PP: Last season’s team won with defense. Now they’re winning despite it.

[BleedGopher]

per Chad:

A season ago, defense was a staple of a surprising Gophers team, which limited opponents to a Big Ten-best 30 percent shooting from three-point range. Through four games this season, opponents are averaging 45 percent from 3-point range, and three teams have made at 11.

“We’ve got our hands up and then we drop our hands and guys are pulling,” Pitino said. “So, we’ve got to get our hands more active, and then we’ve got to trust the guys behind us. (Teams) know that we’re not playing good 3-point defense, so they’re just shooting a lot of threes.”

Limiting long-range shooting is especially important for this Gophers team because they’re strong down low with Big Ten defensive player of the year Reggie Lynch and power forward Jordan Murphy, named Big Ten player of the week twice already this season, on the blocks.

http://www.twincities.com/2017/11/2...n-with-defense-now-theyre-winning-despite-it/

Go Gophers!!

 

[MRJ]

per Chad:

A season ago, defense was a staple of a surprising Gophers team, which limited opponents to a Big Ten-best 30 percent shooting from three-point range. Through four games this season, opponents are averaging 45 percent from 3-point range, and three teams have made at 11.

“We’ve got our hands up and then we drop our hands and guys are pulling,” Pitino said. “So, we’ve got to get our hands more active, and then we’ve got to trust the guys behind us. (Teams) know that we’re not playing good 3-point defense, so they’re just shooting a lot of threes.”

Limiting long-range shooting is especially important for this Gophers team because they’re strong down low with Big Ten defensive player of the year Reggie Lynch and power forward Jordan Murphy, named Big Ten player of the week twice already this season, on the blocks.

http://www.twincities.com/2017/11/2...n-with-defense-now-theyre-winning-despite-it/

Go Gophers!!

A couple of thoughts here.

1. This team is more skilled and talented offensively than past Gopher teams so they have the ability to outscore teams if necessary.

2. With that said, Pitino obviously knows their defense hasn't been good enough. In other words, the team knows it and I figure the guys will pick up as the season moves on since it's becoming a point of emphasis.

Personally, I was much happier with the perimeter defense in the second half against Western Carolina. But the guys really need to lock in on that end from the start of games.