Pat Borzi: Amid uncertainty at the U, Gopher coach Richard Pitino faces critical year

Donate To GopherHole
BleedGopher

BleedGopher

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 11, 2008
Messages
62,864
Reaction score
20,365
Points
113
per Borzi:

Expect fans to squawk if the Gophers struggle through a non-conference schedule laced with more toughies than usual – N.I.T. semifinalist Temple in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Nov. 19 (and possibly Butler the following day); Clemson at Williams Arena on Nov. 30; and Oklahoma State in Sioux Falls, S.D. on Dec. 12. The Gophers open Big Ten play at Ohio State on Dec. 30.

Check back with the Gophers in February to see how the freshmen progressed. Pitino adds two transfers next season, 6-8 forward Davonte Fitzgerald from Texas A & M and 6-10 center Reggie Lynch from Illinois State by way of Edina.

Next season, not this one, should be the most telling. New athletic directors often whack a high-profile coach for a splashy hire to put their stamp on the program; that’s how Pitino landed here in the first place. A spring A.D. announcement keeps Pitino in place through 2016-17, giving him two years to make it to his first NCAA Tournament as a head coach. If the Gophers rebound and defend in the most rugged conference in the country, they’ve got a chance.

“I look at it that every year is critical,” Pitino said. “My first two years were extremely critical to move the program forward, get everyone to understand the way we’re going to play, because I was such an unknown as a coach. I was only at F.I.U. for a year (as a head coach), and nobody really knew about us. So they’re all critical. How critical one is over the other, I can’t really say.

“I do know that this year is huge, next year is huge, and last year was huge. That’s the nature of being a basketball coach. People aren’t patient. I’m not patient. That’s kind of the way it works.”

https://www.minnpost.com/sports/201...pher-coach-richard-pitino-faces-critical-year

Go Gophers!!
 

Factual error in the story

He says the entire roster are Pitino recruits. Not true. Buggsy is a Tubby holdover.
 


Is this year "critical?" It doesn't seem that it is given the decisions made by Pitino and the former AD in the offseason. Last year was more critical but turned out to be a missed opportunity. Pitino appears to have been given a reset in year 3 after a disappointing performance in year 2. I'm not saying that's wrong, but not every coach gets that expectation.
 

Next Year

cjbfbp said:
Is this year "critical?" It doesn't seem that it is given the decisions made by Pitino and the former AD in the offseason. Last year was more critical but turned out to be a missed opportunity. Pitino appears to have been given a reset in year 3 after a disappointing performance in year 2. I'm not saying that's wrong, but not every coach gets that expectation.
Click to expand...

Next year, I believe truly is critical. But next year is a long ways off and so much can happen by then. But also remember, not included in the piece is the fact he signed the "lifetime" contract this summer. Ha

I thought it was a well written piece with a couple of boo boos.
 



60's Guy said:
Next year, I believe truly is critical. But next year is a long ways off and so much can happen by then. But also remember, not included in the piece is the fact he signed the "lifetime" contract this summer. Ha

I thought it was a well written piece with a couple of boo boos.
Click to expand...

I agree. What is really critical, has in a way already been accomplished. It appears that he has bagged two straight good recruiting classes- that's a great sign. If everyone stays healthy and develops there will be a lot of talent to coach.
 

Yup

bga1 said:
I agree. What is really critical, has in a way already been accomplished. It appears that he has bagged two straight good recruiting classes- that's a great sign. If everyone stays healthy and develops there will be a lot of talent to coach.
Click to expand...

Could be very fun going forward!
 

cjbfbp said:
Is this year "critical?" It doesn't seem that it is given the decisions made by Pitino and the former AD in the offseason. Last year was more critical but turned out to be a missed opportunity. Pitino appears to have been given a reset in year 3 after a disappointing performance in year 2. I'm not saying that's wrong, but not every coach gets that expectation.
Click to expand...

Enough about last season. As many have discussed, the team was not able to play Pitino's system last year and the top players from his first year had off years.

This year is really the first year to start the judgements, therefore a restart as you say. It is commonly accepted by fans and Pitino himself, that he is raw as a head coach. He has made some mistakes, but he's has also shown a great knowledge of the game and some moments of excellent coaching. He will be given time to learn on the job, and hopefully he develops into a great coach.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 




This year on the court is not "critical," it was this fall's (2016) recruiting class that was critical and he passed with flying colors -- Hurt, Curry, and Coffey. Add probably Theo John and likely one other highly ranked recruit for the next class, and Pitino isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

There is no "critical" moment here -- he's building the basketball program brick by brick just like Kill with football.
 

WanderingGopher said:
This year on the court is not "critical," it was this fall's (2016) recruiting class that was critical and he passed with flying colors -- Hurt, Curry, and Coffey. Add probably Theo John and likely one other highly ranked recruit for the next class, and Pitino isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

There is no "critical" moment here -- he's building the basketball program brick by brick just like Kill with football.
Click to expand...

Well said indeed!
 

You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom