STrib: Four freshmen expect to play big roles for Gophers men's basketball team

[BleedGopher]

per the STrib:

After one of this fall’s first practices, Richard Pitino brought his team in for a huddle. The Minnesota basketball coach spoke to the players, and then an unfamiliar voice piped up.

“Family on three,” freshman Jordan Murphy said, cuing the team’s breakup chant.

“Normally, when you bring everybody together, a senior hops in,” Pitino said. “Well [Murphy] does it like 90 percent of the time. And he did it like his first practice. That is very, very rare.”

Murphy and three other freshmen represent a big part of the rebuilding Gophers’ core. But Minnesota, after losing four seniors and critical depth in the frontcourt from a year ago, will rely heavily on its future in the present, when the team plays the first of two exhibition games Sunday.

And while some of what the newcomers will be doing could be described as filling holes — both from positions and leaders lost — Pitino is also expecting, and needing, big things. Fast.

“We need an impact from that class right away,” the coach said. “They’re all going to have to be ready. I know this, after being in the Big Ten for two years: Ohio State does not care what our age is. Michigan State does not care. So we’ve got to be ready … there’s definitely a sense of urgency about that.”

http://www.startribune.com/four-fre...-for-gophers-men-s-basketball-team/339060851/

Go Gophers!!

 

[Moonlight]

Nice article - I hope this is more the tone from Amelia this year. The bitter cynicism of pro sports coverage just comes off as nasty with college athletics.

 

[scher215]

Nice article - I hope this is more the tone from Amelia this year. The bitter cynicism of pro sports coverage just comes off as nasty with college athletics.

I've been critical of Amelia's work before, but I really think pieces like this are when she's at her best. I get annoyed with the cynical articles no matter who writes them, but I think Amelia does these better than many others. Especially thinking back to her piece on McNeil. She usually can do a great job describing people and their stories.

 

[macgopher]

I've been critical of Amelia's work before, but I really think pieces like this are when she's at her best. I get annoyed with the cynical articles no matter who writes them, but I think Amelia does these better than many others. Especially thinking back to her piece on McNeil. She usually can do a great job describing people and their stories.

Even if this young team has a difficult time in the standings each and every minute these four get this year should really help them and the team going forward.

 

[underground629]

The less basketball talk in her words the better. She definitely needs more articles like this when she can write them.

I've been critical of Amelia's work before, but I really think pieces like this are when she's at her best. I get annoyed with the cynical articles no matter who writes them, but I think Amelia does these better than many others. Especially thinking back to her piece on McNeil. She usually can do a great job describing people and their stories.