The new Mo Walker!

[millions2spare]

I take back my previous thoughts that Mo Walker should consider following Coleman to a different situation. I heard Pitino on 1500espn tonight on Tom Pelissero's program. He talked at length about Mo Walker and others. Mo Walker has dropped 20 lbs with another 30 or so to go. He is working hard and Pitino has seen a lot of talent with some good basketball skills. His work ehtic is good, attitude is positive and it is really up to him. So far, Pitino is encouraged.

I hope Mo continues to work hard and get into the best shape of his life. We need another Big and a new lean Mo Walker will provide some depth and quite a few opportunities for baskets and assists with our 3 Guard line-up.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Ya if Mo can lose 40 pounds by the time practice starts that would be incredible. I don't expect him to get all the way there but if he gets close then that is really impressive.

 

[IDFM]

Mo was really having a difficult time getting up and down the floor last year. I know of the knee issues, but he was laboring like he was working on his second set of knees like he was in his 50's. I am glad that he has recommitted himself. Pitino may be the best thing that every happen to his career and his personal health.

 

[gopherMD]

The weight loss will probably alleviate a lot of Mo's knee problems. There is little chance he has arthritis based on his age and previous knee injuries. If he can develop some explosion in his legs and have some semblance of a vertical he should be able to contribute.

 

[Johnnyboy18]

More fast break lay-ups for Mo like the UCLA game!

 

[howieramone]

The weight loss will probably alleviate a lot of Mo's knee problems. There is little chance he has arthritis based on his age and previous knee injuries. If he can develop some explosion in his legs and have some semblance of a vertical he should be able to contribute.

Good to hear. Remembering how well he moved as a frosh, to last year, I didn't feel he could ever play at this level again.

 

[Slim Tubby]

The scary thing is that Mo actually has pretty decent touch and if he can get down to 250/260, he could really contribute. I personally root for guys like Mo.

 

[Gopher Warrior]

The scary thing is that Mo actually has pretty decent touch and if he can get down to 250/260, he could really contribute. I personally root for guys like Mo.

Good shooting touch, enormous presence, great offensive rebounder. Hope he can stay healthy & give some decent minutes.

 

[GopherJake]

Good shooting touch, enormous presence, great offensive rebounder. Hope he can stay healthy & give some decent minutes.

I'm not holding my breath on him making an impact. We haven't seen much of what you describe. 12 games as a frosh - looked promising, but not exactly proven. 30 pretty much well below average games last year.

Hope I'm wrong.

 

[JDGopher]

Good shooting touch, enormous presence, great offensive rebounder. Hope he can stay healthy & give some decent minutes.

And he has good vision and passing skills, particularly for a big. I'm excited to see him hopefully flourish.

 

[WanderingGopher]

I'm not holding my breath on him making an impact. We haven't seen much of what you describe. 12 games as a frosh - looked promising, but not exactly proven. 30 pretty much well below average games last year.

Hope I'm wrong.

Here's a reminder of what he looked like as a frosh. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqxA9s3HZ7w

Love the 3 pt stroke for a big man (2:22 mark, 2:45 mark), some dunks like we haven't seen since the injury. Could see him getting a lot of trail 3 opportunities in this system, if he gets back in shape.

 

[Parski1]

He will be fine off the bench...still don't know how he will fit in with the fast\athletic team Pitino wants.

 

[Bad Gopher]

He will be fine off the bench...still don't know how he will fit in with the fast\athletic team Pitino wants.

Original post. Maybe he should follow Tubby down to TT and get some real coaching and player development.

 

[howieramone]

Here's a reminder of what he looked like as a frosh. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqxA9s3HZ7w

Love the 3 pt stroke for a big man (2:22 mark, 2:45 mark), some dunks like we haven't seen since the injury. Could see him getting a lot of trail 3 opportunities in this system, if he gets back in shape.

No way that's the same Huge Mo I watched last year. That clip brought back some hopes I had for the program that I've completely forgot about. I thought he was going to be our PF of the future.

 

[GopherJake]

Here's a reminder of what he looked like as a frosh. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqxA9s3HZ7w

Love the 3 pt stroke for a big man (2:22 mark, 2:45 mark), some dunks like we haven't seen since the injury. Could see him getting a lot of trail 3 opportunities in this system, if he gets back in shape.

Those were the two 3 pointers he made that year. Last year he was 0-0 on 3s in 197 minutes of play. Big gamble if we are relying on him. Huge. Pun intended.

I hope I'm wrong.

 

[KSBGopher]

Big upside with walker (pardon the pun). Mo's got a great touch and knows how to be a presence in the paint. Increase his durability and who knows. This is very exciting.

 

[mplarson7]

He will be fine off the bench...still don't know how he will fit in with the fast\athletic team Pitino wants.

Nobody knows at this point, but dropping that much weight could really make a difference with Mo's speed.

 

[Monty519]

Those were the two 3 pointers he made that year. Last year he was 0-0 on 3s in 197 minutes of play. Big gamble if we are relying on him. Huge. Pun intended.

I hope I'm wrong.

They wouldn't be relying on him for outside shooting. That's just a bonus of his game that's in there and was part of the intrigue with him when he signed. The guy is very skillful. Getting down in that 240, 250 at least range would be absolutely huge for him and would allow him to get on the floor and move a lot better. You don't need 5 thoroughbreds on the court at all times necessarily, and in this conference, I'm sure there will be games where we'll have to grind it a little bit, and Mo Walker will need to be a guy we can count on to at least be a presence down there since we're so thin on post guys.

 

[millions2spare]

Mo is a very good passer with pretty good vision. I can see him kicking the ball out to Dre or Malik for a 3 point shot a few times a game...If he can get 3 or 4 assists and average 8 pts a game, I think the Gophers will have a very good season.....Also, on defense, he will be on the back end of the press so he is going to have to be mobile.

 

[MadtownGopher]

If Mo gets down to 240 or 250, my perception of this front court changes completely. Even more so if we lock up Buckles and/or Joey King.

 

[Bad Gopher]

If Mo gets down to 240 or 250, my perception of this front court changes completely. Even more so if we lock up Buckles and/or Joey King.

Weight aside, there's still the matter of how his knee performs. Crossing my fingers.

What I found curious is what happened to some of his skills last year compared with the prior season.

 

[MNVCGUY]

Love that Mo seems to be commited to losing weight and making it work with Pitino. This team needs some size and if Mo can get himself in shape to the point that he can play in this system he could be a huge part of this team next year. He definitely has talent and when he is in there he strikes me as someone willing to be aggressive and ask for the ball. His weight and lack of conditioning were killing his career, hopefully the lightbulb went off and he now sees what he might be able to accomplish if he puts in the effort to get in shape.

 

[paulser21]

If Mo gets down to 240 or 250, my perception of this front court changes completely.

I totally agree. I'm glad Mo is putting in the hard work to fit the system and improve his own personal health instead of taking the easy route and transferring out.

 

[Roland Brooks]

Cheering for Mo. Shed some weight and it will help him trust that knee even more.

 

[Goph4phan]

Weight aside, there's still the matter of how his knee performs. Crossing my fingers.

What I found curious is what happened to some of his skills last year compared with the prior season.

He was just too fat to correctly utilize them. Seriously.

Sent from my LGL35G using Tapatalk 2

 

[Halsey Hall]

Your hope will be fulfilled

I'm not holding my breath on him making an impact. We haven't seen much of what you describe. 12 games as a frosh - looked promising, but not exactly proven. 30 pretty much well below average games last year.

Hope I'm wrong.

 

[jovs]

Another thread mentioned that Trevor went from a 42 inch vertical to a 36 in vertical after knee surgery, I wonder how much Mo's dropped especially with the weight he was carrying. It didn't seem like he was able to elevate at all last year, hopefully the better conditioning will change that.

 

[WhoFellDownTheGopherHole?]

Even with hard work and dedication, anyone hoping for Mo to get down into the 240-250 range is probably being a bit overly optimistic. A healthier, better conditioned 260 is probably a bit more realistic as a goal.

 

[GoodasGold]

He was just too fat to correctly utilize them. Seriously.

Sent from my LGL35G using Tapatalk 2

Dude! Isn't that a bit harsh? There's a new euphemism for the F word..."easily seen".

 

[stocker08]

Mo showed major promise his first year. That combined with his ranking coming out of high school gives me some hope that he will contribute to this team. I like that he has dropped some weight and it would seem that Pitino is pushing him to drop more. Mo could become a force on this team. One of his major vices so far has been his weight and the fact that he was a little slow. Drop some weight and Mo could be very good.