BleedGopher
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per USA Basketball:
Growing up in Memphis, Tenn., a city known for Elvis Presley, Beale Street and barbecue, Andre Hollins has always labeled himself as an adventurous person.
Yet, he never envisioned himself wearing a USA Basketball jersey.
“You see people play USA, but I just didn’t think of myself in it,” the Minnesota point guard said following this morning’s training camp session. “I sold myself short, I guess.”
Currently in Colorado Springs, Colo., Hollins is one of 26 college players trying out for a spot on the 2013 USA Basketball Men’s World University Games Team. Through the first few days of training sessions, he’s displayed his natural scoring ability (he produced 41 points against Memphis on Nov. 23, 2012) and quickness in attacking the rim. Meanwhile on the defensive end, he’s gotten his hands on 50/50 balls appearing to causing some havoc.
While he’s been pleased with a majority of his performance thus far, he admits there’s an area he still has to vastly improve as training camp moves forward.
“I need to work on defending the pick-and-roll better,” Hollins said. “That’s one thing I knew from college, and now here I need to work on defending the pick-and-roll a lot better because that’s what basketball is kind of evolving into, a lot of pick-and-roll, because the big men are getting a lot more skilled in pick-and-pop. The big man’s defender can’t hedge, or help the guards, so I have to get over there.”
Entering college as a shooting guard, Hollins transitioned to the point as a freshman and proved he could be a floor general. The Golden Gophers finished the 2011-12 season with a 23-15 record and advanced all the way to the NIT Championship game. Returning as a sophomore this past year, Hollins led Minnesota in scoring (14.6 ppg.) and assists (3.4 apg.) as the Golden Gophers reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
“I’m still kind of new to the point guard position,” he said. “I still have a lot of things to learn, but I’ve gotten a lot better and had some success at it.”
One thing Hollins and his Minnesota teammates will have to adjust to in 2013-14 is a new coaching staff. Tubby Smith, the coach that recruited Hollins and whom he played under during his first two seasons in Minneapolis, was fired shortly after the team’s NCAA Tournament loss.
“I learned a lot of detail, I learned a lot about the game, being mentally tough,” Hollins said of playing for Smith.
In early April, Minnesota hired Richard Pitino, the son of Louisville head coach Rick Pitino, to be Smith’s replacement. Although it hasn’t been long since his arrival, Hollins has been impressed with his new head coach’s philosophy.
“I’ve talked to him a lot,” Hollins said. “We have a good relationship going so far, the start of a good relationship.”
Despite not having had official team practices yet, Hollins anticipates there will be a mix of similarities and differences between Pitino’s coaching style and Smith’s.
“I think the defensive part is going to be a lot alike,” Hollins said, “but I think the offensive part is going to be a lot different. He said we’re going to have like a Florida offense with a Louisville defense.”
Two years ago Hollins left Memphis and headed to Minnesota. He states he has a strong love for his hometown, but felt going to Minnesota was the perfect place to branch out. He also couldn’t pass up the chance to play for a school in the Big Ten.
“It’s amazing,” the 6’1” 200-pounder said, “Playing on ESPN, Big Ten Network, playing against Michigan State, Michigan, ACC/Big-Ten Challenge and just the conference itself speaks volumes.”
As the selection committee prepares to announce 14-16 finalists for the team following tomorrow’s morning session, Hollins plans to continue working as hard as he can and showing the intangible skills required of a point guard. If he does that, he’ll live with whatever result.
“Coming out of high school, I wasn’t a top recruit or anything,” Hollins said, “so just being here, persevering and working hard throughout college and high school and continuing to improve, I think this is a reward from it.”
http://www.usabasketball.com/mens/worlduniversity/13_mwugs_features_hollins.html
Go Gophers!!
Growing up in Memphis, Tenn., a city known for Elvis Presley, Beale Street and barbecue, Andre Hollins has always labeled himself as an adventurous person.
Yet, he never envisioned himself wearing a USA Basketball jersey.
“You see people play USA, but I just didn’t think of myself in it,” the Minnesota point guard said following this morning’s training camp session. “I sold myself short, I guess.”
Currently in Colorado Springs, Colo., Hollins is one of 26 college players trying out for a spot on the 2013 USA Basketball Men’s World University Games Team. Through the first few days of training sessions, he’s displayed his natural scoring ability (he produced 41 points against Memphis on Nov. 23, 2012) and quickness in attacking the rim. Meanwhile on the defensive end, he’s gotten his hands on 50/50 balls appearing to causing some havoc.
While he’s been pleased with a majority of his performance thus far, he admits there’s an area he still has to vastly improve as training camp moves forward.
“I need to work on defending the pick-and-roll better,” Hollins said. “That’s one thing I knew from college, and now here I need to work on defending the pick-and-roll a lot better because that’s what basketball is kind of evolving into, a lot of pick-and-roll, because the big men are getting a lot more skilled in pick-and-pop. The big man’s defender can’t hedge, or help the guards, so I have to get over there.”
Entering college as a shooting guard, Hollins transitioned to the point as a freshman and proved he could be a floor general. The Golden Gophers finished the 2011-12 season with a 23-15 record and advanced all the way to the NIT Championship game. Returning as a sophomore this past year, Hollins led Minnesota in scoring (14.6 ppg.) and assists (3.4 apg.) as the Golden Gophers reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
“I’m still kind of new to the point guard position,” he said. “I still have a lot of things to learn, but I’ve gotten a lot better and had some success at it.”
One thing Hollins and his Minnesota teammates will have to adjust to in 2013-14 is a new coaching staff. Tubby Smith, the coach that recruited Hollins and whom he played under during his first two seasons in Minneapolis, was fired shortly after the team’s NCAA Tournament loss.
“I learned a lot of detail, I learned a lot about the game, being mentally tough,” Hollins said of playing for Smith.
In early April, Minnesota hired Richard Pitino, the son of Louisville head coach Rick Pitino, to be Smith’s replacement. Although it hasn’t been long since his arrival, Hollins has been impressed with his new head coach’s philosophy.
“I’ve talked to him a lot,” Hollins said. “We have a good relationship going so far, the start of a good relationship.”
Despite not having had official team practices yet, Hollins anticipates there will be a mix of similarities and differences between Pitino’s coaching style and Smith’s.
“I think the defensive part is going to be a lot alike,” Hollins said, “but I think the offensive part is going to be a lot different. He said we’re going to have like a Florida offense with a Louisville defense.”
Two years ago Hollins left Memphis and headed to Minnesota. He states he has a strong love for his hometown, but felt going to Minnesota was the perfect place to branch out. He also couldn’t pass up the chance to play for a school in the Big Ten.
“It’s amazing,” the 6’1” 200-pounder said, “Playing on ESPN, Big Ten Network, playing against Michigan State, Michigan, ACC/Big-Ten Challenge and just the conference itself speaks volumes.”
As the selection committee prepares to announce 14-16 finalists for the team following tomorrow’s morning session, Hollins plans to continue working as hard as he can and showing the intangible skills required of a point guard. If he does that, he’ll live with whatever result.
“Coming out of high school, I wasn’t a top recruit or anything,” Hollins said, “so just being here, persevering and working hard throughout college and high school and continuing to improve, I think this is a reward from it.”
http://www.usabasketball.com/mens/worlduniversity/13_mwugs_features_hollins.html
Go Gophers!!
