Pitino Post Penn State Comments - We totally played not to lose...that's on me.

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• 8 point lead with 6 minutes to go - I think we totally played not to lose. We got shot clot violations that shouldn't happen, missed the front end of a 1-1. Our guys tightened up, and that's on me. I need to get these guys calm and loose under adversity
• I thought Joey in the post were good looks, Nate was getting to the basket, a few TO's, it was a total play "not to lose the game" instead of winning it.
• We talked about how you can't do those things, you can't abandon what put you up in the 1st place. The TO's just crushed us.
• (Didn't get who he asked about) We said during the timeout not to double team him, Joey just made a mistake, we're not supposed to trap that.
• That was a game we should have won, we blew that game. It's on me to get them ready to go.
 

Well Pitino agrees with you guys. So we don't have to continue saying the same **** over and over in this thread as well.

Thanks.
 

Pitino, don't be so hard on yourself.

Was that better?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Winasota Gopher said:
Well Pitino agrees with you guys. So we don't have to continue saying the same **** over and over in this thread as well.

Thanks.
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I think he's done nothing but take responsibility this season. It's clearly not all his fault, there is lots of blame to go around!
 

GopherLady said:
I think he's done nothing but take responsibility this season. It's clearly not all his fault, there is lots of blame to go around!
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Amen sister!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 



GopherLady said:
I think he's done nothing but take responsibility this season. It's clearly not all his fault, there is lots of blame to go around!
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I don't disagree.

But we don't need another thread where everyone claims they have the wittiest way to say that the team is struggling this year or how they don't think Pitino can coach. We've all established those lines quite clearly of who stands where. Those posts are old
 

This game gave a ton of ammunition to the anti-Pitino crowd. To shoot that well against Penn State and lose...their just are no words to describe how bad that was. I honestly was surprised they lost the 8 point lead the second time, which is on me. I shouldn't expect even the slightest level of competence from this team. I wish someone would have asked Pitino why he chose to go with Bakary late in this game when he was playing horribly, but chose not to use him against Michigan State when he actually did some decent things. Bakary was the special kind of Maverick Ahanmisi awful tonight where he was so bad that playing 4 on 5 would have been more appealing than seeing him on the floor.
 

Pitino's first-year team performed pretty well in these type of situations, so it's not fair to say he's not a good late close game coach. I have to conclude that part of the learning curve with a young team is learning how to win.
 



Still cannot believe the U gave this guy a raise before whats going to be one of the worst seasons in the program's history....They will only be marginally better next year with some more YOUNG talent....The guy has no idea/concept what he wants to run on offense and defense.....They tend to run some kind of lazy zone that never covers outside shooters around the key.......On offense because of no post players it becomes playground one-on-one jumpers.......They collapse every time down the stretch because he does not put them in the right spot to succeed.....Much like Badger Joel before him with Tim Brewster, Woody screwed the fans over with this clown.....They are really going to have to make a splash hire in a couple years to bring the fans back after this disaster.
 

1997vacatedfinalfour said:
Still cannot believe the U gave this guy a raise before whats going to be one of the worst seasons in the program's history....They will only be marginally better next year with some more YOUNG talent....The guy has no idea/concept what he wants to run on offense and defense.....They tend to run some kind of lazy zone that never covers outside shooters around the key.......On offense because of no post players it becomes playground one-on-one jumpers.......They collapse every time down the stretch because he does not put them in the right spot to succeed.....Much like Badger Joel before him with Tim Brewster, Woody screwed the fans over with this clown.....They are really going to have to make a splash hire in a couple years to bring the fans back after this disaster.
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Did you ever consider finding a new hobby other than the Gophers? Your post history here is downright depressing.
 

People can say Pitino is a lousy coach at this point and maybe they will be proven right. However, these comments are completely without context. We currently have a roster where freshmen and sophomores get 60% of the minutes and account for about 60% of the production in terms of points assists and rebounds. That means- as a group the underclassmen are just as effective as the upperclassmen. Furthermore the juniors and seniors Morris, King and Buggs are among our worst defensive players. You combine a weak leadership group with a young ball club and you are going to have problems unless you are Kentucky or Duke and getting all 5 stars.

Yes - this is Pitino's third year, but we are looking at the first recruiting class that is a full fledged class that he had time to go after- and overall, they look pretty good and are competitive against Big Ten players. Now we need another class of good players (including an experienced inside player and a scoring wing) and some time to learn. Things are going to look a lot different under the same coach a year from now.
 

He should have called a timeout and called his dad with six minutes left in the game.
 



I think a good deal of the problem last night was the use of Bakary late in the game. The question some have raised is whether he's really a D1 player. I question whether he's even suited for D2. Being able to catch a pass and catch a rebound are basic basketball skills, and I have trouble envisioning anyone playing college ball at any level if they're not being able to do those things. Whoever posted it is right - we might have been better going 4 on 5 than with Bakary in there competing with teammates for rebounds and then knocking the ball out of bounds. Regardless of Pitino's coaching abilities, his decision to recruit bad basketball players and then play them late in a close game is on him. If he's favoring their development over winning games today, that's his call, but he must know that fans don't want to watch their team lose game after game.

I continue to hope for improvement later in the season, but there's to guarantee they'll improve. Hell, they might get worse. This could be the worst conference record since Clem went 2-16 in 1986-87.
 

He doesn't have the players to play any type of zone defense. On offense unless they've numbers from the up tempo they do to much one on one off of ball screens. Last night Joey set a solid pick and roll and Konate was wide open , yet he stooped and the return pass was intercepted because of Konate not understanding where he needed to be. Is it players or coaching? Probably a bit of both.
 

1997vacatedfinalfour said:
Still cannot believe the U gave this guy a raise before whats going to be one of the worst seasons in the program's history....They will only be marginally better next year with some more YOUNG talent....The guy has no idea/concept what he wants to run on offense and defense.....They tend to run some kind of lazy zone that never covers outside shooters around the key.......On offense because of no post players it becomes playground one-on-one jumpers.......They collapse every time down the stretch because he does not put them in the right spot to succeed.....Much like Badger Joel before him with Tim Brewster, Woody screwed the fans over with this clown.....They are really going to have to make a splash hire in a couple years to bring the fans back after this disaster.
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***
 

Good thing I went to hockey with five minutes left. I was thinking were up eight and the only guy who had a rough night was Dorsey than I came home and saw the score and thought, classic gophs, can't close on the road, at least this was a young team who still needs to figure out how to win, not as frustrating as when some our more talented teams would go into Happy Valley and lay an egg against worst Penn State teams. The only team that could really close them out on the road were the 97 squad. Hate to say it, but any road win from this group is going to be a pleasant surprise
 

Bad Gopher said:
I think a good deal of the problem last night was the use of Bakary late in the game. The question some have raised is whether he's really a D1 player. I question whether he's even suited for D2. Being able to catch a pass and catch a rebound are basic basketball skills, and I have trouble envisioning anyone playing college ball at any level if they're not being able to do those things. Whoever posted it is right - we might have been better going 4 on 5 than with Bakary in there competing with teammates for rebounds and then knocking the ball out of bounds. Regardless of Pitino's coaching abilities, his decision to recruit bad basketball players and then play them late in a close game is on him. If he's favoring their development over winning games today, that's his call, but he must know that fans don't want to watch their team lose game after game.

I continue to hope for improvement later in the season, but there's to guarantee they'll improve. Hell, they might get worse. This could be the worst conference record since Clem went 2-16 in 1986-87.
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With that said, I'm sure glad we didn't fire Clem after that year.... Things take time. After all, we are Minnesota, the same college that hasn't won a BIG title in over 30 years... In 2 years, we should be pretty damn good.
 

Gopherboner said:
With that said, I'm sure glad we didn't fire Clem after that year.... Things take time. After all, we are Minnesota, the same college that hasn't won a BIG title in over 30 years... In 2 years, we should be pretty damn good.
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THIS^^^

We are on the right track. Build from the bottom up. Clem was 2-16 year one and 4-14 year 2 and was able to start with a great Dutcher provided core of youth in Newbern, Burton and Schick- they weren't as ready as Pitino's current recruits but they developed along with the guys Clem added.
 

Bad Gopher said:
Pitino's first-year team performed pretty well in these type of situations, so it's not fair to say he's not a good late close game coach. I have to conclude that part of the learning curve with a young team is learning how to win.
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I agree.
The absolute need to spend wasted time recruiting The Big Three impacted his first year of recruiting, which is upon us.

Donate looked ok against MSU. Can we win in the BT without a functioning center?
I disagree with all the people calling for Buggs as the answer...completely unreliable. There is no lineup answer, except everyone get better.
 

bga1 said:
THIS^^^

Dutcher provided core of youth in Newbern, Burton and Schick- they weren't as ready as Pitino's current recruits but they developed along with the guys Clem added.
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Burton averaged 8.7 pts/gm. and 4.2 rbs/gm as a freshman. A year later in his first year of playing, Newbern averaged 10.6 pts/gm. I didn't follow this program closely at that time, but I'm assuming Newbern maybe had academic issues when he arrived because he played only 3 years. I would say those players were more ready than three of this year's four freshman.
 

cjbfbp said:
Burton averaged 8.7 pts/gm. and 4.2 rbs/gm as a freshman. A year later in his first year of playing, Newbern averaged 10.6 pts/gm. I didn't follow this program closely at that time, but I'm assuming Newbern maybe had academic issues when he arrived because he played only 3 years. I would say those players were more ready than three of this year's four freshman.
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Newbern was affected by what was known as Proposition 48, which cancelled his freshman year of eligibility.
 

Bad Gopher said:
Newbern was affected by what was known as Proposition 48, which cancelled his freshman year of eligibility.
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Yes, I remember the rule but I couldn't remember the name of it. Thanks!
 

cjbfbp said:
Burton averaged 8.7 pts/gm. and 4.2 rbs/gm as a freshman. A year later in his first year of playing, Newbern averaged 10.6 pts/gm. I didn't follow this program closely at that time, but I'm assuming Newbern maybe had academic issues when he arrived because he played only 3 years. I would say those players were more ready than three of this year's four freshman.
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If Burton was the comparable to Murphy- Murphy is a fair amount more advanced at the same stage. Newbern was a gem- one of my all time favorites- he played like Dupree except with 30-40 pounds more muscle. So yes- he was more ready but couldn't play the first year. However, all that is really beside the point. Despite the problems with the scandal - Clem got handed the ideal situation for a new coach. He inherited the good crop of recruits (the three I mentioned) and absolutely no expectations. Pitino on the other hand got dealt a better basketball team but zero recruits. So he was given an older squad that had little upside. He was given the choice between blowing it up and bottoming out early or doing the best he could with it and risk bottoming out later. That's where we are now.

Clem was a great teacher and developer of talent. We don't know that about Pitino yet- scattered results. Pitino did a fine job of coaching the first year and not so fine the second. The jury is out. But in terms of recruiting we are definitely on the right track with the two straight solid classes.
 

1997vacatedfinalfour said:
Still cannot believe the U gave this guy a raise before whats going to be one of the worst seasons in the program's history....They will only be marginally better next year with some more YOUNG talent....The guy has no idea/concept what he wants to run on offense and defense.....They tend to run some kind of lazy zone that never covers outside shooters around the key.......On offense because of no post players it becomes playground one-on-one jumpers.......They collapse every time down the stretch because he does not put them in the right spot to succeed.....Much like Badger Joel before him with Tim Brewster, Woody screwed the fans over with this clown.....They are really going to have to make a splash hire in a couple years to bring the fans back after this disaster.
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Can't speak for everyone but I'm not going anywhere. Even "after this disaster".
 

dtrain19 said:
Can't speak for everyone but I'm not going anywhere. Even "after this disaster".
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Yeah I figured this place would be a hive of anger and negativity after the finish to last night's game, so I stayed away and am eagerly anticipating the next game. Choking away an 8 point lead in under a minute and a half sucks, but perhaps it's better than being down for 75% of the game against Milwaukee and SDSU at home.

"It is better to have led and lost, than never to have led at all."
 


Moonlight said:
I agree.
The absolute need to spend wasted time recruiting The Big Three impacted his first year of recruiting, which is upon us.

Donate looked ok against MSU. Can we win in the BT without a functioning center?
I disagree with all the people calling for Buggs as the answer...completely unreliable. There is no lineup answer, except everyone get better.
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Buggs is inconsistent for sure but last night it looked like he was in control of his game. One particular play he had the ball in his hands on fast break to the right of the basket and I pictured him driving through defenders knock them down and picking up a charge. Instead he slowed it down and passed the ball back out which was the move at that time. As for our 2 centers they were out of position on almost every play last night. I think number 21 can still develop his skill set over the next couple of years but right now he is not ready. Buggs was the answer last night anyway but coach did not see it that way.
 

dtrain19 said:
Can't speak for everyone but I'm not going anywhere. Even "after this disaster".
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Agreed, and I don't even call this year a disaster. It's dissapointing, frustrating, unacceptable. But it was somewhat expected thus not making it a DISASTER!

I think BGA sums it up great, again, for the 100th time why I'm still positive on the team. I had a great time watching the first 34 minutes last night. Wasn't great defense, but why would I expect this team to play great defense? That doesn't make me an appologist, I'm a fan, and I have high expectations for the upcoming years, and if/when Pitino continues to fail, I'll be right on board with the administration if they choose to cut ties.
 

What I can't figure out is how our Gophers can be so bad on defense. I understand it takes time for young players to learn how to work together on offense, but the lack of communication and help on the defensive end doesn't make sense. How do we have such a lapse in the last 5 minutes of the PSU game?
 

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