Post game notes - Mathieu "There's no doubt in my mind I'll play on Sunday."

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Post game notes - Mathieu "There's no doubt in my mind I'll play on Sunday."

Here are my quick notes after the NIT win against High Point:

Scott Cherry - HC for High Point
• Minnesota did a good enough job to win the game, and got two of our best players to foul out. We still had the game at 5 points with a few minutes to go, didn't have enough plays to come through.
• On Mathieu coming out with an injury. The kid that took over him was pretty good, Andre Hollins.
• I picked a bad time to get my 1st technical all year, and I got one here.
• I would have loved to see John (Brown ) in the game until the end.
• The starting line-up that we rolled out tonight, there wasn't a senior in it. This is back to back post-season tournaments for the 1st time in school history. I feel like we're doing a good job and heading in the right direction. We need to get to that tournament that has the 4 letters.
• Give Coach Pitino and those guys credit
• It got loud a couple of times, it got pretty loud when they made a couple of runs. They had every reason to come out tonight and not be really excited about playing, I know how it is being a team on the bubble, sometimes you're not extremely excited about this. They had the guys ready.


Richard Pitino:
• We found a way to get it done, the 1st one is the toughest, and when one of your best players goes down early (Mathieu). No update on him. He should be ready by Sunday. We tried him in the 2nd half, and he was hobbling like crazy and making faces that made fans cringe. It was mentally tough for our guys, and they found a way to overcome that. You find out who wants to keep playing, and who doesn't. You see that a guy like Maverick wants to keep playing.
• We've got to get DeAndre ready to go for Sunday, is that when we're playing? I don't know when the heck it is.
• DeAndre was in pain. We're going to wing it, just kidding - we're going to put some ice, heat on it.
• It's his hip, he had reinjured it, he had bumped it in practice, something he had hurt before. I don't think you need an MRI on something like that.
• John Brown is a monster, he plays hard. He's really good.
• I think that our size could get Brown in foul trouble, that was part of the game plan.
• I've said all along, one of my biggest regrets decision wise, I just wanted to find Maverick more minutes.
• It's hard for everybody, it's not a traditional game, and you go from 13, 14K to 3K, and Austin's play got us going.
• We had 0 TO's for 25 minutes, I looked at the stat sheet "this has to be wrong" - taking care of the ball is so important.
• I think Maverick has been playing better. Malik hasn't been playing well, and Mav is taking advantate of that opportunity. I don't think he's a PG, he needs to play the 2.
• DeAndre has been the heart and soul of the team.
• Austin impacted the game in a lot of ways without scoring the ball, we made some big time deflections and stops at the end. We gave up too many 3's, but it's hard to play when they're playing 4-5 guards.
• I wanted to play Elliott, but we couldn't do it with the way they were playing.
• I thought we'd come out sluggish, because of human nature, but they fought it. 2 years ago, they had a really good experience. They went at LaSalle, at Middle Tennessee, and at those places it's sold out. They seemed like they really enjoyed it and wanted to keep playing.

Maverick Ahanmisi
(On getting psyched for the NIT) It was tough, we were kind of shocked, we wanted to play for the NCAA but we want to go to New York.
I think the atmosphere was pretty good, we have good fans, they'd be here if they were here (on spring break).

DeAndre Mathieu
He (Pitino) just asked me if I could go, I put some padded compressions and went out there, I guess I winced in pain.
(When he originally injured his hip) In the Wi game, I just fell on my side really hard, but I'm fine.*
Coach told us the 1st game will be the toughest because the crowd and competition won't be what we're used to
There's no doubt in my mind I'll play on Sunday, he just took it as a precaution
I couldn't go full speed
On Maverick - He's always been working hard, and he's making plays now.

Andre Hollins
(On being in the NIT) It's just another opportunity to play, a lot if teams don't have this, another opportunity to play at home
(On playing away the last NIT run) It's different as far as traveling wise. It was kind of a big road trip, it was fun.*

Mo Walker
(On Pitino) He told us keep fighting, and play for as long as possible
(On not getting in the NCAA tourney) I'm sure some of the guys were down, Coach talks about teams that do well in the NIT and use it to do well in the NCAA's the next year.
(On if he thought they were going to get in the NCAA's) It was up in the air, 50/50 for us.*
 

Thanks, GL. Glad to hear Mathieu is ok.
BTW - You were hard to miss up there in your orange sweater. Can't wear that if we meet Illinois!
 


Being in the post-season NIT puts a player with a mild injury in an interesting position. Obviously, if there were any long term fears, we wouldn't want him to risk anything for the NIT. However, it is an end-of-year tournament, so if it is just a matter of delaying the time until he is 100%, go ahead and play because if we lose there is no tomorrow.
 



Lil Dre's injury sounds like a hip pointer? These are painful and take weeks to heal. But you can also play through them. I don't think (someone correct me) that you can really make them worse or risk your career by playing with a contusion.

That all assumes it's actually a hip pointer.

I'm not a doctor, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
 

The curious case of Maverick Ahanmisi

What could have been had he shown these flashes earlier or if he, like tonight, scored enough to make up for his lack luster defense and brain farts.
 

Winasota Gopher said:
The curious case of Maverick Ahanmisi

What could have been had he shown these flashes earlier or if he, like tonight, scored enough to make up for his lack luster defense and brain farts.
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You know.. I always thought he was a good option when not asked to do too much. Not a good primary ball handler, but he can shoot and has a nice touch. Probably should have played in place of Smith the past 5 or so games. Oh well. Nice to see him finish strong.
 

Winasota Gopher said:
The curious case of Maverick Ahanmisi

What could have been had he shown these flashes earlier or if he, like tonight, scored enough to make up for his lack luster defense and brain farts.
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Still not sure he's a Big Ten player, but I have to say he looked quicker and nimbler out there - and shot better - than the current version of Dre Hollins.
 



Bad Gopher said:
Still not sure he's a Big Ten player, but I have to say he looked quicker and nimbler out there - and shot better - than the current version of Dre Hollins.
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He certainly has his shortcomings, but I've always thought Mav is one of the best 3PT shooters on the team when he is able to catch and shoot.
 

Thanks GopherLady! Appreciate the post game even more when I am not able to watch. My son and were huddled around a radio that we could barely here through the static. Felt like a pioneer!
 

bleedsmaroonandgold said:
He certainly has his shortcomings, but I've always thought Mav is one of the best 3PT shooters on the team when he is able to catch and shoot.
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I don't think many would disagree, however, its when he can't catch and shoot that is the problem.

I'll add that he has been effective going to the rim, sometimes uncontrolled and you get those "Were going ballistic Mav!!!" moments (subtle Top Gun reference), however if he's not shooting or attacking, he's been a liability.
 

Mav can be effective when he's used right. However, when he has to handle the ball, especially against the press, it usually doesn't end well.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
 



jaymil said:
Mav can be effective when he's used right. However, when he has to handle the ball, especially against the press, it usually doesn't end well.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
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unfortunately the aptitudes associated with the term "used right" and his position and the standard expectations for that position do not mesh whatsoever.
 

Mav as a catch and shoot player at the 2 guard can be effective. I would not allow Mav to play the point and I would never let him penetrate past the free throw line as he either gets stuffed or turns it over. Mav plays hard he is just a step slow and he doesnt have pg ball handling skills. End of story.
 

march madness said:
Mav as a catch and shoot player at the 2 guard can be effective. I would not allow Mav to play the point and I would never let him penetrate past the free throw line as he either gets stuffed or turns it over. Mav plays hard he is just a step slow and he doesnt have pg ball handling skills. End of story.
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Just curious, did you watch last night's game? I'm not saying I disagree, but he had a ton of points penetrating and getting to the foul line. I think he got bailed out a lot with stupid fouls, but it's an odd time to make this comment if you watched last night's game.
 

Gold Vision said:
Just curious, did you watch last night's game? I'm not saying I disagree, but he had a ton of points penetrating and getting to the foul line. I think he got bailed out a lot with stupid fouls, but it's an odd time to make this comment if you watched last night's game.
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i'm with you. Mav, this year, has been rather effective in small samples with the floater and baseline jumpers.
 

Coach P is right, mav is okay if he does not have to handle or make plays with the ball. He basically can play the same roll as Malik. Watching him against the press or trying to make passes to set up tem mates in the half court offense was still iffy.
 

Gold Vision said:
Just curious, did you watch last night's game? I'm not saying I disagree, but he had a ton of points penetrating and getting to the foul line. I think he got bailed out a lot with stupid fouls, but it's an odd time to make this comment if you watched last night's game.
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I watched the game last night and your "bail out" comment is right on. I was thinking that a number of the fouls he drew last night would have been turnovers and steals against him if he had been playing against quicker and more athletic players.

Nevertheless I'm happy for him and the team because his late season emergence is keeping Smith off the floor. We all know Mav's limitations, but he at least tries to play defense and a team oriented game and doesn't just chuck up long threes early in the shot clock. Hopefully little Dre's minutes won't be limited too much over the remainder of the tournament and Marv won't be required to handle the ball in tough situations very often.
 

cjbfbp said:
I watched the game last night and your "bail out" comment is right on. I was thinking that a number of the fouls he drew last night would have been turnovers and steals against him if he had been playing against quicker and more athletic players.

Nevertheless I'm happy for him and the team because his late season emergence is keeping Smith off the floor. We all know Mav's limitations, but he at least tries to play defense and a team oriented game and doesn't just chuck up long threes early in the shot clock. Hopefully little Dre's minutes won't be limited too much over the remainder of the tournament and Marv won't be required to handle the ball in tough situations very often.
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I was actually embarrassed by how many calls we got last night, including at least three that bailed Mav out. We got favored by the officials the way we usually get hosed against other Big Ten teams. And I've heard the crap so often recently that "the more aggressive team will get the benefit of the calls" that if I hear it again I might hurl. No, sometimes one team is simply favored in the way the game is called.
 

I didn't see the recent game with Mav. My comments are based on his whole body of work. Him penetrating past the free throw line against big ten competition was not a pretty sight. However as dedicated ball player and a senior who has done nothing but play his tail off I am very happy he is ending his career with some great play. It is not his fault he was awarded a basketball scholarship. I would take one!
 

march madness said:
I didn't see the recent game with Mav. My comments are based on his whole body of work. Him penetrating past the free throw line against big ten competition was not a pretty sight. However as dedicated ball player and a senior who has done nothing but play his tail off I am very happy he is ending his career with some great play. It is not his fault he was awarded a basketball scholarship. I would take one!
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Also not his fault the way he was used for most of his time here. He was often the primary ball handler with 4 other bench players. How many times in the last several years did the Gophers go up against a guard who hurt them by not doing much more than floating outside and hitting several long shots? Mav should have been in that role all along instead of given the task of dribbling the ball against quicker players, or even dribbling the ball period. Seems like a really good guy who conducted himself the way student athletes are supposed to. Like many others, glad he's going out on a good note.
 

Mulligan said:
Also not his fault the way he was used for most of his time here. He was often the primary ball handler with 4 other bench players. How many times in the last several years did the Gophers go up against a guard who hurt them by not doing much more than floating outside and hitting several long shots? Mav should have been in that role all along instead of given the task of dribbling the ball against quicker players, or even dribbling the ball period. Seems like a really good guy who conducted himself the way student athletes are supposed to. Like many others, glad he's going out on a good note.
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And it happened again yesterday, where big Dre and little Dre both got into foul trouble, and here was Mav handling the ball. I wouldn't mind seeing lineups where Mav is in instead of either of the Hollins' and see what he can't do with a few kickouts.
 

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