BleedGopher
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per Marcus:
Davonte Fitzgerald’s name often came up last fall when Gophers men’s basketball players and coaches were asked which newcomer impressed them the most.
When the Atlanta native stretched out his arms to block a shot, it was almost like trying to score over a 7-footer. Fitzgerald, who had to sit out the 2015-16 season after transferring from Texas A&M, was just as comfortable pulling up from deep as he was finishing an alley-oop dunk in transition.
Richard Pitino envisioned a year ago being able to play a bigger lineup with the 6-8, 220-pound junior forward. But Fitzgerald’s season quickly ended before it started because of a major left knee injury last October.
He has spent almost a year recovering and eyes a breakout season this fall. But big news this past week complicated matters, creating both sadness and opportunity.
Nearly a year after Fitzgerald went down, Gophers sophomore Eric Curry suffered the same season-ending injury Thursday in a pickup game. Now, the team will need Fitzgerald to be the type of impact player it envisioned a year ago.
“He was out for two years,” Pitino said Monday of Fitzgerald, who turned 23 Saturday. “When he was playing and when he was healthy, he was making a difference. He can block shots. He plays hard. He can rebound. He can play multiple positions. But you just don’t know.”
http://www.startribune.com/davonte-fitzgerald-s-return-comes-just-in-time-for-gophers/442559113/
Go Gophers!!
Davonte Fitzgerald’s name often came up last fall when Gophers men’s basketball players and coaches were asked which newcomer impressed them the most.
When the Atlanta native stretched out his arms to block a shot, it was almost like trying to score over a 7-footer. Fitzgerald, who had to sit out the 2015-16 season after transferring from Texas A&M, was just as comfortable pulling up from deep as he was finishing an alley-oop dunk in transition.
Richard Pitino envisioned a year ago being able to play a bigger lineup with the 6-8, 220-pound junior forward. But Fitzgerald’s season quickly ended before it started because of a major left knee injury last October.
He has spent almost a year recovering and eyes a breakout season this fall. But big news this past week complicated matters, creating both sadness and opportunity.
Nearly a year after Fitzgerald went down, Gophers sophomore Eric Curry suffered the same season-ending injury Thursday in a pickup game. Now, the team will need Fitzgerald to be the type of impact player it envisioned a year ago.
“He was out for two years,” Pitino said Monday of Fitzgerald, who turned 23 Saturday. “When he was playing and when he was healthy, he was making a difference. He can block shots. He plays hard. He can rebound. He can play multiple positions. But you just don’t know.”
http://www.startribune.com/davonte-fitzgerald-s-return-comes-just-in-time-for-gophers/442559113/
Go Gophers!!
I don't think Curry would have started but I do believe he would have elevated his game maybe to a greater degree than even Dupre was able to last year. The silver lining I see with Curry is that it happened in August. The team has the full season to adapt to his injury. Eric has a full 12 months to heal before the next season begins in earnest. No hurry or stress to the rehab. And yes, if Fitzgerald could contribute it would be somewhat like a trade. But Pitino is guarded in his comments about Fitzgerald and he is often more excited in talking about guys. Hopefully, Pitino is just being careful in protecting the Fitzgerald expectations.
