STrib: Pitino finds value in Minnesota Timberwolves practices

[BleedGopher]

Pitino on Flip, per the STrib:

"He's got a really young team, so he's doing a lot of teaching," Pitino said. "He's teaching guys how to guard ball screens, and he's teaching them ow to slide their feet and communicate, and he does a really good job of it."

The coach said he took a couple of drills from the practice he watched, and has already implemented them with his own players.

"I was really, really impressed with [Saunders] as well as his staff -- very impressed," Pitino said.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/278391801.html

Go Gophers!!

 

[Golden Yooper]

I love the fact that coach Pitino is using all his resources to continue to learn and improve his skills. Having that networking connection with the NBA team in town can only help recruiting.

Does any one know if college players could play ball/scrimmage with NBA players or would that be some sort of NCAA violation? I seem to recall some summer leagues have former NBA players playing hoops with college players. Could Flip (being a NBA coach) come over to campus and assist in drills or can he just observe? I assume it must be against the rules since I have not seen this occur in NBA/D1 program cities.

 

[Bad Gopher]

Humble and gracious of Pitino to heap such praise on a person (Saunders) who was another candidate for the job he ended up getting.

 

[Dr.Don]

Humble and gracious of Pitino to heap such praise on a person (Saunders) who was another candidate for the job he ended up getting.

Only GH and the media claimed he was a candidate.

 

[Gold Vision]

Not true Donald. Flip himself said he was approached/offered the job in at least one of his appearances with Barreiro.

 

[Go4]

Not true Donald. Flip himself said he was approached/offered the job in at least one of his appearances with Barreiro.

dr. don doesn't like facts or doesn't like to listen to the actual candidate himself, who said he was a candidate. he'd rather bash gh'ers.

 

[bga1]

Humble and gracious of Pitino to heap such praise on a person (Saunders) who was another candidate for the job he ended up getting.

I love that the guy is a sponge. He isn't proud or secretive about where the information comes from - he just wants to get better at his craft.

 

[Gopher Warrior]

Does any one know if college players could play ball/scrimmage with NBA players or would that be some sort of NCAA violation? I seem to recall some summer leagues have former NBA players playing hoops with college players. Could Flip (being a NBA coach) come over to campus and assist in drills or can he just observe? I assume it must be against the rules since I have not seen this occur in NBA/D1 program cities.

Having coaches involved in on campus instruction could be problematic, but college kids (and HS recruits) play pickup ball with NBA kids.

In Milwaukee, for instance, lots of NBA guys stop over and play with the kids.

In certified summer leagues there are many instances of college kids playing with and alongside NBA players.

If you have nice practice facilities and a good relationship with NBA players and the team, it's a good deal. Helps to be a school who has produced a fair amount of recent NBA talent, of course, but something like the relationship with Dieng helps...

Here's a recent pic from Marquette's campus.. 2015 commit Matt Heldt and Bucks rookie Jabari Parker. Now, Jabari's buddy Steve Taylor is on the team... and Jabari played for Wojo.. but pretty nice for a kid to come down a couple of hours and spend time at his future school playing with a soon-to-be star NBA rookie.. MU gets a lot of their former players back on campus. It's family and tradition - that's something Pitino can add to Minnesota to truly held build up the program and the brand.

 

[Bayfieldgopher]

Did Flip have Sweet Georgia Brown playing on the intercom???

 

[Dr.Don]

I love saying something wrong here on GopherHole, so the vultures have some fodder to rip.

 

[station19]

Teague asked Flip if he was interested in the job. Flip said no..........................he had a much bigger position he was working on.

Can I prove it? No

I can't believe Teague had any interest in Flip. Does not fit his style in the least.

Flip can spin a story as well as anyone. Ever hear the one about....don't believe everything you hear?

 

[Mulligan]

Teague asked Flip if he was interested in the job. Flip said no..........................he had a much bigger position he was working on.

Can I prove it? No

I can't believe Teague had any interest in Flip. Does not fit his style in the least.

Flip can spin a story as well as anyone. Ever hear the one about....don't believe everything you hear?

Given who he hired and Teague's history, this seems a lot more plausible than Flip saying, "No," to Teague when offered the job. The guys at Canis Hoopus at the time were wondering what Flip's endgame was, and virtually nobody thought it was to become the Gopher coach. He's an NBA guy and he's got the right owner to get his way.

 

[Dr.Don]

Teague asked Flip if he was interested in the job. Flip said no..........................he had a much bigger position he was working on.

Can I prove it? No

I can't believe Teague had any interest in Flip. Does not fit his style in the least.

Flip can spin a story as well as anyone. Ever hear the one about....don't believe everything you hear?

To our modern experts here on GH, asking someone if he is interested means he had an offer. Those pups have a lot to learn.

 

[Golden Yooper]

Thanks Gopher Warrior - I appreciate your information and insight.

 

[Keyser Söze]

Teague asked Flip if he was interested in the job. Flip said no..........................he had a much bigger position he was working on.

Can I prove it? No

I can't believe Teague had any interest in Flip. Does not fit his style in the least.

Flip can spin a story as well as anyone. Ever hear the one about....don't believe everything you hear?

Wasn't it reported that he was offered the job, but Teague gave him a list of assistants to look at (not including his son) so Flip said no?

 

[station19]

Wasn't it reported that he was offered the job, but Teague gave him a list of assistants to look at (not including his son) so Flip said no?

I recall hearing something like that. I believe it was more speculation than anything. Either that or a smokescreen. Like I said, I can't prove it.

 

[scher215]

Having coaches involved in on campus instruction could be problematic, but college kids (and HS recruits) play pickup ball with NBA kids. In Milwaukee, for instance, lots of NBA guys stop over and play with the kids. In certified summer leagues there are many instances of college kids playing with and alongside NBA players. If you have nice practice facilities and a good relationship with NBA players and the team, it's a good deal. Helps to be a school who has produced a fair amount of recent NBA talent, of course, but something like the relationship with Dieng helps... Here's a recent pic from Marquette's campus.. 2015 commit Matt Heldt and Bucks rookie Jabari Parker. Now, Jabari's buddy Steve Taylor is on the team... and Jabari played for Wojo.. but pretty nice for a kid to come down a couple of hours and spend time at his future school playing with a soon-to-be star NBA rookie.. MU gets a lot of their former players back on campus. It's family and tradition - that's something Pitino can add to Minnesota to truly held build up the program and the brand.

Kris Humphries played with the Gophers once as did Dieng. Agree that it is a great thing to start doing. I was very pleased Pitino brought back Kris and had BobbyJackson around the team as well.

 

[SelectionSunday]

No matter what media reports said, have a hard time believing Teague was ever truly interested in Flip. Doesn't fit with Teague's Vanilla 7 thing, or whatever it's called. Teague's not going to be one of the Vanilla leaders & then go out and hire an old NBA coaching retread as his first big hire. Would make no sense. Flip is where he belongs, and where his interests are, the NBA.

 

[Dr.Don]

No matter what media reports said, have a hard time believing Teague was ever truly interested in Flip. Doesn't fit with Teague's Vanilla 7 thing, or whatever it's called. Teague's not going to be one of the Vanilla leaders & then go out and hire an old NBA coaching retread as his first big hire. Would make no sense. Flip is where he belongs, and where his interests are, the NBA.

SS, your first sentence is what I opined, and caught holy hell from others who "knew better".

 

[Go4]

SS, your first sentence is what I opined, and caught holy hell from others who "knew better".

"holy hell" is a single post from me? wow, your skin is so thin, yet you somehow unleash "holy hell" on so many people on this board.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

I love the cross-selling. Any article or publicity that mentions a Gopher team with the local pro team in a positive way (excluding the articles lamenting impact pro teams have on the Gophs) or any article crossing over between multiple Gopher sports makes me happy.