STrib: Same Gophers in Pitino's second season but more complaints

[BleedGopher]

per Rand:

Last year, through 25 games of Richard Pitino’s first season with the Gophers, Minnesota was 16-9 and 5-7 in the Big Ten.

Pitino was often praised for his work with the Gophers, primarily because of a 4-3 conference start boosted by a home win over rival Wisconsin.

This year, through 25 games of Pitino’s second season with the Gophers, Minnesota is 16-9 and 5-7 in the Big Ten.

Pitino has often been criticized for his work with the Gophers, primarily because of an 0-5 start that included many close losses down the stretch.

Point being: The perception of a season has more to do with the order of how things happen than we might realize. These Gophers seasons are remarkably similar overall, but Minnesota had an easier schedule early last year and took advantage — thus creating the impression of overachieving.

http://blog.startribune.com/sports/randball/friday-same-gophers-different-route-edition-wha-happened

Go Gophers!!

 

[bemidjigopher]

Overall they're a better team this year. I truly believe they will win one more road game. Just need to hold serve at home. Despite losing a few players to their depth this year this team doesn't have a bad loss on its resume like northwestern last year

 

[Gopher Bandanna Guy]

Despite losing a few players to their depth this year this team doesn't have a bad loss on its resume like northwestern last year

I dunno, that Penn State loss was pretty sucky in my opinion, even if it was on the road.

For the moment, I don't think we're a better team this year, perhaps just slightly worse. The loss of Austin Hollins hurt more than I think a lot of people acknowledge on the defensive side of the ball. One that we're just now appearing to adjust to. Losing McNeil killed our depth as well. King appears to have regressed a bit, maybe Elliot too. Our rebounding is worse too. I'm terrified as to how bad it might be next season with Mo and EE both gone.

That said, Rand's point is well taken. Similar results, just a different pathway.

 

[goldy93]

per Rand:

Point being: The perception of a season has more to do with the order of how things happen than we might realize. These Gophers seasons are remarkably similar overall, but Minnesota had an easier schedule early last year and took advantage — thus creating the impression of overachieving.

http://blog.startribune.com/sports/randball/friday-same-gophers-different-route-edition-wha-happened

Go Gophers!!

If Rand thinks our schedule this year to date is tougher compared to last year I think he is not actually looking at the schedules. Our early schedule this year was Charmin soft.

 

[60's Guy]

If Rand thinks our schedule this year to date is tougher compared to last year I think he is not actually looking at the schedules. Our early schedule this year was Charmin soft.

Big Ten schedule

 

[60's Guy]

I didn't like the article. Make a point. Are we better or worse or the same? I don't think he ever makes an argument other than pointing out the records are the same.
I believe we are better this year at this point. And we have overcome more adversity to achieve the same record to date.
The writer gives the NIT run the back of his hand like it was nothing. We played well to finish the season...the goal every year.
Win your last game. If we don't make the NCAA Tournament and don't win the NIT are we automatically therefore going backwards?
It was an opinion piece with no substance to any conclusion or talk of guidelines to the future. Coulda done the piece in a tweet:
Gopher Basketball after 25 games 2014, 16 and 9. In 2015 16 and 9. It's all he really said.

 

[bemidjigopher]

Big Ten schedule

Still. We had a four game stretch last year at ainst four top 15 teams and won two to get to 4-3

 

[Dr.Don]

Last year, this year. Every year, every game is different.

 

[cjbfbp]

If Rand thinks our schedule this year to date is tougher compared to last year I think he is not actually looking at the schedules. Our early schedule this year was Charmin soft.

I think he may be referring to the early conference schedule but he neglected to include that clarification.

As far as the non-conference schedule, I don't think there is a tremendous difference between the two years. We played a respectable mid-major early on the road last year (Richmond) and did the same at home this year (Western KY). We had another fair mid-major last year (South Dakota State) but North Carolina Wilmington this year isn't that much different. We had more bottom-of-the-barrel teams this year and that's why our RPI is lower. We beat them soundly (other than Furman) and that and the fact that we only have two double digit losses is why our BPI, Sagarin, and Pomeroy ratings are about the same.

 

[cjbfbp]

per Rand:


Point being: The perception of a season has more to do with the order of how things happen than we might realize. These Gophers seasons are remarkably similar overall, but Minnesota had an easier schedule early last year and took advantage — thus creating the impression of overachieving.

http://blog.startribune.com/sports/randball/friday-same-gophers-different-route-edition-wha-happened

Go Gophers!!

Order may be of some importance but this year's team was expected to be better than last year's team because of the return of five of the top six players from an NIT championship team and the perception of possibly greater depth in the front court. Despite having the same record after 25 games and having a couple of inspired performances to claw our way back there, the season to this point is still disappointing based on the fans' preseason expectations. We'll see what happens from this point on.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

I didn't like the article. Make a point. Are we better or worse or the same? I don't think he ever makes an argument other than pointing out the records are the same.
I believe we are better this year at this point. And we have overcome more adversity to achieve the same record to date.
The writer gives the NIT run the back of his hand like it was nothing. We played well to finish the season...the goal every year.
Win your last game. If we don't make the NCAA Tournament and don't win the NIT are we automatically therefore going backwards?
It was an opinion piece with no substance to any conclusion or talk of guidelines to the future. Coulda done the piece in a tweet:
Gopher Basketball after 25 games 2014, 16 and 9. In 2015 16 and 9. It's all he really said.

I would say yes to the bold. If last year's team was an NIT champ, and this year's team is less than that, then we have taken a step backwards. If we make the NCAA tournament, we have taken a step forward. If we repeat as NIT champs, then we are stuck in neutral.

 

[Bad Gopher]

Same record, but not the same Gophers. Amelia's dumbing things down for the casual reader.

 

[Dr.Don]

Same record, but not the same Gophers. Amelia's dumbing things down for the casual reader.

No. She is casualing things down for the dumb reader.

 

[GophersInIowa]

I dunno, that Penn State loss was pretty sucky in my opinion, even if it was on the road.

For the moment, I don't think we're a better team this year, perhaps just slightly worse. The loss of Austin Hollins hurt more than I think a lot of people acknowledge on the defensive side of the ball. One that we're just now appearing to adjust to. Losing McNeil killed our depth as well. King appears to have regressed a bit, maybe Elliot too. Our rebounding is worse too. I'm terrified as to how bad it might be next season with Mo and EE both gone.

That said, Rand's point is well taken. Similar results, just a different pathway.

I don't know, I think our defense has been better during the conference season this year compared to last. More steals and more forced turnovers, yet we average less points scored per game. DeAndre Mathieu's offensive struggles are a big reason we are 5-7 instead of 7-5 or even better in my opinion. He's shooting and scoring numbers are way down. Last year he scored under 10 points in just 7 of 18 conference games. This year 9 of 12 games.

I don't mean to put all the blame on him, just pointing out that I think we may miss his production from last year just as much as Hollins.

 

[CDH27]

Overall they're a better team this year. I truly believe they will win one more road game. Just need to hold serve at home. Despite losing a few players to their depth this year this team doesn't have a bad loss on its resume like northwestern last year

I must be watching a different team. The Gophers have played very poorly for most of the Big 10 season. Having the same record as last year with all key players returning except Austin Hollins (and several new recruits) I was expecting some improvement. The Iowa win was a nice victory, but I don't in any way see this team being better than last years team.

 

[fan of Ray Williams]

Same record, but not the same Gophers. Amelia's dumbing things down for the casual reader.

No. She is casualing things down for the dumb reader.

You guys might want to check the writer again.

 

['13Gopher]

This team is worse than last year at this point. Some of our losses have been devastating and sloppy. Last year seemed like a breath of fresh air whereas the expectations for this year have not been met. I love our recruiting class and contrary to popular opinion I believe our front court will be just fine. BK has gotten plenty of minutes and Jonny Nwonkwu the 4-star coming in will be good.

 

[GopherBrock]

This team is worse than last year at this point. Some of our losses have been devastating and sloppy. Last year seemed like a breath of fresh air whereas the expectations for this year have not been met. I love our recruiting class and contrary to popular opinion I believe our front court will be just fine. BK has gotten plenty of minutes and Jonny Nwonkwu the 4-star coming in will be good.

Where is Nwankwo a 4 star? Just curious.

 

[Gopher Warrior]

This team is worse than last year at this point. Some of our losses have been devastating and sloppy. Last year seemed like a breath of fresh air whereas the expectations for this year have not been met. I love our recruiting class and contrary to popular opinion I believe our front court will be just fine. BK has gotten plenty of minutes and Jonny Nwonkwu the 4-star coming in will be good.

Jonny Nwonkwu (sic) needs time. Physically, he looks the part. But don't hope for much other than muscle early on.

BK has gotten what? 48 minutes in Big Ten play...

smh

 

[GophersInIowa]

This team is worse than last year at this point. Some of our losses have been devastating and sloppy. Last year seemed like a breath of fresh air whereas the expectations for this year have not been met. I love our recruiting class and contrary to popular opinion I believe our front court will be just fine. BK has gotten plenty of minutes and Jonny Nwonkwu the 4-star coming in will be good.

How quickly we forget we lost to NW at home last year. Also lost at home to Illinois by 13, at Iowa by 21, and at Ohio St. by 18. Then lost by 26 to Wisconsin in the BT tourney.

 

[Dr.Don]

How quickly we forget we lost to NW at home last year. Also lost at home to Illinois by 13, at Iowa by 21, and at Ohio St. by 18. Then lost by 26 to Wisconsin in the BT tourney.

Last year always determines what happens this year!

 

[bemidjigopher]

Where is Nwankwo a 4 star? Just curious.

ESPN as are Dorsey and Jarvis. Everywhele else Jarvis, Nwankwoo and Dupree are high three's Dorsey a consensus four srar

 

[Tim1406]

How quickly we forget we lost to NW at home last year. Also lost at home to Illinois by 13, at Iowa by 21, and at Ohio St. by 18. Then lost by 26 to Wisconsin in the BT tourney.

+1, When thinking of last year people pretty much only remember the NIT run, and maybe beating Wisconsin. They also forget the loss loss in the non conference tourney against syracuse and Arkansas which really helped to lower the expectations.

 

[cjbfbp]

+1, When thinking of last year people pretty much only remember the NIT run, and maybe beating Wisconsin. They also forget the loss loss in the non conference tourney against syracuse and Arkansas which really helped to lower the expectations.

Yes, we haven't had a loss as bad as that Arkansas one this year. The Gophers really stunk it up in the second half of that one. They weren't so great in the Chaminade game after that either until they got Mo going.

 

[cjbfbp]

How quickly we forget we lost to NW at home last year. Also lost at home to Illinois by 13, at Iowa by 21, and at Ohio St. by 18. Then lost by 26 to Wisconsin in the BT tourney.

Yes, that is all true, but we still have the possibility of losing badly to Wisconsin. I agree that this team is better than last year's team but it was expected to be better and to date it hasn't played as well as many of us hoped. I think the last three games are more indicative of the type of potential many of us thought the team could have this season.

 

[cjbfbp]

+1, When thinking of last year people pretty much only remember the NIT run, and maybe beating Wisconsin. They also forget the loss loss in the non conference tourney against syracuse and Arkansas which really helped to lower the expectations.

Which people are you talking about? I remember all of those things and I'm confident many others do as well. You must be talking about those proverbial "people."