STrib: U Women's Basketball to Rely on Brunson & Pitts

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Ignatius L Hoops

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http://www.startribune.com/gophers-...y-on-jasmine-brunson-destiny-pitts/561382842/

Whalen will now look to seni*or Jasmine Brun*son in the back*court and juni*or Des*ti*ny Pitts to be*come the team’s go-to scor*er.

...
Brunson started 27 games alongside Bell and ranked second on the team with 82 assists in 2018-19. The depth behind her drops off in experience with freshmen Jasmine Pow*ell and Sara Scalia, a Stillwater native.

“[Bell] told me at the end of last year, I’m going to have to lead this team at the point guard po*si*tion,” Brun*son said. “Wheth*er it be vo*cal*ly or through my play, I’m def*i*nite*ly try*ing to step up into that role. This is Day One of it.”

Pitts is Min*ne*so*ta’s lead*ing re*turn*ing scor*er with a 16.3 points per game av*er*age, but she also led the Go*phers with 81 three-point*ers last sea*son. Whalen, a form*er Go*phers All-America and Lynx star, can see simi*lari*ties be*tween Pitts and her*self when it comes to mak*ing big shots and be*ing an emo*tio*nal lead*er on the floor.

“Ex*cept she can shoot the ball and I can make layups,” Whalen joked. “Des*ti*ny has that shot-mak*ing a*bil*i*ty. She’s a great weap*on for us.”

...

Red*shirt juni*or guard Gadiva Hub*bard and sopho*more guard Mercedes Sta*ples par*tici*pat*ed in the first prac*tice on a lim*it*ed ba*sis. Whalen said they will be brought along slow*ly to be ready for the Nov. 5 o*pen*er vs. Mis*sou*ri State.
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Hopefully, this is not a repeat; but, Staples and Hubbard were limited at the beginning of last season's official practice.
 

Sounds like a repeat of last year because it’s the same “Hubbard won’t be a big factor” vibe.
 

Hubbard (and Staples) are key pieces to the puzzle. I'm thinking that Whalen may be taking the Rocco Baldelli approach, easing them back into action. Although I'd like to know if those two players were playing at all this summer.
 

tripledouble said:
Hubbard (and Staples) are key pieces to the puzzle. I'm thinking that Whalen may be taking the Rocco Baldelli approach, easing them back into action. Although I'd like to know if those two players were playing at all this summer.
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Gophers posted a photo of those two players together, in practice, this summer. SO we know they were at least playing some this summer.
 



thatjanelpick said:
Gophers posted a photo of those two players together, in practice, this summer. SO we know they were at least playing some this summer.
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They both have worked out and rehabbed all summer. They are just making sure they build strength around the injuries and are watching fatigue and contact for now. Its a long season and they will need everyone healthy. Staples injury happened on the first day of practice last year and never healed on its own.
 

They certainly don't want a chronic condition to develop. I'd say strength and conditioning and easing them into normalcy is smart.
 

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Staples running.
 




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