BleedGopher
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per the STrib:
In Thursday’s rematch, Gophers coach Richard Pitino will be reminded, once again, of the importance of having size in this conference — and that Minnesota doesn’t it in its top rotation of players.
“I didn’t feel that way last year, playing them twice, that their size killed us,” Pitino said of Iowa (15-8, 6-4 Big Ten). “But it did [that] game, there is no question.”
The Gophers (15-9, 4-7) are one of the smallest teams in the conference. The team’s average height ranks 11th of 14 teams, despite having three players 6-10 or taller. Iowa will line up the nation’s fifth-tallest team.
In the frontcourt, Pitino is pleased with the look of his team: three big centers and some options at power forward, although the development of big-bodied freshmen Bakary Konate (6-11) and Gaston Diedhiou (6-9) is coming along slowly. But at point guard, shooting guard and small forward, the Gophers are relatively tiny.
Perhaps the small-forward spot — where 6-5 Carlos Morris starts — is the most concerning. Including Iowa, six Big Ten teams sport at least one player at the position who is 6-7 or taller. But the mismatches often end up worse than that. With Morris’ defense still coming along, Pitino is forced to choose between size and a proven defender on occasions. At times he chooses the latter, such as putting Hollins on Uthoff for that last possession against the Hawkeyes.
“Our bigger guys, quite frankly, I don’t trust defensively,” Pitino said. “Carlos has gotten better. I think [forward Charles] Buggs is getting better. But I just don’t think they’re there.”
http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/291607921.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Go Gophers!!
In Thursday’s rematch, Gophers coach Richard Pitino will be reminded, once again, of the importance of having size in this conference — and that Minnesota doesn’t it in its top rotation of players.
“I didn’t feel that way last year, playing them twice, that their size killed us,” Pitino said of Iowa (15-8, 6-4 Big Ten). “But it did [that] game, there is no question.”
The Gophers (15-9, 4-7) are one of the smallest teams in the conference. The team’s average height ranks 11th of 14 teams, despite having three players 6-10 or taller. Iowa will line up the nation’s fifth-tallest team.
In the frontcourt, Pitino is pleased with the look of his team: three big centers and some options at power forward, although the development of big-bodied freshmen Bakary Konate (6-11) and Gaston Diedhiou (6-9) is coming along slowly. But at point guard, shooting guard and small forward, the Gophers are relatively tiny.
Perhaps the small-forward spot — where 6-5 Carlos Morris starts — is the most concerning. Including Iowa, six Big Ten teams sport at least one player at the position who is 6-7 or taller. But the mismatches often end up worse than that. With Morris’ defense still coming along, Pitino is forced to choose between size and a proven defender on occasions. At times he chooses the latter, such as putting Hollins on Uthoff for that last possession against the Hawkeyes.
“Our bigger guys, quite frankly, I don’t trust defensively,” Pitino said. “Carlos has gotten better. I think [forward Charles] Buggs is getting better. But I just don’t think they’re there.”
http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/291607921.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Go Gophers!!