STrib: Richard Pitino still hopeful for nonconference basketball games this fall

[BleedGopher]

per Marcus:

“I know all the Big Ten coaches are on board with pushing forward and trying to get something done,” Pitino said.

The Gophers men’s nonconference schedule has not been officially released. But according to a data obtained by the Star Tribune, nine nonconference games already have signed contracts, including the Hall of Fame Tip-Off in Uncasville, Conn. A home game with St. Louis is agreed on but the schools are waiting to see what their schedules will be.

A Nov. 5 exhibition game with Concordia (St. Paul) has already has been canceled. But among the Gophers’ nonconference games are the Nov. 11 opener against Albany, and then a Nov. 17 home game vs. Long Island. The Gophers then play two games in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off, Nov. 21 against Central Florida and the next day against either Rhode Island or Marquette.

A spokesperson for the Hall of Fame Tip-Off said organizers still are planning on hosting the tournament but will not have tickets on sale until a later date, if at all.

“We are confident in our venue and the measures that have been taken to produce a safe environment and have contingency plans in mind should adjustments be needed,” the Hall of Fame Tip-Off statement read. ‘‘We are also mindful that the decision could ultimately be out of our control.”

Gophers' Richard Pitino still hopeful for nonconference basketball games this fall

But the U won't have to make payment for canceled games.

www.startribune.com

Go Gophers!!

 

[LesBolstad]

No shot of this happening with the virus porn politicians and school bureaucrats.

 

[bga1]

At the very least, play the games without fans and televise the games, if everyone is so afraid to live.

 

[tmvander]

He's just answering the question the way he should be. Everyone knows there won't be college basketball until spring (at the earliest) as well.

 

[SelectionSunday]

My guess is we’ll see the season start (in whatever form) sometime around or just after Thanksgiving. Just a hunch they won’t let the month of December go to waste when most schools won’t have (many) non-athletes on campus.

That said, if we only have a conference season and it starts in January, so be it, will be glad to watch the Gophers and college basketball from home in my favorite chair.

 

[MplsGopher]

He's just answering the question the way he should be. Everyone knows there won't be college basketball until spring (at the earliest) as well.

Correct.

File this under "what else was he supposed to say?"

He risks nothing by being positive and hopeful for fall games, even though he likely knows there's almost no chance.

 

[MplsGopher]

My guess is we’ll see the season start (in whatever form) sometime around or just after Thanksgiving. Just a hunch they won’t let the month of December go to waste when most schools won’t have (many) non-athletes on campus.

That said, if we only have a conference season and it starts in January, so be it, will be glad to watch the Gophers and college basketball from home in my favorite chair.

If they can do bubbles in December, they have a chance at success.

But are bubbles appropriate for amateurs? The SEC and ACC only care about what their overlords at ESPN tell them to do. The Big Ten could be better. But we will see what they decide. Maybe things look much more optimistic at that time, anyway.

 

[Spaulding!No!]

He is all class. This is what folks will say about pitino

 

[howeda7]

If there are non-conference games, it will be some sort of bubble tournament with the ACC or Big East. I think the chances of playing the intended home games at the Barn is about zero.