more important. Being there for his dad who is in poor health and going in and out of the hospital, or staying on top of your schoolwork? I probably would have made the same decision as him - not to fail classes that is, but to make my dad and family my top priority. He can always go back and retake classes that he dropped/failed but he can only be there for his dad once. Just my 2 cents...
 


It is great to see Al back on the court and I give him credit for making that happen. Al's defense and ability to move the ball up the floor on the fastbreak are big assets for this team. If Al could ever start to hit his jump shot on a consistent basis, he could be All Big Ten. I don't expect that to happen this late in his career, but I do expect Al to have a good senior year. He played very well even though he didn't score in the first exhibition game last week.
 

I'll never question supporting family in times of need... I've heard that it wasn't the real reason though (or at least only reason). Think back to JohnnyGopher's post about playing too much playstation, etc... just saying
 

Think back to JohnnyGopher's post about playing too much playstation, etc... just saying
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So in a time when it appeared that a lot of things had gotten, or so seemed to Al, out of his control, he seemed to seek refuge in something that he could control. A video game. Doesn't seem so odd to me.

Glad to see him back and doing well.
 

My favorite part of the interview is that he worked on his jumper.
 



Rouser said:
My favorite part of the interview is that he worked on his jumper.
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I liked that too. I am just yet to notice the difference? :confused: Hopefully he starts to show it in the next few games, there has only been one.
 






freshtrout said:
Hope he worked on layups as well ...
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amen. The funny thing is he was talking about how good their bigs are in the post but last year they were horrible at feeding the post consistently. Al's biggest issue is his inability to score/make decisions in the lane. Plenty of PGs can't shoot but his quickness is negated more when teams don't feel the need to help when he drives because he can't convert
 


Rouser said:
Good to have Al back. While he did say that he matured from this process... he didn't exactly take full blame and seemed to offer excuses. Bottom line, all students have sh$t going on in their life, his reasons were pretty weak if you ask me. just my 2 cents.


Again, glad to have him back and I hope he has a great final year.
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Honestly, its *&^!#*&^!#*&^!#*&^!#*&^!#*&^!#s like you that make me hate people. You're not him. You don't know. Stop smelling your own farts.
 

In my opinion, a mature Al Nolen doesn't shoot unless he absolutely has to and plays great defense vs the opposing teams best guard. That the best way for him to help the Gophers win.
 

Let's be honest, we don't know if he has put his academic issues behind him yet. This semester Al is again juggling school, practice and playing. The last time he tried to do that, it didn't work out so well.

Hopefully things work out for him and he is more responsible.
 

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