Otis
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2014
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Richard Pitino, Minnesota. The Gophers welcome Amir Coffey, a four-star freshman guard from nearby Hopkins, Minn., which is a plus. Minuses abound just about everywhere else. Minnesota has won eight Big Ten games, total, in the past two seasons. It won just eight games overall last year. As for the theory that Pitino’s energy would recharge the program’s ability to keep local talent at home, there’s Coffey . . . and then there’s the state’s three Top 100 prospects in the Class of 2017 currently planning to attend Texas and Wisconsin. (Two, in fact, are pledged to the rival Badgers. Though it’s only fair to note that Top 100 New York point guard Isaiah Washington is committed to Minnesota.) Multiple off-court incidents have dinged the program under Pitino’s watch. And there’s a new athletic director, Mark Coyle, running the department. Pretty much every factor that can work against a coach is working against Pitino. The 34-year-old swims against a very strong tide, and vast improvement is required to stem it.
